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THE 


HISTORY 


NEW  JERSEY, 


DISCOVERY    BY    EUROPEANS, 


THE  ADOPT1OA 


FEDERAL    CONSTITUTION, 


BY 

THOMAS  F.  GORDON. 


PUBLISHED  BY  DANIEL  FENTON 


John  C.  Clark,  Printer,  Philadelphia 


E3E 


Entered  by  THOMAS  F.  GORDON,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District 
Cour'  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE. 


AN  attempt  has  been  made  in  the  following  pages  to  narrate,  suc- 
cinctly, but  fully,  the  history  of  New  Jersey,  from  the  time  of  its 
discovery  by  Europeans,  to  that  of  the  adoption  of  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States.  By  the  latter  event,  the  individuality  of  the 
State,  as  a  historical  subject,  is  merged  in  the  history  of  the  nation ; 
and  the  subsequent  period  of  unvaried  political  prosperity,  within 
her  borders,  presents  few  matters  for  the  historian. 

The  story  we  have  told,  has,  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  State,  the 
interest  of  their  peculiar  and  proper  affairs;  but,  like  such  affairs, 
may  not  prove  attractive  to  strangers.  Like  Pennsylvania,  this 
State  was  founded  by  deeds  of  peace;  and  no  community,  in  any 
country,  can  have  undergone  less  vicissitude.  Her  prudence  and 
justice  preserved  her  from  Indian  hostility,  and  her  distance  from 
the  frontier  protected  her  from  the  inroads  of  the  French.  She  has 
known,  therefore,  no  wars,  save  those  commanded  by  the  king,  or 
undertaken  in  defence  of  her  own  civil  liberty.  To  pourtray  the 
part,  which,  as  a  colony,  she  took  in  the  one,  and  as  an  independent 
State,  in  the  other,  it  has  been  necessary  to  treat  of  the  general 
colonial  and  revolutionary  history;  yet  no  further  than  was  indis- 
pensable to  exhibit  the  action  of  New  Jersey. 

In  the  compilation  of  the  work,  resort  has  been  had  to  all  the 
known  histories  of  the  Anglo-American  colonies,  to  the  best  writers 
on  the  American  revolution,  and  to  the  minutes  of  the  legislature 
and  the  statutes,  for  a  period  of  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty 
years.  From  these  sources,  it  is  believed,  that  a  faithful  and  ample 
narrative  has  been  obtained.  More  particulars  of  the  horrors  which 
attended  the  revolutionary  war,  especially  of  those  which  were  in- 
flicted by  furious  tory  partisans,  might,  perhaps,  have  been  added, 
if  full  reliance  were  due  to  the  partial  newspaper  accounts,  fre- 
quently written  under  excitement  unfavourable  to  truth.  Yet, 
enough  of  these  scenes  has  been  described  to  display  the  nature  and 
extent  of  the  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants;  more  would  have  served 
rather  to  disgust,  than  to  entertain,  the  reader. 


203751 


IV  PUEFACK. 

The  author  submits  the  result  of  his  labours  to  the  many  sub- 
scribers by  whom  they  have  been  encouraged,  with  an  assurance  of 
his  readiness,  in  another  edition,  to  supply  such  omissions,  and  to 
correct  such  errors,  as  may  be  discovered  in  the  present. 

March,  1834. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Comprising  Events  from  the  Discovery  by  Europeans,  to  the  Grant  from 
Charles  I.  to  James  Duke  of  York.  I.  Ancient  and  Modern  Principles  of 
Colonization.  II.  Voyages  of  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguese  upon  the  East 
Coast  of  North  America.  III.  Voyages  of  the  Italians,  Verrazano,  and  the 
Cabots.  IV.  First  English  Attempts  at  Discovery.  V.  Efforts  of  Raleigh 
to  establish  a  Colony.  VI.  Gosnold  opens  a  new  Road — London  and  Ply- 
mouth Companies  created.  VII.  Voyages  and  Discoveries  of  Hudson. 

VIII.  Intercourse  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company  with  America,  and 
Formation  of  the  Amsterdam  Licensed  Trading  West  India  Company. 

IX.  Settlement  of  the  Puritans  at  Plymouth.     X.  Formation  of  the  Great 
West  India  Company  in  Holland.     XI.  Voyage  and  Proceedings  of  Cor- 
nelius Jacobse  Mey.     XII.  Measures  of  the  Company  to  promote  Emigra 
tion;  Purchases  of  large  Tracts  of  Land  from  the  Indians.     XIII.  Voyages 
of  De  Vries ;  Colony  planted — The  Delaware  abandoned  by  the  Dutch. 
XIV.  Minisink  Settlements  on  the  Delaware.     XV.  Settlements  of  the 
Swedes  on  the  Dfljaware — first  Project  of  a  Colony — first  Colony — increase 
of  Settlers.     XVH^Colonial  Government  established — Colonel  Printz  first 
Governor.     XVII.  English  Settlements  upon  the  Delaware — prostrated  by 
a  united  Force  of  Dutch  and  Swedes.     XVIII.    Swedish   Government 
under  Print/,  and  his  Successors.     XIX.  Swedish  Colony  subjected  by  the 
Dutch.     XX.  Dutch  Colonial  Government  on  the  Delaware — Possessions 
on  the  East  of  New  Jersey.     XXI.  Account  of  the  English  Settlements 
upon  the  Delaware  previous  to  1664 — under  Patent  from  Lord  Baltimore — 
under  Grant  to  Sir  Edward  Ploeyden — by  Traders  from   New  Haven. 
XXII.  Plans  of  New  England  Settlers  for  Conquest  of  the  Dutch  Colo- 
nies.    XXIII.  Duke  of  York's  Charter  from  the  Crown  and   Grant  to 
Berkeley  and  Carteret.     XXIV.  Conquest  of  New  Netherlands,  by  Co- 
lonel Nicholls.     XXV.  English  Government  established  on  the  Delaware. 
XXVI.  Condition  of  New  Netherlands  at  the  time  of  the  Surrender  page  1 

CHAPTER  II. 

Comprising  Events  from  the  Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York,  to  the  Division  of  the 
Colony,  into  East  and  West  Jersey.  I.  Nature  of  the  Estate  acquired  by 
the  Duke  of  York,  by  the  Grant  from  Charles  I.  II.  Motives  and  Nature 
of  the  Grant  from  the  Duke  of  York,  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret.  111. 
Bounds  of  the  Country  ceded.  IV.  Proceedings  of  the  Proprietaries,  to 
settle  their  Province  of  New  Jersey,  &c. — their  "  Concessions."  V.  Re- 
marks on  the  Constitution.  VI.  Assumption  of  Government  by  Colonel 
Nicholls — Indian  Grants.  VII.  Philip  Carteret  appointed  Governor — His 
Efforts  for  Colonization — Advantages  enjoyed  by  the  New  Colonists.  VIII. 
Unhappy  Effects  of  the  Demand  of  Proprietary  Quit  Rents.  IX.  Recap- 
ture of  New  Netherlands  by  Holland — and  Restoration  to  the  English. 

X.  Re-grant  of  the  Province  to  the  Duke — Re-grant  to  Berkeley  and  Car- 
teret.    XL  Return  of  Philip  Carteret  to  the  Government— Modification  of 
the  Constitution.     XII.  Oppressive  Conduct  of  Andross,  Governor  of  New 
York.     XIII.  Division  of  the  Province  into  East  and  West  Jersey     .         .        23 

CHAPTER  III. 

From  the  Division  of  the  Province,  into  East  and  West  Jersey,  to  the  Purchase 
of  East  Jersey,  by  Quakers.  I.  Motives  of  the  Quakers  for  Emigration. 
II.  Sale  of  Lord  Berkeley,  to  Byllinge  and  Fenwicke.  III.  Assignment 
of  West  Jersey  to  William  Perm,  and  others  in  Trust,  for  the  Creditors  of 
Byllinge.  IV.  "Concessions,"  or  Constitution  of  West  Jersey.  V.  Mea- 
sures of  the  Proprietaries  to  promote  Colonization.  VI.  Commissioners 


VI  CONTENTS. 

appointed  to  Administer  the  Government  of  West  Jersey — their  Proceed- 
ings. VII.  Increase  of  Emigrants — Success  of  their  Efforts.  VIII.  Death 
of  Sir  George  Carteret — Successful  Efforts  of  the  Colonists,  to  procure 
Relief  from  the  Jurisdiction  of  New  York.  IX.  Extraordinary  Pretensions 
of  Byllinge.  X.  Resisted  by  the  Proprietaries,  in  General  Assembly — 
Samuel  Jennings  elected  Governor — Proceeds  to  England,  as  Deputy  of 
the  Assembly — The  Right  of  Government,  purchased  by  Doctor  Daniel 
Coxe,  and  subsequently  transferred  to  the  West  Jersey  Society.  XII. 
Meeting  of  the  First  Assembly — Proceedings.  XIII.  Modification  of  the 
Law,  relating  to  Religious  Faith.  XIV.  Death  of  Carteret — his  Disposi- 
tion of  East  Jersey.  XV.  Troubles  at  the  Close  of  the  Administration  of 
Philip  Carteret.  XVI.  Review  of  the  Policy  of  the  Proprietary  Govern- 
ments. XVII.  Comparison  between  the  Laws  of  East  and  West  Jersey  32 

CHAPTER  IV. 

From  the  Purchase  of  East  Jersey,  by  the  Quakers,  to  the  Surrender  of  the  two 
Provinces  to  the  Crown,  1682—1702.  I.  Purchase  of  East  Jersey  by  Penn 
and  his  Associates — They  admit  others,  not  Quakers,  to  participate  in  the 
Purchase.  II.  Robert  Barclay  appointed  Governor  for  Life — Scotch  Emi- 
grants— Deputy  Governors — Foundation  of  Amboy — Vain  Efforts  at  Com- 
merce. III.  Efforts  of  James  II.  to  destroy  Colonial  Charter — Defeated 
by  the  Revolution.  IV.  Andrew  Hamilton,  Deputy  Governor — Death  of 
Robert  Barclay — Interregnum — Andrew  Hamilton,  Governor-in-Chief — 
Superseded  by  Jeremiah  Basse — Reappointed — Discontent  of  the  Colonists. 

V.  Attempt  of  New  York  to  tax  the  Colony.     VI.  Proposition  from  the 
English  Ministers  for  the  Surrender  of  the  Proprietary  Governments — 
Negotiations  relating  thereto.     VII.  Final  and  Unconditio^il  Surrender — 
Lord  Cornbury  appointed  Governor — Outline  of  the  N^  Government. 

VIII.  Stationary  Condition  of  New  Jersey— Causes  thereof.     IX.  Condi- 
tion of  the  Aborigines — Purchases  of  their  Lands — Traditions  of  their  Ori- 
gin— Tribes  most  noted  in  New  Jersey — Treaty  at  Crosswicks — at  Bur- 
lington and  Easton — Final  Extinction  of  Indian  Title  to  the  Soil  of  New 
Jersey.     X.  Review  of  the  Title  under  the  Proprietaries  of  East  Jersey. 
XI.  Review  of  Title  of  Proprietaries  of  West  Jersey.    XII.  Of  the  Parti- 
tion Line  between  East  and  West  Jersey      .  .  .  .  .50 

CHAPTER  V. 

Comprising  the  Administration  of  Lord  Cornbury.  I.  Arrival  of  Lord  Corn- 
bury — Demands  a  large  and  permanent  Salary — being  refused,  dissolves 
the  House.  II.  A  new  Assembly  chosen — Part  of  its  Members  arbitrarily 
excluded — Measures  of  the  Governor.  III.  Third  Assembly  convened — 
Determines  to  Petition  the  Queen,  and  to  remonstrate  with  the  Governor 
— Public  Grievances — Delivery  of  the  Remonstrance,  by  Samuel  Jennings. 
IV.  Reply  of  the  Governor.  V.  Dispute  on  the  Treasurer's  Accounts. 

VI.  The  Governor  refuses  the  Message  of  the  Assembly,  which  they  enter 
upon  their  Minutes.     VII.  The  West  Jersey  Proprietors,  in  England,  ad- 
dress a  Memorial  to  the  Commissioners  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  against 
Cornbury — Address  of  the  Lieutenant- Governor,  and  Provincial  Council, 
to  the  Queen.     VIII.  The  Governor  unable  to  obtain  the  gratification  of 
his  wishes,  by  the  Assembly,  first  prorogues,  and  then  dissolves  them. 

IX.  Offensive  Conduct  of  Lord  Cornbury,  in  his  Government  of  New 
York — His  Character.     X.  Is  reluctantly  removed  by  Queen  Anne — Im- 
prisoned by  his  Creditors         .......        76 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Comprising  Events  from  the  Removal  of  Lord  Cornbury  to  the  Close  of  the 
Administration  of  Governor  Hunter,  1709 — 1719.  I.  Lord  Cornbury  suc- 
ceeded by  Lord  Lovelace — His  Conciliatory  Address  to  the  Assembly.  II. 
Ready  disposition  of  the  House  to  provide  for  the  Support  of  Government 
— Change  in  the  Constitution  of  the  Assembly — Assembly  obtain  a  Copy 
of  the  Address  of  the  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Council,  to  the  Queen,  in 
favour  of  Lord  Cornbury — Demand  a  hearing  for  their  Defence  before  the 
Governor.  III.  Death  of  Lord  Lovelace  and  Accession  of  Lieutenant 
Governor  Ingoldsby.  IV.  Promptitude  of  the  Province  to  aid  in  reducing 
the  French  Possessions  in  North  America.  V.  Failure  of  the  Expedition, 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

and  renewed  Efforts  of  the  Colonists  to  revive  it — Visit  of  the  Chiefs  of 
the  Five  Nations  to  England.  VI.  Capture  of  Port  Royal,  &c.  by  Colonel 
Nicholson  and  the  American  Forces.  VII.  Governor  Ingoldsby  removed 
— Government  administered  by  William  Pinhorne  as  President  of  Council 
— succeeded  by  Governor  Hunter.  VIII.  Biographical  Notice  of  Gover- 
nor Hunter.  IX.  Meets  the  Assembly,  which  prefers  Charges  against 
Members  of  Council.  X.  Expulsion  of  a  Member  of  the  House  for  his 
Conduct  in  Council — Address  to  the  Queen.  XI.  Bills  proposed  for  the 
Relief  of  the  Quakers  defeated  by  the  Council.  XII.  New  Efforts  for  the 
Conquest  of  the  French  Provinces — Unfortunate  Result.  XIII.  Con- 
tinued Quiet  of  the  Province.  XIV.  Division  of  the  Assembly.  XV. 
Governor  Hunter  returns  to  Europe — Testimonials  in  his  favour  by  New 
Jersey  and  New  York — Exchanges  his  Commission  with  William  Burnet  84 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Containing  Events  from  the  arrival  of  Governor  Burnet,  to  the  Death  of  Go- 
vernor Morris,  1719 — 1746.  I.  Governor  Burnet — Notice  of  his  Character. 
II.  Meets  the  Assembly— Proceedings.  III.  Paper  Currency— an  Account 
of  its  Rise  and  Progress.  IV.  Bill  proposed  against  denying  the  Trinity, 
&c.  V.  Governor  Bernard  removed  to  Massachusetts.  VI.  Is  succeeded 
by  John  Montgomery — His  Administration.  VII.  Death  of  Colonel  Mont- 
gomery, and  Presidency  of  Colonel  Lewis  Morris — Arrival  of  Governor 
Cosby — Harmony  of  the  Province  during  his  Administration — His  Death. 
VIII.  Presidencies  of  John  Anderson  and  John  Hamilton,  Esquires.  IX. 
Lewis  Morris,  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  it  being  separated 
from  New  York — Gratification  of  the  Province.  X.  He  ceases  to  meet  the 
Council  in  Legislation.  XI.  Salaries  of  Officers.  XII.  Unpopular  Con- 
duct of  Governor  Morris.  XIII.  War  with  Spain — Aid  required  by  Great 
Britain,  from  the  Colonies — promptly  afforded  by  New  Jersey — Further 
disputes  between  the  Governor  and  Assembly.  XIV.  Disingenuous  Con- 
duct of  the  Governor,  relative  to  the  Fee  Bill.  XV.  Opposes  the  Views  of 
the  House,  on  the  Bill  relative  to  the  Paper  Currency — on  that,  circum- 
scribing the  Jurisdiction  of  the  Supreme  Court.  XVI.  Assembly  refuse 
to  provide  for  the  Salaries  of  the  Public  Officers.  XVII.  Efforts  at  accom- 
modation— defeated  by  the  discovery  of  the  duplicity  of  the  Governor — 
Death  of  Governor  Morris — John  Hamilton,  Esq.,  President.  XVIII.  Bio- 
graphical Notice  of  Governor  Morris.  XIX.  Application  made  by  his 
Widow,  for  arrears  of  Salary— refused  .....  93 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Comprehending  Events  from  the  Death  of  Governor  Morris  to  the  Death  of 
Governor  Belcher — from  1746  to  1757.  I.  War  with  France — Proposal  of 
Governor  Shirley  to  attack  the  French  Settlements  at  Cape  Breton — New 
Jersey  votes  two  thousand  Pounds  for  the  Service — Favourable  result  of 
the  Expedition.  II.  Proposed  attack  on  Canada — New  Jersey  Regiment 
raised  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler— March 
for  Albany — Threatened  Mutiny.  III.  Plan  of  the  proposed  Campaign. 
IV.  Treaty  of  Peace.  V.  Death  of  President  Hamilton— Devolvement  of 
the  Government  on  President  Reading — Arrival  of  Governor  Belcher — 
His  Character.  VI.  Vexations  arising  from  the  Elizabethtown  Claims 
under  Indian  Grants— the  Assembly  disposed  to  palliate  the  Conduct  of 
the  Rioters — Representation  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors — their  grievous 
Charge  against  the  Members  of  Assembly,  in  a  Petition  to  the  King — the 
House  transmits  a  counter  Petition — Disingenuous  Conduct  of  the  House. 
VII.  Disputes  relative  to  the  "  Quota  Bill.  VIII.  Hostile  proceedings  of 
the  French  in  America.  IX.  Difference  between  the  French  and  English, 
in  their  mode  of  cultivating  Indian  favour.  X.  Efforts  of  the  French  to 
occupy  the  English  Lands.  XI.  Expedition  of  George  Washington  to 
Fort  Venango.  XII.  Measures  of  the  English  Government  to  resist 
French  encroachments.  XIII.  Convention  of  the  Colonies — Plan  of  Union 
proposed  by  Dr.  Franklin — Condemned  by  New  Jersey — Military  Expedi- 
tion of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washington — is  captured  by  the  French  under 
De  Villiers.  XIV.  Extensive  Military  Preparations  of  Great  Britain. 
XV.  Measures  of  New  Jersey.  XVI.  Arrival  of  Major  General  Braddock. 

XVII.  Convention  of  Governors  to  determine  the  Plan  of  the  Campaign. 

XVIII.  Acquisitions  in  Nova  Scotia— Cruel  Treatment  of  the  Neutrals. 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

XIX.  New  Jersey  raises  a  Regiment  for  the  Northern  Expedition— Mr. 
Philip  Schuyler  named  Colonel.  XX.  March  of  General  Braddock  on  the 
Western  Expedition — Fastidiousness  and  Presumption  of  the  General — is 
attacked  and  defeated.  XXI.  Universal  Consternation  on  this  Defeat — 
Governor  Belcher  summons  the  Legislature — Inroads  and  Cruelties  of  the 
Indians — the  Inhabitants  of  New  Jersey  give  aid  to  those  of  Pennsylvania. 
XXII.  Success  of  the  Northern  Expedition.  XXIII.  Provision  against  the 
Attack  of  the  French  and  Indians.  XXIV.  Plans  proposed  for  the  Cam- 
paign of  1756— Exertions  of  the  Colonies.  XXV.  War  formally  declared 
between  Great  Britain  and  France.  XXVI.  General  Shirley  removed 
from  the  supreme  command — General  Abercrombie,  and,  subsequently, 
Lord  Loudon  appointed.  XXVII.  Suspension  of  Indian  Hostilities. 
XXVIII.  Sluggish  Military  Efforts  of  the  English— Success  of  the  French 
in  the  North — Capture  of  part  of  the  Jersey  Regiment,  with  Colonel 
Schuyler,  at  Oswego — Disastrous  termination  of  the  Campaign.  XXIX. 
Renewal  of  Indian  Barbarities.  XXX.  Military  Requisitions  of  Lord  Lou- 
don— New  Jersey  refuses  to  raise  more  than  five  hundred  Men.  XXXI. 
Unsuccessful  Attempt  of  Lord  Loudon  on  Louisburg.  XXXII.  Success  of 
Montcalm — New  Jersey  prepares  to  raise  four  thousand  Men — the  remain- 
der of  the  Jersey  Regiment  captured  by  the  Enemy.  XXXIII.  Death  of 
Governor  Belcher — Biographical  Notice  of.  XXXIV.  John  Reading,  Pre- 
sident .  ......  106 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Containing  Events  from  the  Presidency  of  Mr.  Reading  to  the  Repeal  of  the 
Stamp  Act— from  the  year  1746  to  the  year  1766.  I.  Influence  of  Mr.  Pitt 
and  his  Policy  upon  Colonial  Affairs — New  hopes  infused  into  the  Colo- 
nists. II.  Successful  Attack  of  the  English  upon  the  Northern  Forts. 
III.  Capture  of  Fort  Du  Quesne  by  General  Forbes.  IV.  Cheerful  and 
ready  aid  of  the  Colonies.  V.  New  Jersey  supplies  one  thousand  Men, 
and  builds  Barracks  for  the  King's  Troops.  VI.  President  Reading  super- 
seded by  the  arrival  of  Governor  Bernard — His  Treaty  with  the  Indians — 
Succeeded  by  Thomas  Boone — He,  by  Josiah  Hardy — He,  by  William 
Franklin,  the  last  of  the  Royal  Governors.  VII.  Efficient  Preparations 
for  the  Campaign  of  1759.  VIII.  Conquest  of  the  French  Colonies  in 
North  America.  IX.  Honourable  share  of  the  Provincialists  in  this  Re- 
sult. X.  Treaty  of  Peace  with  France  and  Spain.  XI.  New  Confederacy 
and  Hostilities  of  the  Indians — Six  hundred  Troops  raised  by  New  Jersey. 
XII.  Impressions  on  the  English  Ministry,  by  the  Wealth  and  Power  dis- 
played in  America.  XIII.  Proposition  of  Mr.  Grenville  to  tax  the  Colo- 
nies. XIV.  Consideration  of  the  Principles  relating  to  Colonial  Taxation. 
XV.  Mr.  Grenville  communicates  his  purpose  to  the  Colonial  Agents  in 
London.  XVI.  Views  taken  by  Colonies  of  this  Proposition.  XVII.  Pro- 
positions by  several  of  the  Colonies  to  raise  Money,  rejected  by  Mr.  Gren- 
ville. XVIII.  Act  of  Parliament  for  Tax  on  Colonial  Imports  and  Exports. 
XIX.  Effect  of  the  Measures  in  America — Proceedings  of  Massachusetts 
and  Rhode  Island.  XX.  Stamp  Act  passed — Its  reception  in  the  Colonies. 
XXI.  Temporary  Suspension  of  Legal  Proceedings  and  of  the  publication 
of  Newspapers.  XXII.  Anti-Importation  Associations.  XXIII.  Organi- 
zation of  the  "Sons  of  Liberty."  XXIV.  Proposition  of  Massachusetts  for 
assembling  a  Congress  of  Deputies  from  the  Colonies — Action  of  New  Jer- 
sey on  this  Proposition.  XXV.  Proceedings  of  the  Congress — Messrs. 
Ruggles  of  Massachusetts,  and  Ogden  of  New  Jersey,  refuse  to  join  in  a 
general  Petition.  XXVI.  The  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  approve  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  Congress — adopts  Resolutions  condemnatory  of  the  Stamp  Act. 
XXVII.  Efforts  in  England  for  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.  XXIX.  Inquiry 
before  the  House  of  Commons — Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  .  .  .  129 

CHAPTER  X. 

Comprising  Events  from  1766  to  1769.  I.  Remaining  Discontents  in  the  Colo- 
nies, after  the  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.  II.  Dissatisfaction  in  Great  Bri- 
tain on  account  of  the  Repeal — American  Taxation  again  proposed  in  Par- 
liament, by  Mr.  Townsend — Bill  imposing  Duties  on  Goods  imported  into 
America,  passed.  IV.  Circular  Letter  of  Massachusetts  to  the  other  Colo- 
nies. V.  Promptitude  and  Unanimity  of  the  Colonies  produced  by  the 
Farmers'  Letters.  VI.  Resort  to  Non-importation  Agreements.  VII. 


CONTENTS.  IX 

The  Ministry  condemn  the  Circular  Letter.  VIII.  Menacing  Resolutions 
of  Parliament  against  Massachusetts — The  other  Colonies  approve  her 
Conduct.  IX.  Modified  Repeal  of  the  Imposts — Consequent  Modification 
of  the  Non-importation  Agreements.  X.  Numerous  Law  Suits — The  Peo- 
ple complain  of  the  Fees  of  the  Courts.  XI.  Disputes  between  the  Go- 
vernor and  the  Assembly.  XII.  Robbery  of  the  Treasury  of  East  Jersey — 
The  Assembly  require  the  removal  of  the  Treasurer — He  is  protected  by 
the  Governor.  XIII.  Efforts  of  Governor  Franklin  to  encourage  the  Cul- 
ture of  Hemp,  Flax,  and  Silk.  XIV.  New  apportionment  of  Members  in 
the  Province.  XV.  Testimonial  of  the  Northern  Indians  to  the  Justice  of 
the  Colony  .  .  ...  144 

CHAPTER  XL 

Comprising  Events  from  the  year  1773  to  1776.  I.  Committees  of  Correspon- 
dence established  in  the  several  Colonies.  II.  The  British  Ministry  en- 
courage the  shipment  of  Teas  to  America,  by  the  East  India  Company. 
III.  Alarm  of  the  Colonists — Consignees  of  the  India  Company  compelled 
to  forego  their  appointments.  IV.  Measures  pursued  in  New  Jersey.  V. 
Reception  of  the  Tea  in  America.  VI.  Indignation  of  the  King  and  Par- 
liament. VII.  Violent  measures  adopted  against  Boston.  VIII.  Alarm- 
ing Act  of  Parliament,  relative  to  the  Provincial  Government  of  Canada. 
IX.  Proceedings  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston — General  Commiseration  of 
their  Fate.  X.  New  Jersey  appoints  Members  to  Congress.  XL  Con- 
gress assemble  at  Philadelphia — Their  proceedings.  XII.  The  Assembly 
of  New  Jersey  approve  the  proceedings  of  Congress,  and  appoint  Dele- 
gates to  the  next  Convention — Instructions.  XIII.  The  Provincial  Go- 
vernors instructed  to  impede  the  Union  of  the  Colonies — Efforts  of  Gover- 
nor Franklin.  XIV.  Reply  of  the  House.  XV.  Rejoinder  of  the  Gover- 
nor— Address  of  the  Council.  XVI.  The  Assembly  petition  the  King. 
XVII.  Reception  of  the  proceedings  of  Congress  in  London.  XVIII. 
Proceedings  of  Parliament — Conciliatory  Propositions  of  Lord  North. 
XIX.  Sense  of  New  Jersey  upon  this  Proposition.  XX.  State  of  the  Dis- 
pute with  England.  XXI.  Second  New  Jersey  Convention  called — En- 
courages Political  Associations — Organizes  the  Militia,  and  provides  Funds. 
XXII.  Meeting  of  Congress  at  Philadelphia — Its  Measures.  XXIII.  Ap- 
pointment of  Commander-in-Chief  and  subordinate  Generals.  XXIV. 
Congress  again  petition  the  King — Ungracious  reception  of  the  petition. 
XXV.  Address  their  fellow-subjects  of  Ireland,  &c.  XXVI.  New  Jersey 
Convention  re-assernbles — Proceedings — Provision  for  the  continuance  of 
a  Provincial  Congress — Committee  of  Safety  appointed.  XXVII.  Meet- 
ing of  the  Assembly — Address  of  Governor  Franklin — He  claims  assurance 
of  protection  for  himself  and  others,  the  King's  Officers.  XXVIII.  Reply 
of  the  Assembly.  XXIX.  Act  authorizing  the  issue  of  Bills  of  Credit,  for 
£100,000,  approved  by  the  King  .  .  153 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Comprising  Civil  Events  of  the  year  1776.  I.  State  of  the  Public  Opinion  at 
the  commencement  of  the  year  1776 — Gradual  growth  of  the  desire  of  In- 
dependence. II.  Resolution  of  Congress  for  the  establishment  of  Inde- 
pendent Colonial  Governments.  III.  Provincial  Congress  re-assembles 
— Proceeds  to  the  Formation  of  a  Colonial  Constitution.  IV.  Review  of 
the  Constitution.  V.  Oath  of  Abjuration  and  Allegiance  established.  VI. 
Tories — their  motives.  VII.  Law  relative  to  Treason.  VIII.  Imprison- 
ment and  Relegation  of  Governor  Franklin.  IX.  Measures  adopted 
against  the  Disaffected.  X.  Adoption  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence ..........  178 

CHAPTER  XIII. 


I.  Military  Proceedings  in  Canada.  II.  Measures  adopted  in  Great  Britain. 
III.  Objects  proposed  for  the  Campaign  of  1776.  IV.  Operations  against 
New  York,  and  the  surrounding  Country.  V.  Proposals  for  accommoda- 


tion, by  the  British  Commissioners.  VI.  Condition  of  the  American 
Forces,  at  New  York — Landing  of  Lord  Howe,  on  Long  Island.  VII. 
Battle  of  Brooklyn.  VIII.  Retreat  of  the  American  Army  from  Long 


X  CONTENTS. 

Island.  IX.  Unhappy  Effect  of  the  Defeat  of  the  American  Army.  X. 
Lord  Howe  renews  his  Attempts  for  accommodation  of  the  Quarrel — Pro- 
ceedings of  Congress.  XI.  Military  Movement  of  the  Armies,  after  the 
Battle  of  Brooklyn.  XII.  American  Army,  by  advice  of  General  Lee, 
quit  York  Island.  XIII.  Battle  of  White  Plains.  XIV.  Capture  of  Fort 
Washington.  XV.  Abandonment  of  Fort  Lee,  and  retreat  of  the  Ameri- 
can Army — Its  condition — Inhabitants  join  the  British.  XVI.  Washing- 
ton crosses  the  Delaware— The  enemy  possess  themselves  of  the  left  bank. 
XVII.  Capture  of  General  Lee.  XVIII.  New  efforts  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief — The  enemy  retire  into  Winter  Quarters.  XIX.  Battle 
of  Trenton.  XX.  The  British  re-open  the  Campaign.  XXI.  The  Ame- 
rican Army  re-enters  Jersey.  XXII.  Battle  of  Princeton.  XXIII.  The 
American  Army  retreat  to  Morristown — Beneficial  results  of  the  late  ac- 
tions. XXIV.  Firmness  of  Congress.  XXV.  Condition  of  New  Jersey. 
XXVI.  The  American  Army  inoculated  for  the  Small  Pox.  XXVII. 
Measures  for  reclaiming  the  disaffected  of  New  Jersey.  XXVIII.  License 
of  American  Troops — restrained  ......  203 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

I.  Organization  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Government.  II.  First  Address  of 
the  Governor — Other  principal  Officers.  III.  Condition  of  the  State  at 
this  period.  IV.  State  of  the  Northern  Department — Operations  on  the 
Lakes.  V.  The  British  seize  Rhode  Island.  VI.  Demonstration  of  Ge- 
neral Heath,  on  Long  Island — Condition  of  the  American  Army,  in  New 
Jersey — Skirmishing.  VII.  Early  efforts  of  Sir  William  Howe,  to  destroy 
the  American  Magazines — Stores  burned  at  Peck's-kill — at  Danbury. 

VIII.  Successful  enterprise  of  Colonel   Meigs,   against    Sagg   Harbour. 

IX.  Movements  of  General  Washington,  on  opening  the  Campaign — Re- 
moval of  the  Army  to  Middlebrook — Disposition  of  the  Troops.     X.  Ope- 
rations of  the  Army  under  General  Howe — Feint  to  cross  the  Delaware — 
Retreat  from  New  Jersey — Returns,    and    attacks  the  American  Army. 
XI.  Perplexity  of  Washington,  caused  by  the  Movements  of  the  British 
Forces.     XII.  Capture  of  Major-general  Prescott,  by  Major  Barton.     XIII. 
General   Howe   embarks   for   the  southward — Measures  of  Washington 
thereon.     XIV.  Attempt  of  General  Sullivan,  with  Colonel  Ogden,  upon 
the  Tories  on  Staten  Island.     XV.  Arrival  of  the  British  Army  at  Elk 
River — its  Progress — Operations  of  the  American  Army — Battle  of  Bran- 
dy wine.     XVI.  Subsequent  movement  of  the  Armies.     XVII.  Second  en- 
counter of  the  hostile  Armies — they  are  separated  by  rain.     XVIII.  Af- 
fairs of  Paoli.     XIX.  The  British  enter  Philadelphia.     XX.  Congress  re- 
move to  Lancaster,  thence  to  York.     XXI.  Attack  and  defence  of  the  For- 
tifications on  the  Delaware.     XXII.  Battle  of  Germantown.     XXIII.  Ope- 
rations in  New  Jersey.     XXIV.  Further  proceedings  on  the  Delaware. 
XXV.    Repulse  of  Count  Donop,  from  Fort  Mercer.     XXVI.    General 
Greene  despatched  to  New  Jersey.     XXVII.   Capture  of  Fort  Mifflin, 
and  abandonment  of  Fort  Mercer.     XXVIII.  Attempt  of  General  Dicken- 
son  on  Staten  Island.     XXIX.  American  Army  reinforced.     XXX.  At- 
tacked at  White  Marsh,  by  the  British.     XXXI.  The  American  Army  re- 
tires into  Winter  Quarters.     XXXII.  English  plans  for  the  Northern  Cam- 
paign.    XXXIII.    Condition    of    the    American   Northern .  Department. 
XXXIV.  Burgoyne  captures  the  Forts  on  the  Lakes,  and  disperses  the 
American  Army.     XXXV.  Recuperative  measures  of  General  Schuyler. 
XXXVI.    Repulse   of  St.  Leger,  from  Fort    Schuyler.     XXXVII.    De- 
feat of  Colonel  Baum,  at  Bennington.     XXXVIII.  Beneficial  result  of 
these  fortunate  Events.     XXXIX.  Battles  on  the  Hudson,  and  Capture 
of  Burgoyne.     XL.  Movements  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  the  Highlands. 
XLI.  Effect  of  the  Capture  of  Burgoyne — at  home  and  abroad.     XLII. 
Congress  refuse  to  execute  the  Articles  of  Capitulation— their  reasons       .      235 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Campaign  of  1778.  I.  Condition  of  the  Army  at  the  Valley  Forge  and  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Campaign.  II.  British  foraging  excursions  in  New 
Jersey.  III.  Fortunate  escape  of  an  advance  party  under  La  Fayette. 

IV.  Effect  of  the  American  successes  abroad — Efforts  of  American  Agents. 

V.  Measures  for  Foreign  Alliances — Duplicity  of  France — Treaties  with 


CONTENTS.  XI 

her.  VI.  War  between  Great  Britain  and  France.  VII.  Opinions  in 
Great  Britain  —  Ministerial  measures.  VIII.  Reception  of  those  measures 
in  America.  IX.  Arrival  of  a  French  Minister  Plenipotentiary.  X.  The 
British  Army  evacuates  Philadelphia  —  March  through  Jersey.  XL  Battle 
of  Monmouth—  British  Army  regains  New  York.  XII.  Arrival  of  the 
French  Fleet  —  proceeds  to  Rhode  Island.  XIII.  Attempt  on  Newport  — 
Appearance  of  the  English  Fleet  —  French  and  English  Fleets  put  to  Sea 
_  dispersed  by  Storm.  XIV.  British  Incursions  in  Connecticut.  XV. 
Disposition  of  the  American  Army.  XVI.  British  Incursions  into  New 
Jersey.  XVII.  Movements  of  the  adverse  Fleets  —  Detachment  against 
the  Southern  States.  XVIII.  American  Army  retires  to  winter  quarters 
—  Its  improved  condition.  XIX.  Indian  devastations  —  Massacre  at  Wyo- 
ming. XX.  Operations  against  the  Indians.  XXI.  Discontent  in  the 
Jersey  line.  XXII.  March  of  General  Sullivan  to  the  Indian  country  — 
Events  there.  XXIII.  Expedition  under  Colonel  Broadhead  by  the  Alle- 
heny River.  XXIV.  Expedition  against  the  Cherokees  under  General 
ickens.  XXV.  Unprovoked  Slaughter  of  the  Indians  at  Muskingum  .  262 

CHAPTER  XVI. 


g 
P 


Comprising  a  View  of  the  War  in  the  South.  I.  Inert  state  of  the  Country  in 
1779.  II.  The  British  Government  adopts  views  of  partial  Conquest. 
III.  Georgia  overrun  —  and  Charleston  threatened  —  Unsuccessful  Siege  of 
Savannah.  IV.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  subdues  South  Carolina.  V.  His 
measures  induce  Revolt.  VI.  General  Gates  assumes  command  of  the 
Southern  Army—  Battle  of  Camden.  VII.  Battle  of  King's  Mountain. 
VIII.  Cornwallis  reinforced.  IX.  General  Greene  appointed  to  the 
Southern  Department  —  Battle  of  the  Cowpens  —  Retreat  to  Virginia. 
X.  Cornwallis  retires,  is  pursued  —  Battle  of  Guilford  Court  House.  XI. 
Cornwallis  marches  for  Petersburg  —  Greene  for  South  Carolina  —  Expedi- 
tion of  Arnold  against  Virginia  —  Preparations  against  him  —  Defence  of 
Virginia  entrusted  to  La  Fayette  —  Cornwallis  takes  command  of  the  Bri- 
tish Forces  in  Virginia.  XII.  Progress  of  Greene  in  recovering  the  South- 
ern States.  XIII.  Sufferings  of  the  Inhabitants  ....  285 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

I.  Condition  of  the  Armies  in  the  North.  II.  British  Expedition  against  the 
Forts  on  the  North  River.  III.  Expedition  under  Tryon,  against  Connec- 
ticut. IV.  Capture  of  Stony  Point,  by  Wayne.  V.  Attack  of  the  Bri- 
tish Post,  on  Penobscot  river.  —  VI.  Major  Lee  assaults  Paules  Hook. 
VII.  Effects  of  the  System  of  Paper  Currency.  VIII.  Spain  declares 
War  against  England.  IX.  Prospects  of  the  Campaign  of  1780.  X.  The 
American  Army  retires  into  winter  quarters.  XI.  Marauding  Parties  of 
the  Enemy  in  New  Jersey.  XII.  The  Army  at  Morristown  supplied  by 
forced  levies  of  Provisions.  XIII.  Washington  attempts  the  British  Post 
at.  Staten  Island  XIV.  Difficulties  arising  from  the  want  of  political 
power  in  Congress.  XV.  Discontents  of  the  Army  —  Mutiny  of  the  Con- 
necticut troops.  XVI.  Knyphausen  invades  New  Jersey—  Murder  of 
Mrs.  Caldwell,  and  of  her  Husband.  XVII.  Battle  of  Springfield.— 
XVIII.  La  Fayette  returns  to  the  United  States.  XIX.  Renewed  efforts 
for  the  Defence  of  the  Country.  XX.  Arrival  of  the  French  Fleet  and 
Army  —  Plans  consequent  thereon.  XXI.  Treason  of  Arnold.  XXII. 
American  Army  retires  into  winter  quarters.  XXIII.  European  combina- 
tions against  Great  Britain.  XXIV.  Revolt  of  the  Pennsylvania  line—  of 
the  Jersey  line  —  Discontent  of  the  Inhabitants  of  New  Jersey.  XXV. 
Gloomy  Prospect  for  the  year  1781.  XXVI.  Combined  Operations  of  the 
French  Fleet  and  Allied  Armies,  against  Cornwallis—  His  Capture.  — 
XXVII.  New  London  taken  and  burned  by  Arnold.  XXVIII.  Condition 
of  the  Country  for  the  Campaign  of  1782—  Resolutions  of  the  British  Par- 
liament in  favour  of  Peace.  XXIX.  Malignity  of  the  Tories  —  Murder  of 
Captain  Huddy.  XXX.  Cessation  of  Hostilities—  Treaty  of  Peace. 
XXXI.  Disbanding  of  the  Army.  XXXII.  Public  Entry  of  Washington 
to  New  York  —  takes  leave  of  his  Officers  —  Surrenders  his  Commission  to 
Congress  .........  294 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

I.  Peculiar  sufferings  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  from  the  War.  II.  Laws  in 
New  Jersey  relative  to  the  Militia.  III.  Council  of  Safety.  IV.  Mili- 
tary efforts  of  New  Jersey.  V.  State  Representatives  in  Congress.  VI. 
Establishment  of  the  New  Jersey  Gazette.  VII.  Unhappy  Condition  of 
the  States  after  the  return  of  Peace.  VIII.  Inefficiency  of  the  Articles  of 
Confederation— Part  of  New  Jersey  in  their  Adoption.  IX.  Measures  pro- 
posed in  Congress  for  maintaining  Public  Credit— Efforts  of  New  Jersey 
upon  this  subject.  X.  She  resorts  to  Paper  Currency  and  Loan  Office  for 
Relief.  XI.  Difficulties  with  Great  Britain  relative  to  the  Execution  of 
the  Treaty.  XII.  Measures  for  regulating  the  Trade  of  the  Union — Re- 
sult in  a  Proposition  for  Revision  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation.  XIII. 
Adoption  of  the  New  Constitution— Ratified  by  New  Jersey  .  .  320 


THE 

•I 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Comprising  Events  from  the  Discovery  by  Europeans,  to  the  Grant  from  Charles  I. 
to  James  Duke  of  York. — I.  Ancient  and  Modern  Principles  of  Colonization. — 
II.  Voyages  of  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguese  upon  the  East  Coast  of  North  Ame- 
rica.— III.  Voyages  of  the  Italians,  Verrazano  and  the  Cabots. — IV.  First  Eng- 
lish Attempts  at  Discovery. — V.  Efforts  of  Raleigh  to  establish  a  Colony. — VI. 
Gosnold  opens  a  new  Road — London  and  Plymouth  Companies  created. — VII. 
Voyages  and  Discoveries  of  Hudson. — VIII.  Intercourse  of  the  Dutch  East  In- 
dia Company  with  America,  and  Formation  of  the  Amsterdam  Licensed  Trading 
West  India  Company. — IX.  Settlement  of  the  Puritans  at  Plymouth. — X.  For- 
mation of  the  Great  West  India  Company  in  Holland. — XI.  Voyage  and  Pro- 
ceedings of  Cornelius  Jacobse  Mey. — XII.  Measures  of  the  Company  to  promote 
Emigration;  Purchases  of  large  Tracts  of  Land  from  the  Indians. — XIII.  Voy- 
ages of  De  Vries ;  Colony  planted — The  Delaware  abandoned  by  the  Dutch. — 
XIV.  Minisink  Settlements  on  the  Delaware.— XV.  Settlements  of  the  Swedes 
on  the  Delaware — first  Project  of  a  Colony — first  Colony — increase  of  Settlers. — 
XVI.  Colonial  Government  established — Colonel  Printz  first  Governor. — XVII. 
English  Settlements  upon  the  Delaware — prostrated  by  a  united  Force  of  Dutch 
and  Swedes. — XVIII.  Swedish  Government  under  Printz  and  his  Successors. — 
XIX.  Swedish  Colony  subjected  by  the  Dutch. — XX.  Dutch  Colonial  Govern- 
ment on  the  Delaware — Possessions  on  the  East  of  New  Jersey. — XXI.  Account 
of  the  English  Settlements  upon  the  Delaware  previous  to  16G4 — under  Patent 
from  Lord  Baltimore — under  Grant  to  Sir  Edward  Ploeyden — by  Traders  from 
New  Haven.— XXII.  Plans  of  New  England  Settlers  for  Conquest  of  the  Dutch 
Colonies. — XXIII.  Duke  of  York's  Charter  from  the  Crown  and  Grant  to  Berkeley 
and  Carteret.— XXIV.  Conquest  of  New  Netherlands,  by  Colonel  Nicholls. — 
XXV.  English  Government  established  on  the  Delaware. — XXVI.  Condition  of 
New  Netherlandts  at  the  time  of  the  Surrender. 

I.  A  distinction  has  frequently  been  taken  between  ancient  and  modern 
colonization ;  ascribing  the  former  to  military,  and  the  latter  to  commercial 
principles.  But  this  classification  does  not  embrace  the  various  species  of 
colonies,  in  present  or  past  time.  A  more  happy  division  of  the  subject 
would  seem  to  be,  into  colonies  founded  by  individuals,  in  their  search  of 
happiness ;  and  colonies  planted  by  states,  with  a  view  to  military  or  com- 
mercial purposes.  By  the  first,  our  race  was  originally  spread  over  the  face 
of  the  globe.  It  has  prevailed  at  all  times,  as  well  among  the  Egyptians, 
Athenians,  and  other  ancient  people,  as  among  the  moderns,  who  instituted 
the  communities  of  the  North  American  confederacy.  The  early  Greek 
colonies,  generally,  sprung  from  the  desire  of  the  citizens  to  ameliorate  their 
condition ;  and  the  immediate  impulse  was,  excess  of  population,  the  ambition 
of  chiefs,  the  love  of  liberty,  or  contagious  and  frequent  maladies.  The 
bonds  of  filiation  connected  the  colony  with  the  parent  state ;  and  the  en- 
dearing names  of  daughter,  sister  and  mother,  sanctioned  and  preserved  the 
alliances  between  them.  But  in  the  Grecian  colonies  of  latter  date,  we  trace 
commercial  and  political  views.  The  Carthaginians,  also,  seem  to  have 
established  colonies  upon  commercial  principles ;  and  two  treaties,  recorded 
A 


2  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

» 

by  Polybius,*  between  them  and  the  Romans,  are  in  the  true  spirit  of  mo- 
dern colonial  policy.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Roman  colonies  were  military 
establishments,  designed  to  maintain  or  extend  their  conquests;  and  their 
agrarian  allotments,  to  disbanded  veterans  and  discontented  and  clamorous 
citizens,  partook  of  the  same  character.  Commercial  motives  seem  rarely 
to  have  blended  with  the  policy  of  these  haughty  conquerors.  Such,  also, 
in  more  recent  days  were  the  colonies  of  the  Normans,  in  England,  France, 
and  the  south  of  Europe;  of  the  English,  in  Ireland  and  Indostan;  of  the 
Portuguese  arid  Dutch  in  either  India ;  and  of  a  portion  of  the  Spanish  settle- 
ments in  the  New  World. 

In  general,  the  civil  colonies  of  the  ancients  were  independent  of  the  au- 
thority of  the  parent  state ;  though,  necessarily,  influenced  by  the  ties  of  cha- 
rity which  connected  them  with  her.  But,  modern  history,  we  believe, 
furnishes  no  instance  of  a  colony  independent  in  its  inception;  unless  the 
short-lived  religious  communities  of  the  Jesuits,  in  America,  and  of  the  Mo- 
ravians in  the  northern  parts  of  both  continents,  be  so  considered.  The  co- 
lonies of  the  western  hemisphere  were,  generally,  commenced  under  the  sanc- 
tion of,  and  in  dependence  upon,  some  European  state.  Even  the  ascetic 
Brownists,  in  their  torpid  settlement  of  New  Plymouth,  began  their  labours 
under  the  auspices  of  James  I.  of  England :  and  though  for  some  years, 
they  were  unnoticed  by  the  crown,  they  claimed  and  enjoyed  the  protection 
due  to  English  subjects. 

The  colonization  of  America  was  prompted  and  directed  by  various  pas- 
sions. The  Spaniards  and  Portuguese  were  inspired  by  visions  of  sudden 
wealth,  by  the  love  of  that  fame  which  chivalric  adventure  gave,  and  by  an 
apostolic  desire  of  spreading  their  religious  faith  among  the  heathen.  The 
founders  of  states  in  the  northern  continent,  were  actuated  by  more  sober, 
but  not  dissimilar  views.  Raleigh  and  his  associates  sought  wealth  and 
reputation,  by  extending  the  power  and  fame  of  their  mistress  and  their 
country ;  and  the  provincial  proprietaries,  holders  of  large  grants  from  the 
crown,  were  excited  by  ambition  and  avarice ;  which  in  Calvert  and  Penn, 
at  least,  were  blended  with  a  noble  philanthropy,  delighting  to  assure  reli- 
gious and  civil  liberty  to  their  associates  and  their  successors.  The  sub- 
grantees  and  settlers  who  subdued  the  wilderness,  came  with  great  diversity 
of  purpose.  Many  fled  from  religious,  some,  from  political  persecution ;  but, 
the  larger  portion  was  induced  by  that  well  founded  hope  of  ameliorating  the 
condition  of  themselves  and  their  posterity,  which  flowed  from  the  unrestrict- 
ed possession  of  a  rich  and  virgin  soil,  in  whose  fruits  they  were  protected, 
against  lawful  and  lawless  violence.  The  religious  instruction  of  the  savage 
is  a  condition  of  every  royal  grant ;  and  afforded  to  the  grantor,  doubtless,  a 
full  extenuation  of  the  injustice  of  invasion.  The  extensive  grant  of  Charles 
II.  to  his  brother,  of  York,  was  moved  by  political  causes,  and  designed, 
probably,  also,  to  reward  the  services  of  others,  which  he  could  not,  in  a 
different  manner,  acknowledge.  The  immediate  grantees  of  the  Duke,  were 
wise  enough  to  see,  that  their  interest  lay  in  the  adoption  of  the  most  libe- 
ral principles  of  political  association,  which  circumstances  would  permit ;  and 
these  circumstances  were  most  favorable,  to  civil  and  religious  liberty. 

The  period  in  which  the  foundations  of  the  Anglo-American  colonies  were 
laid,  was  rife  with  events,  which  sowed  the  indestructible  seeds,  and  reared 
into  strength  the  scions  of  human  liberty.  The  integrity  and  infallibility  of 
clerical  power,  had  been  shaken  to  pieces  by  Luther  and  Calvin ;  and  the 
divinity  of  kings  had  expired  with  the  unhappy  Charles.  The  religious 
contests,  and  the  transition  of  power  from  one  religious  sect  to  another, 

*  Lib.  iii.  c.  22. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  3 

had  taught  to  Catholic  and  Protestant,  the  advantages,  if  not  the  necessity, 
of  religious  toleration.  Letters,  the  cause  and  power  of  religious  freedom, 
had  been  equally  serviceable  to  civil  liberty ;  and  the  great  truth  which,  for 
ages,  had  laid  buried  in  the  ruins  of  civilization,  beneath  sacerdotal  palaces 
and  prisons,  and  the  gothic  gorgeousness  of  the  feudal  system, — the  great 
truth,  that  political  power  belonged  to,  and  was  made  for,  the  people, 
had  been  rediscovered — was  proclaimed  abroad,  and  had  become  generally 
understood  among  men — among  Englishmen.  That  truth  had  wrenched 
the  sceptre  from  the  grasp  of  an  obstinate  and  bigoted  despot,  and  borne 
him  to  the  block — had  overthrown  a  monarchy  and  created  a  republic ;  and 
because  of  the  abuse  of  republican  forms,  had  again  established  a  throne. 
Religious  and  political  freedom  were  in  England  terms  as  familiar  as  house- 
hold words,  and  enforced,  even  from  the  hate  of  her  princes,  the  most  pro- 
found respect. 

It  was  vain,  therefore,  to  think  of  the  formation  of  new  political  societies, 
without  adverting  to,  and  securing  these  great  essentials.  Kings  and  pro- 
prietaries, who  would  establish  colonies,  were  compelled  to  stipulate  for 
religious  toleration,  and  legislative  power  in  the  people.  Hence,  the  first 
Charles,  who  abominated  a  parliament,  required  the  proprietary,  Calvert, 
to  obtain  all  subsidies,  by  the  assent  of  the  people — hence,  the  second 
Charles  introduced  the  same  principle,  in  the  grant  of  Pennsylvania — hence, 
they,  and  the  Carterets,  and  the  Berkeleys,  and  the  minor  Proprietaries,  were 
compelled  to  their  liberal  charters.  All  were  results  of  improvement  in 
the  moral  condition  of  our  species,  which  individuals  might  promote,  but 
could  scarce  retard.  We  are  guilty,  therefore,  of  the  worst  species  of  idola- 
try— of  man-worship,  when  we  give  to  individuals  the  praise  of  creating 
measures,  of  which  they  could  only  be  the  servants.  Our  plaudits  for  their 
concurrence  in  the  good  work,  are,  however,  due ;  and  should  be  frankly  and 
fully  paid,  as  the  just  incentive  to  virtuous  actions. 

In  this  spirit,  we  adopt  the  expressions  of  a  late  writer  upon  colonial 
history : — "  A  North  American  may  feel  grateful  exultation  in  avowing 
himself  the  native  of  no  ignoble  land — but  of  a  land  which  has  yielded  as 
great  an  increase  of  glory  to  God,  and  happiness  to  man,  as  any  other  por- 
tion of  the  world,  since  the  first  syllable  of  recorded  time,  has  had  the 
honour  of  producing.  A  nobler  model  of  human  character  could  hardly  be 
proposed  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  North  American  States,  than  that  which 
their  own  early  history  supplies.  It  is,  at  once,  their  interest  and  their  honour, 
to  preserve  with  sacred  care,  a  model  so  richly  fraught,  with  the  instructions 
of  wisdom  and  the  incitements  of  duty."* 

No  portion  of  the  history  of  this  great  country  is  more  filled  with  cause 
for  this  "  grateful  exultation,"  than  the  State  of  New  Jersey — none  can 
boast  greater  purity  in  its  origin — none  more  wisdom,  more  happiness 
in  its  growth.  To  develope  her  unpretending,  but  instructive  story,  is  the 
object  of  the  following  pages ;  in  which,  however,  we  must,  necessarily,  blend 
a  portion  of  that  of  the  adjacent  states,  which  for  half  a  century  were  identi- 
fied with  her. 

II.  Soon  after  the  discovery  of  America,  by  Columbus,  the  Spaniards  and 
Portuguese  explored  the  northern  Atlantic  coast,  as  high  as  Labrador;  to 
which,  the  latter  gave  its  present  name.  As  they  approached  by  the  West 
Indies,  they  may  have  visited  the  shores  of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  rivers ; 
but  possessed  of  the  fine  climates,  and  richer  countries  of  the  south,  they  had 
no  inducement  to  make  permanent  settlements  in  regions  less  attractive. 
Florida  was  occupied  by  the  Spaniards,  in  1512;  and  its  boundaries,  as 

*  Grahame's  History  of  the  American  Colonies. 


4  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

given  by  the  charter  of  Philip  II.  to  Menendez,  extended  from  Newfoundland 
to  the  22d  degree  of  northern  latitude. 

III.  To  the  genius  of  the  Italian  navigators,  the  world  is  deeply  indebted, 
as  well  for  the  early  exploration,  as  for  the  discovery,  of  America.     John  de 
Verrazano,  and  the  enterprising  and  skilful  Cabots,  were  the  worthy  succes- 
sors of  Columbus  and  Americus  Vespucius.     Verrazano,  whilst  in  the  ser- 
vice of  Francis  I.  of  France,  visited,  it  is  supposed,  the  bay  of  New  York.* 
It  is  certain,  that,  in  1523,  he  coasted  the  American  continent,  from  the  30th 
to  the  50th  degree  of  north  latitude,  landing  and  communicating  with  the 
natives  in  several  places;  and  that  by  virtue  of  discoveries  made  by  him, 
and  some  French  navigators,  Henry  IV.  gave  to  Des  Monts,  the  lands  lying 
between  the  40th  and  46th  degrees  of  north  latitude. t     The  loss  of  Verra- 
zano, with  his  vessel  and  crew,  on  a  subsequent  voyage,  (1524)  procrasti- 
nated, for  ten  years,  the  efforts  of  the  French  to  establish  colonies  in  Ame- 
rica.   The  voyages  and  discoveries  of  Quartier,  in  1535,  directed  their  atten- 
tion, particularly,  to  the  shores  of  the  bay  and  river  of  St.  Lawrence. 

IV.  Under  the  patronage  of  Henry  VII.  of  England,  Sebastian  Cabot  dis- 
covered the  islands  of  Newfoundland  and  St.  Johns,  and  explored  the  coast 
of  the  continent,  from  the  38th  to  the  67th  degree  of  north  latitude.^     But  no 
fruit  was,  immediately,  derived  frqm  his  labours.     During  the  reigns  of  the 
voluptuary,  Henry  VIII.,  of  his  son,  Edward  VI.,  and  daughter,  the  bigoted 
Mary,  no  effort  was  made  to  prosecute  these  interesting  discoveries.     It  Was 
reserved   for  the  maiitime  enterprise  of  Elizabeth's  reign,  to  give  to  the 
English  nation  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  new  world,  and  a  proper  sense  of 
the  advantages  which  might  be  drawn  from  it.     Encouraged  by  the  Earl  of 
Warwick,  Martin  Frobisher,  in  three  successive  voyages,  visited  the  shores 
of  Labrador  and  Greenland.^     Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  in  1580,  made  two 
unsuccessful  attempts  to  establish  a  colony  in  North  America,  in  the  last  of 
which,  he  perished. 

V.  But  the  fate  of  Gilbert  did  not  deter  his  half-brother,  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  alike  distinguished  for  his  genius  and  courage,  from  pursuing  the 
same  object;  which,  indeed,  had  taken  strong  hold  of  the  affections  of  the 
principal  men  of  the  kingdom.     He  formed  a  company,  under  a  charter, 
obtained  from  the  queen, ||  granting  them  all  the  lands  they  should  discover 
between  the  33d  and  40th  degrees  of  north  latitude.     Two  vessels  despatch- 
ed by  them,  under  captains  Armidas  and  Barlow,**  visited  Pamptico  Sound, 
and  Roanoke  Bay ;  and  on  their  return,  reported  so  favourably  of  the  beauty 
and  fertility  of  the  country,  that,  the  company  were  excited  to  new  exertions ; 
and  Elizabeth  gave,  to  the  newly  discovered  region,  the  name  of  Virginia,  as 
a  memorial  that  it  was  discovered  in  the  reign  of  a  virgin  queen.     But  the 
subsequent  efforts  of  this  company  proved  abortive.     A  colony  was,  indeed, 
planted  at  Roanoke,  in  1585;  but,  having  been  reduced  to  distress  by  the 
delay  of  supplies,  they  returned  to  Europe,  in  the  following  year,  with  Sir 
Francis  Drake ;  who  touched  at  their  island  on  his  way  home,  from  a  suc- 
cessful cruise  against  the  Spaniards.     Undiscouraged  by  this  ill  success, 
Raleigh  despatched  another  colony  to  the  same  place,  under  the  direction  of 
captain  John  White,ff  which  perished  by  famine,  or  the  sword  of  the  natives ; 
having  been  deprived,  by  the  preparations  of  the  Spaniards,  for  invading 
England,  of  the  succour  which  White  had  returned  to  seek. 

*  Dr.  Miller's  Discourse,  1  vol. — N.  Y.  Historical  Collection. 

t  2  Hackluyt's,  1.  N.  Y.  Historical  Collection.  Williamson's  History  of  North 
Carolina,  vol.  i.  15.  Moulton's  History  of  New  York,  vol.  i.  134. 

t  1498.  A  Mr.  Hare  is  said  to  have  followed  Cabot,  and  to  have  brought  to  Henry 
VIII,  some  Indians  from  North  America. 

§  In  1576.  1577,  1578.  ||  26th  March,  1584.  **  Sailed,  27th  April,  returned, 
15th  September,  1584.  tl  March,  1590. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  5 

VI.  Between  the  years  1590  and  1603,  the  English  do  not  appear  to  have 
made  any  voyage  for  the  purpose  of  settlement.     In  the  latter  year,  Bartho- 
lomew Gosnold,  abandoning  the  circuitous  route  hitherto  pursued  by  all  navi- 
gators, discovered,  by  steering  due  west,  a  more  direct  course  to  the  northern 
continent.     He  visited,  and  gave  names  to  Cape  Cod,  and  the  islands  of 
Elizabeth,  and  Martha's  Vineyard ;  and  taught  his  countrymen,  that  there 
were  many  attractions,  far  north  of  the  lands  they  had  attempted  to  colonize. 
His  favourable  reports,  at  first  disbelieved,  were  confirmed  by  persons  who 
sailed,  thither,  in  the  service  of  some  merchants  of  Bristol,  the  Earl  of  South- 
ampton, and  Lord  Arundel,  of  Wardour.    By  the  zeal  of  Richard  Hackluyt, 
prebendary  of  Westminster,  to  whom  England  was  more  indebted  than  to 
any  man  of  his  age,  for  her  American  possessions,  an  association,  em- 
bracing men  of  rank  and  men  of  business,  was  formed,  with  a  view  to 
colonization.* 

To  this  company,  James  I.,  on  the  10th  of  April,  1606,  granted  letters 
patent,  dividing  that  portion  of  the  continent  which  stretches  from  the  34th 
to  the  46th  degrees  of  north  latitude,  into  two,  nearly  equal,  districts.  The 
one,  called  the  first,  or  south  colony  of  Virginia,  was  allotted  to  Sir  Thomas 
Gates,  Richard  Hackluyt,  and  their  associates,  mostly  residents  of  London ; 
the  other,  to  sundry  knights,  gentlemen  and  merchants,  of  Bristol,  Plymouth, 
and  other  parts  of  the  west  of  England.  Each  company  was  empowered  to 
appropriate  to  itself,  fifty  miles  each  way,  along  the  coast,  from  the  point  of 
its  settlement,  and  one  hundred  miles  of  interior  extent.  From  the  places  at 
which  the  colonial  councils  were  respectively  established,  were  derived  the 
titles  of  the  London  and  Plymouth  Colonies,  f 

Under  this  and  another  charter,  to  the  Plymouth  company,  given  in  1620, 
whose  provisions  were  not  the  most  friendly  to  political  freedom,  nor  the 
best  adapted  to  promote  the  objects  for  which  they  were  designed,  the  per- 
manent settlement  of  Virginia  and  New  England  was  commenced  and  pro- 
secuted. It  forms,  however,  no  part  of  our  present  plan,  to  trace  the  various 
fortune  which  attended  their  growth,  from  weak  and  sickly  plants,  to  deep- 
rooted  and  umbrageous  trees. 

VII.  The  hope  of  discovering  a  north-west  passage  from  Europe  to  Asia, 
which  no  disappointment  seems  to  have  power  to  extinguish,  was  the  motive 
of  several  voyages  made  by  Henry  Hudson,  a  distinguished  English  mariner. 
In  his  third  voyage,  failing  to  open  a  northern  route,  he  explored  the  eastern 
coast  of  America,  with  the  view  of  determining,  whether  a  passage,  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  might  not  be  found  through  the  continent. J    He  ran  down  the 
coast,  from  Newfoundland,  to  35°  41',  northern  latitude;  and  returning  by 
the  same  course,  entered  the  Delaware  bay,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1609. — 
but  finding  the  water  shoal,  and  the  channel  impeded  by  bars  of  sand,  he 
did  not  venture  to  explore  it.     Following  the  eastern  shore  of  New  Jersey, 
he  anchored  his  ship,  the  Half-Moon,  on  the  3d  of  September,  within  Sandy 
Hook.     He  spent  a  week  in  examining  the  neighbouring  shores,  and  in 
communication  with  the  natives ;  during  which,  one  of  his  seamen,  named 
John  Coleman,  was  killed.     The  boat  in  which  he  and  several  others  had 
passed  the  Kills,  between  Bergen  Neck  and  Staten  Island,  being  attacked  by 
two  canoes,  carrying  twenty-six  Indians,  the  unfortunate  sailor  was  shot,  by 
an  arrow,  through  the  throat.     Thus  it  would  seem,  that  in  the  intercourse 

*  2  Purchas,  5.  Belknap's  American  Biography. — N.  A.  R.,  (new  series)  vol.  vi. 
p.  3G. 

t  Modern  Universal  History,  vol.  xxx.  Hazard's  State  Papers,  1.  Stith,  Beverly, 
Robertson. 

t  Voyages  undertaken  by  the  Dutch  East  India  Company.  Hudson's  Journal. 
Purchas,  1— N.  Y.  Hist.  Col.  81,  162. 


6  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

between  the  European  and  Indian,  in  this  part  of  America,  the  Indian 
committed  the  first  homicide.  The  shores  of  the  Delaware  and  Raritan 
bays  were,  probably,  the  first  lands  of  the  middle  States  trodden  by  Eu- 
ropean feet. 

On  the  12th  of  September,  Hudson  entered  New  York  Bay,  through  the 
Narrows.  He  spent  the  time  between  that  day  and  the  19th  of  the  same 
month,  in  exploring  the  North  river.*  He  ascended,  with  his  ship,  as  high 
as  the  spot  where  the  city  of  Albany  now  stands ;  and  his  boat  proceeded  to 
the  sites  of  Waterford  and  Lansingburg.  The  decreasing  volume  of  the 
stream,  and  the  shoals  which  obstructed  his  further  way,  depriving  him  of 
all  hope  of  reaching  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  this  route,  he  prepared  to  retrace 
his  steps.  Commencing  his  return  on  the  22d  of  September,  he  slowly  de- 
scended the  river,  and  on  the  4th  day  of  October,  put  to  sea.  He  reached 
England  on  the  7th  of  November,  1609.  His  vessel,  and  part  of  the  crew, 
returned  to  Holland ;  but  the  jealousy  of  the  king,  James  the  First,  forbade 
him,  and  his  English  sailors,  to  revisit  that  country.f 

In  the  following  year,  Hudson  re-entered  the  service  of  the  London  com- 
pany, in  which  he  had  made  his  two  first  northern  voyages ;  designing  to 
seek  again,  a  north-west  passage,  through  Davis'  Straits ;  but  his  crew 
mutinied,  and  abandoned  him,  his  only  son,  and  some  half-dozen  of  his 
men,  who  continued  faithful,  to  perish  amid  the  fields  of  ice,  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  bay  which  bears  his  name.:}: 

Whilst  in  the  North  river,  Hudson  had  much  intercourse  with  the  natives. 
Near  the  coast,  they  were  fierce  and  inimical — at  a  distance  from  the  sea, 
mild  and  hospitable.  But  the  superior  power  of  the  Europeans  was  exer- 
cised upon  friend  and  foe  without  mercy.  Of  the  former,  one  was  shot  to 
death,  for  a  petty  theft — and  of  the  latter,  nine  were  more  deservedly  slain, 
in  an  attack  which  they  made  upon  the  vessel.  The  first  visit  of  the  white 
man,  therefore,  to  the  shores  of  the  Hudson,  was  signalized  by  the  violent 
death  of  ten  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants. 

VIII.  The  Dutch  East  India  Company,  although  disappointed  in  the 
main  design  of  Hudson's  voyage,  found  in  the  fur  trade  he  had  opened,  suf- 
ficient inducement  to  cherish  commercial  intercourse  with  the  Americans. 
A  second  voyage,  under  their  authority,  in  1610,  proving  successful,  was 
repeated ;  but  the  competition  of  private  adventurers  reducing  their  profits, 
they  endeavoured  to  monopolize  the  trade,  by  a  decree  of  the  States-Gene- 
ral, granting  to  all  persons  who  had  discovered,  or  might  discover,  any  bays, 
rivers,  harbours,  or  countries  before  unknown,  the  right,  beside  other  ad- 
vantages, to  the  exclusive  trade  therein,  for  four  successive  voyages.^  Under 
this  edict  the  Amsterdam  Licensed  Trading  West  India  Company  was 
formed;  proposing  to  maintain  the  acquisitions  on  the  Hudson  and  to  explore 
the  circumjacent  country. 

In  the  service  of  this  company,  Adrian  Blok  and  Hendrick  Christianse 
sailed  in  the  year  1614.  Blok  arrived  first  at  Mannahattan,  where,  his  ship 
having  been  accidentally  burned,  he  built  a  small  vessel,  with  which  he 
passed  into  Long  Island  Sound.  He  fell  in  with  Christianse  near  Cape  Cod. 
Together,  they  discovered  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  river;  and  proceed- 
ing to  Mannahattan  Bay,  they  erected  a  fort  on  Castle  Island,  and  four  dwell- 
ings on  the  Greater  Island.  In  the  preceding  year,  a  small  trading  house 
was  built  upon  an  island  below  Albany;  and  in  the  following,  a  redoubt  was 
thrown  up  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  probably,  at  the  present  Jersey  City 

*  Hudson's  Journal.     See  Note  (A.)— Appendix. 

t  Lambrechsten,  Moulton,  Ebeling.  t  June  21,  1611. 

§  De  Laet,  March  27,  1614;  or  as  it  is  said  1611,  1612.    Moulton,  340. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  7 

Point.*  The  most  important  event  of  this  period,  however,  was  the  alliance 
by  formal  treaty,  between  the  Dutch  and  the  Five  Nation  confederacy  of  In- 
dians ;  at  the  execution  of  which,  it  is  supposed,  the  Lenape  tribes  were  also 
present,  and  by  the  united  instances  of  the  Dutch  and  Iroquois,  consented  to 
the  fatal  assumption  of  the  character  of  the  woman,  in  the  manner  we  shall 
narrate  hereafter.f 

The  Hollanders,  directing  their  efforts  at  colonization,  to  their  Asiatic, 
African  and  South  American  possessions,  and  restrained,  perhaps,  by  the 
claim  of  the  English,  to  the  greater  part  of  North  America,  had  hitherto  made 
little  effort  to  people  the  shores  of  the  Hudson.  It  has  been  asserted,  how- 
ever, that  between  the  years  1617  and  1620,  settlements  were  made  at  Ber- 
gen, in  New  Jersey,  in  the  vicinage  of  the  Esopus  Indians,  and  at  Schenec- 
tady  ;  and  it  would  seem,  that  Sir  Thomas  Dale  and  Sir  Samuel  Argal, 
in  the  year  1614,  returning  from  an  expedition  against  the  French  at 
Acadie,  visited  Mannahattan,  and  compelled  the  Dutch  to  acknowledge  the 
English  title,  and  to  contribute  to  the  payment  of  the  expenses  of  their 
voyage.  It  would  further  seem,  from  the  authorities  cited  in  the  margin, 
but  which  should  be  received  with  some  allowance,  that  in  1620,  the  Dutch 
West  Indian  Company,  upon  application  to  James  the  First,  of  England, 
obtained  leave  to  build  some  cottages  upon  the  Hudson  river,  for  the  con- 
venience of  the  ships,  touching  there  for  fresh  water  arid  provisions,  in 
their  voyage  to  Brazil ;  under  colour  of  which  license,  the  company  esta- 
blished a  colony ;  and  that,  upon  complaint  to  Charles  I.  of  these  proceed- 
ings, he  remonstrated  with  the  States-General,  who  disowned  the  acts  of  the 
company.:): 

IX.  But,  although  the  Dutch  did  not  immediately,  themselves,  colonize  the 
New  Netherlands,  (the  name  given  to  the  country  from  the  Delaware  Bay  to 
Cape  Cod,)  they  were  well  disposed  to  aid  others  in  sudi  design ;  encouraging 
the  Puritans,  who,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  John  Robinson,  had  fled  to  the 
low  countries  from  England,  to  seek  a  safe  and  more  commodious  asylum  in 
the  New  World ;  notwithstanding  these  sectarians  avowed  an  intention  to 
preserve  their  national  character,  and  to  hold  the  title  for  the  lands  they 
should  inhabit,  in  dependence  on  the  English  government.     This  germ  of 
the  Plymouth  colony,  planted  in  1620,  was  designed  for  the  country  between 
New  York  Bay  and  the  western  line  of  Connecticut.     But  the  season  at 
which  the  adventurers  arrived  on  the  coast,  adverse  winds  and  currents,  with 
the  discovery  of  a  portion  of  the  country,  whence  the  aborigines  had  been 
lately  swept,  providentially,  as  the  pilgrims  supposed,  by  pestilence,  induced 
them  to  land  at  a  place,  they  termed  Plymouth.^     The  allegation,  therefore, 
that  Capt.  Jones,  with  whom  they  sailed,  had  faithlessly,  in  consequence  of 
a  bribe  from  the  Dutch,  landed  them  at  a  distance  from  the  Hudson,  is  not 
entitled  to  credence. 

X.  In  1621  the  great  West  India  Company  was  formed  in  Holland,  and 
endowed  with  the  wealth  and  power  of  the  States-General.     The  Licensed 
Trading  Company  which  had  hitherto  conducted  commercial  operations  in 
the  Hudson,  confining  themselves  to  one  river  and  a  small  portion  of  the 
coast,  was  merged  in  the  new  company,  to  whom  we  may  properly  ascribe 
the  first  efforts  of  the  Dutch  to  plant  colonies  in  North  America.|| 

They  immediately  despatched  a  number  of  settlers  duly  provided  with  the 
means  of  subsistence,  trade,  and  defence,  under  the  command  of  Cornelius 

*  De  Laet,  Moulton.  t  Heckewelder. 

t  Beauchamp  Plantagenet's  description  of  New  Albion — Moulton — British  Empire 
in  America — Ogilby's  America — Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery. 
§  Robertson.     Dudley's  letter.     Moulton. 
||  See  charter  of  this  company  in  Hazard's  Col. 


8  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Jacobse  Mey ;  who,  with  more  enterprise  and  industry  than  his  predecessors, 
visited  the  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  the  Delaware  river,  where  he  proposed  to 
establish  his  own  residence.  He  called  the  bay  of  New  York,  Port  May ; 
that  of  the  Delaware,  New  Port  May ;  its  northern  cape,  Cape  May ;  and  its 
southern,  Cape  Cornelius.  He  built  Fort  Nassau  at  Techaacho,  upon  Sas- 
sackon,  now  Timber  Creek,  which  empties  into  the  Delaware,  a  few  miles 
below  the  city  of  Camden.  During  the  same  year  the  forts  New  Amsterdam 
and  Orange,  were  also  erected  upon  the  sites,  of  the  now  great  cities,  of  New 
York  and  Albany. 

The  administration  of  the  affairs  of  New  Netherlands,  was  committed  to 
Peter  Minuit;  with  whom  came  a  colony  of  Walloons,  who  settled,  1624-5, 
at  the  Walbocht,  a  bend  of  the  Long  Island  shore,  opposite  to  New  Amster- 
dam. In  1626,  Minuit  opened  a  friendly  and  commercial  intercourse  with 
the  Plymouth  pilgrims ;  and  prosecuted  the  fur  trade  with  great  advantage 
to  the  company. 

XII.  In  1629  the  West  India  Company  endeavoured  to  excite  individual 
enterprise,  to  colonize  the  country ;  granting  by  charter  to  the  patroon  or 
founder  of  a  settlement,  exclusive  property,  in  large  tracts  of  land,  with  ex- 
tensive manorial  and  seignorial  rights.*     Thus  encouraged,  several  of  the 
directors,  for  whose  use,  probably,  the  charter  was  designed,  among  whom 
Goodyn,  Bloemart,  Pauuw  and  Van  Renselaer  were  most  distinguished, 
resolved  to  make  large  territorial  acquisitions ;  and  they  sent  out  Wooter  Van 
Twiller,  of  Nicwer  Kerck,  a  clerk  of  the  Amsterdam  department,  of  the  com- 
pany, to  assume  the  management  of  its  public  affairs,  and  to  select  lands  for 
the  individual  directors. 

One  of  the  three  ships  which  came  over  in  1629,  visited  an  Indian  village 
on  the  south-west  corner  of  Delaware  Bay;  and  the  agents  on  board,  pur- 
chased from  the  three  chiefs  of  the  resident  tribe,  in  behalf  of  the  Herr 
Goodyn,  a  tract  of  land,  extending  from  Cape  Henloop,  in  length  thirty- 
two,  and  breadth  two,  English  miles.  In  the  succeeding  year,  several  other 
extensive  tracts  were  purchased;  for  Goodyn  and  Bloemart,  of  nine  Indian 
chiefs,  sixteen  miles  square,  on  the  peninsula  of  Cape  May ;  for  the  director 
Pauuw,  Staten  Island,  and  a  large  plat  on  the  western  side  of  the  Hudson, 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hoboken ;  and  for  Van  Renselaer,  a  considerable 
territory,  along  the  Hudson,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Orange.f  The  impolicy 
of  these  great  and  exclusive  appropriations  was,  subsequently,  discovered 
and  condemned ;  and  their  ratification  seems  to  have  been  obtained,  only,  by 
admitting  other  directors  to  participate  in  them. 

XIII.  In  prosecution  of  their  plans,  these  directors  formed  an  association, 
to  which  they  admitted,  on  equal  terms,  David  Pieterson  de  Vries,  an  expe- 
rienced and  enterprising  navigator.     Their  immediate  object  was  to  colonize 
the  Delaware  river,  to  plant  tobacco  and  grain,  and  to  establish  a  whale  and 
seal  fishery.     The  command  of  the  vessel  appointed  to  carry  out  the  colo- 
nists was  given  to  De  Vries;  who  left  the  Texel  on  the  12th  Dec.  1630,  and 
arrived  in  the  Delaware  bay  in  the  course  of  the  winter.     The  country  was 
deserted  by  the  Europeans,  who  had  preceded  him.     Fort  Nassau  was  in 
possession  of  the  Indians  ;  Captain  Mey  having  left  it,  bearing  with  him  the 
affectionate  regrets  of  the  natives,  who  long  cherished  his  memory.     De 
Vries  selected  a  spot  for  his  settlement,  on  Lewis  Creek,  called  by  the  Dutch, 
on  account  of  the  prostitution  of  the  Indian  women  here,  Hoornekill ;  where, 
unimpeded  by  the  season,  which  was  uncommonly  mild,  he  erected  a  trading 

*  See  the  charter  in  Moulton's  History  of  New  York. 

t  See  Moulton's  History  of  New  York.  The  territory  of  Goodyn  was  denominated 
Swanwendael ;  that  of  Pauuw,  Pavonia;  and  that  of  Van  Renselaer,  Renselaerwick 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  9 

house  and  fort,  giving  it  the  name  of  Oplandt.    The  whole  plantation,  within 
Goody n's  purchase,  extended  to  the  Little  Tree  Corner  or  Boompjes'  Hoek.* 

Returning  to  Holland,  he  committed  his  infant  colony  to  the  care  of  one 
Giles  Osset;  who,  in  evidence  of  the  claim  and  possession  of  the  Dutch,  set 
up  the  arms  of  the  States-General,  painted  on  tin,  upon  a  column,  in  some 
conspicuous  station.  An  Indian,  ignorant  of  the  object  of  this  exhibition, 
appropriated  the  honoured  symbol  to  his  own  use.  The  folly  of  the  com- 
mandant construed  the  trespass  into  a  grievous  national  insult,  and  he  be- 
came so  importunate  for  redress,  that  the  harassed  and  perplexed  tribe 
brought  him  the  head  of  the  offender.  This  was  a  result  which  Osset  had 
neither  wished  nor  foreseen,  and  he  should  justly  have  dreaded  its  conse- 
quences. In  vain  he  reprehended  the  severity  of  the  Indians,  and  assured 
them  that  had  they  brought  the  delinquent  to  him,  he  would  have  suffered  a 
reprimand  only.  Though  the  death  of  the  culprit  had  been  doomed  and 
executed  by  his  own  tribe,  they  beheld  its  cause  in  the  exaction  of  the 
strangers,  and  with  the  vindictiveness  of  their  character,  sought  a  dire  retri- 
bution. At  a  season  when  the  greater  part  of  the  garrison  was  engaged  in 
field  labour,  distant  from  the  fort,  the  Indians  entered  it,  under  the  pretence 
of  trade,  and  murdered  the  unsuspicious  Osset  with  the  single  sentinel  who 
attended  him.  Thence,  proceeding  to  the  fields,  they  massacred  every  other 
colonist,  whilst  tendering  to  them  the  usual  friendly  salutations.  This  con- 
duct, with  its  extenuating  circumstances,  as  related  by  the  aborigines  them- 
selves to  De  Vries,  is  sufficiently  atrocious ;  but  it  is  highly  probable,  that 
the  desire  of  the  white  man's  wealth  was  as  powerful  a  stimulant  to  violence 
as  the  thirst  for  vengeance. 

In  December,  1632,  De  Vries  returned  from  Holland,  to  mourn  over  the 
unburied  bodies  of  his  friends,  and  the  ashes  of  their  dwelling.  Attracted  by 
the  firing  of  cannon,  the  savages  approached  his  vessel  with  guilty  hesitation; 
but  at  length,  summoned  courage  to  venture  on  board,  and  to  detail  the  cir- 
cumstances we  have  narrated.  The  object  which  De  Vries  had  in  view,  led 
him  to  seek  reconciliation ;  and  he  was  compelled  to  pardon,  where  he  could 
not  safely  punish.  He  formed  a  new  treaty  with  the  Indians ;  and  in  order 
to  obtain  provisions,  ascended  the  river  above  Fort  Nassau,  where  he  nar- 
rowly escaped  from  the  perfidy  of  the  natives.  Pretending  to  comply  with 
his  request,  they  directed  him  to  enter  Timmerkill  or  Cooper's  Creek,  which 
furnished  a  convenient  place  for  attack ;  but,  the  interposition  of  an  Indian 
woman,  so  often  recorded  in  favour  of  the  whites,  saved  him  from  destruc- 
tion. She  warned  him  of  the  design  of  her  countrymen,  and  that  a  crew  of 
a  vessel  (supposed  from  Virginia)  had  been  there  murdered.  In  the  mean 
time,  Fort  Nassau  was  filled  with  savages,  and  on  the  return  of  De  Vries, 
forty  boarded  his  vessel,  whom  he  compelled  to  retreat ;  declaring  that  the 
Manitou  or  Great  Spirit,  had  revealed  their  wickedness.  But,  subsequently, 
with  the  humane  and  pacific  policy  which  distinguished  him,  he  consented  to 
their  wishes  of  forming  a  treaty  of  amity ;  which  they  confirmed  with  cus- 
tomary presents,  declining  his  gifts,  however,  saying,  that  they  did  not  now 
give  with  the  view  of  a  return. f  Disappointed  in  obtaining  provisions,  De 
Vries,  leaving  part  of  his  crew  in  the  bay,  proceeded  to  Virginia ;  where,  as 
the  first  visiter  from  New  Netherlands,  he  was  kindly  received  and  his  wants 
supplied.  Upon  his  return  to  the  Delaware,  finding  the  whale  fishery  un- 
successful, he  hastened  his  departure,  and  with  the  other  colonists  proceeded 
to  Holland,  by  the  way  of  Fort  Amsterdam.  Thus,  at  the  expiration  of 


*  Corrupted  into  Bombay  Hook.     De  Vries,  Moulton. 
t  De  Vries'  Journal.     Moulton. 


10  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

twenty-five  years  from  the  discovery  of  the  Delaware  Bay,  by  Hudson,  not 
a  single  European  remained  upon  its  shores. 

XIV.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  the  Minisink  settlements  on  the  river, 
above  the  Blue  Mountain,  were  made  at  or  near  this  period.  They  extend 
forty  miles  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  the  tradition,  as  rendered  by 
Nicholas  Depuis,  a  descendant  of  an  original  settler  is ;  "  That,  in  some  for- 
"  mer  age,  there  came  a  company  of  miners  from  Holland,  supposed  to  have 
"  been  rich  and  great  people,  from  the  labour  they  bestowed  in  opening  two 
"  mines — one  on  the  Delaware,  where  the  mountain  nearly  approaches  the 
"  lower  point  of  Pahaquarry  Flat,  the  other,  at  the  north  foot  of  some  moun- 
"  tain,  half-way  between  Delaware  and  Esopus ;  and  in  making  the  mine 
"  road  from  Delaware  to  Esopus,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles :  That 
"  large  quantities  of  ore  had  been  drawn  upon  this  road,  but  of  what  metal, 
"  was  unknown  to  the  present  inhabitants :  That,  subsequently,  settlers 
"  came  to  the  Minisinks  from  Holland,  to  seek  an  asylum  from  religious  per- 
"  secution,  being  Arminians :  That  they  followed  the  mine  road  to  the  large 
"  flats,  on  the  Delaware,  where  the  smooth  cleared  land,  and  abundance  of 
"  large  apple  trees,  suited  their  views,  and  they  purchased  the  improvements 
"  of  the  Indians,  most  of  whom,  then,  removed  to  the  Susquehanna :  And  that 
"  the  new  settlers  maintained  peace  and  friendship  with  such  as  remained, 
"  until  the  year  1755."*  These  settlements  at  the  Minisinks  were  unknown 
to  the  government  of  Pennsylvania  until  1729. 

XV.^  It  has  been  affirmed  that  the  Swedes  established  a  colony  on  the 
Delaware,  in  the  year  1627,  or  1631.  This  is  an  error,  arising  from  the 
historian  having  mistaken  the  will  for  the  deed;  inferring  that  a  colony  had 
been  established,  immediately  after  the  proposition  for  forming  it,  had  been 
published  in  Sweden.  The  design  had,  indeed,  been  fondly  encouraged  by 
Gustavus  Adolphus,  but  was  not  effected  during  his  life.  This  prince  fell  at 
Lutzen,  in  1632  ;  and  several  years  elapsed,  before  the  ministers  of  his 
daughter,  Christina,  gave  encouragement  to  the  enterprise.  The  success  of 
the  Dutch  West  India  Company  had  excited  the  Swedes  to  form  a  similar 
association,  whose  operations  should  extend  to  Asia,  Africa,  and  America; — 
and  William  Usselinx,  or  Usseling,  a  Hollander,  who  had  been  connected 
with  the  Dutch  company,  obtained  the  consent  of  Gustavus,  to  this  measure.f 
Designing  to  plant  a  colony  on  the  Delaware,  he  prepared  and  published 
articles  of  Association  for  that  purpose,  accompanied  with  a  description  of 
the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  the  commercial  advantages  of  the  country.  The 
king,  by  proclamation,  exhorted  his  subjects  to  unite  with  the  company ,J 
and  recommended  its  plan  to  a  diet  of  the  States,  by  whom  it  was  confirmed.^ 
Persons  of  every  rank,  from  the  king  to  the  hind,  engaged  in  the  scheme. 
An  admiral,  vice  admiral,  merchants,  assistants,  commissaries,  and  a  mili- 
tary force,  were  appointed,  and  the  association  received  the  name  of  the 
South  Company; — but  the  intervention  of  a  German  war,  suspended  its 
operations.  || 

From  1633  to  1637,  no  effort  was  made  by  any  European  power,  to  peo- 
ple the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  unless  during  this  period,  Sir  Edward  Ploey- 
den,  commenced  his  ephemeral  palatinate  of  New  Albion.  It  is  probable, 
however,  that  the  Dutch  visited  the  river,  with  a  view  to  trade,  and,  occa- 
sionally, spent  some  time  at  Fort  Nassau.  That,  they  vigilantly  observed 
the  approach  of  other  nations  to  these  shores,  is  obvious,  from  the  prompti- 

*  Letters  of  Samuel  Preston,  of  Stockport,  June  6th,  and  14th,  1828,  published  in 
the  Register  of  Pennsylvania,  Vol.  i.  No.  28.— July  12, 1828. 

t  21st  December,  1624.  \  July,  1626.  §  1627.  ||  Campanius,  Aurelius, 
Molton. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  11 

tude  of  their  remonstrances  against  the  subsequent  attempts  of  the  English 
and  Swedes. 

The  Swedish  project,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  colonization  on  the  Delaware, 
was,  at  length,  revived  by  the  Dutch  ex-governor,  Minuit,  (who  had  been 
superseded  by  Vouter  van  Twiller,)  under  the  immediate  authority  of  the 
Swedish  government.  In  1637  or  1638,  an  expedition,  consisting  of  the 
Key  of  Caiman,  a  ship  of  war,  and  a  transport  named  the  Bird  Grip, 
(Gryphen)  carrying  a  clergyman,  an  engineer,  and«*many  settlers,  with 
necessary  provisions,  and  merchandise  for  trade  with  the  Indians,  sailed 
under  Minuit's  command.*  The  emigrants  landed  at  Inlopen,  the  inner 
cape  on  the  western  shore  of  the  Delaware  bay,  to  which  they  gave  the  name 
of  Paradise  Point — more,  we  must  conjecture,  from  the  pleasant  emotions 
caused  by  the  sight  of  any  land,  after  a  long  sea-voyage,  than  from  the 
beauty  or  fertility  of  the  spot.  They  opened  communications  with  the 
natives,  on  the  bay  and  river,  and  purchased  the  soil,  on  the  western 
shore,  from  the  capes,  to  the  falls  at  Sanhikans,  below  the  present  city  of 
Trenton. 

Soon  after,  in  1638,  they  laid  the  foundation  of  the  town  and  fort  of 
Christina,  on  a  site  called  by  the  natives  Hopohaccan,  north  of  the  Minquas, 
or  Suspecough  creek,  and  a  short  distance  above  its  mouth,  f  Not  a  ves- 
tige of  this  fort  or  town  remains ;  but  a  plan  of  both,  drawn  by  the  engineer, 
Lindstrom,  has  been  preserved  by  Campanius.  In  1747,  during  the  war  of 
England  against  France  and  Spain,  a  redoubt  was  thrown  up  at  this  spot ; 
and  at  the  distance  of  three  feet  below  the  surface,  a  Swedish  coin  of  Chris- 
tina was  found,  among  axes,  shovels,  and  other  implements.^ 

The  author  of  Bescrymnge  van  Netherlands,  asserts,  that  Minuit  entered 
the  Delaware,  under  pretence  of  procuring  refreshment,  on  his  way  to  the 
West  Indies,  but  betrayed  the  deception,  by  erecting  this  fort.  The  Dutch 
soon  discovered  the  intrusion ;  and  Kieft,  who,  about  this  time  had  succeeded 
Van  Twiller,  as  governor  of  New  York,  remonstrated  with  Minuit,  by  letter, 
dated,  May  6th,  1638;  asserting,  that  the  whole  South  river  of  New  Nether- 
lands, had  been  in  possession  of  the  Dutch,  for  many  years,  above  and  below 
Christina — had  been  studded  by  forts,  and  sealed  with  their  blood.  This 
remonstrance  was  unreasonable  and  unwarrantable,  if,  as  Campanius  asserts, 
the  Swedes  had,  in  1631,  purchased  the  right  of  the  Dutch.  The  allegation 
of  purchase,  may  have  induced  forbearance  on  the  part  of  the  Dutch  au- 
thorities, but  did  not  deter  them  from  erecting  a  fort  soon  after,  at  the 
Hoarkills. 

During  the  year  1640,  several  companies  of  emigrants  departed  from 
Sweden,  for  the  new  world.  Among  the  documents  obtained  from  the 
Swedish  records,  by  Mr.  Russel,  minister  from  the  United  States,  at  Stock- 
holm, we  find,  dated,  January  24th,  1640,  a  passport  to  captain  Jacob  Pow- 
elson,  for  a  vessel  under  his  command,  named  Fredenburg,  laden  with  men, 
cattle,  and  other  things,  necessary  for  the  cultivation  of  the  country,  depart- 
ing from  Holland  to  America,  or  the  West  Indies,  and  there  establishing 
himself  in  the  country  called  New  Sweden.  Two  others  were  issued  in 
blank,  for  other  captains  and  their  vessels.  We  learn,  also,  from  a  letter  of 
the  same  date,  addressed  by  the  Swedish  ministers  to  the  commandant,  or 
commissary,  and  other  inhabitants  of  Fort  Christina,  in  New  Sweden,  that 
permission  had  been  granted  to  Gothbert  de  Rehden,  William  de  Horst, 
and  Fenland,  and  those  interested  with  them,  to  send  out  and  establish  a 

*  Bescryvinge  van  Virginie,  De  Laet,  Acrelius. 

t  Swedish  MSS.  Records,  communicated  by  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Collin. 

\  Kalm's  Travels. 


12  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

colony  on  the  north  side  of  the  South  river.  In  a  charter,  or  grant  and 
privilege,  as  it  is  termed,  of  the  same  date,  to  this  company,  the  name  of 
Henry  Hochhanmer,  is  substituted  for  that  of  Lieutenant  Horst.  From  this 
instrument  we  derive  the  Swedish  principles  of  colonization.  An  indefinite 
quantity  of  land  is  given  to  the  company — at  least  four  German  miles, 
(about  15  English)  from  Fort  Christina,  in  allodial  and  hereditary  property; 
they  paying  to  the  crown  of  Sweden,  three  florins  of  the  empire,  for  each 
family  established  upon  their  territory.  The  company  is  empowered  to 
exercise,  within  their  district,  high  and  low  justice ;  to  found  cities  and  vil- 
lages, and  communities,  with  a  certain  police,  statutes  and  ordinances — to 
appoint  magistrates  and  officers,  and  to  take  the  title  and  arms  of  a  province 
or  colony ;  conforming  themselves,  in  the  use  of  these  rights,  to  the  principles 
directing  the  ordinary  justice  of  fiefs.  Reservation  is  made  of  full  sove- 
reignty to  the  crown ;  and,  especially,  of  appeals  to  it,  and  the  governors 
established  by  it,  whose  approbation  was  necessary  to  all  statutes  and  ordi- 
nances. Besides  the  Augsburg  confession  of  faith,  the  exercise  of  the  "pre- 
tended reformed"  religion  was  permitted,  in  such  manner,  however,  that  those 
who  professed  either,  should  live  in  peace,  abstaining  from  every  useless 
dispute,  from  all  scandal,  and  from  all  abuse.  But  the  patrons  of  the  colony 
were  obliged,  at  all  times,  to  maintain  as  many  ministers  and  schoolmasters 
as  the  number  of  inhabitants  should  require;  and  to  choose  for  this  purpose, 
persons  who  had  at  heart,  the  conversion  of  the  pagan  inhabitants,  to  Chris- 
tianity. 

Permission  was  given  to  the  colonists  to  engage  in  every  species  of  manu- 
facture and  commerce,  in  and  out  of  the  country;  in  vessels,  however,  which 
should  be  built  in  New  Sweden.  Gottenburg  was  made  the  depot  for  all 
merchandise  transported  to  Europe;  but  merchants  were  not  required  to 
pass  the  Sound,  when  destined  to  some  other  part  of  Sweden.  Entrance  to 
foreign  ports,  however,  was  prohibited,  unless  in  case  of  necessity ;  and  even 
in  such  case,  merchants  were  required  to  repair  to  Gottenburg,  to  account 
for  such  entry,  and  to  pay  duty  on  merchandise,  they  might  have  sold  else- 
where ;  and  to  equip  their  vessels  anew.  The  colonists  were  exempted,  for 
ten  successive  years,  from  every  species  of  impost;  .but,  after  that  period, 
were  required  to  pay,  in  New  Sweden,  a  duty  of  five  per  cent,  on  all  im- 
ports, and  exports,  and  such  further  charges  as  the  expenses  of  government, 
there,  might  require.  The  discoverer  of  minerals,  precious  stones,  coral, 
crystal,  marble,  a  pearl  fishery,  means  for  making  salt,  or  other  like  things, 
was  permitted  the  unrestricted  use  thereof,  for  ten  years,  and  to  enjoy,  sub- 
sequently, a  preferable  right  to  possession,  under  an  annual  rent.  Pro- 
tection was  promised  to  the  colonies,  in  consideration  whereof,  fealty  and 
allegiance  were  exacted.  But  the  government  expressed  the  desire,  that  the 
colonists  and  their  posterity  might  be  always  exempt  from  enrolments  and 
compulsory  military  service.  Confiscation  of  property  was  prohibited :  and 
fines,  whatever  might  be  the  offence,  were  limited  to  forty  rix-dollars ;  every 
other  species  of  punishment,  according  to  the  quality  of  the  offence,  was  re- 
served to  the  crown.  And  as  the  patrons  of  the  colony  designed,  in  a  few 
years,  to  transport  other  and  more  considerable  colonies,  liberty  was  given  to 
ship,  directly  from  Holland,  whatever  they  might  require. 

Whilst  the  arrangements  for  this  colony  were  in  progress,  due  care  was 
had,  by  the  ministry  of  Sweden,  for  the  scion  they  had  already  planted.  One 
lost  de  Bogardt  was  nominated,  rather  as  an  agent  and  superintendent  of 
the  colony  of  Christina,  than  as  governor.  He  engaged,  by  an  obligation, 
called  the  counterpart  of  his  commission,  to  be  faithful  and  subject  to  her 
majesty ;  "  and  not  only  to  aid,  by  his  counsel  and  actions,  the  persons  who 
are  at  Fort  Christina,  and  those  who  may  be  afterwards  sent  there  from 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  13 

Sweden,  but  to  employ  his  exertions  to  procure,  as  occasion  may  present, 
whatever  will  be  most  advantageous  to  her  Majesty  and  the  crown  of  Swe- 
den ;  and,  moreover,  not  to  suffer  an  opportunity  to  pass  of  sending  infor- 
mation to  Sweden,  which  may  be  useful  to  her  Majesty  and  the  crown." 
The  reward  of  these  services  was  stipulated  to  be  two  hundred  rix-dollars 
per  annum. 

XVI.  The  country,  which  had  been  settled,  appears  to  have  been  pur- 
chased, chiefly,  by  an  association  called  the  Navigation  Company,  who,  en- 
joying the  soil,  submitted  to  the  political  direction  of  the  crown.  John  Printz, 
a  colonel  of  cavalry  in  the  Swedish  service,  was  appointed  governor.  His 
commission  bears  date  August  16,  1646.  His  instructions  charge  him  to 
preserve  amity,  good  neighbourhood,  and  correspondence  with  foreigners, 
with  those  who  depend  on  his  government,  and  with  the  natives  of  the  coun- 
try ;  to  render  justice  without  distinction,  so  that  there  shall  be  injury  to  no 
one ;  and  if  any  person  behave  himself  grossly,  to  punish  him  in  a  conve- 
nient manner;  and  as  regards  the  cultivation  of  the  country,  in  a  liberal 
manner  to  regulate  and  continue  it,  so  that  the  inhabitants  may  derive  from 
it,  their  honest  support,  and  even,  that,  commerce  may  receive  from  it  a  sen- 
sible increase.  As  to  himself,  he  was  required  so  to  conduct  in  his  govern- 
ment, as  to  be  willing  and  able,  faithfully,  to  answer  for  it  before  God,  be- 
fore the  Queen  and  every  brave  Swede,  regulating  himself  by  the  instruc- 
tions given  to  him.  These  instructions,  remarkable  for  their  simplicity,  re- 
mind us  of  the  patriarchal  era,  to  which  the  state  of  New  Sweden,  had  some 
resemblance.  The  salary  assured  to  the  governor,  was  1200  rix-dollars 
per  annum;  a  portion  of  which,  at  least,  was  imposed  on  the  colony  in 
a  tariff  of  compensations,  which  gave  to  the  governor  800  rix-dollars; 
(half  from  excise  and  half  in  silver;)  to  a  lieutenant  governor,  sixteen 
dollars  per  month ;  a  sergeant  major  ten,  a  corporal  six,  a  gunner  eight, 
trumpeter  six,  drummer  five;  to  24  soldiers,  four,  each;  to  a  paymaster  ten,  a 
secretary  eight,  a  barber  ten,  and  a  provost  six.  We  must  not  infer  from 
comparison  of  the  wages  of  the  secretary  and  barber,  that  the  latter  was  the 
most  valued  though  the  most  appreciated.  The  first  had,  doubtless,  the  most 
honour,  though  the  second  had  a  greater  compensation  in  base  lucre. 

On  the  16th  February,  1642-3,  Printz,  accompanied  by  John  Campanius, 
a  clergyman  and  subsequent  historian  of  New  Sweden,  with  many  emi- 
grants, on  board  the  ship  Fame  and  Transport  Swan,  arrived  in  the  Dela- 
ware. The  governor  established  himself  on  the  island  of  Tennekong,  cor- 
rupted into,  Tinicum;  which,  in  Nov.  1643,  was  granted  him  by  the  Queen 
Christina,  in  fee ;  where  he  built  a  fort  called  New  Gottenburg,  a  convenient 
dwelling  for  himself,  denominated  Printz  Hoff  or  Printz  Hall,  and  a  church, 
which  was  consecrated  in  1646.  Around  this  nucleus,  the  principal  settlers 
reared  their  habitations.  Pursuant  to  his  instructions,  he  recognised  the 
right  of  the  aborigines  to  the  soil,  confirmed  the  contract  made  with  them  by 
Minuit,  for  land  fronting  the  river,  from  the  Cape  to  the  Falls,  and  extending 
inland,  so  far,  as  the  necessities  of  the  settlers  should  require.  He  refrained 
from  every  species  of  injury  to  the  natives,  cultivated  their  favour  by  a  just 
and  reciprocal  commerce,  supplying  them  with  articles  suitable  to  their 
wants,  and  employed  all  friendly  means  to  win  them  to  the  Christian  faith. 

The  result  of  these  measures  was  such  as  they  should  have  produced.  The 
savage  was  disarmed  by  respect  and  gratitude ;  for,  when  the  presents  from 
the  Swedes  were  discontinued,  and  councils  were  holden  by  the  discontented, 
to  weigh  the  fate  of  the  strangers,  the  old  and  wise  expatiated  on  their  bene- 
volence and  justice,  and  assured  the  young  and  violent,  that  no  easy  con- 
quest, would  be  made,  of  men,  who,  whilst  cherishing  the  arts  of  peace,  were 
armed  with  swords  and  muskets,  and  guarded  by  vigilance  and  courage. 


14  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  ire  of  the  Indians  on  one  occasion,  it  seems,  was  particularly  directed 
against  the  pastor,  who  speaking  alone,  during  divine  service,  was  supposed 
to  exhort  his  audience  to  hostility  against  them.* 

XVII.  Before  Printz  left  Sweden,  it  was  known  that  an  English  colony 
had  alighted  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Delaware;  sixty  persons  having 
settled  near  Oijtsessing,  Assamohocking,  Hog  or  Salem  Creek,  at  the  close 
of  the  year  1640,  or  commencement  of  1741,  who  were,  probably,  pioneers 
of  Sir  Edmund  Ploeyden,  or  squatters  from  the  colony  of  New  Haven.    The 
Swedes  purchased  all  the  lands  from  Cape  May  to  Narriticon  or  Raccoon 
Creek,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  English  under  their  dominion ;  and 
Printz  was  instructed,  either  to  attach  them  to  the  Swedish  interests,  or  to 
procure  their  removal  without  violence.^     He  disregarded  his  instructions 
on  this  occasion,  since,  we  are  told,  that  the  Dutch  and  Swedes  united  to 
expel  the  English ;  and  that  the  latter,  assuming  the  task  of  keeping  out  the 
intruders,  seized  their  possessions,  and  erected  a  fort ;  which  they  called  Elfts- 
burg  or  Elsinborg.J     But,  Acrelius  assures  us,  that  this  fort  was  reared  in 
1651,  as  a  counterpoise  to  the  Dutch  power,  acquired  by  the  erection  of 
Fort  Casimer ;  and  that,  the  guns  of  Elsinborg,  compelling  the  Hollanders 
to  strike  the  flag  from  their  vessels'  mast,  gave  mortal  offence,  and  was  the 
cause  of  their  subsequent  wrath,  so  fatal  to  the  dominion  of  the  Swedes.    Be 
this  as  it  may,  all  authors  agree,  that  the  Swedes  were  driven  out  by  an  in- 
vincible, and  sometimes  invisible,  foe, — that  the  moschettoes,  in  countless 
hosts,  alike  incomparable  for  activity  and  perseverance,  obtained  exclusive 
possession  of  the  fort,  and  that  the  discomfited  Swedes,  bathed  even  in  the 
ill-gotten  blood  of  their  enemies,  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  post,  which, 
in  honour  of  the  victors,  received  the  name  of  Moschettoesburg. 

The  Salem  settlers  were  not  the  only  Englishmen  who  endeavoured,  at 
this  time,  to  establish  themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Delaware.  A  colony 
seated  under  the  patent  of  Lord  Baltimore,  was  discovered  on  the  Schuylkill, 
whence  they  were  driven  by  the  watchful  Kieft,  governor  of  New  Nether- 
lands, without  difficulty.  His  instructions,  dated  22d  May,  1642,  to  Jan 
Jansen  Alpendam,  commandant  of  the  expedition,  strongly  assert  the  right 
of  the  Dutch  to  the  soil  and  trade  there. 

XVIII.  The  Swedish  government  anticipated,  that,  resistance  might  be 
made  to  their  plans  of  colonization,  by  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  of 
whose  pretensions  to  the  shores  of  the  Delaware,  they  were  well  instructed. 
Yet,  Printz  was  authorized  to  protest  against  their  claims,  supported  as  they 
were,  by  the  actual  possession  of  Fort  Nassau,  now  garrisoned  by  twenty 
men ;  and  in  case  of  hostile  efforts  on  their  part,  to  contend  to  the  uttermost. 

Printz  conducted  the  affairs  of  New  Sweden  with  due  discretion,  receiving 
the  thanks  and  commendations  of  his  sovereign,  whose  permission  he  soli- 
cited, in  1647,  to  return  to  Europe.  He  remained  in  America,  however, 
until  1654,  when  he  was  succeeded  in  the  government  by  John  Papegoya, 
his  son-in-law.  Papegoya  had  come  to  the  Delaware  with  the  earliest  Swe- 
dish settlers,  probably  in  1638;  but  had  returned  to  Sweden  about  the  time 
of  Printz's  departure.  In  1643  he  revisited  New  Sweden,  bearing  letters 
recommendatory,  from  the  Queen,  to  the  governor,  whose  daughter  he  subse- 
quently married.  He  remained  in  the  government  two  years;  when  embark- 
ing for  Europe,  he  devolved  the  administration  on  John  Risingh,  who  came 
out,  a  short  time  before  this  period,  clothed  with  the  authority  of  commissary 

*  "The  Indians  sometimes  attended  the  religious  assemblies  of  the  Swedes;  but 
with  so  little  edification,  that  they  expressed  their  amazement  that  one  man  should 
detain  his  tribe  with  such  lengthened  harangues,  without  offering  to  entertain  them 
with  brandy."—  Grahames  Col.  Hist.  2  vol.  200. 

t  Acrelius.  t  Beschryvinge  van  Virginie.    Smith's  New  Jersey. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  15 

and  counsellor,  and  continued  to  preside  over  the  Swedes  until  they  were 
subjected  by  the  Dutch.  He  renewed  the  treaties  with  the  Indians ;  and  at 
a  convention  held  in  1664,  both  parties  engaged  to  preserve  and  brighten  the 
friendly  chain.  The  engineer  Lindstrom,  who  accompanied  Risingh,  mi- 
nutely explored  several  portions  of  the  country,  constructed  plans  for  some 
forts,"  aided  in  the  fortification  of  others,  and  framed  a  map  of  the  bay,  river, 
and  adjacent  territory,  remarkable  for  its  correctnesss,  and  curious,  as  giv- 
ing the  Indian  names  of  the  streams.  A  descriptive  memoir,  highly  interest- 
ing, accompanied  the  map.* 

The  country  on  the  Delaware  was,  for  some  years,  holden  by  the  Swedes 
and  Dutch,  in  common.  To  the  forts  at  Nassau  and  the  Hoarkills,  the  lat- 
ter, in  1651,  added  Fort  Casimer,  at  Sandhocken,  the  present  site  of  New- 
castle.f  This  near  approach  to  the  primitive  seat  of  their  American  domain, 
became  intolerable  to  the  Swedes.  Printz  remonstrated,  and  Risingh  for- 
mally demanded,  that  Fort  Casimer  should  be  surrendered  to  him.  This 
having  been  refused,  he  manfully  resolved  to  seize  it  by  force  or  fraud.  He 
approached  it  in  seeming  amity,  and  after  firing  two  complimentary  salutes, 
landed  thirty  men,  whom  the  garrison,  unsuspectingly,  admitted  within  their 
gates.  The  Swedes  suddenly  mastered  the  place,  seized  the  effects  of  the 
West  India  Company,  and  even  compelled  some  of  the  conquered  soldiers  to 
swear  allegiance  to  Queen  Christina.  Not  even  Dutch  phlegm  would  lie 
quiet  under  this  grievous  insult.  The  redoubted  Stuyvesant,  then  governor 
of  New  York,  though  busily  engaged  in  restraining  the  encroachments  of 
his  restless  mercurial  neighbours  of  Connecticut,  resolved  on  instant  and 
direful  vengeance. 

XIX.  On  the  9th  September,  1654,  he  appeared  in  the  Delaware,  with  seven 
vessels,  carrying  between  six  and  seven  hundred  men.  He  descended  first 
upon  Elsinborg,  where  the  patriotism  of  the  Swedes  had  again  led  them,  in 
despite  of  the  moschettoes,  and  where  it  was  their  fate  to  become  prisoners  to 
the  invaders.  Next,  he  asailed  the  fort  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  having 
landed  and  intrenched  his  force,  demanded  its  surrender,  threatening,  in  case 
of  refusal,  the  utmost  extreme  of  military  severity.  Whether  the  fort  were 
taken  by  storm,  or  surrendered  upon  capitulation,  history  has,  with  repre- 
hensive  carelessness,  omitted  to  state :  but  certain  it  is,  that  the  Dutch,  also, 
became  masters  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  striking  the  Swedish  colours,  gave 
from  the  towering  flag-staff,  those  of  the  States- General,  to  the  breeze.  On 
the  16th,  the  fleet  anchored  in  front  of  Fort  Casimer,  then  commanded  by 
Sven  Scutz,  or  Schute,  who,  in  reply  to  the  summons,  asked  leave  to  con- 
sult his  superior,  Risingh ;  which  being  denied  him,  he  yielded,  upon  most  ho- 
nourable terms;  marching  forth  in  military  pomp,  and  retaining,  not  only  the 
arms  of  his  troops,  but  the  battery  of  the  fort.  The  stronger  fortress  of 
Christina  was  held  by  Risingh,  in  person ;  but  even  he,  unable  to  resist  the 
invincible  Stuyvesant,  submitted  on  the  25th  of  September ;  and  the  fall  of 
New  Gottenburg,  with  its  fort,  Printzhoff,  and  church,  soon  followed. 
Thus  perished,  never  to  be  revived,  the  provincial  power  of  New  Sweden.^ 

Stuyvesant  issued  a  proclamation  favourable  to  such  of  the  Swedes  as 
chose  to  remain  under  his  government.  About  twenty  swore  fealty  to  the 
"  States-General,  the  Lords,  Directors  of  the  West  India  Company,  their 
subalterns  of  the  province  of  New  Netherlands,  and  the  Director- General, 
then,  and  thereafter  to  be,  established."  Risingh  and  one  Elfyth,  a  noted 
trader,  were  ordered  to  Gottenburg.^  Among  those  who  remained,  was  the 
wife  of  Papegoya,  to  whom  Tennekong  had  descended ;  and  who,  subse- 

*  MSS.  Lib.  of  Am.  Phil.  Soc.  t  Campanius,  Acrelius. 

I  Acrelius;  Smith's  N.  Y.;  Smith's  N.  J.;  Dutch  Records.          §  Smith's  N.  Y. 


16  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

quently,  sold  it  to  Captain  Carr,  the  English  governor,  from  whom  the  pur- 
chase money,  300  guilders  was  recovered,  by  execution  from  the  council  at 
New  York.*  In  March,  1656,  the  Swedish  resident  at  the  Hague,  remon- 
strated against  the  conduct  of  the  West  India  Company ;  but  the  United  Pro- 
vinces never  gave  redress.  These  wars  of  the  Dutch  and  Swedes  have  been 
more  minutely  and  worthily  chronicled  by  the  facetious  and  veracious 
Knickerbocker.  We  will  add,  only,  that  they  appear  to  have  been  wholly 
unstained  by  blood,  and  admirably  adapted  to  a  country  where  restraint  on 
population  was  not  needed. 

During  the  government  of  the  Swedes,  several  vessels,  other  than  we 
have  mentioned,  arrived  from  Sweden  with  adventurers,  who  devoted  them- 
selves to  agriculture.  The  last  ship,  thus  freighted,  through  the  unskilful- 
ness  of  her  officers,  entered  the  Raritan,  instead  of  the  Delaware,  river,  and 
was  seized  by  Stuyvesant,  then  preparing  for  his  campaign  against  Risingh. 
Many  improvements  were  made  by  this  industrious  and  temperate  people, 
from  Cape  Henlopen  to  the  falls  of  Alumningh,  or  Sanhikans.  Beside  the 
places  we  have  already  named,  they  founded  Upland  the  present  Chester,  at 
Mocoponaca;  Korsholm  at  Passaiung;  Fort  Manaiung  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  called  by  the  Indians  Manaiung^  Manaijurik,  Manajaske,  Nitaba- 
cong,  or  Matinacong ;  by  the  Dutch,  Schuylkill,  and  by  the  Swedes,  Skiar- 
killen  and  Landsltillen;  marked  the  sites  of  Nya  Wasa  and  G-ripsholm, 
somewhere  near  the  confluence  of  the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill  rivers, 
Strawswijk  and  Nieu  Causeland  or  Clauseland;  (the  present  Newcastle) 
and  established  forts,  also,  at  Kinsessing,  Wicacoa,  (Southwark)  Findlant, 
Meulandael,  and  Lapananel.  On  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Delaware,  they 
had  settlements  at  Swedesborough,  at  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Burling- 
ton, and  other  places.  Most  of  these  stations  are  marked  on  the  maps  of 
Campanius  and  Lindstrom,  and  were,  probably,  little  else  than  dwellings  of 
farmers,  with  such  slight  defences,  as  might  protect  them  from  a  sudden  in- 
cursion of  the  natives.  Gold  and  silver  mines  are  said  to  have  been  disco- 
vered by  the  Swedes ;  and  the  latter  are  mentioned  by  Master  Evelyn,  in  his 
description  of  the  country,  reported  by  Plantagenet,  in  his  memoir  on  New 
Albion.  The  ores  were  probably  pyrites,  which  have  so  often  proven  de- 
ceptive.f 

*  New  York  Records. 

t  We  are  assured  by  Lindstrom,  that  a  silver  mine  existed  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
the  Delaware,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  falls;  and  that  gold  was  found  in  considerable 
quantities  higher  up  the  river,  on  the  Jersey  side.  "  The  shore  befere  the  mountain 
is  covered  with  pyrites.  When  the  roundest  are  broken,  kernels  are  found  as  large  as 
small  peas,  containing  virgin  silver.  I  have  broken  more  than  a  hundred.  A  savage 
Unapois  beholding  a  gold  ring  of  the  wife  of  governor  Printz,  demanded,  why  she 
carried  such  a  trifle.  The  governor  replied,  '  if  you  will  procure  me  such  trifles,  I 
will  reward  you  with  other  things  suitable  for  you.'  '  I  know,'  said  the  Indian,  a 
mountain  filled  with  such  metal?  l  Behold,'  rejoined  the  governor,  '  what  I  will 
give  you  for  a  specimen;'  presenting  to  him  at  the  same  time,  a  fathom  of  red  and  a 
fathom  of  blue  frize,  some  white  lead,  looking-glasses,  bodkins,  and  needles,  declaring 
that  he  would  cause  him  to  be  accompanied  by  two  of  his  soldiers.  But  the  Indian, 
refusing  this  escort,  said,  that  he  would  first  go  for  a  specimen,  and,  if  it  gave  satis- 
faction, he  might  be  sent  back  with  some  of  the  governor's  people.  He  promised  to 
give  a  specimen,  kept  the  presents  and  went  away;  and,  after  some  days,  returned 
with  a  lump  of  ore  as  large  as  his  doubled  fist,  of  which  the  governor  made  proof, 
found  it  of  good  quality,  and  extracted  from  it  a  considerable  quantity  of  gold,  which 
he  manufactured  into  rings  and  bracelets.  He  promised  the  Indian  further  presents 
if  he  would  discover  the  situation  of  this  mountain.  The  Indian  consented,  but  de- 
manded a  delay  of  a  few  days,  when  he  could  spare  more  time.  Content  with  this, 
Printz  gave  him  more  presents.  The  savage,  having  returned  to  his  nation,  boasted 
of  his  gifts,  and  declared  the  reason  of  their  presentation.  But  he  was  assassinated  by 
the  sachem  and  his  companions,  lest  he  should  betray  the  situation  of  this  gold  mine  ; 
they  fearing  its  ruin  if  it  were  discovered  by  us.  It  is  still  unknown." — Extract 
from  Lindstrorris  MS.  Journal.  Am.  Phil.  Soc. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  17 

XX.  The  Dutch  governed  the  newly  recovered  country  on  the  Delaware, 
by  lieutenants,  subject  to  the  Director-General  at  New  Amsterdam.     Jo- 
hannes Paul  Jaquet  was  the  first  Vice-Director.     His  successors  were  Peter 
Alricks,  Hinojossa,  and  William  Beekman.     These  officers  were  empowered 
to  grant  lands ;  and  their  patents  make  part  of  the  titles  of  the  present  pos 
sessors.     Alrick's  commission,  of  12th  of  April,  1657,  indicates  the  extent 
of  the  Dutch  claim,  on  the  west  of  the  Delaware.     It  constitutes  him  "  Di- 
rector-General, of  the  Colony  of  South  river,  of  New  Netherlands,  and  the 
fortress  of  Casimer,  now  called  Niewer  Amstel,  with  all  the  lands  dependent 
thereon,  according  to  the  first  purchase,  and  deed  of  release,  from  the  na- 
tives, dated,  July  the  19th,  1651 ;  beginning  at  the  west  side  of  the  Minquas, 
or  Christina  Kill,  in  the  Indian  language  named,  Suspecough,  to  the  mouth 
of  the  bay  or  river  called  Boompt  Hook,  in  the  Indian  language,  Cannaress, 
and  so  far  inland,  as  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the  Minquas  land,  with  all  the 
streams,  appurtenances  and  dependencies."     Of  the  country  north  of  the 
Kill,  or  south  of  Boompt  Hook,  no  notice  is  taken.     In  1658,  Beekman 
was  directed  to  purchase  Cape  Henlopen,  which,  for  want  of  goods,  was  not 
done,  until  the  succeeding  year.*     From  the  order  and  purchase  of  1658,  it 
would  seem,  that  no  regard  was  had,  either  by  the  Indians  or  Dutch,  to  the 
contracts  made  for  Goodyn,  in  1629,  or  by  the  Swedish  governors. 

Upon  the  eastern  side  of  the  present  State  of  New  Jersey,  the  Dutch  had, 
at  this  period,  acquired  several  tracts  of  country.  Beside  the  purchase  of 
Staten  Island,  for  the  Heer  Pauw,f  Augustine  Herman  purchased  an  exten- 
sive plot,  stretching  from  Newark  Bay,  west  of  the  present  site  of  Elizabeth- 
town  ;J  and  the  Lord  Director-General  and  Council,  a  large  tract,  called 
Bergen. §  And  we  may,  justly,  suppose,  that,  the  road  between  the  colonies, 
on  the  Hudson  and  Delaware,  was  not  wholly  uninhabited. 

XXI.  Although,  for  fifty  years,  these  extensive  possessions  of  the  Dutch, 
were  not  disputed  by  the  English  government,  still  the  claim  of  the  English 
nation,  founded  on  the  discoveries  by  Cabot,  Hudson,  and  other  navigators, 
was  neither  abandoned  nor  unimproved.     The  Puritans  were  making  con- 
tinued pretensions  and  encroachments  upon  the  east,  and  emigrants  from 
New  Haven  settled  on  the  left  shores  of  the  Delaware,  so  early  as  1640 — 
some  of  whose  descendants  may,  probably,  yet  be  found,  in  Salem,  Cumber- 
land, and  Cape  May,  counties.    The  adventurers  of  Maryland  had  penetrated 
to  the  Schuylkill,  and  the  agents  or  grantees  of  Sir  Edward  Ploeyden,  had 
attempted  to  people  his  palatinate.    Of  these  efforts  it  is  proper  that  we  should 
speak  more  particularly. 

In  1642,  as  we  have  seen,  the  Dutch  expelled  the  English,  from  the 
Schuylkill,  as  intruders,  on  rights  too  notorious  to  be  disputed.  But  in  1654, 
Colonel  Nathaniel  Utie,  commissioner  of  Feudal,  governor  of  Maryland,  de- 
manded possession  of  the  shores  of  the  Delaware,  by  virtue  of  the  patent 
from  the  English  crown,  to  Lord  Baltimore ;  visited  New  Castle  to  protest 
against  the  occupation  of  the  Dutch,  to  threaten  the  assertion  of  Baltimore's 
right  by  force,  and  to  offer  his  protection  to  the  inhabitants,  upon  terms 
similar  to  those  given  to  other  emigrants.  Beekman  proposed  to  refer  the 
controversy  to  the  republics  of  England  and  Holland ;  and  Stuy vesant,  by 
commissioners,  at  Annapolis,  repeated  the  proposition ;  asserting,  however, 
the  title  of  the  India  Company,  by  prior  occupancy,  and  assent  of  the  English 
nation ;  and  protesting  against  the  conduct  of  Fendal,  as  in  breach  of  the 

*  Smith's  New  York. 

t  Deed,  dated,  10th  August,  1630.     Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery. 

J  Deed,  6th  December,  1651. 

§  Deed,  30th  January,  1658. 

c 


18  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

treaties  between  the  two  nations.  In  the  following  year,  Lord  Baltimore 
applied,  through  his  agent,  captain  Neale,  to  the  Dutch  Company,  for  orders 
to  the  colonists  on  the  Delaware,  to  submit  to  his  authority.  A  peremptory 
refusal  was  instantly  given ;  and  a  petty  war  in  the  colonies  was  prevented, 
by  the  weakness  of  Maryland,  and  the  hopes  of  redress  from  measures  then 
contemplated  by  the  English  government  against  all  the  Dutch  possessions 
in  America.* 

We  learn,  from  a  pamphlet,  published  in  1648,  that  a  grant  had  been 
made  by  James  the  First,  to  Sir  Edward  Ploeyden,  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
country  between  Maryland  and  New  England,  which  was  erected  into  a 
province  and  county  palatine,  with  very  comprehensive,  if  not  precise 
boundaries. f 

The  rights  derived  from  this  patent  were  unexercised  during  the  reigns  of 
James,  and  the  first  Charles — but  were  acted  on,  during  the  revolution. 
Before  1648,  a  company  was  formed,  under  Sir  Edward  Ploeyden,  for 
planting  this  province,  in  aid  of  which,  our  author  wrote  his  description  of 
New  Albion.  This  little  work  compares  New  Albion  with  other  countries 
of  the  new  world,  giving  all  preference  to  the  former,  and  contains  a  learned 
exposition  and  defence  of  the  rights  of  an  earl  palatine,  who,  among  other 
royalties,  having  power  to  create  barons,  baronets,  and  knights,  of  his 
palatinate,  had  bestowed  a  baronage  upon  our  author,  and  others,  as  well  as 
upon  each  of  his  own  children.  Thus,  there  were,  the  son  and  heir  ap- 
parent, and  Governor,  Francis,  Lord  Ploeyden,  Baron  of  Mount  Royal,  an 
extensive  manor,  on  Elk  river ;  and  Thomas,  Lord  Ploeyden,  High  Admiral, 
Baron  of  Roymount,  a  manor  on  the  Delaware  bay,  in  the  vicinity  of  Lewis- 
town  ;  and  the  Lady  Winifrid,  Baroness  of  Uvedale,  in  Webb's  Neck,  de- 
riving its  name  from  its  abundance  of  grapes,  producing  the  Thoulouse, 
Muscat,  and  others. 

From  circumstances,  it  is  probable,  that  this  New  Albion  Company  sent 
out  agents,  who  visited  different  parts  of  the  province,  some  of  whom  esta- 
blished themselves  there ;  that  the  Palatine  and  some  friends,  of  whom  was 
Plantagenet,  sought  temporary  cover  from  the  storms  of  civil  war  in  England, 
amid  the  American  wilds ; — that  a  fort  named  Erewomec  was  erected  at  the 
mouth  of  Pensaukin  Creek,  on  the  Jersey  shore;  and  that,  there  was  a  con- 
siderable settlement  at  Watcessi  or  Oijtsessing,  the  present  site  of  Salem, 
which  was  probably  broken  up,  or  reduced,  by  the  united  force  of  the  Dutch 
and  Swedes.  No  known  vestige  of  these  settlements  remains  ;  and  all  our 
knowledge  in  relation  to  their  fate  is  conjectural.^: 

XXII.  In  1640,  as  stated  by  Trumbull,  some  persons  at  New  Haven,  by 
Captain  Nathaniel  Turner,  their  agent,  purchased  for  thirty  pounds  sterling,  a 
large  tract  of  land,  for  plantations,  on  both  sides  of  the  Delaware  river;  erected 
trading  houses,  and  sent  out  near  fifty  families  to  settle  them.§  It  is  proba- 
ble, that  this  number  is  over-rated.  But  we  gather  from  the  complaints  of 

*  New  York  Records.      New  York  Hist.  Col.  vol.  iii.  p.  368.     Smith's  New  York. 

t  This  pamphlet  is  addressed  by  Beauchamp  Plantagenet,  "  To  the  Right  Honour- 
able and  mighty  Lord  Edmund,  by  Divine  Providence, "Lord  Proprietor,  Earl  Palatine, 
Governor,  and  Captain- General  of  the  province  of  New  Albion;  and  to  the  Right 
Honourable,  the  Lord  Viscount  Monson,  of  Castlemain;  the  Lord  Sherard,  Baron  of 
Leitrim,  and  to  all  other,  the  Viscounts,  Barons,  Baronets,  Knights,  and  gentlemen, 
merchants,  adventurers,  and  planters,  of  the  hopeful  company  of  New  Albion,  in  all 
forty-four  undertakers,  and  subscribers,  bound  by  indenture,  to  bring  and  settle  3000 
able,  trained  men,  in  our  several  plantations,  to  the  said  province." 

\  New  Albion.  Smith's  N.  J.  Bescryvinge  van  Virginie,  New^Netherlandts.  Penn. 
Register,  1828,  vol.  iv.  See,  for  a  further  account  of  New  Albion,  Appendix,  note 
B,  and  Philadelphia  Library,  No.  1019,  Oct. 

§  Trumbull's  Conn. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  10 

the  Connecticut  traders,  that,  they  visited  the  Delaware  for  the  purpose  of 
barter,  and  were  driven  thence  by  the  Swedes  and  Dutch,  under  Kieft,  in 
1642;  that,  their  trading  house  was  destroyed,  their  goods  confiscated,  and 
their  persons  imprisoned.  The  commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies  of  New 
England,  upon  an  investigation  of  the  facts,  directed  governor  Winthrop  to 
remonstrate  with  the  Swedish  governor,  and  to  claim  indemnity  for  the  losses 
sustained,  amounting  to  one  thousand  pounds.  Winthrop  addressed  letters 
to  Kieft  and  Printz,  but  received  no  satisfactory  answer. 

At  an  extraordinary  meeting  of  the  commissioners,  in  1649,  the  court  of 
New  Haven,  proposed  the  speedy  planting  of  Delaware  Bay.  But  this,  as  a 
general  measure,  was  deemed  inexpedient,  and  the  New  Haven  merchants 
were  left  to  improve  or  sell  their  lands  as  they  should  see  cause.  The  treat- 
ment of  these  merchants,  by  the  Dutch,  formed  part  of  the  grievances  sub- 
mitted to  the  delegates  appointed  by  Stuyvesant,  arid  the  United  Colonies,  in 
1650;  when  the  latter  claimed  a  right  to  the  Delaware  under  their  patents,  as 
well  as  by  purchase  from  the  Indians.  These  delegates,  from  want  of  suffi- 
cient light  to  determine  the  question,  concluded  to  leave  both  parties  at  liber- 
ty to  improve  their  interests  upon  that  river. 

Encouraged  by  this  declaration,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Haven  and  its 
vicinity,  in  the  following  year,  fitted  out  a  vessel  with  fifty  adventurers,  who 
proposed  to  establish  themselves  on  the  disputed  lands.  They  put  into 
New  York ;  and  the  object  of  their  voyage  being  made  known,  Stuyvesant, 
who  was  wanting,  neither  in  ability,  nor  resolution,  immediately  seized  the 
vessel,  her  papers,  and  crew,  and  extorted  a  promise  from  the  last,  to  return 
to  their  homes ;  which  they  more  readily  gave  as  the  Dutch  governor  threat- 
ened, that  he  would  send  to  Holland,  any  of  them  whom  he  should  find  on 
the  Delaware,  and  would  resist  their  encroachments,  in  that  quarter,  even 
unto  blood. 

But,  the  colony  of  New  Haven,  with  its  characteristic  pertinacity,  was  not 
disposed  thus  to  abandon  her  pretensions.  She  brought  the  subject  again 
before  the  commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  in  1654,  who  addressed  a 
missive  to  Stuyvesant,  in  which,  the  rights  alleged  by  the  Dutch,  are  very 
summarily  disposed  of,  as  "  their  own  mistake,  or  at  least,  the  error  of  them 
that  informed  them ;"  whilst,  the  claims  of  the  people  of  New  Haven,  appeared 
"  so  clear,  that  they  could  not  but  assert  their  just  title  to  their  lands,  and  de- 
sire that  they  might  peaceably  enjoy  the  same."  No  effect  was  produced  by 
this  letter,  and  the  colony  of  New  Haven  would  have  resorted  to  hostilities, 
could  she  have  been  assured  of  the  protection  of  her  sisters.  But,  they  were 
deaf  to  her  appeals,  and  the  Plymouth  colony  shortly  replied,  "  that  they  did 
not  think  it  meet,  to  answer  their  desire  in  that  behalf,  and  that  they  would  have 
no  hand  in  any  such  controversy."  Thus  deprived  of  all  hope  of  effectual  as- 
sistance, from  their  neighbours,  the  traders  of  New  Haven  were  compelled  to 
remain  at  peace.  The  country  was  soon  after  granted  to  the  Duke  of  York, 
and  their  claims  were  too  feebly  sustained  by  justice,  to  brave  the  Duke's  power. 

But  this,  with  other  causes  of  dispute,  had  implanted  in  the  colonists  of 
New  England,  such  animosity  against  their  Dutch  neighbours,  that,  in  1653, 
they  formed  the  design  to  drive  them  from  the  continent,  and  applied  to 
Oliver  Cromwell  for  assistance.  He,  being  then  engaged  in  the  two  years' 
war  with  Holland,  which  the  Parliament  had  commenced,  promptly  acceded 
to  their  request,  by  despatching  a  squadron  to  aid  the  colonial  troops.  The 
design  was,  however,  arrested,  by  intelligence  of  the  peace  that  had  been 
concluded  between  the  Protector  and  the  States-General.*  And  it  is  remark- 

*  Oldmixon  i.  119.  Chalmers  574.  Trumbull  i.  168.  Hazard's  Col.  vol.  ii.  Gra- 
hames'  Col.  Hist,  of  North  America. 


20  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

able,  that  the  treaty  has  no  direct  reference  to  the  possessions  of  either  party 
in  North  America ;  but,  stipulating  for  the  restoration  of  peace,  between  the 
dominions  of  the  two  countries  in  every  part  of  the  world,  and  the  English 
expedition  being  countermanded  thereon,  the  validity  of  the  Dutch  claim  to 
the  country,  it  is  supposed,  was  manifestly  implied  and  practically  acknow- 
ledged.* Yet,  the  New  England  men,  succeeded  in  impressing  different 
views  upon  Richard  Cromwell ;  who,  during  his  short  protectorate,  ad- 
dressed instructions  to  his  commanders,  for  the  invasion  of  New  Nether- 
lands, and  directed  the  concurrence  of  the  forces  of  the  English  colonial 
governments,  in  the  enterprise ;  but  the  subversion  of  his  ephemeral  power, 
prevented  the  execution  of  his  orders. f 

Charles  II.,  however,  from  enmity  to  the  States-General,  certainly  not 
from  love  of  his  transatlantic  subjects,  entered  into  their  designs.  His  senti- 
ments were  enforced  by  the  interest  of  the  Duke  of  York,  who  had  placed 
himself  at  the  head  of  a  new  African  company,  with  the  view  of  extending 
and  appropriating  the  slave  trade,  and  which  found  its  commerce  impeded 
by  the  more  successful  traffic  of  the  Dutch.  Like  trie  other  courtiers,  the 
Duke  had  cast  his  eyes,  on  the  American  territorities,  which  his  brother 
was  about  to  distribute  with  a  liberal  hand ;  and  to  other  reasons,  which  he 
employed  to  promote  a  rupture  with  the  Dutch,  he  solicited  a  grant  of  their 
North  American  possessions,  on  the  prevailing  plea,  that  they  had  been  ori- 
ginally usurped  from  the  territory,  properly  belonging  to  Britain.^:  The  in- 
fluence of  these  motives  on  the  mind  of  the  King,  may  have  been  aided  by 
the  desire  to  strike  a  blow  that  would  enforce  the  arbitrary  commission,  he 
was  preparing  to  send  to  New  England,  and  to  teach  the  Puritan  colonists 
there,  that  he  had  power  to  subdue  his  enemies  in  America. 

XXIII.  Charles  having  failed  in  repeated  attempts  to  provoke  the  resent- 
ment of  the  States -General,  resolved  to  embrace  the  suggestion  of  his  right 
to  the  province  of  New  Netherlands.     In  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  a  royd 
charter,  dated  20th  March,  1664,  was  executed  in  favour  of  the  Duke  of 
York,  containing  a  grant  of  the  whole  region,  extending  from  the  western 
bank  of  the  Connecticut  river,  to  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Delaware,  together 
with  the  adjacency  of  Long  Island,  and  conferring  on  his  royal  highness,  all 
the  powers  of  government,  civil  and  military,  within  these  ample  boundaries. 
This  grant  disregarded  alike,  the  possession  of  the  Dutch  and  the  recent 
charter  of  Connecticut,  which,  from  ignorance  or  carelessness  in  the  defini- 
tion of  boundaries,  it  wholly,  but  tacitly  superseded. 

As  soon  as  the  Duke  had  obtained  this  grant,  and  before  investiture,  he 
proceeded  to  exercise  his  proprietary  powers  in  their  fullest  extent,  by  con- 
veying to  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret,  all  that  portion  of  the  ter- 
ritory, which  forms  the  present  state  of  New  Jersey.  A  military  force, 
however,  had  been  prepared  to  compel  possession;  and  with  some  secrecy 
too,  although  this  was  scarce  necessary,  since  the  Dutch,  so  far  from  appre- 
hending an  attack,  had,  but  a  few  months  before,  sent  to  their  colony,  a 
vessel  laden  with  planters  and  the  implements  of  husbandry. 

XXIV.  The  command  of  the  English  troops  in  the  expedition,  and  the 
government  of  the  province  against  which  it  was  directed,  were  given  to 
Colonel  Nicholls,  who  had  studied  the  art  of  war  under  Marshal  Turenne, 
and  who,  with  George  Cartwright,  Sir  Robert  Carr,  and  Samuel  Maverick, 
also,  had  a  commission  to  visit  the  colonies  of  New  England,  and  investigate 

*  Oldmixon  i.  119.  Chalmers  574.  Trumbull  i.  168.  Hazard's  Col.  vol.  ii.  Gra- 
hame's  Col.  History  of  North  America. 

t  Ib.  ib.     Thurloe's  Collec.  i.  721. 

|  Sir  J.  Dalrymple's  Mem.  ii.  4.  Hume's  England.  Chalmers.  Graharae,  vol. 
ii.  214. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  21 

and  determine,  according  to  their  discretion,  all  disputes  and  controver- 
sies within  the  various  colonial  jurisdictions.  After  touching  at  Boston, 
where  an  armed  force  was  ordered  to  be  raised  and  sent,  to  join  the  expedi- 
tion, the  fleet  proceeded  to  the  Hudson  river,  and  anchored  before  the  capital 
of  New  Netherlands.  The  requisition  from  Boston  was  so  tardily  obeyed, 
that  the  enterprise  was  over,  before  the  Massachusetts  troops  were  ready  to 
march ;  but  governor  Winthrop  of  Connecticut,  with  several  of  the  principal 
inhabitants  of  that  province,  immediately  joined  the  King's  standard.* 

The  armament,  consisting  of  three  ships,  with  one  hundred  and  thirty 
guns  and  six  hundred  men,  was  too  formidable  to  be  resisted  by  a  petty 
town,  hastily  and  poorly  fortified,  and  manned  by  peaceful  burghers,  or 
mere  plodding  planters.  Yet  the  spirited  governor  was  exceeding  loth  to 
surrender  without,  at  least,  having  attempted  its  defence ;  although  the  favour- 
able terms  offered  to  the  inhabitants  disposed  them  to  immediate  capitulation. 
After  a  few  days  of  fruitless  negotiation,  during  which,  Stuyvesant  pleaded, 
in  vain,  the  justice  of  the  title  of  the  States-General,  and  the  peace  existing 
between  them  and  the  English  nation,  the  province  was  surrendered  upon 
the  most  honourable  terms  to  the  vanquished,  who  preserved  their  arms,  am- 
munition, and  public  stores,  with  leave  to  transport  them,  within  twelve 
months,  to  Holland :  the  inhabitants  were  free  to  sell  their  estates  and  return 
to  Europe,  or  retain  them  and  reside  in  the  province ;  such  as  remained, 
were  to  enjoy  their  ancient  laws  relative  to  the  descent  of  property,  liberty 
of  conscience  in  divine  worship,  and  church  order,  and  perpetual  exemption 
from  military  service ;  and  what  was  yet  more  extraordinary,  all  Dutchmen 
continuing  in  the  province,  or  afterwards  resorting  to  it,  were  allowed  free  trade 
with  Holland  ;f  but  this  privilege  being  repugnant  to  the  navigation  act,  was 
soon  afterwards  revoked.  Notwithstanding  these  very  advantageous  condi- 
tions, the  mortified  commandant  could  not  be  brought  to  ratify  them,  for  two 
days,  after  they  had  been  signed  by  the  commissioners.^  Immediately  after- 
wards, Fort  Orange  also  surrendered.  In  honour  of  the  Duke,  the  city  of  New 
Amsterdam  received  the  name  of  New  York,  afterwards  extended  to  the 
province,  and  Fort  Orange,  that  of  Albany.  The  greater  part  of  the  inhabi- 
tants submitted,  cheerfully,  to  the  new  government ;  and  governor  Stuyvesant 
retained  his  property  and  closed  his  life,  in  his  beloved  city. 

XXV.  Sir  Robert  Carr,  with  two  frigates,  and  the  troops  not  required  at 
New  York,  was  sent  to  compel  the  submission  of  the  colony  on  the  Delaware; 
which  he  effected  with  the  expenditure  of  two  barrels  of  powder  and  twenty 
shot.  By  articles  of  agreement,  signed  Garret  Saunders,  Vautiell,  Hans 
Block,  Lucas  Peterson,  and  Henry  Cousturier,  it  was  stipulated,  "that  the 
burgesses  and  planters  submitting  themselves  to  his  Majesty,  should  be  pro- 
tected in  person  and  estate;  that,  the  present  magistrates  should  continue  in 
office;  that  permission  should  be  given  to  depart  the  country,  within  six 
months,  to  any  one;  that  all  should  enjoy  liberty  of  conscience  in  church 
discipline,  as  formerly ;  and  that  any  person  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
should  become  a  free  denizen,  and  enjoy  the  privilege  of  trade  in  his  Ma- 
jesty's dominions,  as  freely  as  any  Englishman. "§  From  this  separate  con- 
vention, it  would  seem,  that  the  capitulation  of  New  York  was  not  deemed 
conclusive  upon  the  Delaware  settlements;  whose  affairs  were  henceforth 
conducted,  until  1768,  by  their  ancient  magistrates,  under  the  supervision  of 
Captain  John  Carr,  aided  by  a  council  consisting  of  Hans  Block,  Israel 
Holme,  Peter  Rambo,  Peter  Cock,  and  Peter  Aldrick,  from  whom  an  appeal 
lay  to  the  governor  and  council  of  New  York.|| 

*  Trumbull  i.  266.  t  Smith's  N.  J.     Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 

t  August  27, 1664.  §  1st  October.  ||  New  York  Records. 


22  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

XXVI.  Thus,  by  an  act  of  flagrant  injustice  and  tyranical  usurpation, 
was  overthrown  the  Dutch  dominion  in  North  America,  after  it  had  subsist- 
ed for  more  than  half  a  century.  The  actual  condition  of  their  possessions 
was  depreciated  by  Col.  Nichols,  in  his  letters  to  the  Duke,  from  the  humane 
view,  it  is  supposed,  of  deterring  his  master  from  burdening  or  irritating  the 
people,  by  fiscal  impositions.  Early  travellers  and  writers  unite  in  describ- 
ing the  Dutch  colonial  metropolis,  so  admirably  chosen,  as  a  handsome  well 
built  town ;  and  Josselyn  declares  that  the  meanest  house  in  it,  was  worth 
£100.*  Indeed,  the  various  provisions  introduced  into  the  articles  of  sur- 
render, to  preserve  the  comforts  of  the  inhabitants,  attest  the  orderly  condition 
and  plentiful  estate  they  had  acquired,  and  explain  the  causes  of  their  unwar- 
like  spirit.  If  their  manners  corresponded  with  those  of  their  countrymen  in 
the  parent  state,  they  were  probably  superior  to  those  of  their  conquerors. 
Of  the  colonists,  wrho  had  latterly  resorted  to  the  province,  some  had  enjoyed 
affluence  and  respectability  in  Holland,  and  had  imported  with  them,  and  dis- 
played in  their  houses,  costly  services  of  family  plate,  and  well  selected  pro- 
ductions of  the  Dutch  school  of  painting,  f  No  account  has  been  preserved 
of  the  total  population  of  the  province  and  its  dependencies ;  but  the  metro- 
polis, at  this  time,  is  said  to  have  contained  about  3000  persons,  of  whom, 
one  half  returned  to  Holland.  Their  habitations,  however,  were  soon  occu- 
pied by  emigrants,  partly  from  Britain,  but  chiefly  from  New  England. 
Upon  the  North  river,  throughout  the  present  county  of  Bergen,  Dutch  set- 
tlers were  numerous,  and  both  shores  of  the  Delaware  were  studded  with 
plantations  of  Dutch  and  Swedes.  Three  Dutch  families  were  settled  at 
Lazy  Point,  opposite  Mattinicunk  Island,  the  site  of  Burlington,  and  four 
years  later,  one  Peter  Jegow,  in  1668,  (such  was  the  intercourse  between  the 
two  rivers)  received  license  for,  and  kept  a  house  of  entertainment,  for 
accommodation  of  passengers,  travellers,  and  strangers,  on  this  point  of  the 
Delaware  4 

The  capture  of  New  York  and  its  dependencies,  led  to  an  European  war, 
between  Great  Britain  and  Holland,  ending  in  the  treaty  of  Breda,  of  July, 
1667.  Happily,  for  the  prosperity  of  the  colony,  which  Nicholls,  with  the 
aid  of  the  other  English  provinces,  would  have  defended  to  the  last  extremity, 
neither  the  States-General,  nor  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  made  any 
attempt  to  possess  themselves  of  New  York  during  this  war;  arid  at  the 
peace,  it  was  ceded  to  England,  in  exchange  for  her  colony  of  Surinam, 
which  had  been  conquered  by  the  Dutch.  This  exchange  was  no  otherwise 
expressed,  than  by  a  general  stipulation  in  the  treaty,  that  each  nation  should 
retain  what  it  had  acquired  by  arms,  since  the  commencement  of  hostilities. 
The  Dutch  had  no  reason  to  regret  this  result,  since  they  could  not  long  have 
preserved  New  York  against  the  increasing  strength  and  rivalry  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  New  England,  Maryland,  and  Virginia.§ 

Colonel  Nicholls  governed  the  province,  for  nearly  three  years,  with  great 
justice  and  good  sense.  He  settled  the  boundaries  with  Connecticut ;  which, 
yielding  all  claim  to  Long  Island,  obtained  great  advantages  on  the  main, 
pushing  its  line  to  Mamoroneck  river,  about  thirty  miles  from  New  York — 
prescribed  the  mode  of  purchasing  lands  from  the  Indians,  making  the  con- 
sent of  the  governor,  and  public  registry,  requisite  to  the  validity  of  all  con- 
tracts with  them  for  the  soil — and  incorporated  the  city  of  New  York,  under 
a  mayor,  five  aldermen,  and  a  sheriff;  and  although  he  reserved  to  himself 
all  judicial  authority,  his  administration  was  so  wise  and  impartial,  that  it 
enforced  universal  praise. 

*  Josselyn's  Second  Voyage,  p.  154.     Oldmixon  i.  119. 

t  Grant's  Memoirs  of  an  American  Lady,  &c.  vol.  i.  p.  11.  Grahame's  Col.  Hist, 
vol.  ii.  225.  t  Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery.  New  Jersey  Records. 

§  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii  231. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  23 


CHAPTER  II. 


Comprising  Events  from  the  Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York,  to  the  Division  of  the 
Colony,  into  East  and  West  Jersey.  I.  Nature  of  the  Estate  acquired  by  the 
Duke  of  York,  by  the  Grant  from  Charles  I. — II.  Motives  and  Nature  of  the 
Grant  from  the  Duke  of  York,  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret.— III.  Bounds  of 
the  Country  ceded. — IV.  Proceedings  of  the  Proprietaries,  to  settle  their  Pro- 
vince of  New  Jersey,  &c. — their  "  Concessions." — V.  Remarks  on  the  Constitu- 
tion.— VI.  Assumption  of  Government  by  Colonel  Nicholls — Indian  Grants. — 
VII.  Philip  Carteret  appointed  Governor— His  Efforts  for  Colonization— Ad- 
vantages enjoyed  by  the  New  Colonists. — VIII.  Unhappy  Effects  of  the  De- 
mand of  Proprietary  Quit  Rents.— IX.  Recapture  of  New  Netherlands  by  Holland 
—and  Restoration'to  the  English.— X.  Re-grant  of  the  Province  to  the  Duke— 
Re-grant  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret. — XI.  Return  of  Philip  Carteret  to  the 
Government— Modification  of  the  Constitution.— XII.  Oppressive  Conduct  of 
Andross,  Governor  of  New  York. — XIII.  Division  of  the  Province  into  East  and 
West  Jersey. 

I.  We  have  seen,  in  the  preceding  Chapter,  that  James,  Duke  of  York, 
even  before  he  had  obtained  seizin  of  his  newly  granted  fief,  had  conveyed 
a  considerable  portion  of  it  to  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret.   The 
charter  to  the  duke,  though  less  ample  in  its  endowments  than  those  previ- 
ously granted  to  the  proprietaries  of  Maryland  and  Carolina,  resembled  them 
by  conferring  the  powers  of  government  on  the  grantee  and  his  assigns. 
And  thus,  even  with  the  light  which  had  been  stricken  forth  by  the  extraor- 
dinary political  concussions  of  the  passing  century,  the  allegiance  and  obe- 
dience of  freemen,  were  made  transferable  as  if  they  were  serfs  attached  to  the 
soil.    Nor  was  this  proprietary  right  merely  potential. — Instances  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Carolinas,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  demonstrate,  that  the  pro- 
prietaries regarded  their  functions  less  as  a  trust,  than  as  an  absolute  property ; 
subject  to  every  act  of  ownership,  and  in  particular,  to  mortgage  and  aliena- 
tion.    It  was  not  until  after  the  British  revolution  of  1688,  that  the  legality 
of  this  power  was  disputed;  when  the  ministers  of  William  III.  maintained 
its  repugnance  to  the  laws  of  England,  which  recognised  (an  absurdity  not 
less)  a  hereditary,  but  not  a  commercial  transmission  of  office  and  power. 
The  point  was  never  determined  by  any  formal  adjudication;  but,  the  evil 
in  process  of  time,  produced  its  own  remedy.     The  succession  and  multipli- 
cation of  proprietaries  became  so  inconvenient  to  themselves,  that,  they 
found  relief,  in  surrendering  their  functions  to  the  crown.     In  Carolina  and 
New  Jersey  the  exercise  of  the  right  of  assignation,  materially,  contributed 
to  shorten  the  duration  of  the  proprietary  government.* 

II.  Berkeley  and  Carteret  were  already  proprietaries  of  Carolina.     Not 
satisfied  with  this  ample  investiture,  nor  yet  certified  by  experience,  of  the 
tardy  returns  from  colonial  possessions,  they  had  been  induced,  by  the  re- 
presentations of  a  projector  acquainted  with  the  domain  assigned  to  the  Duke 
of  York,  to  believe,  that  a  particular  portion  of  it  would  form  a  valuable 
acquisition  to  themselves.    This  person,  we  are  assured  by  Colonel  Nicholls, 
had  been  an  unsuccessful  applicant  for  the  patent  which  the  Duke  had  ob- 
tained, and  revenged  his  disappointment  by  instigating  these  courtiers  to 

*  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  i.  315. 


24  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

strip  him  of  a  most  desirable  portion  of  his  territory.*  But  the  claims  which 
the  grantees  of  the  duke  had  upon  the  royal  family,  together  with  the  political 
motives  of  colonization,  may  have  been  sufficient  reasons  for  the  grant  of  a 
newly  acquired,  and  almost  unexplored  wilderness  in  America ;  and  we  in- 
cline to  the  opinion,  which  we  think  is  confirmed  by  the  promptitude  with 
which  it  was  made,  after  the  title  of  the  Duke  had  accrued,  that,  the  transfer 
to  Berkeley  and  Carteret  was  an  understood  consideration  of  the  grant  to  the 
Duke.  Both  were  favoured  courtiers ; — Berkeley  was  of  the  Privy  Council, 
and  Carteret,  Treasurer  of  the  Navy,  and  Vice  Chamberlain  of  the  royal 
house  hold. f 

III.  The  cession  from  the  Duke  was  made  by  deeds  of  lease  and  release, 
dated,  respectively,  23d  and  24th  June,  1664,  and  conveyed  to  the  grantees, 
their  heirs  and  assigns,  in  consideration  of  a  competent  sum,  "  That  tract  of 
"  land  adjacent  to  New  England,  lying  westward  of  Long  Island,  and  Man- 
"  hattan  Island ;  and  bounded  on  the  east,  part  by  the  main  sea,  and  part  by 
"  Hudson's  river ;  and  hath  upon  the  west,  Delaware  Bay,  or  river ;  and 
"  extendeth  southward  to  the  main  ocean,  as  far  as  Cape  May,  at  the  mouth  of 
"  Delaware  Bay;  and  to  the  northward  as  far  as  the  northernmost  branch  of 
"the  said  bay,  or  river  Delaware,  which  is  in  41°  40'  of  latitude;  and 
"  crosses  over,  thence,  in  a  straight  line,  to  Hudson's  river,  in  41  degrees  of 
"  latitude ;  which  said  tract  of  land  is  hereafter  to  be  called  Nova  Cfesaria, 
"  or  New  Jersey."     The  name  was  given  in  compliment  to  Carteret,  who 
had  defended  the  island  of  Jersey  against  the  long  Parliament,  in  the  civil 
war.     But  the  powers  of  government,  which  had  been  expressly  granted 
to  the  Duke,  were  riot  in  terms  conveyed,  though  it  would  seem,  that  both 
parties  deemed  them  to  have  passed  by  the  grant. 

IV.  The  first  care  of  the  proprietaries  was  to  invite  inhabitants  to  their 
province ;  and  their  exertions  for  this  purpose,  though  pursued  with  more 
eagerness  than  perseverance,  were  marked  by  political  sagacity,  and  held 
forth  those  assurances  of  civil  and  religious  rights  which  had  proven  so  at- 
tractive in  New  England.     They  prepared  a  constitution  which  they  pub- 
lished under  the  title  of  "  The  concessions  and  agreement  of  the  Lords  Pro- 
prietors of  New  Jersey,  to  and  with  all  and  every  of  the  adventurers,  and  all 
such  as  shall  settle  and  plant  there."J     We  deem  it  our  duty  to  give  much 
in  detail,  the  provisions  of  this  instrument;  since  from  it,  have  sprung,  many 
of  the  existing  institutions  of  the  state. 

It  provided;  1.  That  the  governor  of  the  province  should  have  power, 
when  occasion  required,  to  appoint  a  substitute,  and  to  nominate  a  council,  in 
number,  not  less  than  six,  nor  more  than  twelve,  by  whose  advice  he  should 
govern : — 2.  That  the  proprietaries  or  governor  should  nominate  a  secretary 
or  register,  to  record  all  public  affairs,  and  all  grants  or  leases  for  more  than 
one  year,  of  land,  from  the  proprietor,  or  from  man  to  man ;  the  execution 
of  which,  should  be  acknowledged  before  the  governor  or  a  judge;  and 
giving  to  such  recorded  grants,  preference  to  other  conveyances : — 3.  That 

*  The  name  of  this  individual  was  Scot.  Whether  it  was  he,  or  another  with  the 
same  name,  who  afterwards  published  an  account  of  East  New  Jersey,  we  are  uncer- 
tain. Colonel  Nichols  acquits  Berkeley  and  Carteret  of  a  design  to  defraud  the  Duke. 
But  Carteret  did  not  always  enjoy  an  unspotted  reputation.  In  1669  he  was  expelled 
the  House  of  Commons  for  confused,  accounts  as  chamberlain. —  Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 
Smith's  New  Jersey. 

t  Clarendon. 

t  The  date  of  this  instrument,  as  given  in  Scot's  model  of  the  province  of  East 
New  Jersey,  in  Smith's  History  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  Learning  and  Spicer's  Collec- 
tion of  State  Papers,  is  10th  February,  1664.  This  date  precedes  not  only  that  of  the 
frant  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  but,  also,  that  of  the  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York.  The 
ate  is,  therefore,  erroneous,  unless  we  suppose  the  instrument  was  prepared  before 
the  charter  from  the  king 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  25 

fi  surveyor-general,  appointed  in  the  same  manner  as  the  secretary,  should 
survey  the  lands  granted  by  the  proprietary,  and  those  of  individuals  when 
requested;  certifying  the  same  for  record,  to  the  register: — 4.  That  all 
officers  should  swear  (and  record  their  oaths)  to  bear  allegiance  to  the  King, 
to  be  faithful  to  the  proprietaries,  and  duly  to  discharge  their  respective 
trusts ;  persons  subscribing  a  declaration  to  like  effect  without  oath,  being 
subject  to  the  same  punishment,  as  if  they  had  sworn  and  broken  their 
oaths : — 5.  That  all  subjects  of  the  King  of  England,  swearing  allegiance  to 
the  King  and  faithfulness  to  the  Lords,  might  become  freemen  of  the  pro- 
vince:— 6.  That  no  person  so  qualified,  should,  at  any  time,  be  in  any  way 
molested,  punished,  disquieted,  or  called  in  question  for  any  difference  in 
opinion  or  practice,  in  matters  of  religious  concernment,  who  do  not  actually 
disturb  the  civil  peace  of  the  said  province ;  but  that  all  persons  may  freely 
and  fully  have  and  enjoy  his  and  their  judgments  and  consciences  in  matters 
of  religion,  they  behaving  themselves  peaceably  and  quietly,  and  not  using 
this  liberty  to  licentiousness,  nor  to  the  civil  injury  or  outward  disturbance 
of  others ;  any  law,  statute,  or  clause  contained,  or  to  be  contained,  usage 
or  custom  of  the  realm  of  England,  to  the  contrary  thereof,  in  anywise  not- 
withstanding: — 7.  As  a  restraint  upon  the  right  of  advowson,  claimed  by 
the  proprietaries,  under  their  grant,  that  the  Assembly  should  have  power  to 
constitute  and  appoint  such  and  so  many  ministers  or  preachers  as  they 
shall  think  fit,  and  to  establish  their  maintenance,  giving  liberty  beside,  to 
any  person  or  persons  to  keep  and  maintain  what  preachers  or  ministers 
they  please. 

The  concessions  further  provided — 8.  That,  the  inhabitants  being  free- 
men, or  chief  agents  to  others,  should  immediately  choose  twelve  repre- 
sentatives, to  unite  with  the  governor  and  council  in  making  laws;  but,  so 
soon  as  the  proper  territorial  divisions  should  be  made,  that  the  inhabitants  or 
freeholders  thereof,  respectively,  should,  annually,  elect  representatives  who, 
with  the  governor  and  council,  should  form  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
province ;  the  governor  or  his  deputy  being  present,  unless  he  refused,  when 
the  Assembly  might  appoint  a  president.  The  Assembly  was  to  have  power 
to  meet  and  adjourn  at  pleasure,  and  to  fix  their  quorum  at  not  less  than  one- 
third  of  their  number :  to  enact  all  necessary  laws,  as  near  as  may  be,  con- 
veniently agreeable  to  the  laws  and  customs  of  England,  and  not  against 
the  interest  of  the  Lords  Proprietors,  nor  against  these  concessions,  and 
particularly,  not  repugnant  to  the  article  for  liberty  of  conscience;  such 
laws  to  be  in  force  for  one  year,  unless  contradicted  by  the  Lords  Proprie- 
tors ;  within  which  time  to  be  presented  to  them  for  ratification,  and  being 
confirmed,  to  remain  in  force  until  expired  by  their  own  limitation,  or  be 
repealed :  to  constitute  courts,  and  all  that  shall  pertain  to  them :  to  levy 
taxes  on  goods  or  lands,  except  such  of  the  latter  as  were  unsettled,  belong- 
ing to  the  Lords  Proprietors :  to  erect  manors,  with  their  courts  and  juris- 
dictions, and  to  divide  the  province  into  such  districts  as  they  might  think 
proper:  to  create  ports,  and  harbours;  build  castles,  incorporate  cities, 
towns,  and  boroughs ;  create  a  military  force ;  naturalize  foreigners ;  and 
prescribe  the  quantity  of  land  to  be  allotted,  from  time  to  time,  to  every  head, 
free  or  servant,  within  the  proportions  granted  by  the  "  concessions :"  to 
provide  for  the  maintenance  and  support  of  the  governor,  the  necessary 
charges  of  government,  and  the  collection  of  the  Lords'  rents;  and  lastly, 
to  enact  all  such  other  laws,  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  prosperity  and 
settlement  of  the  province,  conforming  to  the  limitations  expressed  in  the 
"  concessions." 

The  governor  and  council  were  empowered — 9.  To  see  that  all  courts 
and  officers  performed  their  duties,  and  to  punish  infraction  of  the  laws : 


26  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

to  nominate  and  commission  the  judges  and  other  officers,  according  to  the 
constitution  of  the  General  Assembly,  appointing  none  but  freeholders,  ex- 
cept by  assent  of  Assembly,  and  their  commissions  to  revoke  at  pleasure : 
to  have  charge  of  all  places  of  defence,  and  direction  and  officering  of  the 
military  force,  appointing  none  but  freeholders  without  assent  of  the  Assem- 
bly :  to  reprieve  criminals  until  the  pleasure  of  the  Lords,  who  reserved  the 
power  to  pardon,  was  known :  to  issue  writs  for  supplying  vacancies  in  the 
Assembly ;  and  to  grant  warrants  for  land.  They  were  required,  not  to  im- 
pose, nor  suffer  to  be  imposed,  any  tax  upon  the  province  or  inhabitants, 
other  than  that  imposed  by  the  General  Assembly :  to  take  care,  that  lands 
quietly  held,  seven  years  after  survey  by  the  surveyor-general,  should  not 
be  subject  to  review  by  the  proprietaries,  or  their  agents. 

And  that  the  planting  of  the  province  might  be  the  more  speedily  promoted, 
it  was  further  provided — 10.  That,  there  should  be  granted  to  all  persons 
who  had  already  adventured,  or  should  transport  themselves  or  servants, 
before  the  1st  Jan.  1665,  lands  in  the  following  proportions,  viz.  to  every 
freeman,  going  with  the  first .  governor,  armed  with  musket,  ten  pounds  of 
powder  and  twenty  pounds  of  bullets,  with  bandeliers  and  matches  conve- 
nient, and  with  six  months'  provision,  for  his  own  person,  arriving  there, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres ;  and  like  quantity,  for  every  able  bodied  ser- 
vant, so  armed,  whether  taken  by  the  master,  or  sent  thither,  by  him ;  and 
for  every  weaker  servant,  or  slave,  male  or  female,  exceeding  fourteen  years, 
which  any  one  should  send  or  carry,  arriving  there,  seventy-five  acres; 
and  to  every  Christian  servant,  exceeding  such  age,  seventy-five  acres, 
for  his  own  use:  to  the  master  or  mistress  going  before  1st  January,  1665, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  like  quantity  for  an  able  bodied  male 
servant,  taken  with,  or  by,  them;  and  for  other  servants  or  slaves,  as 
above,  sixty  acres,  with  sixty  acres  for  the  servant's  own  use,  when  able,  and 
forty-five  acres  when  of  the  weaker  class.  Where  the  party  emigrating 
arrived,  from  January  1666  to  January  1667,  armed  and  provided  as  afore- 
said, he  became  entitled,  for  self  and  able  servant,  to  sixty  acres  of  land  for 
each,  and  such  servant  to  like  quantity,  and  weaker  servants  or  slaves,  thirty 
acres  each.  All  lands  were  to  be  taken  up  by  warrant,  from  the  governor, 
and  confirmed,  after  survey,  by  the  governor  and  council,  under  a  seal  to  be 
provided  for  that  purpose.  All  lands  were  to  be  divided  by  general  lot,  none 
less  than  two  thousand  one  hundred,  nor  more  than  twenty-one  thousand, 
acres,  except  cities,  towns,  &c.,  and  the  near  lots  of  townships ;  and  of  such 
lots,  towns,  &c.,  one  seventh,  was  reserved,  by  lot,  for  the  proprietaries. 
Convenient  portions  of  land  were  to  be  given,  for  highways  and  streets,  not 
exceeding  one  hundred  feet  in  breadth,  in  cities,  towns  and  villages;  for 
churches,  forts,  wharves,  keys  and  harbours,  and  for  public  houses ;  and  to 
each  parish  for  the  use  of  their  minister,  two  hundred  acres,  in  such  place 
as  the  General  Assembly  might  appoint.  A  penny,  or  half  penny,  per  acre, 
according  to  the  quality  of  the  land,  was  reserved  to  the  proprietaries,  an- 
nually, as  quit  rent. 

V.  Such  was  the  first  constitution  of  New  Jersey,  almost  as  democratic  as 
the  one  she  enjoys ;  and  certainly  a  greater  safeguard  of  her  liberties,  since 
this  was,  truly,  a  constitution,  an  unalterable  paramount  law,  prescribing  and 
regulating  the  duties  and  powers,  of  the  agents  of  the  government,  whether 
legislative,  executive,  or  judicial ;  whilst  all  the  provisions  of  the  instrument 
of  1776,  save  three,  are  placed  at  the  will  of  the  legislature.  What  more 
was  necessary,  save  the  perpetuity  of  the  laws,  to  assure  to  the  people,  all 
the  blessings  of  political  union?  No  laws  were  in  force,  save  for  one  year, 
without  the  assent  of  the  Lords  Proprietors.  But,  laws  which  did  not  in- 
fringe their  interests,  would,  commonly,  receive  their  assent ;  and  when  it 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  27 

was  refused,  at  the  worst,  the  Assembly  was  compelled  to  re-enact  such 
laws,  annually.  It  was,  indeed,  a  singular  competition,  which  these  pro- 
prietary governments  produced,  in  which  despotic  sovereigns,  and  specula- 
tive legislators,  were  compelled,  by  interest,  to  vie  with  each  other,  in  the 
production  of  models  of  liberty,  and  in  offering  to  their  subjects,  the  most 
effectual  securities  against  arbitrary  government.  The  competition  was, 
the  noble,  though  compulsory  sacrifice  to  the  great  and  divine  principle, 
that  man,  in  the  aggregate,  is  competent  to  promote  his  own  happiness. 

VI.  Upon  the  conquest  of  New  Netherlands,  Col.  Nicholls  assumed  the 
administration  of  the  whole  territory,  as  governor  for  the  Duke  of  York. 
While  yet  unacquainted  with  the  grant  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  he  formed 
the  design  of  colonizing  the  district  which  they  had  acquired ;  and  for  this 
purpose,  granted  licenses  to  various  persons,  to  make  purchases  of  lands 
from  the  aboriginal  inhabitants ;  a  measure,  however  wise  in  its  conception, 
fraught,  ultimately,  with  perplexing  consequences  to  the  Duke's  grantees, 
by  the  creation  of  a  pretence  for  an  adverse  title.  Three  small  townships 
were  speedily  formed,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  territory,  by  emigrants, 
chiefly,  from  Long  Island,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  Elizabethtown,  Wood- 
bridge,  and  Piscataway;  and  Nicholls,  who  entertained  a  very  favourable 
opinion  of  this  region,  bestowed  on  it  the  name  of  Albania,  in  commemora- 
tion of  one  of  the  titles  of  his  master.*  It  is  uncertain,  whether  Middletown 
and  Shrewsbury  had  not  been  previously  settled  by  Dutch  and  English. 
About  this  time,  however,  many  respectable  farmers,  comprising  almost  all 
the  inhabitants  from  the  west  end  of  Long  Island,  removed  to  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Middletown ;  and  to  Shrewsbury,  there  came  many  families  from 
New  England.f 

*  Smith's  N.  J.     Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 

t  The  petitioners  for  the  Elizabethtown  tract,  26th  Sept.  1664,  were  John  Bailey, 
Daniel  Denton.  Thomas  Benydick,  Nathaniel  Denton,  John  Foster,  and  Lnke  Watson. 
The  parties  to  the  deed,  from  the  Indians,  dated  28th  Oct.  1664,  are  Mattano,  Mana- 
warne,  and  Conascomori,  of  Staten  Island,  and  John  Bailey,  Daniel  Denton,  and  Luke 
Watson: — the  tract  conveyed,  is  described,  as  "  one  parcel  of  land,  bounded  on  the 
south,  by  a  river,  commonly  called  the  Raritan,  and  on  the  east,  by  the  river  which 
parts  Staten  Island  and  the  main,  and  to  run  northward  up  Arthur  Cull  Bay,  till  we 
come  to  the  first  river,  which  sets  westward  out  of  the  river  aforesaid;  and  to  run 
westward,  into  the  country,  twice  the  length  that  it  is  broad,  from  the  north  to  the 
south,  of  the  aforementioned  bounds."  The  consideration  given  for  this  broad  tract, 
was  twenty  fathom  of  trading  cloth,  two  made  coats,  two  guns,  two  kettles,  ten  bars 
of  lead,  twenty  handfuls  of  powder,  and  four  hundred  fathoms  of  white,  or  two  hun- 
dred of  black,  wampum,  payable  in  one  year  from  the  day  of  entry,  by  the  grantees, 
upon  the  lands.  The  whole  valued  at  thirty-six  pounds  and  fourteen  shillings  sterling. 
One  of  the  grantors  attests  the  conveyance,  perhaps  the  first  Indian  grant  made  with 
technical  form,  by  a  mark  opposite  to  his  name.  This,  subsequently,  became  the 
common  mode  of  signature  ;  and  the  illiterate  sons  of  the  American  forest,  like  the 
unlettered  noble  of  the  European  feudal  states,  adopted  as  a  sign  manual,  occasionally, 
the  picture  of  a  bird,  or  other  object,  that  captivated  his  fancy.  Mattano  was  the 
only  grantor  who  signed,  and  his  mark  was  ^w^,»^  or  waved  line;  and,  unfortu- 
nately for  his  business  character,  he  had  executed  a. deed,  for  the  same  lands,  to  Au- 
gustus Herman,  already  mentioned.  The  grant,  however,  is  duly  confirmed,  probably, 
in  entire  ignorance  of  preceding  events,  by  governor  Nicholls. +  The  wampum  was 
the  current  money  of  the  Indian  tribes,  the  precious  material  of  which  their  orna- 
ments were  made,  and  the  sacred  sanction  of  their  contracts,  public  and  private.  The 
name  is  derived  from  an  Indian  word,  meaning  muscle.  It  was  called  by  the  Dutch, 
sewant.  It  was  worked  from  shells  into  the  form  of  beads,  and  perforated,  to  string 
on  leather.  Six  beads  were  formerly  valued  at  a  stiver,  twenty  stivers  made  a  guilder, 
6d.  currency,  or  4d.  sterling.  The  white  was  fabricated  from  the  inside  of  the  great 
conchs,  the  black  or  purple,  from  the  clam  or  muscle  shell.  Several  strings,  increased 
in  number  with  the  importance  of  the  occasion,  formed  the  belt  of  wampum.  Before 

\  See  Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery. 


28  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

But  the  hope,  which  Nicholls  had  conceived,  of  rendering  the  district  a 
valuable  appendage  of  the  Duke's  possessions,  was  destroyed  by  intelligence 
of  the  grant  to  its  new  proprietaries.  He  remonstrated,  with  his  master,  on 
the  impolicy  of  thus  multiplying  statistical  divisions,  and  disjointing,  from 
his  own  province,  a  portion  distinguished  for  the  fertility  of  its  soil,  the  com- 
modiousness  of  its  rivers,  and  the  richness  of  its  minerals :  and  while  he 
urged  the  Duke,  to  revoke  a  grant,  so  prejudicial  to  his  interests,  he  pre- 
dicted, truly,  that  the  attempt  of  his  grantees,  to  colonize  the  vacant  terri- 
tory, would  disappoint  their  expectations  of  profit,  and  involve  them  in 
expenses,  of  which  their  remote  posterity,  only,  could  hope  to  gather  the 
fruits.* 

VII.  Whatever  effect  this  remonstrance  may  have  had  upon  the  Duke,  it 
was  too  late  to  revoke  the  grant;  and  Nicholls  was  compelled  to  surrender 
the  government  of  New  Jersey,  to  Philip  Carteret,  who  arrived  with  a  com- 
pany of  thirty  settlers,  from  England,  and  established  themselves  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,f  regarded  as  the  capital  of  the  infant  province.  At  this  period, 
however,  there  were  only  four  houses  here,  and  the  name  was  given  by  him 
in  honour  of  Lady  Elizabeth  Carteret.J  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  despatch- 
ed emissaries  to  New  England,  and  other  adjacent  colonies,  to  make  known 
the  proprietaries'  "  concessions,"  and  to  invite  settlers ;  whose  efforts  were 
attended  with  extraordinary  success.  Among  those  who  came  on  this  in- 
vitation, were  the  founders  of  Newark,  who,  in  consequence  of  the  inability 
of  the  governor,  to  pay  the  consideration  required  by  the  Indians,  took,  by 
his  license,  an  Indian  title,  which  was  afterwards  vexatiously  set  up  against 
that  of  the  proprietaries. 

It  was  the  happy  peculiarity  in  the  lot  of  these  colonists,  that  establishing 
themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  countries  already  cultivated,  they  escaped  the 
disasters  and  privations  which  had  afflicted  so  severely,  the  first  inhabitants 
of  most  of  the  other  provinces.  Their  neighbourhood  to  the  commerce  of 
New  York  was  considered  highly  advantageous  during  the  infancy  of  their 
settlement ;  though,  in  process  of  time,  it  was  less  favourably  regarded,  as 
preventing  the  rise  of  a  domestic  mart,  which  might  give  more  effectual 
encouragement  to  their  trade.  Like  the  other  colonists  of  North  America, 
they  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  transporting  the  arts,  and  habits  of  industry, 
from  an  old  country,  where  they  had  been  carried  to  high  perfection,  into  a 
new  land,  which  afforded  them  more  liberal  encouragement,  and  more  unre- 
stricted scope.  Their  exertions  for  raising  cattle  and  grain  were  speedily 
and  amply  rewarded,  by  a  grateful  soil ;  and  their  friendly  relations  with 
the  Indians  enabled  them  to  prosecute  their  labours,  in  undisturbed  tranquil- 
lity, and  to  add  to  them  a  beneficial  traffic,  in  peltry,  with  the  roving  tribes, 
by  which  the  adjacent  forests  were  inhabited.  Their  connexion  with  New 
York,  also,  gave  them  the  advantage  of  the  alliance,  which  subsisted  between 
that  colony,  and  the  powerful  confederacy  of  the  Five  Nations,  whose  influ- 
ence extending  to  all  the  tribes  of  the  new  settlement,  procured  its  inhabi- 
tants entire  exemption  from  Indian  war.  Recommended  by  the  salubrity  of 
the  climate,  as  by  its  many  other  advantages,  it  is  not  surprising  that  New 
Jersey  was  soon  celebrated  by  the  early  writers,  with  higher  commendations 

the  advent  of  the  Europeans,  the  Indians  made  their  strings  and  belts,  of  small  pieces 
of  wood,  stained  black  or  white.  For  want  of  proper  tools,  few  were  made  of  shells, 
though  highly  valued.  But  the  Europeans  soon  manufactured  them  of  the  latter  ma- 
terial, neatly  and  abundantly.  The  value  of  this  Indian  money,  was  raised  by  pro- 
clamation, in  1673,  from  the  governor  and  council  of  New  York,  commanding  that, 
"  instead  of  eight  white  and  four  black,  six  white  and  three  black,  should  pass  for  a 
stiver,  and  three  times  so  much,  the  value  in  silver. — New  York  Records. 

*  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  t  August,  J.665.  \  Elizabethtown  Bill. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  29 

than  any  other  of  the  colonies.  The  proprietaries,  stimulated  by  the  hope  of 
a  rich  revenue,  industriously  proclaimed  its  advantages  in  Europe  and  Ame- 
rica, and,  from  time  to  time,  despatched  from  England,  vessels  freighted 
with  settlers,  and  stores,  to  reinforce  the  numbers,  and  supply  the  wants  of 
their  people. 

VIII.  But  the  period  to  which  they  had  looked,  for  the  fruition  of  their 
hopes,  demonstrated  their  fallacy ;  and  the  peace  of  the  province  was  un- 
happily interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  the  day  fixed  for  the  payment  of  the 
proprietary  quit  rents.     The  first  demand  of  this  tribute  excited  universal 
disgust  among  the  colonists,  who  expressed  greater  unwillingness,  than  in- 
ability, to  comply  with  it.     A  party  among  them,  including  the  few  settlers 
who  had  seated  themselves  under  the  authority  of  Colonel  Nicholls,  refused 
to  acknowledge  the  title  of  the  proprietaries,  and  in  opposition  to  it,  set  up 
the  Indian  title,  which  we   have  already  noticed,  and  also,  the  right  of 
government  within  the  tract,  thus  conveyed  to  them.     And  the  better  to  sup- 
port this  pretence,  they  prevailed  on  James  Carteret,  a  weak  and  dissolute 
natural  son  of  Sir  George,  to  assume  the  government,  as  by  their  election, 
and  under  an  alleged  proprietary  title,  which,  he  asserted,  he  was  not  obliged 
to  show.*     For  two  years,  the  governor,  Philip  Carteret,  maintained  an  in- 
effectual struggle,  to  enforce  the  claims  of  his  employers ;  until,  at  length, 
the  popular  discontent  broke  forth  into  insurrection — his  officers  were  im- 
prisoned, their  estates  confiscated — and  he  was  compelled  to  fly  from  the 
province,  and  to  seek  redress  in  England,  leaving  John  Berry,  as  deputy 
Governor,  and  James  Bollen,  Secretary  of  the  Province.")"     His  return,  with 
strengthened  authority,  was  retarded  by  the  unexpected  events  of  the  follow- 
ing year,  when  New  York,  being  reconquered  by  Holland,  New  Jersey  was 
again  united  to  the  province  of  New  Netherlands. 

IX.  The  second  war  with  Holland,  most  wantonly  and  unjustly  provoked 
by  the  dissolute  Charles,  in  subserviency  to  the  ambition  of  Louis  XIV.,  was 
declared,  March  17th,  1672.     A  small  squadron  despatched  from  Holland, 
under  the  command  of  Binkes  and  Evertzen,  to  destroy  the  commerce  of  the 
English  colonies,  having  performed  that  service,  with  great  effect  on  the 
Virginia  coast,  was  induced  to  attempt  a  more  important  enterprise,  by  in- 
telligence of  the  negligent  security  of  the  Governor  of  New  York.     The 
Dutch  had  the  good  fortune  to  arrive  before  this,  their  ancient  seat,  while 
Lovelace,  the  Governor,  was  absent,  and  the  command  was  exercised  by 
Captain  Maiming,  who,  by  his  own  subsequent  avowal,  and  the  more  credible 
testimony  of  his  conduct,  was  a  traitor  and  a  coward.     Now  was  reversed 
the  scene,  which  had  been  presented  on  the  invasion  by  Nicholls.     The 
English  inhabitants  prepared  to  defend  themselves,  and  offered  their  assist- 
ance to  Manning ;  but  he  obstructed  their  preparations,  rejected  their  aid, 
and  on  the  first  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  approach,  struck  his  flag,  even 
before  their  vessels  were  in  sight.     As  the  fleet  advanced,  the  garrison  de- 
monstrated their  readiness  to  fight,  but  in  a  transport  of  fear,  he  forbade  a 
gun  to  be  fired,  under  pain  of  death,  and  surrendered  the  place,  uncondition- 
ally, to  the  invaders.     After  this  extraordinary  and  unaccountable  conduct, 
Manning  had  the  impudence  to  repair  to  England,  whence,  he  returned,  in 
the  following  year,  after  the  province  had  been  given  up,  by  the  Dutch.     He 
was  tried,  by  a  court  martial,  on  a  charge  of  treachery  and  cowardice,  ex- 
pressed in  the  most  revolting  terms ;  which,  confessing  to  be  true,  he  re- 
ceived a  sentence  almost  as  extraordinary  as  his  conduct; — "that,  though 
he  deserved  death,  yet,  because  he  had,  since  the  surrender,  been  in  England, 
and  seen  the  King  and  the  Duke,  it  was  adjudged  that  his  sword  should  be 

*  1670.  t  1672. 


30  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

broken  over  his  head,  in  public,  before  the  city  hall ;  and  himself  rendered 
incapable  of  wearing  a  sword,  and  of  serving  his  majesty  for  the  future,  in 
any  public  trust."*  The  old  maxim,  that,  grace  was  dispensed  by  the  mere 
look  of  a  king,  was  respected  on  this  occasion.  The  Dutch  commanders,  in 
their  triumph,  imitated  the  moderation  and  prudence  of  Nicholls ;  and  assur- 
ing the  citizens  of  their  rights  and  possessions,  gratified  the  Dutch  colonists, 
and  left  the  English  cause  of  complaint,  only  against  their  pusillanimous 
commander.  Like  moderation  being  tendered  to  the  other  districts  of  the 
province,  on  condition  of  sending  deputies,  to  swear  allegiance  to  the 
States-General,  induced  the  whole  to  submit.f  The  Dutch  dominion  was 
restored  more  suddenly  than  it  had  been  overthrown,  and  the  name  of 
New  Netherlands  was  once  more  revived — but  was  not  destined  to  long 
endurance. 

Great  consternation  prevailed  in  the  adjoining  English  colonies.  The 
government  of  Connecticut,  with  apparent  simplicity,  that  ludicrously  con- 
trasts with  the  ordinary  astutia  of  her  people,  sent  a  deputation  to  the  Dutch 
admirals,  to  remonstrate  against  their  usurpation  of  dominion,  over  the  terri- 
tory of  England,  and  the  property  of  her  subjects ;  to  desire  them  to  explain 
the  meaning  of  their  conduct,  and  their  further  intentions,  and  to  warn  them, 
that  the  united  colonies  of  New  England,  entrusted  with  the  defence  of  their 
sovereign  dominions,  in  America,  would  be  faithful  to  their  trust.  The 
Dutch  commanders,  as  they  well  might,  expressed  surprise  at  the  terms  of 
this  message,  but  declared,  that  commissioned  by  their  country,  to  assail  her 
enemies,  whilst  they  applauded  the  fidelity  of  the  English,  to  their  sovereign, 
they  would  imitate  the  good  example,  and  endeavour  to  prove  equally  faith- 
ful to  the  States- General.  Active  preparations  for  war,  were,  forthwith, 
made  by  Connecticut,  and  the  confederate  colonies;  but,  as  each  party 
stood  on  the  defensive,  only  a  few  insignificant  skirmishes  took  place, 
before  winter  suspended  military  operations.  Early  in  the  following  spring, 
the  controversy  was  terminated,  without  further  bloodshed,  by  the  treaty 
of  peace,  concluded  at  London,  and  the  restoration  of  New  York,  to  the 
English.^ 

X.  Doubts  had  been  raised,  as  to  the  validity  of  the  Duke  of  York's  title, 
because  granted  whilst  the  Dutch  were  in  full  and  peaceful  possession  of  the 
country ;  and  which,  though  originally  good,  seemed  to  have  been  impaired 
by  the  subsequent  conquest.  The  Duke  deemed  it  prudent  to  remedy  this 
defect,  and  to  signalize  the  resumption  of  his  proprietary  functions,  by  a  new 
patent.  Another  cause,  however,  may  have  contributed  to  this  measure. — 
He  probably,  supposed,  that  it  would  afford  him  an  opportunity  of  dispensing 
with  his  grant,  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret.  It  was  pretended,  that  the  Dutch 
conquest,  had  extinguished  the  proprietary  rights,  and  that  the  country  had 
been  acquired,  de  ?wvo,  to  the  crown.  A  new  charter  recited  the  former 
grant,  and  confirmed  to  him  the  whole  which  that  had  covered.  The  mis- 
fortune, and  evident  incapacity  of  Lovelace,  precluded  his  re-appointment  to 
the  office  of  governor,  which  was  conferred  on  Edmund  Andross,  who  dis- 
graced his  superior  talents,  by  the  unprincipled  zeal  and  activity,  with  which 
he  devoted  them  to  the  arbitrary  designs  of  his  master. 

In  him,  and  his  council,  were  vested  all  the  functions  of  government, 
legislative  and  executive,  and  their  power  was  extended  over  New  Jersey. 
It  seems,  however,  that  the  Duke  wanted  either  resolution  or  authority,  to 
effectuate  his  iniquitous  intentions ;  for,  on  the  application  of  Sir  George  Car- 
teret, he  promised  the  renewal  of  his  charter,  which,  after  some  delay  and 
hesitation,  he  performed.  Previous  to  this  second  grant,  it  would  seem,  that 

*  Smith's  New  York.  t  July,  1673.  t  28th  February,  1674. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  31 

Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret,  had  agreed  upon  a  partition  of  the 
province,  since  the  country  described  therein,  was  bounded,  on  the  south- 
west, by  a  line  drawn  from  Barnagat  Creek  to  the  Rancocus.  But,  though 
he  finally  consented  to  restore  New  Jersey,  he  endeavoured  to  evade  the 
full  performance  of  his  engagement,  pretending  to  have  reserved  certain 
rights  of  sovereignty  over  it,  which  Andross  seized  every  opportunity  of 
asserting. 

XI.  In  the  commencement  of  the  year  1675,  Philip  Carteret  returned  to 
New  Jersey,  and  resumed  the  government  of  the  settlements,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  province.     The  inhabitants,  who  had  experienced  the  rigours  of 
conquest,  and  the  arbitrary  rule  of  Andross,  readily  received  him ;  and  as 
he  postponed  the  payment  of  their  quit  rents,  to  a  future  day,  and  published 
a  new  set  of  "  concessions"  by  Sir  George  Carteret,  a  peaceable  subordina- 
tion was  once  more  established  in  the  colony.     These  new  "  concessions," 
however,  restricted  the  broad  grant  of  political  freedom,  originally  framed, 
by  giving  to  the  governor  and  council,  the  power  of  naturalization,  the  right 
to  approve  such  ministers  as  might  be  chosen  by  the  several  corporations, 
and  to  establish  their  maintenance ;  granting  liberty,  however,  to  all  per- 
sons, to  keep  and  maintain  what  preachers  they  pleased.     They  authorized 
the  governor,  also,  to  appoint  the  times  and  places  of  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  to  adjourn  them  at  pleasure,  and  to  separate  the  counsellors 
and  delegates  into  two  chambers.* 

XII.  Yet,  the  only  disquiet,  during  several  years,  arose  from  the  efforts 
of  Andross,  from  time  to  time,  to  enforce  the  unjust  pretensions  of  the  Duke. 
Governor  Carteret,  in  hope  of  procuring  to  his  people,  a  share  of  the  advan- 
tages, which  the  neighbouring  colony  derived  from  her  commerce,  attempted 
to  establish  a  direct  trade  between  England  and  New  Jersey.     But  Andross 
earnestly  opposed  this  proper  measure,  as  one  injurious  to  New  York ;  and 
by  confiscating  vessels  engaged  in  such  trade,  extinguished  the  New  Jersey 
commercial  enterprise  in  its  infancy.     In  addition  to  this  outrage,  he  endea- 
voured, by  various  exactions,  to  render  the  colonists  tributary  to  his  govern- 
ment; and  even  had  the  insolence,  by  a  force  despatched  to  Elizabethtown, 
to  arrest  governor  Carteret,  and  convey  him  prisoner  to  New  York.     When 
complaints  of  these  proceedings  were  made  to  the  Duke,  he  evinced  the  same 
indecision  and  duplicity,  that  had  characterized  all  his  recent  conduct.     He 
could  not,  he  said,  consent  to  depart  from  a  prerogative  which  had  always 
belonged  to  him ;  yet,  he  directed  the  relaxation  of  its  exercise,  as  a  matter 
of  favour  to  his  friend,  Sir  George  Carteret.f     But  the  province  had  now 
been  divided  into  two  proprietary  jurisdictions ;  and  it  was  in  the  western 
part,  where  Carteret  had  ceased  to  have  an  interest,  that  the  Duke  most  exer- 
cised his  prerogative.      The  circumstances  which  attended  this  partition, 
are  not  the  least  interesting  of  the  provincial  history  of  the  state. 

*  Learning  and  Spicer's  Col. 

t  Douglas  11.  272.    S.  Smith  68,  77.     Chalmers,  61G,  618.     Smith's  N.  Y.  45. 
Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 


32  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  III. 

From  the  Division  of  the  Province,  into  East  and  West  Jersey,  to  the 
Purchase  of  East  Jersey,  by  Quakers. 

I.  Motives  of  the  Quakers  for  Emigration. — II.  Sale  of  Lord  Berkeley,  to  Byllinge 
and  Fenwicke.— III.  Assignment  of  West  Jersey  to  William  Penn,  and  others 
in  Trust,  for  the  Creditors  of  Byllinge.— IV.  "  Concessions,"  or  Constitution  of 
West  Jersey. — V.  Measures  of  the  Proprietaries  to  promote  Colonization. — VI. 
Commissioners  appointed  to  Administer  the  Government  of  West  Jersey — their 
Proceedings.— VII.  Increase  of  Emigrants— Success  of  their  Efforts. — VIII. 
Death  of  Sir  George  Carteret— Successful  Efforts  of  the  Colonists,  to  procure 
Relief,  from  the  Jurisdiction  of  New  York. — IX.  Extraordinary  Pretensions  of 
Byllinge.— X.  Resisted  by  the  Proprietaries,  in  General  Assembly— Samuel 
Jennings  elected  Governor — Proceeds  to  England,  as  Deputy  of  the  Assem- 
bly— The  Right  of  Government,  purchased  by  Doctor  Daniel  Coxe,  and  subse- 
quently transferred  to  the  West  Jersey  Society.— XII.  Meeting  of  the  First 
Assembly — Proceedings. — XIII.  Modification  of  the  Law,  relating  to  Religious 
Faith.— XIV.  Death  of  Carteret— his  Disposition  of  East  Jersey.— XV.  Troubles 
at  the  Close  of  the  Administration  of  Philip  Carteret.— XVI.  Review  of  the 
Policy  of  the  Proprietary  Governments. — XVII.  Comparison  between  the  Laws 
of  East  and  West  Jersey. 

I.  Soon  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  the  Quakers  became  objects 
of  suspicion  and  dread,  to  his  government,  from  a  mistaken  supposition, 
that,  like  the  Fifth  Monarchy  men,  or  Millenarians,  they  held  themselves 
entitled  to  overthrow,  even  by  force,  every  temporal  authority,  which  ob- 
structed the  advent  of  their  cherished  spiritual  dominion.  This  suspicion 
was  increased  by  the  insurrection  of  the  Millenarians,  in  the  first  year  of  the 
restored  monarchy;  and  the  refusal  of  the  Quakers  to  give  assurance  of 
fidelity  to  the  king,  by  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance.  In  consequence  of  this 
error,  they  were  assailed  with  a  rigour  and  reality  of  persecution,  which 
hitherto  they  had  never  experienced,  in  England.  They  were,  first,  in- 
cluded with  the  Millenarians,  in  a  royal  proclamation,  forbidding  either,  to 
assemble  under  pretence  of  worship,  elsewhere,  than  in  the  parochial  church- 
es ;  but  were  soon  afterwards,  distinguished  by  the  provisions  of  an  act  of 
parliament,  that  applied  exclusively  to  themselves.*  This  statute  enacted, 
that  all  Quakers  refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  assembling  to 
the  number  of  five  persons,  above  sixteen  years  of  age,  should,  for  the  first 
and  second  offences,  incur  the  penalty  of  fine,  and  imprisonment ;  and  for 
the  third,  should  either  abjure  the  realm,  or  be  transported  beyond  it.  Nay, 
so  cordial  was  the  dislike  entertained  by  the  court,  against  them,  that,  in- 
stead of  using  their  complaints  as  cause  of  quarrel,  with  the  obnoxious  pro- 
vince of  Massachusetts,  the  enmity  in  this  province  against  the  Quakers, 
was  sustained :  and  the  authorities  there,  were  invited  to  a  repetition  of  the 
severities,  which  had  been,  at  one  time,  prohibited.  "  We  cannot  be  under- 
stood," said  the  king's  letter  of  1662,  after  urging  general  toleration,  "  hereby, 
to  direct  or  wish,  that  any  indulgence  should  be  granted  to  Quakers,  whose 
principles,  being  inconsistent  with  any  kind  of  government,  we  have  found  it 
necessary,  with  the  advice  of  our  parliament  here,  to  make  a  sharp  law 
against  them ;  and  are  well  content,  that  you  do  the  like,  there." 

These  unfavourable  and  erronedus  sentiments,  it  is  true,  were  shortly 
after  exchanged  by  the  king,  for  a  more  just  estimate  of  Quaker  principles. 
But,  the  alteration  in  his  sentiments,  produced  no  relaxation  of  the  legal 

*  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  332. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  33 

severities  to  which  the  Quakers  were  subjected ;  and  was  attended  with  no 
other  consequence,  than  a  familiar  and  apparently  confidential  intercourse, 
between  him,  and  some  of  their  more  eminent  leaders,  together  with  many 
expressions  of  regard  and  good  will,  on  his  part,  which  he  was  unwilling  or 
unable  to  substantiate.  Tn  the  persecution,  now  commenced  against  all 
classes  of  dissenters,  the  Quakers  were  exposed  to  a  more  than  equal  share 
of  severity,  from  the  unbending  zeal,  with  which  they  refused  to  conform, 
even  in  appearance,  to  any  one  of  the  obnoxious  requisitions,  and  the  eager- 
ness with  which  they  seized  every  opportunity  of  manifesting  their  forbidden 
practices,  and  signifying  their  peculiar  gifts  of  patient  suffering,  and  untiring 
perseverance.  In  every  part  of  England,  they  were  harassed  with  fine  and 
imprisonment,  and  great  numbers  were  transported  to  Barbadoes,  and  to  the 
American  settlements;*  where,  they  formed  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
English  population,  and  quickly  discovered,  that  their  persecutors,  in  expell- 
ing them  from  their  native  land,  had,  unconsciously,  contributed  to  ame- 
liorate their  condition.  Instead  of  the  wild  enthusiasts  who  had  rushed 
with  headlong  zeal  to  New  England,  in  quest  of  persecution,  there  was  now 
introduced  into  America,  a  numerous  body,  of  wiser  and  milder,  professors 
of  Quakerism,  whose  views  were  confined  to  the  enjoyment  of  that  liberty  of 
worship,  for  the  sake  of  which,  they  had  been  driven  into  exile. 

In  several  of  the  American  provinces,  as  in  the  island  of  Barbadoes,  they 
experienced  full  toleration,  and  friendly  reception  from  the  governments, 
and  inhabitants ;  and,  even  in  those  provinces,  where  they  were  still  objects 
of  suspicion  and  severity,  they  rendered  their  principles  less  unpopular,  by 
demonstrating  with  what  useful  industry,  and  peaceful  virtue,  they  might  be 
combined.  Contented  with  the  toleration  of  their  worship,  and  diligently 
improving  the  advantages  of  their  new  lot,  many  of  the  exiles  obtained, 
in  a  few  years,  to  plentiful  and  prosperous  estates :  and  so  willing  were  they 
to  reconcile  their  tenets,  with  existing  institutions  of  the  countries,  in  which 
they  were  established,  that  they  united  in  the  purchase  and  employment  of 
negro  slaves.  Perhaps,  the  deceitfulness  of  the  human  heart,  was  never 
more  strikingly  exhibited,  than  in  this  monstrous  association  of  the  charac- 
ters of  exiles,  for  conscience  sake,  and  the  principles  of  universal  peace  and 
philanthropy,  with  the  condition  of  slave  owners  and  the  exercise  of  arbi- 
trary power.  Yet,  in  process  of  time,  much  good  was  educed  from  this 
evil ;  and  the  inconsistency  of  one  generation  of  Quakers,  enabled  their  suc- 
cessors, to  exhibit  to  the  world,  a  memorable  example  of  disinterested  re- 
gard, for  the  rights  of  human  nature,  and  a  magnanimous  sacrifice  to  the 
requirements  of  piety  and  justice. f 

The  principles  of  the  sect  continued,  meanwhile,  to  propagate  themselves, 
in  Britain,  to  an  extent,  that  more  than  supplied  the  losses  occasioned  by  the 
banishment  of  their  professors.  Almost  all  the  other  sects  had  suffered  an 
abatement  of  piety  and  reputation,  from  the  furious  disputes,  and  vindictive 
struggles,  that  attended  the  civil  wars ;  and  while  the  Quakers  were  exempted 
from  this  reproach,  they  were  no  less  advantageously  distinguished,  by  a 
severity  of  persecution,  which  enabled  them  to  display,  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree, the  primitive  graces  of  Christian  character.  It  was,  now,  that  their 
cause  was  espoused,  and  their  doctrines  defended,  by  writers,  who  yielded 
to  none  of  their  contemporaries,  in  learning,  eloquence,  or  ingenuity,  and 
who  have  not  been  equalled,  nor  even  approached,  by  any  succeeding 
Quaker  authors.  The  doctrines  that  had  floated,  loosely,  through  the 

*  In  one  vessel  alone,  which  was  despatched  from  England,  in  March,  1664,  sixty 
Quaker  convicts,  were  shipped,  for  America. —  Williamsons  North  Carolina,  i.  82. 
t  Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 

E 


34  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Quaker  society,  were  collected  and  reduced  to  an  orderly  system ;  the  disci- 
pline necessary  to  preserve  from  anarchy,  and  restrain  the  fantastic  sallies, 
which  the  genuine  principle  of  Quakerism,  is  peculiarly  apt  to  beget,  was 
explained  and  enforced  ;*  and  in  the  midst  of  a  persecution  that  drove  many 
of  the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland  to  despair  and  rebellion,  the  Quakers  began 
to  add  to  their  zeal  and  resolution,  that  mildness  of  address  and  tranquil 
propriety  of  thought,  by  which  they  are  universally  characterized.  Yet, 
it  was  long  before  the  wild  and  enthusiastic  spirit,  which  had  distinguished 
the  rise  of  the  society,  was  banished  entirely  from  its  bosom ;  and  while  it 
continued,  a  considerable  diversity  of  sentiment  and  language,  prevailed 
among  the  brethren.  This  diversity  was  manifest,  particularly,  in  the  senti- 
ments entertained  relative  to  the  duty  of  confronting  persecution.  While  all 
considered  it  unlawful  to  forsake  their  ordinances,  on  account  of  the  prohi- 
bition of  their  oppressors,  many  held  it,  a  dereliction  of  duty,  to  abandon 
their  country,  for  the  sake  of  their  enjoyment  in  a  foreign  land.  Consider- 
ing Quakerism  as  a  revival  of  primitive  Christianity,  and  themselves  as  fated 
to  repeat  the  fortunes  of  the  first  Christians,  and  to  gain  the  victory  over  the 
world,  by  evincing  the  fortitude  of  martyrs,  they  had  associated  the  success 
of  their  cause  with  the  infliction  and  endurance  of  persecution,  and  deemed 
retreat,  to  be  flight  from  the  contest  between  truth  and  error.  The  promul- 
gation, rather  than  the  toleration,  of  their  principles,  seemed  their  great 
object ;  and  their  success  was  incomplete,  without  the  downfall  of  the  esta- 
blished hierarchy.  But  others  of  more  moderate  temper,  though  willing  to 
sustain  the  character  of  the  primitive  Christian,  believed  it  not  inconsistent 
with  the  exercise  of  that  liberty,  expressly  given  to  the  apostles,  when  per- 
secuted in  one  city,  to  flee  to  another.  Disturbed  in  their  religious  assem- 
blies, harassed  and  impoverished  by  fines  and  imprisonments,  and  withal, 
continually  exposed  to  violent  removal  from  their  native  land,  they  were  led 
to  meditate  the  advantages  of  voluntary  expatriation  with  their  families  and 
substance ;  and,  naturally,  to  cast  their  eyes  on  that  country,  which,  not- 
withstanding the  severities  once  inflicted  on  their  brethren,  in  some  of  its 
provinces,  had  always  presented  an  asylum  to  the  victims  of  persecution. 
Their  regards  were  further  directed  to  this  quarter,  by  the  number  of  their 
fellow  sectaries,  who  were  now  established  in  several  of  the  North  American 
states,  and  the  freedom,  comfort,  and  tranquillity,  which  they  were  there  ena- 
bled to  enjoy. f 

II.  Such  was  the  situation  of  the  Quakers  when  Lord  Berkeley,  alarmed 
by  the  insubordination  of  the  planters  of  New  Jersey,  and  dissatisfied  with 
the  pecuniary  prospects  of  his  adventure  in  colonization,  offered  his  share  of 
his  province  for  sale.  He  soon  received  the  offer  of  a  price,  that  was  satis- 
factory, from  two  English  Quakers,  John  Fenwicke  and  Edward  Byllinge; 
and  on  the  18th  March,  1673,  in  consideration  of  one  thousand  pounds,  con- 
veyed his  interest  in  the  province,  to  the  first,  in  trust  for  the  other.  A  dis- 
pute arising  between  these  parties,  respecting  their  proportions  of  interest ;  to 
avoid  the  scandal  of  a  law  suit,  it  was  submitted  to  William  Penn,  who  now 
held  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  society  of  Friends.  With  some  diffi- 
culty, he  succeeded  in  making  an  award  satisfactory  to  both  parties.  Fen- 
wicke, in  1675,  sailed  from  London,  for  the  new  purchase,  in  the  ship  Grif- 

*  See  Appendix,  C. 

t  Gough  and  Sewell's  History  of  the  Quakers,  vol.  i.  chap.  2,  4,  6,  7  and  8,  vol.  ii. 
chap.  4.  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritans,  vol.  iv.  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  From  the 
last  work  I  have  drawn,  principally,  the  preceding  view  of  the  Quaker  motives  for 
emigration.  It  has,  however,  suffered  such  modification,  in  my  hands,  as  to  render 
me  responsible  for  it. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  35 

fith,  with  his  family  and  several  Quaker  associates.*  This  was  the  first 
English  vessel  that  came  to  New  Jersey  with  emigrants.  After  a  prospe- 
rous voyage,  she  landed  her  freight,  at  a  rich  and  pleasant  spot  on  a  branch 
of  the  Delaware,  to  which  Fenwicke,  on  account,  probably,  of  its  peaceable 
aspect,  gave  the  name  of  Salem. 

III.  Further,  immediate,  efforts,  at  colonization,  were  prevented  by  the 
commercial  embarrassments  of  Byllinge,  who  had  sustained  such  losses,  in 
trade,  as  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  assign  his  property  for  the  indem- 
nification of  his  creditors,  with  a  resulting  trust,  in  whatever  balance  there 
might  be,  for  himself.     Penn,  unwillingly,  at  the  solicitation  of  some  of  the 
creditors,  became  joint  assignee,  with  Gawn  Lawrie  and  Nicholas  Lucas, 
(Quakers  and  creditors)  of  Byllinge's  interest,  in  New  Jersey.     These  trus- 
tees, under  the  pressure  of  circumstances,  sold  a  considerable  number  of 
shares,  of  the  undivided  moiety,  to  different  purchasers,  who,  thereby,  be- 
came proprietaries,  in  common,  with  them. 

IV.  As  all  men,  when,  now,  emigrating  to  America,  sought,  not  only  re- 
ligious and  civil  freedom,  but,  also,  the  security  which  these  could  receive  in 
the  form  of  permanent  records  or  constitutions,  the  proprietaries  of  West 
New  Jersey,  published  their  "  concessions"  comprising  many  of  the  provi- 
sions of  the  instrument  formed  by  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  together  with  others, 
originating  with  themselves.     The  management  of  the  estate  and  affairs  of 
the  province,  was  committed  to  the  commissioners,  appointed  by  the  proprie- 
taries, with  power  to  divide  and  sell  the  lands,  to  lay  out  towns,  and,  gene- 
rally, to  govern  the  province  according  to  the  "  concessions,"  until  March, 
1680;  at  which  time,  and  thence,  annually,  ten  commissioners  were  to  be 
elected  by  the  people,  until  a  General  Assembly  should  be  chosen.     The 
territory  was  to  be  divided  into  one  hundred  lots,  or  proprietaries,  ten  of 
which,  to  be  assigned  to  Fenwicke,  and  the  remainder  to  the  assignees  of 
Byllinge;  and  the  hundred  proprietaries  were  to  be  divided  into  ten  divi- 
sions or  tribes,  and  the  inhabitants  of  each,  were  empowered  to  elect  a  com- 
missioner ;  and,  for  the  avoidance  of  "  noise  and  confusion,  all  elections  were 
directed  to  be  by  ballot.    Lands  were  given  to  settlers  upon  principles  analo- 
gous to  those  adopted  in  the  concessions  of  Berkeley  and  Carteret. 

The  instrument  then  sets  forth,  the  charter  or  fundamental  laws,  and  de- 
clares, that,  they  shall  be  the  foundation  of  the  government,  not  to  be  altered 
by  the  legislative  authority :  that  every  member  of  the  Assembly,  who  shall, 
designedly,  wilfully,  arid  maliciously  move  any  thing  subversive  of  such  con- 
stitution, on  proof,  by  seven  honest  and  reputable  persons,  shall  be  proceeded 
against,  as  a  traitor  to  the  government :  that,  such  constitution  should  be 
recorded,  in  a  fair  table,  at  the  Assembly  house,  and  read  at  the  commence- 
ment and  dissolution  of  every  Assembly,  and  be,  also,  written  in  fair  tables 
in  every  common  hall  of  justice,  and  read,  in  solemn  manner,  four  times 
every  year,  in  presence  of  the  people,  by  the  magistrates:  that,  as  no  men, 
nor  number  of  men,  upon  earth,  had  power  to  rule  over  men's  consciences, 
no  one  should,  at  any  time,  be  called  in  question,  or  hurt  in  person,  privilege, 
or  estate,  for  the  sake  of  his  opinion,  judgment,  faith,  or  worship,  towards 
God,  in  matters  of  religion :  that,  no  inhabitant  should  be  deprived  of  life, 
limb,  liberty,  privilege,  or  estate,  without  due  trial  and  judgment,  passed  by 
twelve  good  and  lawful  men  of  his  neighbourhood ;  and  in  all  trials,  the 

*  There  came  passengers,  with  Fenwicke,  Edward  Champness,  Edward  Wade, 
Samuel  Wade,  John  Smith  and  wife,  Samuel  Nicholls,  Richard  Guy,  Richard  Noble, 
Richard  Hancock,  John  Pledger,  Hypolite  Lefever,  and  John  Matlock.  These,  and 
others  with  them,  were  masters  of  families.  Among  the  servants  of  Fenwicke,  were 
John  Adams  and  Samuel  Hedge,  who,  subsequently,  married  his  daughters.— Smith's 
JV.  J.  79. 


36  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

accused  might  peremptory  challenge  thirty-five  jurors,  and  for  cause  shown, 
the  whole  array:  that,  in  civil  cases,  no  inhabitant  of  the  province  should 
be  arrested,  until  alter  summons  and  default  of  appearance;  and  imprison- 
ment for  debt,  on  surrender  of  the  property  of  the  debtor  was  prohibited : 
that,  every  court  should  consist  of  three  justices  or  commissioners,  who, 
sitting  with  the  jury,  should  assist  them  in  matters  of  law,  but  should  pro- 
nounce such  judgment,  only,  as  the  jury  should  give ;  to  whom,  only,  the 
right  of  judgment  belonged,  in  all  causes  civil  and  criminal ;  and  should  the 
commissioners  refuse,  then  judgment  to  be  pronounced  by  one  of  the  jury :  that, 
in  all  causes,  civil  and  criminal,  proof  should  be  made  by  "  the  solemn  and 
plain  averment"  of,  at  least,  two  honest  and  reputable  persons ;  and  perjury,  in 
civil  causes,  was  punishable  by  the  penalty  the  one  witnessed  against  might 
suffer,  and  in  criminal  cases,  by  fine,  disqualification  from  giving  evidence, 
and  from  holding  office:  that,  in  criminal  cases,  not  felonious,  the  injured 
party  might  compound  the  offence  before,  or  remit  the  penalty  after,  judg- 
ment: that,  theft  should  be  punished,  by  twofold  restitution,  and  for  lack  of 
means,  by  the  labour  of  the  offender,  until  such  restitution  should  be  made, 
or  as  twelve  men  of  the  neighbourhood  should  determine,  not  extending  to 
life  or  limb ;  and  that  breach  of  the  peace,  should  be  punished  according  to 
the  nature  of  the  offence,  at  the  discretion  of  twelve  men  of  the  neighbour- 
hood, appointed  by  the  commissioners. 

Much  providence  was  displayed  in  the  care  of  the  estates  of  decedents. 
Wills  were  to  be  registered,  and  inventories  filed,  and  security  given,  by 
executors,  before  administration.  In  case  of  intestacy,  like  provision  was 
made  in  regard  to  administrators ;  and  to  secure  two  parts  of  the  estate, 
for  the  children,  and  one-third  to  the  wife;  and  if  there  were  no  child,  half 
to  the  next  of  kin,  and  half  to  the  wife :  and  guardians  were  appointed,  of 
the  persons  and  estates,  by  the  commissioners.  Where  parents  died,  leaving 
children  and  no  estates,  the  commissioners  were  to  "  appoint  persons  to 
take  care  for  the  children,  to  bring  them  up  at  the  charge  of  the  public  stock 
of  the  province,  or  a  tax  to  be  levied  by  twelve  men  of  the  neighbourhood. 
No  forfeiture  was  incurred,  by  suicide,  or  by  way  of  deodand;  and  in  cases 
of  murder  and  treason,  the  sentence,  and  way  of  execution  thereof,  was  left 
to  the  General  Assembly  to  determine,  as  they,  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Lord, 
should  judge  meet. 

As  soon  as  the  divisions  or  tribes,  or  such  like  distinctions  should  be 
made,  the  inhabitants,  on  the  first  of  October,  yearly,  were  to  elect  one  pro- 
prietor or  freeholder,  for  each  proprietary,  "  to  be  deputies,  trustees,  or 
representatives,  for  the  benefit,  service,  and  behoof  of  the  people ;  and  whose 
number  was  a  hundred,  corresponding  to  the  number  of  the  proprietaries. 
Provision  was  made  for  the  purity  of  elections,  which  were  not  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  common  and  confused  way  of  cries  and  voices ;  but  by  putting 
balls  in  balloting  boxes,  for  the  prevention  of  all  partiality,  and  whereby 
every  man  might  freely  choose,  according  to  his  own  judgment  and  honest 
intention.  This  supreme  legislature  was  empowered,  to  meet  and  adjourn 
within  the  year,  at  pleasure ;  to  fix  the  quorum  for  business,  at  not  less  than 
one-half  of  the  whole,  and  the  votes  of  two-thirds  of  the  quorum  were  re- 
quired for  determination.  The  question  frequently  agitated,  relative  to  the 
obligation  of  the  representative,  to  obey  the  instructions  of  his  constituents, 
was,  here,  fully  decided.  He  was  holden,  justly,  to  be  their  deputy  or  agent  ; 
and  they  were  required,  at  his  election,  to  give  him  their  instructions  at  large, 
and  he,  to  enter  into  indenture,  under  hand  and  seal,  covenanting  and  oblig- 
ing himself,  in  that  capacity,  to  do  nothing,*  but  what  should  tend  to  the  fit 
service  and  behoof  of  those  that  sent  and  employed  him ;  and  on  failure  of 
trust,  or  breach  of  covenant,  he  might  be  questioned  in  that  or  the  next 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  37 

Assembly,  by  any  of  his  electors:  And  further,  each  member  was  allowed 
one  shilling,  per  day,  payable  by  his  constituents,  not  in  compensation  of  his 
services,  but  that  he  might  be  known,  as  the  servant  of  the  people.  The 
Assembly  was,  also,  authorized,  to  constitute  and  appoint,  ten  commissioners 
of  estate,  for  managing  the  affairs  of  the  province,  during  the  adjournments, 
and  dissolution  of  the  General  Assembly :  To  enact  all  laws  for  the  well- 
government  of  the  province :  To  constitute  all  courts,  together  with  the  limits, 
power  and  jurisdiction  thereof:  To  appoint  the  judges  for  such  time  as  they 
may  deem  meet,  not  more  than  two  years,  their  salaries,  fees,  and  appella- 
tions :  To  appoint  commissioners  of  the  public  seals,  treasurers,  and  chief- 
justices,  embassadors,  and  collectors.  But  the  justices  of  the  peace,  and 
constables,  were  to  be  chosen  by  the  people.* 

The  faults  of  this  system  of  government  are  radical  and  glaring.  A 
many-headed  executive,  possessing  a  temporary,  and  reflected  portion  only, 
of  political  power,  necessarily  engendered  jealousy,  division  and  favouritism  ; 
and  distracted  councils,  produced  contempt  and  disobedience.  The  legisla- 
ture, composed  of  one  house,  was  exposed  to  the  evils  of  precipitation :  and 
choosing  from  itself  the  executive,  and  the  greater  proportion  of  the  officers 
of  the  commonwealth,  to  intrigue  and  corruption.  Courts,  without  perma- 
nent judges — with  juries,  determining,  in  all  cases,  the  law,  as  well  as  the 
fact,  would  disregard  the  established  rules  of  jurisprudence,  and  produce 
uncertainty  in  the  administration  of  justice;  whilst  the  limited  tenure  of 
office,  made  incumbents  unskilful  and  rapacious.  Yet,  this  instrument  con- 
tained many  excellencies,  and  revealed  principles  of  political  science,  which 
the  enlightened  philosophy  of  the  present  age,  has  not  yet  fully  developed. 
Thus,  the  most  entire  liberty  of  conscience,  was  established ;  and  the  politi- 
cal power  was  emphatically  in  the  people,  who  were  absolutely  free  to  pursue 
their  own  happiness; — the  right  of  suffrage  was  universal — the  personal 
liberty  of  the  citizen  was  cherished,  and  the  barbarism  of  imprisonment  for 
debt,  whether  upon  initiatory  or  final  process,  was  abolished.  The  punish- 
ment of  crimes,  had  in  view,  the  reparation  of  injury,  rather  than  the  inflic- 
tion of  vengeance;  and  in  no  instance,  did  it  extend  to  the  loss  of  life  or  limb. 
The  evidences  of  property  were  secured  l^y  registering  offices ; — and  rules 
for  the  treatment  of  the  aborigines,  were  framed  upon  principles  of  justice 
and  humanity.  The  love  of  the  proprietaries,  for  civil  and  religious  freedom, 
and  democratic  rule  so  thoroughly  established  in  the  Quaker  societies,  was 
certainly  conspicuous  in  their  concessions,  and  had  they  possessed  as  much 
experience,  as  zeal,  they  would,  probably,  have  framed  a  finished  system. 

V.  With  the  publication  of  this  instrument,  the  proprietaries  gave  a  spe- 
cial recommendation  of  the  province,  to  the  members  of  their  own  religious 
fraternity,  which  produced  an  immediate  display  of  that  diversity  of  senti- 
ment, which  had  begun  to  prevail  in  the  society.  Many,  with  lively  expec- 
tations of  future  happiness,  prepared  to  embark  for  the  New  Utopia ;  whilst 
others  regarded  with  jealousy,  and  vehemently  opposed,  a  secession,  which 
they  deemed  pusillanimous.  To  moderate  the  expectations  of  the  one,  and 
appease  the  jealousy  of  the  other,  of  these  parties,  William  Penn,  and  his 
colleagues,  addressed  a  circular  letter,  to  "Friends,"  solemnly  cautioning 
them,  against  leaving  their  country,  from  a  timid  reluctance  to  bear  testi- 
mony to  their  principles,  from  an  impatient,  unsettled  temper,  or  from  any 
motive  inferior,  to  a  deliberate  conviction,  that  the  God  of  all  the  earth, 
opened  their  way,  and  sanctioned  their  removal.  And  admonishing  them, 
to  remember,  that,  although  Quaker  principles  were  established,  in  the  pro- 
vince, only  Quaker  safeguards  could  be  interposed  for  their  protection ;  and 

*  See  Appendix,  D. 


38  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

that,  religious  toleration  must  depend  for  its  continuance,  on  the  aid  of  the 
Being,  with  whose  will  they  believe  it  to  concur,  and  could  never  be  defend- 
ed by  force,  against  the  arm  of  the  oppressor.  To  this  admonitory  letter, 
there  was  annexed,  "  A  Description  of  West  New  Jersey,"  correcting  some 
trivial  exaggerations,  which  had  been  bruited  abroad,  of  the  excellence  of  the 
soil,  and  climate ;  but  conveying,  in  the  main,  a  most  inviting  representation 
of  the  country.  This  neither  did,  nor  was  intended,  to  repress  the  ardour 
of  Quaker  emigration.  Numerous  purchases  of  colonial  land,  were  made 
by  Quakers,  in  various  parts  of  England ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  year 
1677,  upwards  of  four  hundred  persons  of  this  persuasion,  transported  them- 
selves to  West  New  Jersey ;  many  of  whom,  were  persons  of  property  and 
respectability,  who  carried  with  them,  their  children  and  servants. 

The  first  care  of  the  assignees  of  Byllinge,  was  to  make  a  partition  of  the 
province,  between  them  and  Sir  George  Carteret,  which  was  effected  by  a 
deed,  quintipartite/*  comprehending,  Sir  George,  William  Penn,  Gawn 
Lawrie,  of  London,  merchant,  Nicholas  Lucas,  of  Hertford,  malster,  and 
Edward  Byllinge,  of  Westminster;  directing  a  straight  line  to  be  drawn 
through  the  province,  from  north  to  south,  from  the  most  southerly  point  of 
the  east  side  of  Little  Egg  Harbour,  to  the  most  northerly  point,  or  boundary 
on  the  Delaware.  To  the  portions  thus  separated,  were  given  the  names  of 
East  and  West  Jersey,  respectively. f 

Soon  after,J  letters  were  addressed  by  the  West  Jersey  proprietaries,  Penn, 
Lawrie,  Lucas,  Byllinge,  (who  had  still  an  equitable  interest,)  and  John 
Eldridge,  and  Edmond  Warner,  who  had  become  the  assignees  of  Fenwicke's 
portion,  to  Richard  Hartshorne,  Richard  Guy,  and  James  Wasse.  The 
two  first  were  Quakers,  resident  in  East  Jersey,  and  the  last,  an  agent,  sent 
out  specially,  from  Europe.  They  were  instructed  to  resist  and  control 
some  irregular  proceedings  of  Fenwicke,  in  the  disposition  of  lands,  to  pre- 
pare for  the  many  emigrants  about  to  depart  for  the  colony,  to  purchase 
lands  from  the  natives,  and  to  select  a  site  for,  and  lay  out  a  town  of  four  or 
five  thousand  acres.§  Among  the  purchasers  of  West  New  Jersey,  were 
two  companies,  one,  of  Friends  from  Yorkshire,  and  the  other  of  Friends 
from  London,  who  contracted  for  very  considerable  shares,  for  which  they 
received  patents. || 

VI.  In  1677,  the  promised  commissioners  were  sent  out,  by  the  proprieta- 
ries, to  administer  the  government,  pursuant  to  the  concessions.**  They 
embarked  on  board  the  Kent,  Gregory  Marlow,  master,  the  second  ship 
from  London,  to  West  Jersey.  Whilst  on  the  Thames,  Charles  II.,  in  his 
pleasuring  barge,  came  along  side,  and  observing  the  number  of  passengers, 
and  learning  whither  they  were  bound,  asked  if  they  were  all  Quakers,  and 
gave  them  his  blessing.  After  a  tedious  passage,  they  arrived  at  New 
Castle,  on  the  16th  of  August;  and  soon  after,  two  hundred  and  thirty,  land- 
ed at  the  mouth  of  Raccoon  creek,  where  the  Swedes  had  some  habitations. 
Notwithstanding  their  number,  the  greatest  inconvenience  which  they  suffer- 
ed, was  want  of  room  for  lodgings ;  and  some  terror,  from  the  abundance  of 

*  Dated  1st  July,  1676. 

t  Learning  and  Spicer's  Collection. 

t  26th  August,  1676. 

§  The  surveyor  proposed  for  this  duty,  was  a  certain  Augustin,  of  Maryland,  or 
William  Elliot,  of  York  river,  Virginia. 

||  See  Appendix,  E. 

**  These  commissioners  were  Thomas  Olive,  Daniel  Wills,  John  Kinsey,  John 
Penford,  Joseph  Helmsley,  Robert  Stacy,  Benjamin  Scott,  Richard  Guy,  and  Thomas 
Foulke.  Richard  Guy  came  in  the  first  ship.  John  Kinsey  died  at  Shackamaxon, 
Kensington,  soon  after  his  landing;  his  remains  were  interred  at  Burlington,  in 
ground  appropriated  for  a  burial  ground,  but  now  a  street. — Smith's  New  Jersey. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  39 

snakes,  which  were  occasionally  seen  in  their  chambers,  or  crawling  over 
the  low  roofs  of  their  dwellings.*  The  vessel  on  the  passage  had  dropped 
anchor  at  Sandy  Hook,  whilst  the  commissioners  proceeded  to  New  York, 
to  exhibit  their  commission  to  Andross.  He  treated  them  civilly,  but  demand- 
ed, if  they  had  any  communication  from  the  Duke,  his  master.  This  mea- 
sure, obviously  requisite,  the  commissioners  had  strangely  neglected,  and 
when  Andross  declined  to  recognise  their  authority,  instead  of  extenuating 
their  imprudence,  they  strenuously  insisted  upon  their  rights,  under  the  assign- 
ment of  Lord  Berkeley.  Andross  cut  short  the  controversy,  by  pointing  to 
his  sword ;  and  as  this  was  an  argument,  which  they  could  not  retort,  they 
submitted  to  his  jurisdiction,  until  they  could  obtain  redress  from  England ; 
taking  magistrate's  commissions  from  him,  and  conducting  the  land  affairs 
according  to  their  instructions.  Fenwicke,  who  neglected  to  take  a  like  pre- 
caution, in  relation  to  his  tenth,  was  twice  seized,  and  detained,  some  time, 
prisoner,  in  New  York. 

Upon  their  arrival  in  the  Delaware,  the  commissioners  obtained,  from  the 
Swedes,  interpreters,  by  whose  agency  they  conducted  their  negotiations 
with  the  Indians,  and  purchased  the  lands  from  Timber  Creek  to  Rancocus, 
from  Oldman's  Creek  to  Timber  Creek,  and  from  Rancocus  to  the  Assun- 
pink,  by  three  several  conveyances.")"  Not  having  sufficient  goods  to  make 
payment  for  the  land  last  purchased,  they  covenanted  not  to  settle  any  por- 
tion of  it,  until  full  payment  should  have  been  made.  After  examination  of 
the  country,  the  Yorkshire  commissioners,  Helmesly,  Emley,  and  Stacy,  on 
behalf  of  their  constituents,  chose  the  tract  between  Rancocus,  and  the  Falls, 
which  hence  was  called  the  first  tenth;  whilst  the  London  commissioners, 
Penford,  Clive,  Wills  and  Scott,  selected  that  below  Timber  creek,  which 
was  called  the  second  tenth.  Disastisfied,  however,  with  this  separation, 
the  Yorkshire  men  proposed  to  the  Londoners,  that,  if  they  would  unite  in 
establishing  a  town,  the  latter  should  have  the  larger  proportion,  in  conside- 
ration, that  the  Yorkshire  men  had  the  better  land  in  the  woods.  These 
terms  were  embraced,  and  one  Noble,  a  surveyor  who  came  in  the  first 
ship,  was  employed  to  lay  out  the  town  plot,  running  the  main  street  and 
dividing  the  land  on  either  side,  into  lots,  giving  those  on  the  east,  to  the 
Yorkshire,  and  those  on  the  west,  to  the  London,  proprietors.  The  town 
thus  founded,  was  first  called  New  Beverly,  after  Bridlington,  but  the  name 
was  soon  changed  to  Burlington,  which  it  now  bears.§ 

These  pioneers  having  arrived  late  in  the  autumn,  the  winter  was  much 
spent,  before  they  could  erect  permanent  dwellings.  In  the  mean  time,  they 
lived  in  wigwams,  built  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians,  and  subsisted  chiefly 
on  Indian  corn  and  venison,  supplied  by  the  natives.  These  simple  people, 
less  corrupted,  than  they  afterwards  became,  from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits, 
were  kind  to  their  guests,  notwithstanding  some  malicious  insinuations,  that 
the  strangers  had  sold  to  them  the  small  pox  in  their  match  coats;  that 
distemper  having  attacked  them  at  this  period. 

VII.  In  the  same  year  arrived  two  other  vessels.  The  Willing  Mind, 
John  Newcomb,  commander,  with  about  seventy  passengers,  dropped  anchor, 
at  Elsinburg,  in  November.  She  was  soon  after  followed,  by  the  fly  boat, 
Martha,  of  Burlington,  Yorkshire,  with  one  hundred  and  fourteen.  On  the 
10th  December,  1768,  came  The  Shield,  from  Hull,  Daniel  Townes,  com- 
mander. When  passing  Coaquanock,  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, she  ran  so  close  to  the  bhore,  that  in  tacking,  her  spars  struck  the 

*  Smith's  N.  J. 

t  Dated,  respectively,  10th  September,  27th  September,  and  10th  October,  1677. 

t  Smith's  N.  J.  §  See  Appendix,  F. 


40  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

trees,  and  some  one  on  board  remarked,  how  fine  a  spot  this  was  for  a  town. 
A  fresh  gale  brought  her  to  Burlington,  being  the  first  vessel  that  came  so 
far  up  the  Delaware.  She  moored  to  a  tree,  and  the  next  morning  the  pas- 
sengers came  ashore  on  the  ice.  About  the  same  period,  another  ship 
arrived  from  London,  freighted  with  passengers.* 

Although  compelled  to  endure  the  hardships  inseparable  from  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  desert  land,  these  were  quickly  surmounted,  by  the  industry  and 
patience  of  the  emigrants.  Their  town  soon  assumed  a  thriving  appearance, 
and  was  rapidly  enlarged  by  increasing  members.  In  this,  as  in  other,  infant 
settlements  of  America,  the  success  of  the  colonist  was  commonly  propor- 
tioned to  the  original  humility  of  his  condition ;  and  he,  who  emigrated  as  a 
servant,  was  frequently  more  prosperous  than  his  master.  Persevering  in- 
dustry, temperance,  and  self-reliance,  always  reaped  a  full  reward,  whilst 
self-indulgence,  and  dependence  upon  hirelings,  terminated  in  poverty. 

VIII.  Sir  George  Carteret,  proprietary  of  East  Jersey,  died  in  1679; 
having  derived  so  little  benefit  from  his  American  territory,  that  he  found  it 
necessary  to  bequeath  it  to  trustees,  to  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors. 
The  exemption,  this  district  enjoyed,  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Duke  of 
York,  had  not  contributed  to  moderate  the  discontent  of  the  inhabitants  of 
West  New  Jersey,  with  his  assumed  illegal  authority.  They,  incessantly, 
importuned  him  for  redress,  and  were,  at  length,  provoked  by  a  tax  of  five 
per  cent.,  which  Andross  imposed,  on  the  importation  of  European  merchan- 
dise, to  additional  vehemence  of  complaint,  and  urgency  of  solicitation. 
Wearied,  at  length,  with  the  importunity  of  these  suitors,  rather  than  moved 
by  the  justice  of  their  complaint,  the  Duke  referred  the  subject  to  commis- 
sioners, by  whom,  it  was  finally  submitted  to  Sir  William  Jones.f 

The  argument,  in  behalf  of  the  colonists,  on  this  occasion,  prepared 
by  William  Penn,  George  Hutchinson,  and  others,  chiefly  Quakers, 
breathes  a  firm,  undaunted  spirit  of  liberty,  worthy  the  founders  of  a  North 
American  commonwealth;  and  contains  traces  of  those  principles,  which, 
subsequently,  led  the  colonies  to  full  emancipation.:):  "  Thus  then,"  they  say, 
after  a  deduction  of  their  title,  "  we  came  to  buy  that  moiety,  which  belonged 
to  Lord  Berkeley,  for  a  valuable  consideration ;  and  in  the  conveyance  he 
made  us,  powers  of  government  are  expressly  granted ;  for  that,  only,  could 
have  induced  us  to  buy  it :  and  the  reason  is  plain,  because  to  all  prudent 
men,  the  government  of  a  place  is  more  inviting  than  the  soil.  For  what  is 
good  land  without  good  laws  ? — the  better  the  worse.  And  if  we  could  not 
assure  people,  of  an  easy,  and  free,  and  safe  government,  both  with  respect 
to  their  spiritual  and  worldly  property, — that  is,  an  uninterrupted  liberty  of 
conscience,  and  an  inviolable  possession  of  their  civil  rights  and  freedoms, 
by  a  just  and  wise  government, — a  mere  wilderness  would  be  no  encourage- 
ment ;  for  it  were  madness  to  leave  a  free,  good,  and  improved  country,  to 
plant  in  a  wilderness,  and  there  adventure  many  thousands  of  pounds,  to 
give  an  absolute  title  to  another  person,  to  tax  us  at  will  and  pleasure." 
Stating  the  tax  imposed  by  Andross,  they  proceed  :  "  This  is  one  grievance ; 
and  for  this,  we  make  our  application  to  have  speedy  redress,  not  as  a  burden 
only,  with  respect  to  the  quantum  or  the  way  of  levying  it,  or  any  circum- 
stance made  hard  by  the  irregularity  of  the  officers,  but  as  a  wrong;  for 

*  See  Appendix,  G.  t  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  344. 

|  This  document,  found  in  Smith's  History,  is  unnoticed  by  Chalmers ;  and  is  im- 
perfectly abridged  by  Winterbotham  (vol.  ii.  p.  287).  Grahame  (vol.  ii.  p.  346)  admits 
that  Penn  concurred  in  its  presentation,  and,  probably,  assisted  in  its  composition ; 
but  denies  that  he  was  the  sole  author,  as  some  of  his  biographers  have  insisted;  sup- 
posing this  pretension  to  be  refuted,  by  the  style  of  the  document;  in  which,  not  the 
slightest  resemblance  is  discernible,  to  any  of  his  acknowledged  productions. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  41 

we  complain  of  a  wrong,  done  us,  and  ask,  yet,  with  modesty,  quo  jure? 
Tell  us  the  title,  by  what  right  or  law,  are  we  thus  used,  that  may  a  little 
mitigate  our  pain  ?  Your  answer,  hitherto,  hath  been  this.  That  it  was  a 
conquered  country ;  and  that  the  King,  being  the  conqueror,  has  power  to 
make  laws,  raise  money,  &c. ;  and  that  this  power  jure  regale,  the  King 
hath  vested  in  the  Duke ;  and  by  that  right  and  sovereignty,  the  Duke  de- 
mands that  custom  we  complain  of.  Natural  right  and  humane  prudence, 
oppose  such  doctrine  all  the  world  over ;  for  what  is  it,  but  to  say,  that  peo- 
ple, free  by  law,  under  their  prince  at  home,  are  at  his  mercy  in  the  planta- 
tions abroad ;  and  why  1  because  he  is  a  conqueror  there,  but  still  at  the 
hazard  of  the  lives  of  his  own  people,  and  at  the  cost  and  charge  of  the 
public.  We  would  say  more,  but  choose  to  let  it  drop.  But  our  case  is 
better  yet ;  for  the  King's  grant,  to  the  Duke  of  York,  is  plainly  restrictive 
to  the  laws  and  government  of  England.  Now  the  constitution  and  go- 
vernment of  England,  as  we  humbly  conceive,  are  so  far  from  countenancing 
such  authority,  that  it  is  made  a  fundamental  in  our  constitution,  that  the 
King  of  England  cannot,  justly,  take  his  subject's  goods  without  their  con- 
sent. This  needs  no  more  to  be  proved  than  a  principle ;  'tisjws  indigene, 
an  home-born  right,  declared  to  be  law  by  divers  statutes." — "  To  give  up 
the  power  of  making  laws,  is  to  change  the  government,  to  sell,  or  rather,  to 
resign,  ourselves  to  the  will  of  another ;  and  that  for  nothing.  For,  under 
favour,  we  buy  nothing  of  the  Duke,  if  not  the  right  of  an  undisturbed  co- 
lonizing, and  that,  as  Englishmen,  with  no  diminution,  but  expectation  of 
some  increase  of  those  freedoms  and  privileges  enjoyed  in  our  own  country  ; 
for  the  soil  is  none  of  his;  'tis  the  natives,  by  the  jus  gentium,  the  law  of  na- 
tions ;  and  it  would  be  an  ill  argument  to  convert  them  to  Christianity,  to 
expel,  instead  of  purchasing  them,  out  of  those  countries.  If  then,  the  coun- 
try be  theirs,  it  is  not  the  Duke's :  he  cannot  sell  it ;  then  what  have  we 
bought?" — "To  conclude  this  point,  we  humbly  say,  that  we  have  not  lost 
any  part  of  our  liberty,  by  leaving  our  country;  for  we  leave  not  our  King, 
nor  our  government  by  quitting  our  soil ;  but  we  transmit  to  a  place  given 
by  the  same  King,  with  express  limitation  to  erect  no  polity  contrary  to  the 
same  established  government,  but  as  near  as  may  be  to  it ;  and  this  varia- 
tion is  allowed,  but  for  the  sake  of  emergencies,  and  that  latitude,  bounded 
by  these  words,  for  the  good  of  the  adventurer  and  planter."  After  this,  as 
they  term  it,  the  "  point  of  law"  of  the  case,  they  proceed  to  insist  upon  the 
equity  of  it ;  protesting  that  the  "  tax  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  Duke's  con- 
veyances ;  that  it  was  an  after  business,  a  very  surprise  to  the  planter." — 
"  This,  in  plain  English,  is  under  another  name,  paying  for  the  same  thing 
twice  over." — "Custom,  in  all  governments  in  the  world,  is  laid  upon  trade; 
but  this,  upon  planting,  is  unprecedented.  Had  we  brought  commodities  to 
these  parts  to  sell,  made  profit  out  of  them,  and  returned  to  the  advantage 
of  traders,  there  had  been  some  colour  or  pretence  for  this  exaction ;  but  to 
require  and  force  a  custom,  from  persons,  for  coming  to  their  property,  their 
own  terra  frma,  their  habitations ;  in  short,  for  coming  home,  is  without  a 
parallel.  This  is  paying  custom,  not  for  trading,  but  for  landing;  not  for 
merchandising,  but  planting." — "  Besides  there  is  no  end  of  this  power;  for 
since  we  are,  by  this  precedent,  assessed  without  any  law,  and  thereby  ex- 
cluded our  English  right  of  common  assent  to  taxes ;  what  security  have  we 
of  any  thing  we  possess?  We  can  call  nothing  our  own,  but  are  tenants  at 
will,  not  only  for  the  soil,  but  for  all  our  personal  estates.  We  endure 
penury,  and  the  sweat  of  our  brows,  to  improve  them,  at  our  own  hazard, 
only.  This  is  to  transplant,  not  from  good  to  better,  but  from  good  to  bad. 
This  sort  of  conduct  has  destroyed  government,  but  never  raised  one  to  any 
true  greatness ;  nor  ever  will,  in  the  Duke's  territories,  whilst  so  many  coun- 
F 


42  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

tries,  equally  good,  in  soil  and  air,  surround,  with  greater  freedom  and 
security.  Lastly,  the  Duke's  circumstances,  and  the  people's  jealousies, 
considered,  we  humbly  submit  it,  if  there  can  be,  in  their  opinion,  a  greater 
evidence  of  a  design,  to  introduce  an  unlimited  government,  than  both  to 
exact  such  unterminated  tax  from  English  planters,  and  to  continue  it,  after 
so  many  repeated  complaints.  And  on  the  contrary,  if  there  be  any  thing 
so  happy  to  the  Duke's  present  affairs,  as  the  opportunity  he  has  to  free  that 
country  with  his  own  hands,  and  to  make  us  all  owers  of  our  liberty,  to  his 
favour  and  justice:  So  will  Englishmen,  here,  know  what  to  hope  for,  by 
the  justice  and  kindness  he  shows  to  Englishmen  there ;  and  all  men,  to  see 
the  just  model  of  his  government  in  New  York,  to  be  the  scheme  and  draught 
in  little,  of  his  administration  in  Old  England,  at  large,  if  the  crown  should 
ever  devolve  upon  his  head." 

Unpalatable  as  this  argument  must  have  been  to  the  British  court,  and  the 
counsellors  of  the  Duke,  at  this  period,  it  was  triumphant.  The  commis- 
sioners were  constrained  to  pronounce  judgment,  in  conformity  with  the 
opinion  of  Jones,  "  that  as  the  grant  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  had  reserved 
no  profit  or  jurisdiction,  the  legality  of  the  tax  could  not  be  defended."  The 
Duke,  therefore,  without  further  delay,  abandoned  all  claims  on  West  Jersey, 
confirming  the  territory,  or  soil  of  the  province,  in  the  fullest  terms,  to  Wil- 
liam Penn,  Gawn  Lawry,  and  Nicholas  Lucas,  trustees  for  Byllinge,  and  to 
John  Eldridge,  and  Edmund  Warner,  assignees  of  Fenwicke,  according  to 
their  several  interests,  whilst  he  conveyed,  expressly,  the  government  to  Ed- 
ward Byllinge,  his  heirs  and  assigns.*  And  soon  after,  he  made  a  like 
confirmation,  in  favour  of  the  representatives  of  his  friend,  Sir  George 
Carteret.f 

The  forcible  and  spirited  pleading,  we  have  noticed,  derives  special  inte- 
rest, from  the  recollection  of  the  conflict,  then  waging  between  the  advocates 
of  liberty,  and  the  abettors  of  arbitrary  power.  Probably,  none  of  the 
writings  of  which  that  period  was,  abundantly,  prolific,  was  characterized  by 
a  more  magnanimous  effort,  for  the  preservation  of  liberty,  than  this  first 
successful  vindication,  of  the  rights  of  New  Jersey.  Its  most  remarkable 
feature,  is  the  strong  and  deliberate  assertion,  that  no  tax  could  be  justly 
imposed  upon  them,  without  their  consent.  The  report  of  the  commissioners, 
and  the  relief  that  followed,  was  a  virtual  concession  of  this  principle,  which 
subsequently  triumphed  more  signally,  in  the  independence  of  the  United 
States.^ 

*  Indenture,  dated  6th  August,  1680. 

t  14th  March,  1682.     Learning  and  Spicer's  Collection. 

t  The  case  between  the  proprietaries  and  the  Duke,  relative  to  the  government,  is 
of  some  complexity;  and  from  inspection  of  the  documents  alone,  his  pretensions 
have  better  grounds  than  his  advocates  appear  to  have  assumed  for  him.  The  char- 
ters of  Charles  II.,  to  him,  in  addition  to  a  full  fee  simple  estate,  in  land,  contain  an 
express  grant  of  the  powers  of  government;  whilst  the  deeds  from  the  Duke  to 
Berkeley  and  Carteret,  convey  a  "  tract  of  land,"  specifically  bounded,  as  in  the 
transfer  of  a  private  estate.  There  is  not  the  slightest  allusion  to  the  powers  of 
government  in  them;  and  the  special  care  taken  to  give  such  powers,  in  the  one 
case,  and  to  omit  them  in  the  other,  would  be  a  strong  argument,  that  they  were 
not  designed  to  be  granted,  if  such  argument  were  needed,  in  the  total  absence  of  a 
grant.  It  certainly  never  can  be  maintained,  that,  a  fee  simple,  in  land,  carried  with 
it  a  political  power  of  government.  In  all  cases  where  this  power  was  intended  to  be 
conveyed,  apt  words  were  employed,  as  in  the  grants  to  the  Duke  of  York,  to  Balti- 
more, and  Penn.  Berkeley  could  convey  no  other  right  than  he  possessed,  nor  did 
he  attempt  it,  since  that  is  not  asserted  in  the  plea  of  the  New  Jersey  proprietaries. — 
Nor  in  the  deed,  quintipartite  of  partition,  between  Carteret,  and  the  grantees  of 
Berkeley,  is  there  any  reference  to  the  powers  of  government.  So  far,  then,  the  case 
would  seem  to  be  clearly,  that  the  Duke  had  retained  the  integrity  of  his  political 
powers,  as  granted  him  by  the  crown.  But  against  this  paper  case,  there  is  strong 
circumstantial  evidence.  1.  The  assumption,  and  undisputed  exercise  of  political 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  43 

IX.  But,  if  we  condemn,  severely,  the  tenacious  hold  of  power,  on  the 
part  of  the  Duke,  how  shall  we  characterize  the  pretensions  of  Byllinge, 
subsequent  to  the  exclusive  grant  of  the  government  to  him  1     His  conduct 
affords  an  additional  instance  of  the  corrupting  force  of  power,  and  of  human 
inconsistency.     He  asserts,  as  grantee  of  Berkeley,  that  he  became  the  par- 
ticipant of  political  power,  even  by  a  deed  for  lands  only ;  but,  when  that 
power  was  expressly  and  unequivocally  conveyed  to  himself,  he  denies  the 
grant  of  similar  power,  to  his  assigns,  though  he  is  a  party  to  the  "  conces- 
sions," by  which  it  was  clearly  conveyed;  under  the  pretence,  it  would 
seem,  that  as  such  power  was  not  then  with  him,  he  could  not  grant  it,  and 
though  he  had  himself,  taken  the  office  of  governor,  by  the  election  of  the 
proprietaries.     That  his  exclusive  gubernatorial  power  might  be  known  and 
felt,  he  proposed  to  remove  Jennings,  whom  he  had  appointed  his  deputy, 
under  his  delegated  powers,  in  1679. 

X.  The  proprietaries,  in  General  Assembly  of  the  province,  in  June,  1683, 
met  this  pretension  with  due  firmness  and  spirit ;  resolving,  that  they  had 
purchased  the  land  and  government  together;  that,  in  their  deeds,  Byllinge, 
the  grantor,  had  covenanted,  within  seven  years,  to  make  further  assurance 
of  title,  and  was  now  bound,  as  they  were,  to  fulfil  his  contracts ;  that  the 
"  concessions"  were  adopted  by  proprietaries  and  people,  as  the  foundation 
of  the  government  of  West  New  Jersey,  by  which  they  were  resolved  to 
stand ;  and  that  "  an  instrument  be  drawn  up  and  sent  to  some  trusty  friends 
in  London,  for  Edward  Byllinge  to  sign  and  seal ;  whereby,  to  confirm  his 
first  bargain  and  sale,  he  made  to  the  freeholders  of  this  province,  of  land 
and  government  together."     They  further  resolved,  that  upon  such  confir- 
mation, they  were  willing  to  testify  their  gratitude,  as  their  ability  would 
permit ;  and  should  Byllinge  visit  the  province,  to  show  their  free  and  unani- 
mous acceptance,  and  acknowledgments  of  his  care  and  diligence  in  the 
premises.     This  subject,  it  would  seem,  had  been  some  time  under  dis- 
cussion, before  the  Assembly  was  wrought  to  these  resolutions ;  and  Wil- 
liam Penn  had  recommended  that  the  people  should  secure  themselves,  by 
the  election  of  Jennings,  to  the  office  of  Governor,  and  his  promise  to  exe- 
cute the  place,  with  fidelity  and  diligence,  according  to  the  laws,  concessions, 
and  constitutions  of  the  province.     This  expedient,  certainly  not  flattering  to 
Byllinge,  the  Assembly  adopted,  and   proclaimed  Jennings   governor,  by 
virtue  of  the  power  vested  in  six  parts  in  seven,  of  their  body,  to  alter  their 
constitution ;  and  they  bestowed  the  right  to  six  hundred  acres  of  land,  to 
pay  the  charges  of  the  office.     Upon  this  occasion,  the  governor,  and  all  the 
officers,  under  the  government,  signed  written  engagements,  faithfully  to 
perform  their  duty.* 

power,  by  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  openly  promulgated  in  their  concessions.  2.  The 
surrender  of  the  government,  by  Nicholls,  the  agent  of  the  Duke,  to  them,  after  remon- 
strance, against  such  a  measure,  by  that  agent.  3.  The  re-grant  of  the  soil,  and  the 
suffrance  of  the  resumption  of  political  power,  by  the  Duke,  after  the  conquest,  and  re- 
conquest,  by  the  Dutch;  and  4th,  the  continued  and  unquestioned  exercise  of  such 
power,  by  Byllinge,  and  his  assigns,  and  by  Carteret,  after  partition  made.  These 
are  facts  strangely  at  variance,  with  the  deeds,  and  no  one  can  suppose  their  exist- 
ence, against  an  adverse  claim,  on  the  part  of  the  heir  apparent  to  the  crown,  And  it 
is  not  the  least  singular  part  of  the  case,  that  whilst  the  Duke  claims  a  partial  politi- 
cal right,  that  of  laying  taxes,  he  suffers  undisturbed,  the  exercise  of  independent 
governments,  in  East  and  West  Jersey.  We  must,  therefore,  believe,  that  there  was 
an  implied  grant  of  political  power,  in  the  conveyance  of  the  soil,  which  was  too 
strongly  confirmed  by  more  than  twenty  years  enjoyment,  to  be  defeated.  Yet,  under 
these  circumstances,  the  ready  acquiescence  of  the  Duke,  in  the  award  of  the  com- 
missioners, is  extraordinary,  when  his  love  of  power,  and  his  tyrannical  measures, 
against  other  colonial  governments,  are  considered. 
*  See  Appendix,  H. 


44  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 

Subsequently,  at  an  Assembly,  convened  on  the  29th  of  March,  1684, 
Governor  Jennings,  and  Thomas  Budd,  were  deputed  to  negotiate  this  matter, 
in  England;  and  two  hundred  pounds  were  voted  for  their  expenses,  which 
were  advanced  by  governor  Penn,  then  in  Philadelphia;  for  the  repayment 
of  which,  three  thousand  acres  of  land,  were  appropriated,  above  the  falls  of 
the  Delaware.  Upon  his  departure,  Jennings  nominated  Thomas  Clive,  his 
deputy,  who  was  duly  elected  governor,  in  May,  1684,  and  May,  1685. 
These  measures,  on  the  part  of  the  Assembly,  seem  to  have  been  attended 
with  the  desired  effect.  A  new  charter,  the  precise  nature  of  which,  we  are  left 
to  conjecture,  was  given  by  By  Hinge,  and  deposited  by  the  Assembly,  in  the 
custody  of  Clive  and  Gardiner,  their  treasurer,  and  directed  to  be  recorded. 
This  instrument,  probably,  restored  the  government  to  the  footing  of  the 
"  concessions ;"  and  John  Skeine  was  received  as  the  deputy  governor,  of 
Byllinge,  although  the  Assembly  had,  before,  rejected  Welsh,  who  had  been 
appointed  to  the  office.  Skeine  died  in  February,  1688.* 

XI.  Upon  the  death  of  Byllinge,  in  1687,  Dr.  Daniel  Coxe,  of  London, 
already  a  large  proprietary,  at  the  instance  of  other  proprietaries,  purchased 
the  interest  of  Byllinge's  heirs,  in  the  soil  and  government.     Soon  after, 
(September  5,  1687)  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  council  of  proprietors  in 
New  Jersey,  communicating  this  matter,  and  reviving  the  repudiated  claim 
of  Byllinge ;  declaring,  "  that  the  government  of  the  province  was  legally 
in  him,  as  that  of  Pennsylvania  in  Penn,  or  East  Jersey  in  the  proprieta- 
ries ;  and  that  he  was  resolved,  by  the  assistance  of  Almighty  God,  to  exer- 
cise the  jurisdiction  to    him   conveyed,  with   all   integrity,  faith,  fulness, 
and  diligence,  for  the  benefit  and  welfare  of  those,  over  whom,  Divine  Pro- 
vidence had  constituted  him  superintendent,  or  chief  overseer.     But  as  he 
confirmed  the  "  concessions,"  and  thereby,  in  fact,  transferred,  as  Jennings 
had  done,  the  full  right  of  government,  to  the  proprietors,  jointly,  his  naked 
assertion  of  exclusive  right,  appears  to  have  excited  no  uneasiness  in  the 
province.    Smith  informs  us,  that,  Coxe  received  the  appointment  of  governor 
from  the  proprietaries,  and  continued  in  that  station  until  the  year  1690; 
that,  in  the  interval,  Edward  Hunloke  was,  at  one  time,  his  deputy ;  and 
that  a  like  commission  had  been  sent  to  John  Tatham,  who,  being  a  Jacobite, 
was  rejected  by  the  Assembly.   In  1691,  Dr.  Coxe  conveyed  the  government 
to  a  company  of  proprietaries,  called  the  West  Jersey  Society,  in  considera- 
tion of  nine  thousand  pounds  sterling,  who,  in  1692,  appointed  Andrew  Ha- 
milton governor.     This  view  of  the  governmental  question,  has  carried  us 
in  advance  of  other  portions  of  our  subject,  to  which  we  now  return. 

XII.  West  Jersey,  now  filled  apace  with  inhabitants ;  the  greater  portion 
of  whom  were  Quakers.     Jennings  convened  the  first  Assembly,  on  25th 
November,  1681.     This  body  enacted  certain  fundamental  constitutions , 
and  many  laws.    Pursuing  the  spirit  of  the  "  concessions,"  they,  in  the  first, 
provided,  for  the  annual  election  and  meeting  of  the  Assembly ;  the  obliga- 
tion of  the  laws  by  them  enacted ;  the  appointment  and  removal  by  them,  of 
all  officers  of  trust ;  that  no  tax  or  custom  should  continue  longer  than  one 
year ;  and  that  no  one  should  be  incapable  of  office,  by  reason  of  his  faith 
and  worship.     They  prohibited  the  governor  and  council,  from  enacting 
laws,  laying  any  tax,  sending  ambassadors,  or  making  treaties,  and  from 
proroguing  or  dissolving  that  house;  and  declared,  that,  upon  Jennings' 
acceptance  of  these  conditions,  they  would  recognise  him  as  deputy  go- 
vernor.    These  "  constitutions  were  duly  signed  by  Samuel  Jennings,  de- 
puty governor,  and  Thomas  Clive,  speaker.     It  would  be  difficult  to  find 

*  The  salary  of  Clive  was  thirty  pounds;  of  Skeine,  thirty  bushels  of  rye,  beside 
his  fees. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  45 

any  instrument,  in  representative  government,  more  democratic,  or  more 
liberal,  in  matters  of  religious  faith.  Not  even  belief  in  the  Deity,  was  neces- 
sary to  human  equality,  whilst  the  constitution  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey, 
excludes  from  office  all  who  do  not  profess  belief  in  the  faith  of  some  Pro- 
testant sect. 

Thirty-six  acts  embraced,  and  enforced,  most  of  the  provisions  of  the 
"concessions."  Among  them,  however,  was  one  authorizing  the  levy  of  two 
hundred  pounds,  "  in  coin,  or  skins,  or  money"  for  defraying  public  debts 
and  other  public  charges  of  the  province.  For  this  great  sum,  "  Thomas 
Budd  and  Thomas  Gardiner,  were  appointed  receivers-general,  with  power 
to  constitute  and  appoint  all  inferior  or  sub-collectors,  or  otherwise,  for  the 
best  and  easiest  way  of  raising  the  amount,  throughout  the  province  of  West 
Jersey."  Another  enacted,  that,  if  any  person  shall  presume  to  offer  affront 
to  the  public  authority,  or  any  officiating  in  that  capacity,  he  shall  be  punish- 
ed and  fined  at  the  discretion  of  the  court — an  offence  certainly  indefinite, 
and  a  latitude  of  punishment,  which,  in  some  governments,  would  have  been 
very  alarming.  A  third,  which  was,  however,  soon  after  repealed,  raised  the 
value  of  the  current  coin  fifty  per  cent.:  a  fourth,  directed  the  making  of  a 
highway  from  Burlington  to  Salem;  and  two  others,  appropriated  twenty 
pounds  to  the  governor,  and  five  to  the  speaker,  for  their  services.  But 
among  the  most  meritorious,  was  that  imposing  a  heavy  penalty  upon  the 
sale  of  strong  liquors  to  the  Indians. 

At  the  next  session,  hoi  den  in  May,  1682,  the  Assembly  authorized  each 
of  the  ten  proprietaries,  to  dispose  of  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  within  their 
respective  tenths,  for  defraying  the  public  expenses,  in  such  tenth :  made  the 
half-pence,  coined  by  one  Mark  Newbie,  a  member  of  council,  and  called 
Patrick's  half-pence,  current  coin  of  the  province ;  with  condition,  however, 
that  no  one  should  be  obliged  to  receive  more  than  five  shillings  of  it,  in  one 
payment :  established  Burlington  and  Salem  as  ports :  empowered  justices  to 
solemnize  marriages  on  fourteen  days  notice,  and  consent  of  parents :  direct- 
ed ten  bushels  of  corn,  necessary  apparel,  two  horses,  and  one  axe,  to  be 
given,  as  freedom  dues,  to  servants :  subjected  land  to  the  payment  of  debts ; 
prohibited  the  imprisonment  of  debtors,  surrendering  their  estates ;  and  de- 
clared the  town  of  Burlington,  the  chief  city  of  the  province. 

At  the  next  session,  May,  1683,  some  modification  of  the  fundamental 
laws  was  made.  The  governor  and  council,  were  empowered  to  prepare 
bills  for  laws,  promulgating  them,  twenty  days,  in  the  most  public  place  of 
the  province,  before  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  governor, 
council,  and  Assembly,  met  together,  were  declared  the  General  Assembly; 
who  might  affirm,  or  deny,  bills  so  prepared;  and  of  this  Assembly,  the  go- 
vernor was  declared  speaker,  with  a  double  voice.  During  the  recess  of  the 
Assembly,  the  government  of  the  state,  was  lodged  with  the  governor  and 
council. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly,  in  relation  to 
the  claim  of  Byllinge ;  beside  which,  there  were  no  subjects  of  interest,  in 
the  history  of  the  succeeding  decade  of  years.  The  planters  appeared  to 
have  pursued,  undisturbed,  the  noiseless  tenor  of  prosperity.  Some  efforts, 
however,  were  made  during  this  period,  by  the  proprietaries  of  East  and 
West  Jersey,  for  running  the  line  between  their  provinces.  But  of  this 
vexed  and  still  unsettled  question,  we  shall  treat  fully,  in  our  exposition  of 
the  land  system  of  the  state. 

XIII.  In  1693,  however,  the  religious  toleration,  granted  by  the  laws,  was 
somewhat  restricted  by  an  act,  which,  though  declaring  that  conscientious 
scruples,  against  taking  oaths,  should  not  incapacitate  for  office,  required  from 
the  incumbent,  a  declaration  of  fidelity  to  the  King,  renunciation  of  popery 


46  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  the  following  profession  of  the  Christian  faith :  7,  A  B,  profess  faith 
in  GOD,  the  Father,  and  JESUS  CHRIST  his  eternal  Son,  the  true  GOD, 
and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  one  GOD  blessed  for  ever  more ;  and  do  acknow- 
ledge the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  to  be  given  by 
divine  inspiration.* 

*  Can  this  be  deemed  a  confession  of  faith,  by  Quakers  ?  The  question  derives 
great  interest  from  the  wide  schism,  at  this  time  existing  in  the  society  of  Friends,  in 
which  the  two  parties,  alike,  claim  to  hold  the  original  faith;  one  professing  that  in 
the  text— the  other,  belief  in  the  unity  of  the  Deity,  the  humanity  of  Christ,  with  a 
modified  view  of  divine  inspiration  in  the  Scriptures.  Upon  the  true  solution  of  the 
original  faith  of  the  Quakers,  much  property,  and  a  greater  value,  (if  I  may  thus  ex- 
press myself,)  in  sentiment,  at  this  moment  depends.  It  is  said,  that  no  formal  decla- 
ration of  the  Quaker  faith,  is  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  the  society;  and  courts  of 
justice  have  been  compelled  to  seek  it,  in  the  partial,  equivocal,  and  unsatisfactory 
declarations  of  esteemed  preachers,  and  polemical  writers.  The  best  evidence  which 
the  nature  of  the  subject  admits,  is  the  formal  declaration  of  faith,  by  the  yearly  meet- 
ing. But  an  attempt  of  this  kind  was  one  of  the  immediate  causes  of  the  present 
division.  The  next  best  evidence,  would  be  a  declaration  of  faith,  by  a  body  of  Qua- 
kers, at  a  period  when  no  division  existed,  among  the  sect,  and  when  an  attempt  to 
force  a  declaration  of  faith  upon  them,  would  have  been  resisted,  as  firmly,  to  say  the 
least,  as  at  any  time,  since  the  ministry  of  Fox.  Was  the  Assembly  of  West  New 
Jersey,  of  the  year  1696,  such  a  body?  If  it  was,  their  declaration  of  "  The  Christian 
Faith,"  is  entitled  to  profound  respect  and  unlimited  confidence;  having  been  made 
when  the  zeal  of  the  church  was  most  lively,  during  the  life  of  many  of  its  dis- 
tinguished primitive  apostles,  such  as  Barclay  and  Penn,  and  within  seven  years  after 
the  death  of  its  founder,  George  Fox.  This  Assembly  consisted  of  about  fifty  mem- 
bers. It  is  perhaps  impossible,  at  this  day,  to  declare  that  every  member  was  a  Quaker. 
This,  however,  is  probable,  since  the  Quakers  composed  vastly  the  greater  proportion 
of  the  population.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  majority  of  the  Assembly  were 
Friends,  and  might,  therefore,  have  arrested  the  promulgation  of  this  creed.  That 
they  would  have  done  so,  cannot  be  doubted,  had  it  not  been  their  faith ;  for  they 
came  to  the  province,  that  they  might  enjoy  that  faith,  without  molestation.  They 
had  purchased  the  soil,  and  the  government,  that  they  might  live  under  laws  of  their 
own  enactment.  But  this  act,  had  it  declared  a  faith  different  from  that,  which  the 
Quakers  professed,  would  have  disqualified  them  from  participating  in  the  govern- 
ment, and  would  have  placed  them  at  the  mercy  of  the  very  few  Swedes  and  Dutch, 
who  were  in  the  province.  We  are,  therefore,  constrained  to  believe,  that  this  statu- 
tory confession  of  faith,  was  the  faith  of  the  Quaker  church. — See  Learning  and  Spicer's 
Collection,  p.  514. — And  see  the  Act,  in  the  Appendix,  I. 

The  confession  of  faith  set  forth  in  the  New  Jersey  act  of  1693,  is  copied  in  words, 
from  the  English  toleration  act,  passed  in  1689,  (1  William  and  Mary).  The  follow- 
ing account  of  which,  is  given  by  George  Whitehead.—  Works,  page  635.  "  Yet  to 
prevent  any  such  (Friends)  from  being  stumbled  or  ensnared,  by  some  expressions  in 
the  aforesaid  profession  or  creed,  (which  appeared  unscriptural.)  in  the  said  Bill,  we, 
instead  thereof,  did  propose  and  humbly  offer,  as  our  own  real  belief  of  the  Deity  of 
the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost;" — the  form  we  have  given  in  the  text.  "  Which 
declaration,"  he  continues,  "  John  Vaughton  and  I,  delivered  to  Sir  Thomas  Clergis, 
who,  with  some  others,  were  desirous  we  should  give  in  such  confession,  of  our  Chris- 
tian belief,  that  we  might  not  lie  under  the  unjust  imputation  of  being  no  Christians, 
and  thereby  be  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  the  intended  law,  for  our  religious  liberty. 
We  were,  therefore,  of  necessity,  put  upon  offering  the  said  confession,  it  being,  also, 
our  known  professed  principle,  sincerely  to  confess  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God, 
his  divinity,  and  that  he  is  the  eternal  Word,  and  that  the  Three  which  bear  record  in 
heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  are  one;  one  divine  Being,  one 
God,  blessed  forever." 

In  what  sense  the  words  of  this  confession  were  accepted,  by  Friends,  it  would,  per- 
haps, be  difficult  to  say.  They  were,  probably,  understood  by  the  framers  of  the 
toleration  act,  to  be  equivalent  to  the  belief  in  the  Trinity,  as  expressed  by  the  Church 
of  England.  But  this  sense,  if  not  denied,  is  certainly  not  conceded  by  the  Quaker 
writers,  generally,  who,  in  relation  to  this  mysterious  subject,  express  themselves  with 
great  mystery,  and  allege  that  they  take  up  the  doctrine  as  expressly  laid  down  in 
the  Scripture,  and  are  not  warranted  in  making  deductions,  however  specious.  It 
has  been  supposed,  too,  that  in  framing  this  confession  of  faith,  an  outward  con- 
formity to  the  requisition  of  Parliament,  only,  was  designed :  and  that  every  Friend 
was  at  perfect  liberty  to  construe  the  words  of  his  confession,  in  such  sense  as  the 
spirit  within  him  should  direct.  If  so,  we  have  advanced  nothing  in  determining 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  47 

XIV.  By  the  deed  of  partition  of  July,  1676,  Sir  George  Carteret  became 
seized  of  East  New  Jersey,  in  severalty.     By  his  testament,  December  5th, 
1678,  he  named  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  his  executrix,  and  guardian  of  his  heir; 
and  devised  the  province  to  trustees,  to  be  sold  for  payment  of  his  debts.* 
He  died  in  the  following  year,  but  his  death  made  no  change  in  the  govern- 
ment, which  continued  to  be  administered  by  his  brother  Philip,  until  about 
the  end  of  the  year  1681,  or  beginning  of  1682,  when  he  was  superseded  by 
the  transfer  of  the  province  to  other  proprietaries. 

XV.  The  latter  part  of  his  administration,  was  embittered  by  the  revival 
of  the  disputes  which  had  once  rendered  him  a  fugitive  from  his  government, 
and  by  the  unjust  and  violent  assumption  of  authority,  over  his  province,  by 
the  profligate  Andross,  governor  of  New  York.  The  pretension  of  this  ready 
tool  of  despotism,  was  sustained  by  that  portion  of  the  inhabitants,  who  had 
derived  their  land  titles  through  governor  Nicholls,  from  the  Duke,  and  who 
believed  that  his  Grace  would  render  valid  their  advantageous  purchases 
from  the  Indians.     Andross  seems,  first,  formally,  to  have  disputed  the  right 
of  Carteret,  in  March,  1680,  when,  by  proclamation,  he  claimed  the  submis- 
sion of  the  inhabitants  for  the  Duke  of  York.    Threats  of  invasion  followed ; 
to  resist  which,  Carteret  prepared  his  military  force,  amounting  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men.     Andross,  however,  visited  Elizabethtown,  attended  by 
a  civil  suite,  only,  where  he  ostentatiously  displayed  the  Duke's  title,  and  his 
own  commission ;  and,  utterly  disregarding  his  master's  double  grant  to  Sir 
George  Carteret,  demanded  the  recognition  of  his  authority.     This  being  re- 
fused, he  retired ;  but  soon  after,  April  31, 1680,  despatched  a  party  of  soldiers, 
who  rudely  dragged  Carteret  from  his  bed,  and  conveyed  him,  prisoner,  to 
New  York,  where  he  was  tried,  upon  the  information  of  the  attorney-general, 
with  having  riotously  and  routously,  with  force  of  arms,  endeavoured  to 
maintain  and  exercise  jurisdiction  and  government  over  his  Majesty's  sub- 
jects, within  the  bounds  of  his  Majesty's  letters  patent,  granted  to  his  Royal 
Highness.     In  despite  of  the  efforts  of  Andross,  who  presided  at  the  trial,  the 
jury,  though  several  times  sent  out  by  him,  magnanimously  acquitted  the 

Prisoner.     The  court,  however,  adjudged,  that  if  Carteret  returned  to  New 
ersey,  he  should  engage  not  to  assume  any  authority  there. 

Andross  met  an  Assembly  at  Elizabethtown,  on  the  2d  June,  1680,  where 
he  again  exhibited  the  documents  of  his  authority,  together  with  a  copy  of 
the  laws  enacted  at  New  York,  which  he  proposed  as  the  rule  of  action  for 
New  Jersey.  Although  the  Assembly  were  indisposed,  or  dreaded,  to  ques- 
tion the  authority  of  the  Duke,  they  were  not  unregardful  of  their  rights,  nor 
backward  in  proclaiming  them.  They  replied,  "  As  we  are  the  representa- 
tives of  the  freeholders  of  this  province,  we  dare  not  grant  his  Majesty's  let- 
ters patent,  though  under  the  great  seal  of  England,  to  be  our  rule  or  joint 
safety;  for  the  great  charter  of  England,  alias,  magna  charta,  is  the  only 
rule,  privilege,  and  joint  safety  of  every  free  born  Englishman.  What  we 
have  formerly  done,  we  did  in  obedience  to  the  authority  that  was  then  esta- 
blished in  this  province,  and  that  being  done  according  to  law,  they  needed 
no  confirmation."  They  declared,  also,  their  expectation,  that,  the  privileges 
granted  them,  by  virtue  of  the  concessions  of  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George 
Carteret,  would  be  confirmed  to  them ;  and  they  re-enacted  former  laws,  and 
demanded  their  approval. 

the  faith  of  Friends,  since  they  have  adopted  the  remainder  of  the  Scriptures,  giving 
to  them,  in  many  cases,  a  meaning  widely  different  from  that  assigned  by  Orthodox 
Christians. 

*  The  trustees  were  John  Earl  of  Sandwich,  John  Earl  of  Bath,  Bernard  Granville, 
brother  of  the  latter,  Sir  Thomas  Crew,  Sir  Thomas  Atkins,  and  his  brother.  Edward 
Atkins. 


48  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Complaints  against  the  proceedings  of  Andross  were  despatched  to  Eng- 
land with  an  appeal  to  the  King.  The  Duke  disavowed  the  acts  of  his 
minion,  yet  no  instructions  appear  to  have  been  given  to  rescind  them.  For, 
after  the  departure  of  Andross,  for  England,  Captain  Brochholts,  his  substi- 
tute, maintained  his  assumption,  refusing  to  recognise  the  authority  of  Carte- 
ret,  until  he  exhibited  a  new  commission,  notwithstanding  the  Assembly  of 
New  Jersey  had  declared  the  conduct  of  Andross  illegal.  No  further  forci- 
ble effort,  however,  was  made  to  control  the  province;  the  Duke  having, 
in  truth,  agreed  to  confirm  his  former  grants  with  the  right  of  government ; 
and,  soon  after,  by  release  of  this  contested  power,  terminated  these  troubles. 

Disgusted  by  these  contentions,  and  perceiving  that  they  were  not  likely  to 
derive  either  emolument  or  satisfaction,  from  their  province,  the  trustees  and 
executrix  of  Sir  George  Carteret,  offered  it  for  sale  to  the  highest  bidder.* 

XVI.  The  sessions  of  the  Assembly,  during  the  administration  of  Carteret, 
were  commonly  holden  at  Elizabethtown,  frequently  at  Woodbridge,  and 
sometimes  at   Middletown  and   Piscataway.f      Many   laws  were   enacted 
during  this  period,  but  most  of  them  were  local  or  ephemeral  in  their  cha- 
racter.    Those  of  a  more  general  nature,  provided;  That,  contemners  of 
authority  should  be  punished  by  fine,  or  corporal  infliction,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  court :  that  males  above  sixteen,  and  under  sixty,  years  of  age,  failing 
to  furnish  themselves  with  arms,  should  be  fined,  two  shillings  per  week,  for 
neglect :  that,  one  guilty  of  arson,  should  repair  the  injury  done,  and  in  case 
of  inability  so  to  do,  be,  at  the  mercy  of  the  court,  condemned  to  death  or 
other  corporal  punishment :  that,  murder,  false  witness,  with  design  to  take 
away  life,  crimes  against  nature,  witchcraft,  stealing  away  any  mankind, 
should  be  punished  by  death  ;  burglary  or  highway  robbery,  the  first  offence 
with  burning  in  the  hand,  the  second  in  the  forehead,  and  in  both  cases, 
with  restitution ;  and  the  third  offence  with  death :  larceny,  the  first  offence 
by  treble  restitution ;  and  so  the  second  and  third,  with  such  increase  of 
punishment,  even  unto  death,  as  the  court  might  direct,  if  the  offender  were 
incorrigible ;  otherwise,  and  if  unable  to  make  restitution,  to  be  sold  for 
satisfaction,  or  to  receive  corporal  punishment :  conspiracies  or  attacks  upon 
towns  or  forts,  smiting  or  cursing  of  parents,  unless  in  self  defence,  upon 
complaint  of  the  parent,  were  also  subjected  to  the  penalty  of  death :  rape 
was  punishable  with  death,  or  otherwise,  severely,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
court ;  fornication,  with  marriage,  fine,  or  corporal  punishment ;  adultery, 
with  divorce,  corporal  punishment,  or  banishment,  either,  or  all  of  them,  as 
circumstances  should  determine  the  mind  of  the  judge ;  night  walking  and 
revelling,  after  nine  o'clock,  with  arrest,  and  punishment,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  court : — That,  the  members  of  Assembly  should  be  chosen  on  the 
first  of  January,  and  their  sessions  be  holden  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  Novem- 
ber, annually,  or  oftener,  if  the  governor  and  council  should  deem  neces- 
sary :  that,  no  marriage  should  be  had  without  the  consent  of  parent,  guar- 
dian, or  master,  as   the  case   might   require,  unless   upon   notice,  thrice 
published,  at  some  meeting  or  kirk,  near  the  parties'  abode,  or  set  up  in 
writing,  at  some  public  house,  for  fourteen  days  previous ;  nor  then,  unless 
solemnized  by  some  approved  minister,  justice,  or  chief  officer,  who  was 
forbidden,  under  penalty  of  twenty  pounds,  and  dismission  from  office,  to 
marry  any,  who  had  not  fulfilled  these  requisitions. 

XVII.  In  comparing  the  laws  of  East  and  West  Jersey,  we  are  much 
struck  with  the  difference  of  the  spirit  which  dictated  them.     The  genius  of 
Calvinism,  which  rules  by  terror,  and  the  ever  suspended  sword,  in  this  and 

*  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  350.     See  Appendix  K. 

t  The  first  Assembly  was  holden  26th  May,  1668,  at  Elizabethtown. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  49 

in  the  future  world,  is  strongly  impressed  upon  the  one,  whilst  a  prudent 
reserve  in  naming  crimes,  and  a  humane  forbearance  in  their  punishment, 
characterize  the  other.  The  ancient  lawgivers  prescribed  no  punishment 
for  parricide,  deeming  the  offence  impossible ; — the  Quaker  legislators,  had 
no  enactment  against  arson — no  prescribed  punishment  for  murder  or  trea- 
son, and  other  heinous  offences ;  and  yet,  during  four-and-twenty  years,  of 
their  administration,  no  instance  of  such  crimes  was  known  within  their 
territories.  In  East  Jersey,  there  were  thirteen  classes  of  offences,  against 
which,  the  penalty  of  death  was  denounced ;  and  amongst  these,  were  sim- 
ple larcenies,  and  the  impossible  crime  of  witchcraft ;  whilst  in  West  Jersey, 
such  punishment  was  unknown  to  the  law.  The  sentence,  and  mode  of  its 
execution,  in  cases  of  treason  and  murder,  were  by  the  "  Concessions,"  com- 
mitted to  the  Assembly ;  but  that  body  never  prescribed  a  general  rule,  nor 
had  occasion  to  apply  their  powers  to  a  special  case.  The  legislators  of 
West  Jersey,  in  injuries  of  every  kind,  sought  reparation,  and  the  reclama- 
tion of  the  offender.  Thus,  the  spoiler  of  property  wras  condemned,  in  all 
cases,  to  make  a  fourfold  restitution,  and  to  suffer  imprisonment  at  labour ; 
and  the  perpetrator  of  personal  injuries,  might  be  pardoned  by  the  sufferer. 
In  all  cases,  mercy  presided  over  the  justice-seat.  But  in  East  Jersey,  the 
great  object  of  the  law  seems  to  have  been  vengeance.  Like  to  Draco,  the 
legislator  deemed  small  crimes  worthy  of  death,  and  could  find  no  severer 
punishment  for  the  greatest.  But,  though  from  the  enactments  against 
witchcraft,  the  progress  of  intellectual  light  seemed  less  in  East,  than  in  West 
Jersey,  there  was  an  earnest  care  for  the  instruction  of  the  people.  This 
was  particularly  evident  in  an  act,  of  1693,  providing,  that,  the  inhabitants  of 
any  town  might,  by  warrant  from  a  justice,  elect  three  men  to  establish  and 
levy  a  rate  for  the  maintenance  of  a  schoolmaster,  payment  of  which,  might 
be  enforced  by  distress.  Upon  the  whole,  we  may  remark,  that,  though  the 
legislators  of  East  and  West  Jersey,  drew  their  principles  from  the  same 
volume,  they  were  from  different  sources ;  the  first  were  oppressed,  enslaved, 
by  the  vengeful  God,  who  prescribed  the  Levitical  law;  the  others  sought 
and  found,  a  well  regulated  freedom,  in  the  merciful  monitions  of  a  Re- 
deemer. 

In  East  Jersey  there  was  no  law  for  the  public  support  of  religion ;  yet, 
every  township  maintained  its  church  and  its  minister.  The  people,  by  the 
testimony  of  the  first  deputy  of  the  Quaker  sovereigns,  "  were,  generally, 
a  sober,  professing  people,  wise  in  their  generation,  courteous  in  their  beha- 
viour, and  respectful  to  those  in  office."  And  Gawn  Lawrie,  the  second 
deputy,  assures  us,  "  that  there  was  not,  in  all  the  province,  a  poor  body,  or 
that  wants."*  Relying  on  this  view,  we  might  impute  the  dissentions  which 
had  prevailed,  to  the  injudicious  conduct  of  the  government.  But  there  is 
reason  to  believe,  that,  the  blame  of  these  dissentions  is  chargeable,  in  a  con- 
siderable degree,  upon  the  people.  A  headstrong  and  turbulent  disposition 
appears  to  have  prevailed  among  some  classes,  at  least,  of  the  inhabitants : 
various  riots  and  disturbances  broke  forth,  even  under  the  new  government, 
and  the  utmost  patience  of  the  rulers,  were  necessary  to  govern  them.  A 
law,  enacted  about  four  years  after  this  period,  reprobates  the  frequent  oc- 
currence of  quarrels  and  challenges,  and  interdicts  the  inhabitants  from 
wearing  swords,  pistols,  or  daggers.f 

*  "  The  servants  work  not  so  much,"  says  Lawrie,  "  by  a  third,  as  they  do  in  Eng- 
land, and  I  think,  feed  much  better;  for  they  have  beef,  pork,  bacon,  pudding,  milk, 
butter,  and  good  beer  and  cider  to  drink.  When  they  are  out  of  their  time,  they  have 
land  for  themselves,  and  generally  turn  farmers.  Servants'  wages  are  not  under  two 
shillings  a  day,  besides  victuals."  S.  Smith,  p.  117,  181. 

t  Smith,  pp.  162, 163,  169,  171,  175,  &c.     Graharne's  Col.  Hist. 

G 


50  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


From  the  Purchase  of  East  Jersey,  by  the  Quakers,  to  the  Surrender  of  the  two 
Provinces  to  the  Crown,  1682-1702.— I.  Purchase  of  East  Jersey  by  Penn  and 
his  Associates. — They  admit  others,  not  Quakers,  to  participate  in  the  Purchase. 
— II.  Robert  Barclay  appointed  Governor  for  Life— Scotch  Emigrants — Deputy 
Governors — Foundation  of  Amboy — Vain  Efforts  at  Commerce. — III.  Efforts  of 
James  II.  to  destroy  Colonial  Charter — Defeated  by  the  Revolution. — IV.  An- 
drew Hamilton,  Deputy  Governor — Death  of  Robert  Barclay — Interregnum — 
Afldrew  Hamilton,  Governor-in-Chief — Superseded  by  Jeremiah  Basse — Re- 
appointed— Discontent  of  the  Colonists.— V.  Attempt  of  New  York  to  tax  the 
Colony. — VI.  Proposition  from  the  English  Ministers  for  the  Surrender  of  the 
Proprietary  Governments — Negotiations  relating  thereto. — VII.  Final  and  un- 
conditional Surrender — Lord  Cornbury  appointed  Governor — Outline  of  the  new 
Government. — VIII.  Stationary  Condition  of  New  Jersey— Causes  thereof.— 

IX.  Condition  of  the  Aborigines — Purchases  of  their  Lands — Traditions  of  their 
Origin — Tribes  most  noted  in  New  Jersey — Treaty  at  Crosswicks — at  Burlington 
and  Easton — Final  Extinction  of  Indian  Title  to  the   Soil  of  New  Jersey. — 

X.  Review  of  the  Title  under  the  Proprietaries  of  East  Jersey. — XI.  Review  of 
Title  of  Proprietaries  of  West  Jersey.— XII.  Of  the  Partition  Line  between  East 
and  West  Jersey. 

I.  The  success  of  their  experiment  in  West  Jersey,  encouraged  the  Qua- 
kers of  Great  Britain,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity,  that  was  now 
afforded,  in  the  proposition  for  the  sale  of  East  Jersey,  of  enlarging  the 
sphere  of  their  enterprise,  by  the  acquisition  of  that  province.  In  February, 
1682,  William  Penn,  with  eleven  others  of  his  religious  faith,*  purchased 
the  colony  from  the  devisees  of  Sir  George  Carteret.  This  territory,  then, 
contained  about  five  thousand  inhabitants,  the  great  majority  of  whom  were 
not  Quakers.  There  were  populous  settlements  at  Shrewsbury,  Middle- 
town,  upon  the  Raritan  and  Millstone  rivers;  at  Piscataway,  Woodbridge, 
and  Elizabethtown ;  at  Newark,  and  upon  the  banks  of  the  Passaic  and 
Hackensack  rivers ;  at  Bergen,  and  along  the  bay  and  bank  of  the  Hud- 
son. Whether  to  allay  the  jealousy,  with  which,  the  inhabitants  might 
have  regarded  a  government,  wholly  composed  of  men  whose  principles  dif- 
fered greatly  from  their  own,  or  for  the  purpose  of  fortifying  their  interest  at 
court,  by  associating  influential  men  with  their  enterprise,  the  twelve  pur- 
chasers hastened  to  assume  twelve  other  partners,  among  whom  were  the 
Earl  of  Perth,  Chancellor  of  Scotland,  and  Lord  Drummond,  of  Gilston, 
Secretary  of  State  for  that  kingdom.f  In  favour  of  the  twenty-four,  the 
Duke  of  York  executed  his  third  and  last  grant  of  East  Jersey,  14th  March, 

*  The  associates  of  Penn  were  Robert  West,  Thomas  Rudyard,  Samuel  Groome, 
Thomas  Hart,  Richard  Mew,  Thomas  Wilcox,  Ambrose  Rigg,  Hugh  Hartshorne, 
Clement  Plumstead,  Thomas  Cooper,  and  John  Hayward. 

t  The  names  of  the  additional  twelve,  were  James,  Earl  of  Perth,  Sir  George 
M'Kenzie.  John  Drummond,  Robert  Barclay,  David  Barclay,  Robert  Gordon,  Robert 
Burnett,  Peter  Sonmans,  James  Braine,  Gawen  Turner,  Thomas  Nairne,  Thomas 
Cox,  and  William  Dockwra. 

t  From  the  dedication  of  Scott's  model  of  East  Jersey,  it  appears  that  Viscount 
Tarbet  and  Lord  M'Leod,  two  other  powerful  Scotch  nobles,  became,  shortly  after, 
proprietaries.  Sir  George  M'Kenzie,  Lord  Advocate  of  Scotland,  whom  his  cotem- 
poraries  justly  denominated,  the  bloody  M'Kenzie,  was  infamously  distinguished  as 
a  witness  for  the  crown,  on  the  trial  of  Lord  Russell. —  Grahamcs  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii. 
p.  351.  n. 

t  Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  51 

1682,  with  full  powers  of  government.  To  facilitate  the  exercise  of  their 
dominion,  they,  also,  obtained  from  the  King,  a  royal  letter,  addressed  to  the 
governor,  council,  and  inhabitants  of  the  province,  stating,  the  title  of  the 
purchasers  to  the  soil  and  jurisdiction,  and  requiring  due  obedience  to  their 
government.* 

Among  the  new  proprietaries  of  East  Jersey,  was  the  celebrated  Robert 
Barclay,  of  Urie,  a  Scottish  gentleman,  who  had  been  converted  to  Quaker- 
ism, and,  in  defence  of  his  adopted  principles,  had  published  a  series  of 
works,  which  elevated  his  name,  and  his  cause,  in  the  esteem  of  all  Europe. 
Admired  by  scholars  and  philosophers,  for  the  stretch  of  his  learning,  and 
the  strength  and  subtlety  of  his  understanding,  he  was  endeared  to  the  mem- 
bers of  his  religious  fraternity,  by  the  liveliness  of  his  zeal,  the  excellence  of 
his  character,  and  the  services  which  his  pen  had  rendered  to  them.  To  the 
King  and  the  Duke  of  York,  he  was  recommended,  not  less  by  his  distin- 
guished fame,  than  by  the  principles  of  passive  obedience,  professed  by  the 
sect  of  which  he  was  leader ;  and  with  the  royal  brothers,  as  well  as  with 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  of  their  Scottish  favourites  and  ministers,  he 
maintained  a  friendly  and  confidential  intercourse.  Inexplicable,  as  to 
many,  such  a  coalition  of  uncongenial  characters  may  appear,  it  seems,  at 
least,  as  strange  a  moral  phenomenon,  to  behold  Barclay  and  Penn,  the  vo- 
taries of  universal  toleration  and  philanthropy,  voluntarily  associating,  in 
their  labours,  for  the  education  and  happiness  of  an  infant  community,  such 
instruments  as  Lord  Perth,  and  other  abettors  of  royal  tyranny  and  eccle- 
siastical persecution,  in  Scotland.f 

II.  By  the  unanimous  choice  of  his  colleagues,  Robert  Barclay  was  ap- 
pointed, for  life,  first  governor  of  East  Jersey,  under  the  new  proprietary 
administration,  with  dispensation  from  personal  residence,  and  authority  to 
nominate  his  deputy.  The  most  beneficial  event  of  his  presidency,  was  the 
emigration  of  many  of  his  countrymen,  the  Scotch,  to  the  province;  a  mea- 
sure, effected,  it  is  said,  with  much  difficulty  and  importunity.  For,  although 
the  great  bulk  of  the  nation  was  suffering  the  rigours  of  tyranny,  for  their 
resistance  to  the  establishment  of  prelacy,  they  were  reluctant  to  seek  relief 
in  exile  from  their  native  land.  The  influence  of  Barclay  and  other  Scotch 
Quakers,  however,  co-operated  with  the  severities  of  Lord  Perth,  and  the 
other  royal  ministers,  to  induce  many,  particularly,  from  Aberdeen,  the 
governor's  native  county,  to  seek  this  asylum.  In  order  to  instruct  the 
Scotch,  more  generally,  of  the  condition  of  the  colony,  and  to  invite  them  to 
remove  thither,  an  historical  and  statistical  account  of  it  was  published,  with 
a  preliminary  treatise,  combatting  the  prevailing  objection  to  expatriation. 
This  work  was,  probably,  composed,  in  part,  by  Barclay ;  but  was  ascribed 
to  George  Scott,  of  Pitlochie,  and  was  eminently  successful.^  As  a  farther 
recommendation  of  the  province,  to  the  favour  of  the  Scotch,  Barclay,  sub- 
sequently, displaced  Lawrie,  a  Quaker,  whom  he  had  appointed  deputy,  and 
conferred  this  office  on  Lord  Neil  Campbell,  uncle  of  the  Marquis  of  Argyle, 
who  resided  some  time  in  the  province  as  its  lieutenant  governor.^  The 

*  Learning  and  Spicer's  Col.     Grahame,  vol.  ii.  p.  351. 

t  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  354.     See  Appendix,  L. 

t  It  bore  the  title  of  The  Model  of  the  Government  of  the  Province  of  East  New 
Jersey,  in  America,  and  contains  a  minute  account  of  the  climate,  soil,  institutions, 
and  settlements  of  the  province.  See  Appendix,  M. 

§  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  358.  Oldmixon  and  Smith  concur,  in  relating 
that  Lord  Neil  Campbell  succeeded  Barclay  as  governor.  But  this  seems  an  error  of 
Oldmixon,  which  Smith  has  incautiously  copied;  for,  from  a  document,  preserved  by 
Smith  himself,  (p.  196)  Barclay,  in  1688,  as  governor  of  East  Jersey,  subscribed  an 
agreement  of  partition  between  it  and  West  Jersey. 


52  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

more  wealthy  of  -the  Scotch  emigrants,  were  noted  for  bringing  with  them  a 
great  number  of  servants,  and  in  some  instances,  for  transporting  whole 
families  of  poor  labourers,  whom  they  established  on  their  lands,  for  a  term 
of  years,  endowing  them  with  competent  stock,  and  receiving  in  return,  one 
half  of  the  agricultural  produce. 

The  first  Deputy  Governor,  under  Barclay,  was  Thomas  Rudyard,  an 
attorney  of  London,  noted  for  his  assistance  at  the  trial  of  Penn  and  Mead, 
who  arrived  at  his  government,  early  in  1683.  He  was  superseded,  how- 
ever, at  the  close  of  the  year,  by  Gawn  Lawrie,  also  of  London,  who  had 
been  one  of  Byllinge's  trustees,  for  West  Jersey.  The  efforts  of  Rudyard, 
of  Samuel  Groome,  who  was  the  surveyor  of  the  proprietaries,  and  of  Law- 
rie, were  strenuously  directed  to  create  a  city,  at  Amboy  Point ;  a  plan  for 
which,  the  proprietaries  had  published,  with  an  invitation  to  adventurers. 
They  laid  the  ground  out  in  lots,  with  out-lots,  or  small  farms,  appendant  to 
them,  put  up  houses  on  account  of  the  proprietaries,  in  order  to  entice  settlers, 
and  proclaimed  the  advantages  of  its  situation,  in  England  and  America. 
The  town  at  first  called  Ambo,  the  Indian  name  for  point,  received  soon 
after,  the  addition  of  Perth,  in  honour  of  the  Earl,  and  was  thenceforth 
known,  as  Perth  Amboy.  The  endeavours  of  the  proprietaries,  in  this  re- 
spect, were  crowned  with  very  partial  success ;  nor  were  their  equally  ear- 
nest efforts  to  establish  foreign  trade  with  their  city,  more  happy.  New 
York  possessed,  in  her  more  advantageous  position,  and  greater  capital,  the 
means  of  suppressing  all  rivalry,  to  which  her  governors  did  not  hesitate  to  add 
force ;  seizing,  in  the  very  port  of  Amboy,  vessels  engaged  in  foreign  trade, 
carrying  them  to  New  York,  for  adjudication,  upon  alleged  breach  of  com- 
mercial regulations. 

The  new  proprietaries  do  not  appear  to  have  deemed  any  modification  of 
the  civil  polity  of  the  country  necessary.  In  their  description  of  the  pro- 
vince, they  commended  the  concessions  of  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  and  pro- 
mised to  make  such  additions  to  them  as  might  be  found  necessary.  Their 
administration  for  several  years  seems  to  have  been  satisfactory  to  the  in- 
habitants ;  and  with  some  inconsiderable  exception,  the  discord  arising  from 
opposing  titles,  was  stilled. 

III.  But  James  II.,  who  had  now  ascended  the  throne,*  had  little  respect 
for  the  engagements  of  the  Duke  of  York.  Nor  could  his  seeming  friend- 
ship for  Barclay,  nor  the  influence  of  the  Earl  of  Perth,  and  the  other  cour- 
tier proprietors,  deter  him  from  involving  New  Jersey  in  the  design  he  had 
formed  of  annulling  all  the  charters  and  constitutions  of  the  American  colo- 
nies. A  real  or  pretended  complaint  was  preferred  to  the  English  court, 
against  the  inhabitants  of  the  Jerseys,  for  evasion  of  custom-house  duties. 
The  ministers,  eagerly  seizing  this  pretext,  issued  writs  of  quo  warranto^ 
against  both  East  and  West  Jersey ;  and  directed  the  Attorney- General  to 
prosecute  them  with  the  greatest  possible  expedition.  The  reason  assigned 
for  this  proceeding,  was,  the  necessity  of  checking  the  pretended  abuses  "  in 
a  country,  which  ought  to  be  more  dependent  upon  his  majesty."  Aroused 
by  this  blow,  the  proprietaries  of  East  Jersey  presented  a  remonstrance  to 
the  King ;  reminding  him,  that,  they  had  not  received  their  province  as  a 
benevolence,  but  had  purchased  it,  at  the  price  of  many  thousand  pounds,  to 
which  they  had  been  encouraged,  by  his  assurances  of  protection ;  that  they 
had  already  sent  thither  several  hundreds  of  the  people  from  Scotland ;  and 
that,  if  satisfactory,  they  would  propose  to  the  New  Jersey  Assembly,  to 
impose  the  same  taxes  there,  that  were  paid  by  the  people  of  New  York. 
They  entreated,  that  if  any  change  should  be  made  in  the  condition  of  the 

*  On  the  death  of  Charles  IT..  6th  February,  1685. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  53 

provinces,  it  might  be,  by  the  union  of  East  and  West  Jersey,  to  be  ruled  by 
a  governor,  selected  by  the  King  from  the  proprietaries.  But  James  was 
inexorable,  and  gave  to  their  remonstrances  no  other  answer,  than  that  he 
had  resolved  to  unite  the  Jerseys,  New  York,  and  the  New  England  colo- 
nies, in  one  government,  dependent  upon  the  crown,  and  to  be  administered 
by  Andross.  Unable  to  divert  him  from  his  arbitrary  purpose,  the  proprie- 
taries of  East  Jersey,  not  only  abandoned  the  contest,  for  the  privileges  of 
their  people,  but  consented  to  facilitate  the  execution  of  the  King's  designs, 
as  the  price  of  respect,  for  their  interest  in  the  soil.  They  made  a  formal 
surrender  of  their  patent,  which  being  accepted  by  the  King,  the  proceed- 
ings on  the  quo  warranto  were  stayed,  with  regard  both  to  East  and  West 
Jersey.*  Seeing  no  resistance  to  his  will,  the  King  was  less  intent  on  con- 
summating his  acquisition ;  and  while  the  grant  of  the  soil  to  the  proprieta- 
ries, which  was  necessary  for  this  purpose,  still  remained  unexecuted,  the 
completion  of  the  design  was  abruptly  intercepted  by  the  British  revo- 
lution. 

IV.  Upon  the  departure  of  Lord  Neil  Campbell,  from  Jersey,  after  a  few 
months  residence  only,f  Andrew  Hamilton,  Esq.,  a  respectable  Scotch  gen- 
tleman, became  Deputy  Governor;  which  office  he  continued  to  exercise, 
until  June,  1689,  when,  by  his  return  to  Europe,  it  was  vacated,  and  so  re- 
mained, until  his  second  arrival,  in  August,  1692.  During  this  interval, 
there  appears  to  have  been  no  regular  government  in  New  Jersey.  The 
peace  of  the  country  was  preserved,  and  the  prosperity  of  its  inhabitants 
promoted,  by  their  honesty,  sobriety,  and  industry.  In  the  mean  time, 
Robert  Barclay  died ;  ^  having  retained  the  government  in  chief,  during  his 
life.  At  his  death,  this  power  reverted  to  the  proprietaries ;  who  having,  by 
sales  and  subdivisions  of  their  rights,  become  too  numerous,  readily  to  ex- 
press their  will,  some  delay  occurred  in  filling  the  vacancy.  In  March, 
1692,  Andrew  Hamilton,  received  the  commission  of  Governor-in-chief; 
which,  the  proprietaries  were,  nevertheless,  compelled,  very  reluctantly, 
to  revoke  in  March,  1697,  in  consequence  of  a  late  act  of  parliament, 
disabling  all  Scotchmen,  from  serving  in  places  of  public  trust  and  profit, 
and  obliging  all  colonial  proprietors  to  present  their  respective  governors  to 
the  King,  for  his  approbation.  In  his  place,  they  appointed  Jeremiah  Basse, 
who  arrived  in  the  province,  in  May,  1698 ;  but,  who,  though  instructed  by  the 
ministers  of  the  King,  had  not  the  royal  approbation  in  the  form  prescribed, 
nor  it  seems,  the  voice  of  a  majority  of  the  proprietaries.  These  circum- 
stances, added  to  the  hostility  borne  to  the  proprietary  government,  by  such 
of  the  settlers,  as  held  their  lands  by  adverse  title,  occasioned  disobedience 
to  his  authority ;  to  enforce  which,  he  imprisoned  some  of  the  most  turbulent 
malcontents.  This  energetic  measure  served  but  to  increase  the  public  dis- 
satisfaction ;  to  allay  which,  Colonel  Hamilton  was  reappointed,  notwithstand- 
ing the  statute,  which  was  now  construed,  not  to  extend  to  the  provinces, 
and  without  the  royal  sanction.  A  new  pretence  for  disobedience  was 
thus  afforded,  which  was  immediately  seized;  and  a  petition  and  remon- 
strance was  sent,  by  the  disaffected,  to  the  King,  complaining  of  their  griev- 
ances, and  praying  redress.  This  document  betrayed  the  source  of  these 
commotions  to  be  the  claims  of  the  proprietors  to  the  exclusive  possession  of 
the  soil  under  the  Duke  of  York's  grants,  their  demand  of  quit-rents,  and 
repudiation  of  the  title  alleged  to  have  been  derived  from  Indian  grants  and 
the  approbation  of  Colonel  Nicholls,  The  petitioners  close  their  remon- 

*  April,  1688.    Smith,  App.  558,  &c.     Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 

t  From  10th  Oct.  1686,  to  March,  1687.    MSS.  Records,  Secretary's  Office,  Amboy. 
Smith's  Hist.  App.  558. 
t  3d  October,  1690. 


54  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

strance,  with  a  prayer,  that  if  the  rights  of  government  be  in  the  proprieta- 
ries, his  Majesty  would  compel  them  to  commission  for  governor,  some  one 
qualified  by  law,  who,  as  an  indifferent  judge,  might  decide  the  controver- 
sies, between  the  proprietaries  and  the  inhabitants.* 

V.  To  these  causes  of  uneasiness,  another  was  at  this  period  superadded,  af- 
fecting alike,  the  proprietaries  and  the  people,  in  the  renewed  assumption  by 
New  York,  of  supremacy  over  New  Jersey,  manifested  in  an  attempt  to  levy 
taxes  by  law  upon  that  province.     This  effort,  though  encouraged  by  King 
William,  was  as  unsuccessful  as  those  which  had  preceded  it.     The  Crown 
lawyers,  to  whom  the  complaint  of  the  Jersey  proprietors  was  referred,  re- 
ported, that  no  customs  could  be  imposed  on  the  Jerseys,  otherwise,  than  by 
Act  of  Parliament,  or  their  own  assemblies.f 

VI.  At  length,  the  proprietaries  of  East  and  West  Jersey,  embarrassed  by 
their  own  numbers,  and  by  the  searching  and  critical  spirit  of  their  people, 
finding  that  their  seignoral  functions  tended  only  to  disturb  the  peace  of  their 
territories,  and  to  obstruct  their  own  emoluments  from  the  soil,  hearkened  to  an 
overture  from  the  English  ministers,  for  the  surrender  of  their  gubernatorial 
power  to  the  Crown.     They  were  further  induced  to  this  measure,  by  the  de- 
sire to  avoid  a  tedious  and  expensive  lawsuit,  with  which  they  were  threatened: 
the  Lords  of  Trade  having  resolved  to  controvert  their  rights  of  Government 
by  a  trial  at  law,  in  which  they  would  probably  have  taken  the  broad  ground, 
that  the  King  was  not  competent  to  subdivide  and  alienate  the  sovereign 
power.     The  determination  of  the  Lords  on  this  head  had  prevented  the  con- 
firmation of  the  appointment  of  Col.  Hamilton  to  the  office  of  Governor  of 
East  and  West  Jersey,  respectively,  and  such  was  the  confusion  in  the  pro- 
vinces, consequent  upon  this  rejection,  that  many  of  the  proprietaries,  whilst 
professing  their  readiness  to  surrender  the  government  upon  such  terms  and 
conditions  as  were  requisite  for  the  preservation  of  their  properties  and  civil 
interests,  earnestly  prayed  that  Col.  Hamilton  might  be  approved,  until  the 
surrender  could  be  effected.^    But,  whilst  they  seemed  to  make  this  approba- 
tion almost  a  condition  of  their  surrender,  other  proprietaries  refused  to  join 
in  the  petition  to  that  effect,  though  expressing  their  readiness  to  yield  the 
government.     Under  these  circumstances,  the  Lords  of  Trade,  upon  consi- 
deration, that,  the  disorders  into  which  the  province  had  fallen  were  so  great, 
that,  the  public  peace  and  administration  of  justice  was  interrupted  and  violated, 
and  that  no  due  provision  could  be  made  for  the  public  defence,  recommend- 
ed that  his  Majesty  should  appoint  a  Governor  by  his  immediate  commission, 
with  such  instructions  as  might  be  necessary,  for  the  establishment  of  a 
regular  constitution  of  government,  by  a  Governor,  Council,  and  General 
Assembly,  and  other  officers ;  for  securing  to  the  proprietors  and  inhabit- 
ants, their  properties,  and' civil  rights;  and  for  preventing  the  interference 
of  the  Colony  with  the  interests  of  his  Majesty's  other  plantations,  as  the  pro- 
prietary governments  in  America  had  generally  done. 

VII.  The  proprietaries  were  desirous  to  annex  special  conditions  to  their 
surrender,  which  they  inserted  in  several  memorials.     It  was  finally,  however, 
made,  absolutely  and  unrestricted,  by  all  parties  interested  in  both  provinces, 
before  the  privy  council,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1702;  and  Queen  Anne  pro- 
ceeded forthwith  to  reunite  East  and  West  Jersey  into  one  province,  and  to 
commit  its  government,  as  well  as  that  of  New  York,  to  her  kinsman  Edward 
Hyde,  Lord  Cornbury,  grandson  of  the  chancellor,  Earl  of  Clarendon.     The 
commission  and  instructions  which  this  nobleman  received,  formed  the  con- 


Smith's  Hist.  App.  560.  t  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  361. 

Smith's  N.  J.  App.  No.  12, 13, 14. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  55 

stitution  and  government  of  the  province,  until  its  declaration  of  independence. 
The  confidence  of  the  proprietaries  in  the  crown,  exemplified  by  the  uncon- 
ditional surrender,  was  not  misplaced.  The  greater  part  of  the  provisions  they 
were  desirous  to  obtain,  were  inserted  in  the  instructions,  which  were  sub- 
mitted to,  and  approved  by,  them,  before  confirmation  in  council.  Indeed,  so 
much  regard  was  paid  to  their  wishes,  that  they  might  have  nominated  the 
first  governor,  could  they  have  united  on  any  individual.  All  the  measures 
preparatory  to  the  surrender,  had  been  completed  prior  to  the  death  of  King 
William,*'  but  were  not  perfected  until  nearly  a  year  after  that  monarch's 
death,  by  his  successor  Anne. 

The  new  government  was  composed  of  the  governor,  and  twelve  coun- 
sellors, nominated  by  the  crown,  and  an  Assembly,  of  twenty-four  mem- 
bers, to  be  elected  by  the  people,  for  an  indefinite  term,  whose  sessions 
were  to  be  holden,  alternately,  at  Perth  Amboy,  and  Burlington.f  Five,  or 
in  case  of  necessity,  three  members  of  council  made  a  quorum ;  and  they  pos- 
sessed the  right  to  debate  and  vote  on  all  subjects  of  public  concern  brought  be- 
fore them.  Their  number  was  neither  to  be  augmented  nor  diminished,  nor  any 
member  to  be  suspended,  without  sufficient  cause,  when  report  was  to  be  made 
to  the  commissioners  of-trade  and  plantations.  The  Assembly  was  constituted 
of  two  members  from  Amboy,  two  from  Burlington,  two  from  Salem,  and  two 
from  each  of  the  nine  counties,  into  which  the  whole  province  was  then  di- 
vided.:): No  person  was  eligible  to  the  Assembly,  who  did  not  possess  a  free- 
hold in  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  within  the  division  for  which  he  was 
chosen,  or  personal  estate  to  the  value  of  five  hundred  pounds  sterling ;  and 
the  qualification  of  an  elector  was  a  freehold  estate  in  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  or  personal  estate  to  the  value  of  fifty  pounds  sterling.  The  house  was 
to  be  convened  by  the  governor  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  might  require, 
and  to  be  prorogued,  or  dissolved  at  his  pleasure.  The  laws  enacted  by  the 
council  and  Assembly  were  subject  to  the  negative  of  the  governor;  and  when 
passed  by  him,  were  to  be  immediately  transmitted  to  England,  for  confirma- 
tion or  disallowance  by  the  crown.  The  governor  was  empowered  to  suspend 
members  of  council  from  their  functions,  and  to  fill  vacancies  occurring  by 
death;  and  with  consent  of  this  body,! to  constitute  courts  of  law,  but  not  other 
than  those  established,  except  by  royal  order ; '  to  appoint  all  civil  and  military 
officers,  and  to  employ  the  forces  of  the  province  in  hostilities  against  public 
enemies :  He  was  commanded  to  communicate  to  the  Assembly,  the  royal 
desire,  that,  they  would  provide  means,  for  a  competent  salary  to  the  governor, 
to  themselves,  to  the  members  of  councils,  and  for  defraying  all  other  pro- 
vincial expenses:  He  was  empowered,  with  advice  and  consent  of  council, 
to  regulate  salaries  and  fees  of  officers,  and  such  as  were  payable  on  emer- 
gencies :  He  was  directed  to  have  especial  care,  that  God  Almighty  be  de- 
voutly and  duly  served,  the  book  of  common -prayer,  as  by  law  established, 
read  each  Sunday  and  holiday,  and  the  sacrament  administered,  according  to 
the  rights  of  the  church  of  England ;  that  churches  already  built,  should  be 
well  and  orderly  kept;  that  more  should  be  built,  as  the  colony  improved,  and 
that  beside,  a  competent  maintenance  to  be  assigned  to  the  minister  of  each 
orthodox  church,  a  convenient  house  should  be  built  at  the  common  charge, 
for  each  minister,  and  a  competent  proportion  of  land,  granted  him  for  a  glebe, 
and  exercis6  of  his  industry ;  and  that  the  parishes  be  so  limited,  as  should  be 
most  convenient  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  good  work :  He  was  to  per- 
mit liberty  of  conscience  to  all  persons  (except  papists),  so  they  be  contented 

*  March  8, 1701.  t  See  note  N. 

t  Bergen,  Essex,  Somerset,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Burlington,  Gloucester,  Salem, 
Cape  May. 


56  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

with  a  quiet  and  peaceable  enjoyment  thereof,  not  giving  offence  or  scandal 
to  the  government :  and  he  was  vested  with  the  right  of  presentation  to  all 
ecclesiastical  benefices. 

If,  on  the  death  or  absence  of  the  governor,  there  were  no  lieutenant  go- 
vernor commissioned,  the  eldest  counsellor,  nominated  by  the  crown,  exer- 
cised his  powers. 

Quakers  were  declared  to  be  eligible  to  every  office,  and  their  affirmation 
accepted  in  lieu  of  oaths. 

Due  encouragement  was  directed  to  be  given  to  merchants,  and,  particu- 
larly, to  the  Royal  African  Company,  in  England,  lately  established  for  pro- 
secuting the  accursed  slave  trade,  and  special  care  to  be  taken  that  they 
were  duly  paid  for  the  negroes  they  should  import  and  vend  in  the  province. 
Laws  were  also  to  be  enacted,  protecting  the  slave  against  inhuman  severity, 
promoting  his  conversion  to  Christianity,  and  punishing  his  wilful  murder, 
by  death. 

From  the  courts  of  the  province,  where  the  value  in  controversy  exceeded 
one  hundred  pounds,  an  appeal  lay  to  the  governor  in  council,  excluding 
such  members  as  might  have,  previously,  sat  upon  the  cause ;  and  where  the 
value  exceeded  two  hundred  pounds,  the  cause  might  be  carried  before  the 
privy  council  in  England.  And, 

Predicating,  that  great  inconveniences  might  arise  by  the  liberty  of  print- 
ing in  the  province ;  no  printing  press  was  permitted,  nor  any  book  or  other 
matter  allowed  to  be  printed,  without  the  license  of  the  governor. 

The  former  proprietaries  were  confirmed  in  their  rights  to  the  soil  and 
quit-rents,  as  they  had  enjoyed  them  before  the  surrender,  with  power  to 
appoint  their  surveyors,  and  the  exclusive  right  to  purchase  lands  from 
the  Indians. 

The  constitution  thus  framed,  gave  to  New  Jersey,  a  polity  similar  to  that  of 
other  royal  governments  in  America ;  but  it  fell  far  short  of  the  uncontrolled 
political  freedom  enjoyed  under  the  proprietary  concessions.  The  great  and 
essential  principle  of  political  happiness,  the  popular  will,  was  deprived  of  its 
energy,  and  circumscribed  in  its  action,  by  the  subjugation  of  the  Assembly, 
in  the  times  of  its  convention  and  duration  of  its  sessions,  to  the  pleasure 
of  the  governor;  and  by  the  double  veto  of  him  and  the  crown  upon  the 
laws.  The  means  were  thus  created,  not  only  of  marring  the  most  beneficial 
measures,  when  conflicting  with  the  partial  interests  of  the  prince  or  his 
deputy ;  but  when  such  measures  were  indifferent  to  them,  of  selling  their 
approbation  for  selfish  considerations.  When  these  consequences  of  the 
surrender  were  felt,  and  they  were  not  long  delayed,  the  proprietaries  and 
people  contended  by  an  ingenious,  but  alas !  by  a  fallacious  reasoning,  that, 
they  had  reserved,  and  by  the  nature  of  things  were  entitled  to,  the  privi- 
leges of  their  first  and  palmy  state.  Among  these  privileges,  they  enume- 
rated, absolute  religious  freedom ;  exemption  from  every  species  of  imposi- 
tion, not  levied  by  their  Assemblies ;  the  establishment  of  the  judiciary  by  the 
governor,  council,  and  Assembly ;  exemption  from  military  duty  of  those 
conscientiously  scrupulous  against  bearing  arms ;  the  solemnization  of  mar- 
riage, as  of  other  contracts,  in  presence  of  disinterested  witnesses  merely ; 
the  determination  of  all  causes,  civil  and  criminal,  by  jury,  and  in  criminal 
cases,  the  right  of  peremptory  challenge,  to  the  number  of  thirty-five;  and 
the  right  of  the  Assembly  alone,  to  enact  laws,  provided,  they  were  agreea- 
ble to  the  fundamental  laws  of  England,  and  riot  repugnant  to  the  conces- 
sions. Some  of  these  claims  were  so  entirely  incompatible  with  the  right  of 
government,  as  understood  by  the  crown,  that  we  cannot  be  surprised  that 
they  were  disregarded. 

VIII.  The  attractions  which  the  neighbouring  province  of  Pennsylvania, 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  57 

presented  to  the  English  Quakers,  and  the  cessation,  which  the  British  revo- 
lution produced,  of  the  seventies  that  had  driven  so  many  Protestant  dis- 
senters from  both  England  and  Scotland,  undoubtedly,  prevented  the  popula- 
tion of  New  Jersey  from  advancing  with  the  rapidity  which  its  increase,  at 
one  period,  seemed  to  promise.  Yet,  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
the  province  is  said  to  have  contained  twenty  thousand  inhabitants,  of  whom, 
twelve  thousand  belonged  to  East,  and  eight  thousand  to  West,  Jersey.*  It 
is  more  probable,  however,  that  the  total  population  did  not  exceed  fifteen 
thousand ;  the  great  bulk  of  whom,  were  Quakers,  Presbyterians,  and  Ana- 
baptists. There  were  two  Church  of  England  ministers  in  the  province,  but 
their  followers  were  not  sufficiently  numerous  and  wealthy  to  provide  them 
with  churches.  The  militia,  at  this  period,  amounted  to  fourteen  hundred 
men.  This  province,  like  several  others  of  the  continental  colonies,  witnessed 
a  long  subsistence  of  varieties  of  national  character  among  its  inhabitants. 
Patriotic  attachment  and  mutual  convenience,  had,  generally,  induced  the 
emigrants,  from  different  countries,  to  settle  in  distinct  bodies,  whence  their 
peculiar  national  manners  and  customs  were  preserved.  The  Swedes  appear 
to  have  been  less  tenacious  of  these,  than  the  Dutch,  and  to  have  copied, 
very  early,  the  manners  of  the  English.  The  distinction  arising  too,  from 
the  separation  of  the  province  into  governments  and  two  proprietaryships, 
was  long  continued,  and  is  now  scarce  wholly  obliterated.  Yet,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  eastern  and  western  territories,  were  strongly  assimilated  by  the 
habits  of  industry  and  frugality,  common  to  the  Dutch,  the  Scotch,  the  emi- 
grants from  New  England,  and  the  Quakers ;  and  the  prevalence  of  these 
habits,  doubtlessly,  contributed  to  maintain  tranquillity  and  harmony  among 
the  several  races,  which  were  alike  distinguished  by  the  steadiness  and 
ardour  of  their  attachment  to  those  liberal  principles  which  had  been  incor- 
porated with  the  foundations  of  political  society  in  the  province.  Negro 
slavery  was,  unhappily,  established  in  New  Jersey,  though,  at  what  precise 
period,  or  by  what  class  of  planters  it  was  introduced,  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained. In  spite  of  the  royal  patronage  which  this  baneful  system  received, 
it  did  not  become  inextricably  rooted.  Yet  the  Quakers,  here,  as  in  Penn- 
sylvania, became  proprietors  of  slaves ;  but  they  always  treated  them  with 
humanity;  and  so  early  as  the  year  1696,  the  Quakers  of  New  Jersey, 
united  with  their  brethren,  in  Pennsylvania,  in  recommending  to  their  own 
sect,  to  desist  from  the  employment,  or  at  least  from  the  further  importation 
of  slaves.f 

The  trade  of  the  province  was  even  at  this  time  considerable.  Its  exports 
consisted  of  agricultural  produce,  among  which,  mistakenly,  we  think,  rice 
has  been  enumerated,  with  which  it  supplied  the  West  Indian  islands ;  furs, 
skins,  and  a  little  tobacco,  for  the  English  market ;  and  oil,  fish,  and  other 
provisions,  which  were  sent  to  Spain,  Portugal,  and  the  Canary  islands.J 
Burlington,  at  this  time,  gave  promise  of  becoming  a  place  of  considerable 
trade ;  and  the  comfort  and  neatness  of  its  buildings,  are  commended  by 
several  writers  of  this  era.§  It  possessed  a  thriving  manufactory  of  linen 
and  woollen  cloth,  which  was  soon  smothered  by  the  jealous  policy  of  the 
mother  country.  In  1695,  the  governor's  salary,  in  East  Jersey,  was  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds ;  in  West  Jersey,  two  hundred  pounds ;  and  those 
of  other  officers,  at  proportionate  moderate  rates. 

*  Grahame's  Col.  Hist  vol.  ii.  366.     Holmes'  Ann.  vol.  ii.  p.  45,  &c. 

t  Kalm's  Travels,  vol.  i.  and  ii.  Winterbotham,  ii.  279.  Warden,  vol.  ii.  38. 
Clarkson's  History  of  the  Abolition  of  the  Slave  Trade,  vol.  i.  131, 136. 

t  Gab.  Thomas'  Hist,  of  West  N.  J.  13,  33.  Oldmixon,  i.  141.  Blome  celebrated 
the  excellence  of  the  New  Jersey  tobacco. 

§  Thomas.     Blome,  who  wrote  in  1686. 

H 


58  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

IX.  Having  thus  brought  our  history  to  the  termination  of  the  proprietary 
governments,  it  may  be  proper,  before  we  proceed  to  a  narration  of  events, 
under  the  royal  administration,  to  consider  the  condition  of  the  aborigines, 
the  manner  in  which  their  interest  in  the  soil  was  extinguished,  and  the  prin- 
ciples adopted  by  the  proprietaries,  in  disposal  of  their  acquisitions. 

The  strong  are  every  where  masters  of  the  weak.  In  all  ages,  and  with 
all  people,  the  power  to  subdue  has  been  accompanied  with  the  pretension  of 
right.  The  European,  eminently  endowed  with  this  power,  mentally  and 
physically,  over  the  untutored  savage  of  America,  unhesitatingly,  appropri- 
ated to  himself,  all  that  the  latter  possessed,  comprehending  his  labour  and 
his  life.  From  the  first  landing  of  Columbus,  at  Guannahane,  or  San  Salva- 
dor, to  the  present  era,  the  right  by  discovery  has  been  the  right  of  conquest. 
The  ambition  of  princes,  stimulated  by  the  most  sordid  motives,  was  dignified 
by  the  approval  of  grave  and  politic  counsellors,  and  sanctified^by  the  fathers 
of  the  church,  who  in  the  plenitude  of  spiritual  arrogance  assumed,  to  dispose 
of  all  countries : — of  those  inhabited  by  Christians,  because  the  inhabitants,  as 
members  of  the  church,  were  subjects  of  the  supreme  Pontiff — of  other  coun- 
tries, because  the  church  would  be  advanced  by  the  estates  and  services  of 
infidels.  So  long  as  colonization  was  prompted  by  state  policy,  and  was 
effected  by  the  sword,  the  rights  of  the  original  possessors  of  the  soil,  what- 
ever they  may  have  been,  were  wholly  disregarded.  The  most  sacred,  most 
venerated  spots,  endeared  to  their  inhabitants  by  the  long  occupancy  of  them- 
selves and  their  ancestors,  were  seized  with  the  same  ruthless  indifference,  as 
the  untrodden  wild;  and  the  fruits  of  cultivation,  with  the  same  license,  as  the 
spontaneous  productions  of  nature.  All  the  principles  of  property,  growing 
out  of  occupancy  and  manipulation,  which :  society  in  its  simplest  form  must 
recognise,  were  utterly  prostrated,  in  the  subjugation  of  the  newly  discovered 
countiies  of  the  West.  When,  however,  these  countries  were  sought,  not 
with  the  view  of  increasing  regal  power,  or  of  gratifying  the  insatiate  long- 
ings of  avarice,  but  as  an  asylum  against  princely  misrule  and  clerical  tyranny, 
that  justice  which  the  colonist  would  obtain  for  himself,  was  in  a  measure, 
extended  to  the  owner  of  the  soil  he  would  possess.  The  emigrant  did  not, 
perhaps  could  not,  and  ought  not,  divest  himself  of  the  idea  of  right,  ac- 
quired by  discovery  of  sparsely  peopled  land,  to  participate  in  the  occupancy 
of  an  uncultivated  soil,  with  the  indigene,  who  exercised  over  it  the  slightest 
of  all  species  of  appropriation,  that  of  occasional  hunting  upon  it.  But  he  re- 
cognised in  this  occupant  also,  a  right  impeding  that  full  and  separate  property 
which  his  convenience  required,  and  which  his  conscience  forbade  him  to  ex- 
tinguish without  a  colour  of  compensation.  The  requisitions  of  conscience, 
however,  in  these  cases,  were  easily  appeased.  In  some  instances,  perhaps, 
their  very  existence  may  be  attributed  to  the  fears  caused  by  the  fierce,  war- 
like, and  indomitable  character  of  the  North  American  savage.  The  veriest 
trifles  which  could  be  imposed  on  the  ignorance  and  vanity  of  the  native  were 
deemed  adequate  compensation  for  scores  of  miles  of  fertile  lands ;  and  such 
contracts  of  sale,  whose  nature  was  not  comprehended  by  the  vendors,  were 
enforced  by  the  vendees  with  as  much  confidence  in  the  legality  and  equity  of 
their  title,  as  if  a  court  of  chancery  had  passed  upon  the  adequacy  of  the 
consideration. 

It  has  been  erroneously  supposed,  that,  the  first  instance  of  purchase  from 
the  aborigines  of  America,  was  given  by  William  Penn ;  and  modern  histori- 
rians  and  essayists,  delighted  to  contrast  the  humanity  and  justice  of  his  con- 
duct with  the  violence  and  devastation  of  other  European  agents,  have  by  the 
inflation  of  his  deeds,  obscured  and  almost  hidden  the  scarce  inferior  merit 
of  others.  The  Dutch,  Swedes,  and  Fins  on  the  Delaware,  the  English  in 
Massachusetts,  in  New  York,  and  New  Jersey,  had  given  examples  of  this 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  59 

just  and  prudent  policy,  which  Penn  gladly  followed,  but  which  he  dared  not 
reject.  He  has  the  merit  of  conforming  to  this  established  practice,  with  a 
kindness  of  spirit  and  humane  consideration,  which  have  made  an  indelible 
impression  on  the  Indian  race. 

Compared  with  the  value  of  the  lands  acquired,  the  sums  paid  for  them 
were  generally  inconsiderable ;  and  consisted,  but  too  frequently,  of  articles 
of  destructive  luxury,  serving  to  debase  and  destroy  those  who  received  them. 
This  consideration,  small  and  personal  and  perishable  in  its  nature,  was  soon 
consumed ;  leaving  the  vendor,  only,  vain  regrets,  which  frequently  hurried  him 
into  imprudent  and  unjustifiable  hostilities.  Had  it  been  practicable  in  the  early 
period  of  the  intercourse  between  the  whites  and  Indians  of  North  America, 
to  have  adopted  the  annuity  system,  which  has  been,  in  part,  pursued  by  the 
United  States,  the  Indian  race  might,  possibly,  have  been  improved,  en- 
lightened, and  preserved. 

The  Indians  inhabiting  the  country  between  the  great  lakes  and  the 
Roanoke,  belonged,  it  would  seem,  either  to  the  Lenni  Lenape,  or  the  Meng- 
we  nations.  The  former,  known  among  their  derivative  tribes,  also,  by  the 
name  of  the  Wapanachld,  corrupted  by  the  Europeans  into  Opcnnaki,  Ope- 
nagi,  Abenaquis  and  Apenakies,  and  among  the  whites  by  the  name  of 
Delawares,  held  their  principal  seats  upon  the  Delaware  river,  and  were  ac- 
knowledged by  near  forty  tribes  as  their  "grandfathers,"  or  parent  stock. 
They  relate,  that  many  centuries  ago,  their  ancestors  dwelt  far  in  the  western 
wilds:  but  emigrating  eastwardly,  they  arrived  after  many  years  peregrina- 
tion, on  the  NamcBsi  Sipu  (Mississippi),  or  river  offish,  where  they  encoun- 
tered the  Mengwe,  who  had  also  come  from  a  distant  country,  and  had  first 
approached  the  river,  somewhat  nearer  its  source.  The  spies  of  the  Lenape 
reported,  that  the  country  on  the  east  of  the  river  was  inhabited  by  a  power- 
ful nation,  dwelling  in  large  towns,  erected  upon  their  principal  rivers. 

This  people  were  tall  and  robust,  some  of  them  were  said  to  be  even  of 
gigantic  mould.  They  bore  the  name  of  Alligewi,  from  which  has  been 
derived,  that  of  the  Alleghany  river  and  mountains.  Their  towns  were  de- 
fended by  regular  fortifications,  vestiges  of  which  are  yet  apparent,  in  greater 
or  less  preservation.  The  Lenape,  requesting  permission  to  establish  them- 
selves in  the  vicinity,  were  refused ;  but  obtained  leave,  to  pass  the  river,  in 
order  to  seek  a  habitation  farther  to  the  eastward.  But,  whilst  crossing  the 
stream,  the  Alligewi,  alarmed  at  their  number,  assailed  and  destroyed  many 
who  had  reached  the  eastern  shore,  and  threatened  a  like  fate  to  the  remain- 
der, should  they  attempt  the  passage.  Fired  by  this  treachery,  the  Lenape 
eagerly  accepted  a  proposition  from  the  Mengwe,  who  had  hitherto  been 
spectators  of  their  enterprise,  to  unite  with  them,  for  the  conquest  of  the 
country.  A  war  of  great  duration  was  thus  commenced,  which  was  prose- 
cuted with  great  loss  on  both  sides,  and  eventuated  in  the  expulsion  of  the 
Alligewi,  who  fled  from  their  ancient  seats,  by  way  of  the  Mississippi,  never 
to  return.  The  devastated  country  was  apportioned  among  the  conquerors ; 
the  Mengwe  choosing  their  residence,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  great 
lakes,  and  the  Lenape  in  the  lands  of  the  south. 

After  some  years,  during  which,  the  conquerors  lived  together  in  much 
harmony,  the  hunters  of  the  Lenape,  crossed  the  Alleghany  mountains, 
and  discovered  the  great  rivers,  Susquehanna  and  Delaware.  Exploring  the 
Sheyichbi  country  (New  Jersey)  they  reached  the  Hudson,  to  which  they, 
subsequently,  gave  the  name  of  the  Mahicannittvck  river.  Upon  their 
return  to  their  nation,  they  described  the  country  they  had  visited,  as  abound- 
ing in  game,  fruits,  fish,  and  fowl,  and  destitute  of  inhabitants.  Concluding 
this  to  be  the  home  destined  for  them,  by  the  Great  Spirit,  the  tribe  esta- 
blished themselves  upon  the  four  great  rivers,  the  Hudson,  Delaware,  Sus- 


60  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

quehanna,  and  Potomac,  making  the  Delaware,  to  which  they  gave  the  name 
of  the  Lenape  wihittuck,  (the  river  or  stream  of  the  Lenape)  the  centre  of 
their  possessions. 

They  say,  however,  that  all  of  their  nation  who  crossed  the  Mississippi,  did 
not  reach  this  country;  and  that  a  part  remained  west  of  the  Namasi 
Sipu.  They  were  finally  divided  into  three  great  bodies ;  the  larger,  one- 
half  of  the  whole,  settled  on  the  Atlantic ;  the  other  half  was  separated  into 
two  parts ;  the  stronger  continued  beyond  the  Mississippi,  the  other  remained 
on  its  eastern  bank. 

Those  on  the  Atlantic  were  subdivided  into  three  tribes ;  the  Turtle  or 
Unamis,  the  Turkey  or  Unalachtgo,  and  the  Wolf  or  Mind.  The  two 
former  inhabited  the  coast  from  the  Hudson  to  the  Potomac,  settling  in  small 
bodies,  in  towns  and  villages  upon  the  larger  streams,  under  chiefs  subordi- 
nate to  the  great  council  of  the  nation.  The  Minsi,  called  by  the  English, 
Muncys,  the  most  warlike  of  the  three  tribes,  dwelt  in  the  interior,  forming 
a  barrier  between  their  nation  and  the  Mengwe.  They  extended  themselves 
from  the  Minisink,  on  the  Delaware,  where  they  held  their  council  seat,  to 
the  Hudson  on  the  east,  to  the  Susquehanna  on  the  south-west,  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna  rivers  on  the  north,  and  on 
the  south  to  that  range  of  hills  now  known,  in  New  Jersey,  by  the  name 
of  the  Musconetcong,  and  by  that  of  Lehigh  and  Coghnewago,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Many  subordinate  tribes  proceeded  from  these,  who  received  names  either 
from  their  places  of  residence,  or  from  some  accidental  circumstance,  at  the 
time  of  its  occurrence  remarkable,  but  now  forgotten. 

The  Mengwe  hovered  for  some  time  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes,  with  their 
canoes,  in  readiness  to  fly  should  the  Alligewi  return.  Having  grown  bolder, 
and  their  numbers  increasing,  they  stretched  themselves  along  the  St.  Law- 
rence, and  became,  on  the  north,  near  neighbours  to  the  Lenape  tribes. 

The  Mengwe  and  the  Lenape,  in  the  progress  of  time,  became  enemies. 
The  latter  represent  the  former  as  treacherous  and  cruel,  pursuing,  pertina- 
ciously, an  insidious  and  destructive  policy  towards  their  more  generous 
neighbours.  Dreading  the  power  of  the  Lenape,  the  Mengwe  resolved,  by 
involving  them  in  war  with  their  distant  tribes,  to  reduce  their  strength. 
They  committed  murders  upon  the  members  of  one  tribe,  and  induced  the 
injured  party  to  believe  they  were  perpetrated  by  another.  They  stole  into 
the  country  of  the  Delawares,  surprised  them  in  their  hunting  parties, 
slaughtered  the  hunters,  and  escaped  with  the  plunder. 

Each  nation  or  tribe  had  a  particular  mark  upon  its  war  clubs,  which, 
placed  beside  a  murdered  person,  denoted  the  aggressor.  The  Mengwe  perpe- 
trated a  murder  in  the  Cherokee  country,  and  left  with  the  dead  body,  a  war 
club  bearing  the  insignia  of  the  Lenape.  The  Cherokees,  in  revenge,  fell 
suddenly  upon  the  latter,  and  commenced  a  long  and  bloody  war.  The 
treachery  of  the  Mengwe  was  at  length  discovered,  and  the  Delawares  turned 
upon  them  with  the  determination  utterly  to  extirpate  them.  They  were  the 
more  strongly  induced  to  take  this  resolution,  as  the  cannibal  propensities  of 
the  Mengwe  had  reduced  them,  in  the  estimation  of  the  Delawares,  below 
the  rank  of  human  beings.* 

Hitherto,  each  tribe  of  the  Mengwe  had  acted  under  the  direction  of  its 
particular  chiefs ;  and,  although  the  nation  could  not  control  the  conduct  of 
its  members,  it  was  made  responsible  for  their  outrages.  Pressed  by  the 
Lenape,  they  resolved  to  form  a  confederation  which  might  enable  them 

*  The  Iroquois  or  Mengwe  sometimes  ate  the  bodies  of  their  prisoners.— Hecke- 
welder,  ii,  N.  Y.  Hist.  CoT.  55. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  61 

better  to  concentrate  their  force  in  war,  and  to  regulate  their  affairs  in  peace. 
Thammwage,  an  aged  Mohawk,  was  the  projector  of  this  alliance.  Under 
his  auspices,  five  nations,  the  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Onondagoes,  Cayugas,  and 
Senecas,  formed  a  species  of  republic,  governed  by  the  united  counsels  of 
their  aged  and  experienced  chiefs.  To  these  a  sixth  nation,  the  Tuscaroras, 
was  added  in  1712.  This  last,  originally  dwelt  in  the  western  parts  of  North 
Carolina,  but  having  formed  a  deep  and  general  conspiracy,  to  exterminate 
the  whites,  were  driven  from  their  country,  and  adopted  by  the  Iroquois  con- 
federacy.* The  beneficial  effects  of  this  system,  early  displayed  themselves. 
The  Lenape  were  checked,  and  the  Mengwe,  whose  warlike  disposition  soon 
familiarized  them  with  fire  arms,  procured  from  the  Dutch,  were  enabled,  at 
the  same  time,  to  contend  with  them,  to  resist  the  French,  who  now  at- 
tempted the  settlement  of  Canada,  and  to  extend  their  conquests  over  a  large 
portion  of  the  country  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  Mississippi. 

But,  being  pressed  hard  by  their  new,  they  became  desirous  of  reconcilia- 
tion with  their  old,  enemies ;  and,  for  this  purpose,  if  the  tradition  of  the 
Delawares  be  credited,  they  effected  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  strokes 
of  policy  which  history  has  recorded. 

The  mediators  between  the  Indian  nations  at  war,  are  the  women.  The 
men,  however  weary  of  the  contest,  hold  it  cowardly  and  disgraceful  to  seek 
reconciliation.  They  deem  it  inconsistent  in  a  warrior,  to  speak  of  peace  with 
bloody  weapons  in  his  hands.  He  must  maintain  a  determined  courage,  and 
appear,  at  all  times,  as  ready  and  willing  to  fight  as  at  the  commencement 
of  hostilities.  With  such  dispositions,  Indian  wars  would  be  interminable, 
if  the  women  did  not  interfere,  and  persuade  the  combatants  to  bury  the 
hatchet,  and  make  peace  with  each  other. 

Their  prayers  seldom  failed  of  the  desired  effect.  The  function  of  the 
peace  maker  was  honourable  and  dignified,  and  its  assumption  by  a  coura- 
geous and  powerful  nation  could  not  be  inglorious.  This  station  the  Mengwe 
urged  upon  the  Lenape.  "  They  had  reflected,"  they  said,  "  upon  the  state 
of  the  Indian  race,  and  were  convinced  that  no  means  remained  to  preserve 
it,  unless  some  magnanimous  nation  would  assume  the  character  of  the 
WOMAN.  It  could  not  be  given  to  a  weak  and  contemptible  tribe;  such 
would  not  be  listened  to :  but  the  Lenape  and  their  allies,  would  at  once  pos- 
sess influence  and  command  respect." 

The  facts  upon  which  these  arguments  were  founded,  were  known  to  the 
Delawares,  and,  in  a  moment  of  blind  confidence  in  the  sincerity  of  the 
Iroquois,  they  acceded  to  the  proposition,  and  assumed  the  petticoat.  The 
ceremony  of  the  metamorphosis  was  performed  with  great  rejoicings  at  Al- 
bany, in  1617,  in  the  presence  of  the  Dutch,  whom  the  Lenape  charge  with 
having  conspired  with  the  Mengwe  for  their  destruction. 

Having  thus  disarmed  the  Delawares,  the  Iroquois  assumed  over  them 
the  rights  of  protection  and  command.  But,  still  dreading  their  strength, 
they  artfully  involved  them  again  in  war  with  the  Cherokees,  promised  to 
fight  their  battles,  led  them  into  an  ambush  of  their  foes,  and  deserted  them. 
The  Delawares,  at  length,  comprehended  the  treachery  of  their  arch  enemy, 
and  resolved  to  resume  their  arms,  and,  being  still  superior  in  numbers,  to 
crush  them.  But  it  was  too  late.  The  Europeans  were  now  making  their 
way  into  the  country  in  every  direction,  and  gave  ample  employment  to  the 
astonished  Lenape. 

The  Mengwe  deny  these  machinations.  They  aver,  that  they  conquered 
the  Delawares  by  force  of  arms,  and  made  them  a  subject  people.  And, 

*  Smith's  New  York.     Dougl.  Summ. 


62  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

though  it  be  said,  they  are  unable  to  detail  the  circumstances  of  this  con- 
quest, it  is  more  rational  to  suppose  it  true,  than  that  a  brave,  numerous,  and 
warlike  nation  should  have,  voluntarily,  suffered  themselves  to  be  disarmed 
and  enslaved  by  a  shallow  artifice ;  or  that,  discovering  the  fraud  practised 
upon  them,  they  should,  unresistingly,  have  submitted  to  its  consequences. 
This  conquest  was  not  an  empty  acquisition  to  the  Mengwe.  They  claimed 
dominion  over  all  the  lands  occupied  by  the  Delawares,  and,  in  many  in- 
stances, their  claims  were  distinctly  acknowledged.  Parties  of  the  Five 
Nations  occasionally  occupied  the  Lenape  country,  and  wandered  over  it,  at 
all  times,  at  their  pleasure. 

Whatever  credit  may  be  due  to  the  traditions  of  the  Lenape,  relative  to 
their  migration  from  the  west,  there  is  strong  evidence  in  support  of  their 
pretensions  to  be  considered  the  source,  whence  a  great  portion  of  the  In- 
dians of  North  America  was  derived.  They  are  acknowledged  as  the 
"  grandfathers,"  or  the  parent  stock,  of  the  tribes  that  inhabited  the  extensive 
regions  of  Canada,  from  the  coast  of  Labrador  to  the  mouth  of  the  Albany 
river,  which  empties  into  the  southernmost  part  of  Hudson's  Bay,  and  from 
thence  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  the  northernmost  boundary  of  the  United 
States ;  and  also  by  those  who  dwelt  in  that  immense  country,  stretching 
from  Nova  Scotia  to  the  Roanoke,  on  the  sea-coast,  and  bounded  by  the 
Mississippi  on  the  west.  All  these  nations  spoke  dialects  of  the  Lenape  lan- 
guage, affording  the  strongest  presumption  of  their  derivation  from  that 
stock.  The  tribes  of  the  Mengwe,  interspersed  throughout  this  vast  region, 
are,  of  course,  excepted.  They  were,  however,  comparatively,  few  in 
number. 

We  have  no  data  by  which  to  determine  the  number  of  Indians  in  New 
Jersey,  at  the  advent  of  the  Europeans.  It  is  certain  that  it  was  very  in- 
considerable. The  tribes  were  small,  and  scattered  over  the  country ;  and 
consisted  then,  or  soon  after,  of  portions  of  the  Mengwe  and  Lenape  nations. 
These  petty  hordes  were  commonly  distinguished  in  their  intercourse  with 
the  whites,  by  the  names  of  creeks,  or  other  noted  places,  near  which  they 
dwelt.  Thus,  there  were  the  Assunpink,*  the  Rankokas,~\  the  Mingo,  the 
Andastaka;  about  Burlington,  the  Mantas;^  the  Raritans,  the  Navisinks, 
&c.  The  most  noted  nations,  who  occasionally  inhabited  the  province,  and 
claimed  lands  within  it,  were  the  Naraticongs,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Raritan  river ;  the  Capitinasses,  the  Gacheos,  the  Muncys,  or  Minisinks, 
the  Pomptons,  the  Senecas,  the  Maquas,  or  Mohawks,  and  perhaps  others, 
of  the  confederates  of  the  Five  Nations.  These  tribes  were  frequently  at 
war  with  each  other,  and  the  heads  of  their  arrows  and  javelins,  are  even 
now  occasionally  discovered  in  the  battle-fields ;  and  near  the  falls  of  the 
Delaware,  on  the  Jersey  side,  and  at  Point-no-Point,  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
at  other  places,  entrenchments  were  made  against  hostile  incursions.  At 
some  seasons  of  the  year,  the  country,  on  the  sea  shore  was  probably  more 
thickly  covered  by  swarms,  who  crowded  from  the  adjacent  provinces  to 
enjoy  the  pastimes,  and  partake  the  plenty  of  the  fishing  and  fowling  sea- 
sons. And  we  may  conceive,  that  they  were  Mengwe  warriors,  whom 
Hudson  encountered  in  the  Kill-van-Kuhl,  and  the  New  York  Bay. 

From  the  petty  resident  tribes,  purchases  of  the  soil  of  New  Jersey,  were 
from  time  to  time,  made  by  the  Dutch,  the  Swedes,  and  the  English  proprie- 

*  Stony  Creek. 

t  Lamikas,  or  Chichequas,  was  the  proper  Indian  name.  The  Indians  did  not  use 
the  r. 

t  Frogs.  A  creek  or  two,  in  Gloucester  county,  are  called  Manta,  or  Mantua,  from 
a  large  tribe  that  resided  there.  The  tribes  were  probably  of  the  same  stock. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  63 

tors  of  East  and  West  Jersey.  Prior  to  the  conquest  of  New  York,  by 
Nicholls,  it  is  probable,  that  individuals  were  permitted  to  purchase  from 
the  natives,  such  tracts  of  land  as  they  required.  Subsequently  to  that 
event,  a  like  practice  was  for  a  short  time  permitted,  upon  the  express 
license  and  confirmation  of  the  governor.  But  after  the  grant  to  Berkeley 
and  Carteret  was  proclaimed,  no  purchase  from  the  Indians,  other  than  by 
the  general  proprietors,  could  be  deemed  lawful.  These  proprietors,  appear 
to  have  conducted  themselves,  with  much  equity ;  and  for  nearly  a  century 
to  have  maintained,  with  the  remnant  of  the  tribes,  great  cordiality  and 
friendship.* 

When  the  war  of  1756,  unbridled  the  evil  passions  of  the  western  Indians, 
some  of  those  who  had  usually  resided  in  New  Jersey,  ungratefully,  united 
with  the  enemy,  and  probably,  in  the  year  1758,  led  the  way  to  the  massa- 
cres of  a  few  families  on  the  Walpack.  Upon  the  first  evidences  of  Indian 
hostility,  the  legislature  of  New  Jersey  appointed  commissioners  to  examine 
into  the  treatment  of  those  who  dwelt  within  their  boundaries,  with  whom  a 
convention  was  holden,  at  Crosswicks,  in  the  winter  of  1756,  and  they  were 
invited  to  unfold  whatever  grievances  they  might  have.  They  complained 
of  some  impositions,  in  grants  of  lands,  to  individuals,  and  in  their  private 
traffic,  particularly,  when  intoxicated;  of  the  destruction  of  the  deer,  by 
iron  traps ;  and  the  occupation  of  some  small  tracts  of  land,  the  title  to 
which,  they  had  not  sold.  At  the  session  of  1757,  the  Assembly  imposed  a 
penalty  on  persons  selling  them  strong  drink,  so  as  to  intoxicate  them — pro- 
hibited the  setting  of  traps  weighing  more  than  three  pounds — avoided  all 
sales  and  leases  of  land,  made  in  contravention  of  the  laws — and  appropri- 
ated sixteen  hundred  pounds,  to  the  purchase  of  a  general  release  of  Indian 
claims,  in  New  Jersey ;  one-half  to  be  expended  for  a  settlement,  for  such 
Indians  as  resided  south  of  the  Raritan,  where  they  might  dwell,  and  the 
remainder,  to  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  any  latent  claims  of  non- 
residents. At  a  second  convention,  holden  also  at  Crosswicks,  in  February, 
1758,  the  Indians  produced  a  specification  of  their  claims,  appointed  attor- 
neys, to  represent  them  in  future  negotiations,  and  executed  a  formal  release, 
to  all  lands  in  New  Jersey,  other  than  those  in  their  schedule,  and  also  to 
such  of  those  as  might  have  been  before  conveyed ;  excepting  the  claims  of 
the  Minisinks  and  Pomptons,  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  province;  re- 
serving the  right  to  hunt  and  fish,  on  unsettled  lands.f 

*  The  last  purchase  from  the  Indians,  entered  in  the  East  Jersey  Records,  was 
made  by  John  Willocks,  from  the  Indian  Weequehelah,  June  IGth,  1703,  of  a  tract  of 
land,  in  Monmouth  county. — Book  F.  221. 

t  The  Indians  who  retired  to  the  west,  had,  to  one  of  the  messengers,  from  Penn- 
sylvania, complained  of  the  death  of  the  sachem,  Weequehelah ;  but  this  was  a  mere 
pretence,  to  colour  their  attempts  with  the  appearance  of  justice;  as  that  Indian  was 
known  to  have  been  executed  for  actual  murder,  and  to  have  had  a  legal  trial.  He 
was  an  Indian  of  great  note,  among  Christians  and  Indians,  of  the  tribe  that  resided 
about  South  river,  where  he  lived,  with  a  taste  much  above  the  common  rank  of  In- 
dians, having  an  extensive  farm,  cattle,  horses  and  negroes,  and  raised  large  crops  of 
wheat;  and  was  so  far  English  in  his  furniture,  as  to  have  a  house  well  provided  with 
feather  beds,  calico  curtains,  &c.  He  frequently  dined  with  governors  and  great 
men,  and  behaved  well;  but  his  neighbour,  Captain  John  Leonard,  having  purchased 
a  cedar  swamp  of  other  Indians,  to  which  he  laid  claim,  and  Leonard  refusing  to  take 
it  on  his  right,  he  resented  it  highly,  and  threatened  that  he  would  shoot  him;  which 
he  accordingly  took  an  opportunity  of  doing,  in  the  spring,  1728,  while  Leonard  was 
in  the  day  time  walking  in  his  garden,  or  near  his  own  house. — Smith's  New  Jersey, 
pp.  440-441,  n. 

The  commissioners  for  treating  with  the  Indians,  were  Andrew  Johnston,  and 
Richard  Salter,  esquires,  of  the  council ;  and  Charles  Read,  John  Stevens,  William 
Foster,  and  Jacob  Spicer,  esquires.  The  Indians  were,  Teedyuscung,  king  of  the 
Delawares ;  George  Hobayock,  from  the  Susquehannah  ;  Crosswiek  Indians,  Andrew 


64  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1758,  and  after  the  inroads  on  the 
Walpack,  Governor  Bernard,  through  the  medium  of  Teedyuscung,  king  of 
the  Delawares,  summoned  the  Minisink  or  Muncy,  and  the  Pompton  Indians, 
who  had  joined  the  enemy,  to  meet  him  at  Burlington.  Thither,  they  des- 
patched deputies,  who  opened  a  council,  on  the  7th  of  August,  1758,  at 
which  a  Mingo  attended,  who,  exercising  the  right  of  a  conqueror,  declared, 
the  Muncys  to  be  women,  and,  consequently,  unable  to  treat  for  themselves; 
and  proposed  to  adjourn  the  conference,  to  the  council  fire,  about  to  be  lighted 
at  Easton — to  which,  the  governor  readily  acceded.*  The  great  council 
holden  at  this  place,  in  October,  1758,  had  the  general  pacification  of  the 
Indian  tribes,  for  its  chief  object.  A  special  conference  was,  however,  had, 
by  Governor  Bernard,  with  the  chief  of  the  united  nations,  the  Minisinks, 
Wapings,  and  other  tribes,  on  the  18th  of  that  month;  when  he  obtained, 
in  consideration  of  one  thousand  dollars,  a  release  of  the  title  of  all  the  In- 
dians, to  every  portion  of  New  Jersey. 

The  commissioners,  subsequently,  with  the  consent  of  the  Indian  attor- 
neys, purchased  a  tract  of  more  than  three  thousand  acres  of  land,  called 
"  Brotherton,"  in  Burlington  county,  on  Edgepeling  creek,  a  branch  of  the 
Atsion  river,  upon  which,  there  were  a  cedar  swamp,  and  a  saw  mill ;  and 
adjacent,  many  thousand  acres  of  poor,  uninhabited  land,  suitable  for  hunt- 
ing, and  convenient  for  fishing  on  the  sea  shore.  This  property  was  vested 
in  trustees,  for  the  use  of  the  Indians,  resident  south  of  the  Raritan,  so  that 
they  could  neither  sell  nor  lease  any  part  thereof;  and  all  persons,  other  than 
Indians,  were  forbidden  to  settle  thereon.  Soon  after  the  purchase,  they 
were  assisted  by  the  government  to  remove  to  this  spot,  and  to  erect  commo- 
dious buildings.  In  1765,  there  were  about  sixty  persons  seated  here,  and 
twenty  more  at  Weekpink,  on  a  tract  secured,  by  an  English  right,  to  the 
family  of  King  Charles,  an  Indian  sachem.  But  no  measure  has  yet  been 
devised,  to  avert  the  fiat  which  has  gone  forth  against  this  devoted  race. 
This  feeble  remnant  having  obtained  permission  to  sell  their  lands,  in  num- 
ber between  seventy  and  eighty,  removed,  in  1802,  to  a  settlement  on  the 
Oneida  lake,  belonging  to  the  Stockbridge  Indians,  who  had  invited  their 
"  Grandfathers  to  eat  of  their  dish,"  saying,  "  it  was  large  enough  for  both ;" 
and  adding,  with  characteristic  earnestness,  that,  "  they  had  stretched  their 
necks,  in  looking  towards  the  fire-side  of  their  grandfathers,  until  they  were 
as  long  as  those  of  cranes."  The  united  tribes  remained  here  until  1824; 
when  the  encroachments  of  the  whites  induced  them,  with  the  Six  Nations, 
and  the  Muncys,  to  quit  New  Stockbridge,  and  to  purchase  from  the  Meno- 
mees,  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  Fox  river,  between  Winnebagoe  Lake, 
and  Green  Bay,  and  extending  to  Lake  Michigan.  In  1832,  the  New  Jersey 
tribe,  reduced  to  less  than  forty,  applied  by  memorial,  to  the  Legislature  of 
the  State,  setting  forth,  that  they  had  never  conveyed  their  reserved  rights 
of  hunting  and  fishing,  on  unenclosed  lands,  and  had  appointed  an  agent,  to 
transfer  them  on  receipt  of  a  compensation.  This  agent,  a  venerable  chief 

Wooley,  George  Wheelwright,  Peepey,  Joseph  Cuish,  William  Loulax,  Gabriel 
Mitop,  Zeb.  Conchee,  Bill  News,  John  Pembolus;  Mountain  Indians,  Moses  Totamy, 
Philip;  Raritan  Indian,  Tom  Evans;  Ancocus  Indians,  Robert  Kekott,  Jacob  Mullis, 
Samuel  Gosling;  Indians  from  Cranbury,  Thomas  Store,  Stephen  Calvin,  John  Pomp- 
shire.  Benjamin  Glaus,  Joseph  Wooley,  Josiah  Store,  Isaac  Still,  James  Calvin,  Peter 
Calvin,  Dirick  Quaquaw,  Ebenezar  Wooley,  Sarah  Stores,  widow  of  Quaquahela; 
Southern  Indians,  Abraham  Loques,  Isaac  Swanelae.  John  Pompshire,  interpreter. 

*  The  degradation  of  the  Delawares,  or  Lenape,  is  apparent  upon  every  occasion, 
on  which  the  Mengwe  assemble  with  them.  Benjamin,  who  on  this  occasion  replied 
to  Governor  Bernard,  on  behalf  of  the  Muncy  Indians,  held  a  belt  in  his  hand,  but 
spoke  whilst  sitting,  not  being  allowed  to  stand,  until  the  Mingo  had  spoken.— Min. 
of  Treaty.— Smith's  Hist.  JV.  J.  450. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  65 

of  seventy-one  years  of  age,  bore  the  name  of  Bartholomew  S.  Calvin.  He 
had  been  selected  by  J.  Brainerd,  brother  of  the  celebrated  Indian  mission- 
ary, and  placed  at  Princeton  College,  in  1770 ;  where  he  continued,  until 
the  revolutionary  war  cut  off  the  funds  of  the  Scotch  Missionary  Society,  by 
whom  he  was  supported.  He  afterwards  taught  school,  for  a  number  of 
years,  at  Edgepeling,  where  he  had  as  many  white  as  Indian  pupils.  As  all 
legal  claim  of  the  tribe,  was  even  by  its  own  members,  considered  barred  by 
voluntary  abandonment,  the  Legislature  consented  to  grant  remuneration,  as 
an  act  of  voluntary  justice ;  or  rather,  as  a  memorial  of  kindness  and  com- 
passion, to  the  remnant  of  a  once  powerful  and  friendly  people,  occupants 
and  natives  of  the  State,  and  as  a  consummation  of  a  proud  fact,  in  the  his- 
tory of  New  Jersey,  that  every  Indian  claim  to  her  soil,  and  its  franchises 
had  been  acquired  by  fair  and  voluntary  transfer.  By  the  act  of  12th 
of  March,  the  treasurer  was  directed  to  pay  to  the  agent,  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, upon  filing  in  the  secretary's  office,  a  full  relinquishment  of  the  rights 
of  his  tribe. 

In  all  the  measures  of  the  state  for  the  extinction  of  Indian  title,  it  will  be 
observed  that  she  was  moved  by  principles  of  justice,  humanity,  and  sound 
policy.  No  pecuniary  benefit  resulted  directly  to  the  treasury,  as  she  pos- 
sessed, in  her  own  right,  not  a  single  acre  of  the  soil.  This,  by  every  title, 
legal  and  equitable,  was  fully  vested  in  the  proprietaries,  respectively,  of  East 
and  West  Jersey ;  and  we  proceed  to  consider,  concisely,  the  principles  which 
they  adopted  for  its  disposal. 

X.  By  the  several  "  Concessions"  of  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  and  their 
grantees,  the  twenty-four  general  proprietors,  lands  were  given  to  settlers, 
masters,  and  servants,  males  and  females,  in  designated  quantities,  subject  to 
an  annual  quit-rent,  and  the  extinction  of  the  Indian  title.  This  was  the 
common  tenure  until  the  13th  January,  1685,*  and  some  few  instances 
occur  so  late  as  1701.  Lands  thus  granted  were  denominated  "  head  lands." 

The  mode  of  the  grant  was  devised  with  due  regard  to  the  ease  and  safety 
of  the  grantees.  A  warrant  signed  by  the  governor  and  major  part  of  the 
council,  was  directed  to  the  surveyor-general,  commanding  him  to  survey  a 
specific  number  of  acres.  Upon  this  warrant  the  surveyor  endorsed  his  re- 
turn; both  were  recorded  by  the  register,  and  upon  certificate  from  the 
governor  and  council,  he  issued  a  patent,  which  receiving  the  signature  of 
the  governor  and  council,  was,  also,  duly  registered.  A  reservation,  not 
ordinarily  expressed  in  the  patent,  was  made  of  all  mines  of  gold  and 
silver. 

There  was,  however,  another  source  of  legal  title,  to  lands  in  the  province, 
in  the  Swedish  and  Dutch  authorities ;  under  the  latter  of  which,  many  tracts 
were  holden  in  East  and  West  Jersey,  accompanied  with  an  Indian  title, 
obtained  by  the  holders.  Upon  the  English  conquest,  the  principle  was,  im- 
mediately, established,  that  no  Indian  right  could  be  purchased,  except  by 
license  from  the  English  proprietors.  Thus,  that  license  was  required  for 
the  Elizabethtown  tract,  and  was  given  by  Colonel  Nicholls  before,  and  in 
ignorance  of,  the  transfer  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret.  Governor  Philip  Car- 
teret, also,  gave  such  licenses,  but,  always  subject  to  the  "  Concessions," 
which  required  the  purchaser  from  the  Indians,  to  take  a  proper  and  formal 
title  from  the  general  proprietors.  In  such  case,  when  the  Indian  grant 
covered  more  than  the  location  of  the  grantee,  he  was  entitled  to  contribu- 
tion from  all  who  were  benefitted  by  it.  Thus,  when  under  his  license,  the 
Newark  settlers  procured  the  Indian  release  for  more  lands  than  they  had 
appropriated  to  imported  heads  in  1685,  they  claimed,  and  in  1692  received, 

*  Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery.    See  ante,  p.  26. 


66  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

from  the  council  of  proprietors,  a  full  indemnity,  in  the  grant  of  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  more  than  they  were  entitled  to  by  the  Concessions,  for  each 
of  the  original  settlers,  at  a  quit-rent  of  six-pence  sterling  the  hundred,  instead 
of  four  shillings  and  two-pence,  per  annum. 

In  the  year  1680,  governor  Andross,  after  his  usurpation  of  authority  in 
New  Jersey,  encouraged  purchases  from  the  Indians,  in  derogation  of  the 
proprietary  rights.  But  the  Duke  of  York,  on  complaint,  not  only  disowned 
the  acts  of  his  deputy,  but  removed  him  from  office.  Many  of  such  pur- 
chasers, afterwards,  took  title  from  the  proprietors,  in  due  form;  but  the 
danger  of  the  practice,  induced  an  act  of  Assembly,  in  1683,  prohibiting  all 
treaties  with  the  Indians,  without  license  from  the  governor.  During  the 
confusion  resulting  from  the  rival  claims  of  Mr.  Basse  and  Mr.  Hamilton 
to  the  government,  from  1698  to  1702,  this  act  was  disregarded,  and 
purchases  were  made  from  the  natives.  But,  in  1703,  as  soon  as  the  go- 
vernment was  resettled,  another  act  annulled  them,  and  required  the  pos- 
sessor to  take  a  proprietary  title,  within  six  months  from  its  passage.  This 
act,  also,  prescribed  the  method  by  which  the  proprietaries,  themselves,  in- 
dividually, should  obtain  license  to  treat  with  the  natives ;  and  imposed  a 
penalty  of  forty  shillings  per  acre,  upon  every  one  who  should  purchase 
without  license. 

We  have  elsewhere  spoken,  particularly,  of  the  Elizabethtown  purchase.* 
Many  of  the  claimants  under  the  Indian  title,  took  patents  from  the  proprie- 
tors ;  but  others  have  steadfastly  relied  upon  it,  resisting  all  efforts  of  the  pro- 
prietors to  recover  quit-rent,  or  locate  warrants,  and  have  repeatedly  disturbed 
the  public  peace  by  their  violence.  This  pertinacity  has  been  maintained, 
notwithstanding  the  only  plausible  pretence  of  title,  was  in  the  sanction  of 
Governor  Nicholls,  as  the  deputy  of  the  Duke  of  York,  given  after  the  right 
had  passed  from  the  Duke  to  his  grantees,  and  notwithstanding  such  sanction 
was  formally  disavowed  by  the  Duke,  25th  November,  1672.  This  claim 
purchased  for  a  few  pounds,  the  very  payment  of  which  is  uncertain,  covered 
400,000  acres,  between  the  Raritan  and  Passaic  Rivers.  Irregular  Indian 
titles  were  also  set  up  in  Middletown  and  Shrewsbury  townships,  but  were 
early  abandoned ;  the  claimants  taking  patents  from  the  proprietors,  and  re- 
ceiving an  indemnity  for  their  expenditure  in  the  grant  of  500  acres  of  land, 
each.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newark,  also  pertinaciously  claimed  an 
exclusive  right  under  the  Indian  grant,  refusing  to  pay  quit  rents,  and  play- 
ing a  conspicuous  part  in  the  riots  which  were,  from  time  to  time,  excited  by 
efforts  to  enforce  proprietary  rights.  The  adverse  claims  of  the  Newark  peo- 
ple, were,  probably,  settled  by  arbitration  and  acquiescence. f  But  although 
many  suits  have  been  brought  at  law,  and  a  most  ably  drawn  bill,  containing 
the  whole  case  has  been  filed  in  chancery,  the  proprietaries  have  been  unable 
to  obtain  an  effectual  determination  of  the  question  arising  out  of  the  Eliza- 
bethtown pretension.  The  quit  rents  throughout  East  Jersey,  are  due  and 
demandable;  but  the  lapse  of  time,  and  the  division  of  tracts  and  interests 
render  it  impossible  to  collect  them.  In  one  instance,  only,  that  of  the  quit- 
rent  on  the  town  of  Bergen,  of  £15  sterling,  per  annum,  a  commutation  after 
suit  brought,  has  been  made  between  the  tenants  and  proprietors. 

For  a  short  period  after  the  purchase  of  the  province,  by  the  twenty-four 
proprietaries,  the  grant  of  bounty  or  head  lands,  was  continued.  The  pro- 
prietaries soon  after  their  acquisition,  sold  many  small  shares,  to  persons  who 
transported  themselves  and  families  into  the  Eastern  division.  And  they 

*  See  page  27. 

t  See  Appendix  note  O,  for  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  David  Ogden,  esq.,  20th  February, 
1767,  and  see  Phila.  Lib.  No.  1588,  octavo. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  67 

agreed  to  divide  part  of  the  lands  remaining  in  common,  among  themselves 
in  proportion  to  their  rights.  Dividends  were  thus  made  from  time  to  time. 
The  first  consisted  of  10,000  acres  to  each  share,  or  twenty-fourth  part,  and 
to  fractions  of  a  share  in  the  same  proportion.  These  dividends  were  to  be 
located  in  any  place,  not  before  appropriated.  And  to  restrain  the  locations 
within  proper  limits,  a  number  of  the  proprietaries,  resident  in  New  Jersey, 
convened  from  time  to  time  with  the  governor,  to  examine  the  rights  of  the 
respective  claimants,  in  order  to  determine  what  was  due  to  each ;  and  upon  a 
certificate  of  five  of  them,  the  governor  issued  the  proper  warrants  of  survey. 
This  council  first  met  on  the  1 3th  November,  1684.  In  other  respects,  the  mode 
of  location  and  of  obtaining  of  title,  was  similar  to  that  pursued  by  the  first 
proprietaries  under  their  Concessions,  except,  that  in  patents  to  the  proprietors, 
no  quit-rents  were  reserved.  This  mode  continued  until  after  the  surrender 
of  the  government,  and  the  arrival  of  the  first  governor  appointed  by  Queen 
Anne. 

Upon  the  2d  of  December,  1702,  two  further  dividends  having  been  made, 
a  general  order  was  declared,  that  the  surveyor-general  should  survey  to 
each  proprietor  his  proportion  without  further  particular  warrant,  by  which 
the  duty  of  inquiry  into  the  rights  of  each  proprietary,  and  ordering  warrants, 
devolved  upon  that  officer.  At  the  same  time,  a  former  regulation  was  re- 
newed, directing  that  no  survey  should  be  made  to  any  person,  whose  title 
was  not  upon  record  with  the  register;  who  by  means  of  an  account  opened 
with  each  proprietary,  could  certify  the  true  condition  of  his  share. 

The  office  of  register,  which  was  established  by  the  Concessions,  and  was 
always  in  the  nomination  of  the  proprietaries,  was  recognised  by  Act  of  As- 
sembly, 21st  February,  1692.  Upon  the  surrender  of  the  government  to  the 
crown,  it  was  agreed,  that  the  governors  to  be  appointed,  should  be  instruct- 
ed to  procure  from  the  assembly,  such  acts,  whereby  the  right  of  the  pro- 
prietaries to  the  soil  might  be  confirmed  to  them,  together  with  such  quit- 
rents  as  they  had  reserved,  and  that  the  particular  estates  of  all  purchasers, 
claiming  under  the  general  proprietaries,  should  be  also  confirmed  and  settled ; 
and  he  was  required  not  to  permit  any  person,  other  than  such  proprietors 
and  their  agents,  to  purchase  lands  from  the  Indians.  These  instructions  were 
regularly  continued  to  the  respective  governors. 

In  1719,  the  act  for  running,  and  ascertaining  the  division  line  between 
East  and  West  Jersey,  and  other  purposes,  required,  that  the  surveyor-gene- 
ral of  the  respective  divisions,  should  keep  by  themselves,  or  deputies,  a  public 
office  in  the  cities  of  Perth  Amboy  and  Burlington,  respectively,  in  which 
should  be,  carefully,  entered  and  kept,  the  surveys  of  all  lands,  thereafter,  made, 
which  should  be  of  record,  and  plcadable  in  the  courts.  Authority  was  also 
given  to  such  officers,  respectively,  to  collect,  and  preserve  all  muniments  of 
title,  which  might  be  of  general  use  for  proving  the  rights  of  the  proprietaries, 
or  persons  claiming  under  them ;  and  the  officers  were  required  to  give  bond 
to  the  governor  for  the_  use  of  the  proprietors,  in  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
pounds,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  duties. 

As  the  practice  which  now  universally  prevailed,  of  the  proprietaries  or  their 
vendees  laying  their  warrants  wherever  they  could,  or  supposed  they  could, 
find  vacant  lands,  and  as  the  surveys  were  not  regularly  recorded,  many  per- 
sons not  only  surveyed  lands  which  had  been  formally  appropriated,  but  even 
settled  and  improved  them,  and  were  afterwards  ousted.  For  remedy  of  this 
grievance,  the  same  act  provided,  that  all  surveys  theretofore  made,  the  certifi- 
cates of  which  were  in  the  hands  of  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  or  the  neigh- 
bouring province,  which  were  not  within  two  years,  and  such  certificates  as 
were  in  the  hands  of  persons  living  beyond  seas,  which  were  not  within  three 
years,  after  the  publication  of  the  act,  duly  recorded,  either  in  the  recorder's 


68  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 

office,  or  in  the  surveyor-general's  record  of  the  division,  in  which  such  lands 
were  surveyed,  should  be  void ;  and  any  succeeding  survey  duly  made  and 
recorded,  should  be  as  good  and  sufficient,  as  if  no  former  survey  had  been 
made. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  government,  by  which  the  governor  ceased  to 
be  an  officer  of  the  proprietaries,  no  more  patents  could  be  made  under  the 
seal  of  the  province.  The  proprietaries  of  East  Jersey,  observing  that  those 
of  West  Jersey  had  never  used  that  method  for  appropriating  their  dividends, 
but  had  made  all  their  divisions  by  warrants  from  their  council  of  proprieta- 
ries, after  inspection  of  the  right  of  the  claimant  and  survey  thereon  made 
and  certified  by  their  surveyor-general  and  recorded,  resolved  to  adopt  the 
same  form  of  obtaining  their  dividends  in  severally.  And  this  mode,  since 
1703,  has  continued  to  prevail  in  both  East  and  West  Jersey. 

The  council  of  proprietaries  of  East  Jersey,  having  devolved  their  princi- 
pal duties  on  the  surveyor-general,  they,  after  the  surrender,  ceased  to  meet, 
unless  on  special  occasions.  But  finding  this  inattention  prejudicial  to  their 
interests,  a  majority  of  the  general  proprietors,  their  attorneys,  and  agents, 
by  an  instrument,  dated  the  25th  day  of  March,  1725,  agreed,  that,  a  cer- 
tain number  therein  mentioned,  having,  in  their  own  right,  or  by  proxy, 
eight  whole  proprietaries,  should  make  a  council,  with  power  to  appoint  the 
receiver  of  the  quit-rents,  the  register,  and  the  surveyor-general,  declare 
dividends,  examine  claims,  grant  warrants  of  survey,  and,  generally,  to  do 
all  things  requisite  for  the  management  of  proprietary  affairs.  The  council 
commonly  held  two  stated  meetings,  annually,  at  Perth  Amboy,  and  con- 
vened, also,  when  specially  required.  From  1725,  to  the  present  period,  it 
has  continued  to  administer  the  affairs  of  the  proprietaries  of  East  Jersey, 
without  intermission.* 

The  whole  number  of  dividends,  made  by  the  proprietaries  of  East  Jersey, 
are  eleven  of  "good  right"  and  three  of  "pine  right;"  the  first,  amounting 
to  thirty-eight  thousand,  and  the  second,  four  thousand,  acres  to  each  share. 
A  very  great  portion  of  these  rights  have  been  located,  but  the  stock  is  not 
yet  exhausted.  In  Monmouth  there  is  much  vacant  land,  but  it  is  not  valua- 
ble; in  the  northern  counties,  Sussex,  Bergen,  and  Morris,  there  is  little  un- 
appropriated ;  but  in  Middlesex,  Somerset,  and  Essex,  there  is  none  unlo- 
cated.f 

XI.  Soon  after  the  purchase  by  the  West  Jersey  proprietaries,  they  re- 
solved to  divide  their  territory  into  ten  parts  or  precincts,  and  the  whole  into 
one  hundred  shares  or  actions.  To  this  end,  chapter  first  of  the  Conces- 
sions, provided,  that  the  commissioners,  for  the  time  being,  "  should  take 
care  for  the  setting  forth  and  dividing  all  the  lands  of  the  province,  as  were 
already  taken  up,  or  by  themselves  shall  be  taken  up  and  contracted  for, 
with  the  natives,  and  the  said  lands  to  divide  into  one  hundred  parts,  as 
occasion  shall  require ;  that  is  to  say,  for  every  quantity  of  land  that  they 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  lay  out  to  be  planted  and  settled  on,  they  shall  first, 
for  expedition  sake,  divide  the  same  into  ten  equal  parts  or  shares ;  and,  for 
distinction  sake,  mark  in  the  register,  and  upon  some  of  the  trees,  belonging 
to  every  tenth  part,  the  letters  A  B,  and  so  end  at  the  letter  K."  The 

*  Mr.  John  Rutherford  is  now,  or  was  lately,  its  president,  and  James  Parker,  Esq. 
the  register.  To  the  latter  gentleman  I  express  my  obligation,  for  the  readiness  and 
kindness,  with  which  he  has  communicated  much  information  relative  to  the  eastern 
land  office,  and  other  subjects  of  general  interest.  Its  first  president  was  Lewis 
Morris,  afterwards  governor. 

t  Proprietary  rights  of  East  Jersey  have  sold,  since  1797,  generally,  at  about  one 
dollar  the  acre,  wholesale — sometimes  higher,  if  scarce,  before  a  dividend.  The  retail 
price  has  been  about  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  the  acre.  The  value  in  1834,  is  stated 
at  one  dollar,  or  seventy-five  cents  per  the  acre,  in  large  quantities. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  69 

commissioners  were  then  instructed  to  give  preference  to  certain  individuals 
of  the  county  of  York,*  for  themselves  and  friends,  who  were  described,  "  as 
a  considerable  number  of  people,  who  might  speedily  promote  the  planting 
of  the  said  province,"  in  the  choice  of  any  one  of  such  tenths.  Afterwards, 
any  other  person  or  persons,  who  should  go  over  to  inhabit,  and  have  pur- 
chased to  the  number  of  ten  proprietaries,  should  have  liberty  to  make 
choice  of  any  of  the  remaining  parts :  and  all  other  proprietaries  who  should 
go  over  to  settle,  and  could  make  up  amongst  them  the  number  of  ten  pro- 
prietors, might  elect  to  settle  in  any  tenth,  not  before  appropriated.  The 
commissioners  were  empowered  to  see  such  tenth  part,  so  chosen,  laid  out 
and  divided  into  ten  proprietaries,  and  to  allot  the  settlers  so  many  proprie- 
taries out  of  the  same,  as  they  had  order  for.  And  the  commissioners  were 
instructed  to  follow  these  rules,  until  they  should  receive  contrary  directions 
from  the  major  part  of  the  proprietors. 

To  encourage  the  settlement  of  the  province,  the  proprietaries  of  West 
Jersey,  also,  adopted  the  plan  of  granting  head  lands,  as  in  East  Jersey,  with 
some  modification,  of  the  conditions.  Thus — 1.  To  all  persons,  who,  with 
the  consent  of  one  or  more  of  the  proprietaries,  should  transport  themselves 
or  servants  to  the  province,  before  the  1st  April,  1677,  there  were  granted, 
for  his  own  person  and  for  every  able  man  servant,  each,  seventy  acres ;  and 
for  every  weaker  servant,  male  or  female,  exceeding  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  fifty  acres ;  and  to  every  servant,  when  free,  fifty  acres  in  fee :  2.  To 
masters  and  able  servants,  arriving  before  the  1st  of  April,  1678,  fifty 
acres,  and  to  such  weaker  servants,  thirty  acres  ;  and  to  servants,  after  the 
expiration  of  their  service,  thirty  acres :  3.  To  every  freeman,  arriving  in 
the  province  between  the  1st  of  April,  1678,  and  the  1st  of  April,  1679,  with 
an  intention  to  plant,  forty  acres ;  for  every  able  man  servant  the  like  quan- 
tity, and  for  such  weaker  servant,  twenty  acres ;  with  twenty  acres  to  each 
servant  at  the  expiration  of  service :  Upon  lands  of  the  first  class,  there  was 
reserved  an  annual  quit-rent  to  the  proprietor,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to  whom 
the  said  lands  belonged, -of  one  penny  an  acre  for  what  should  be  laid  out  in 
towns,  and  a  half-penny  an  acre,  for  what  should  be  laid  elsewhere ;  the 
rent  to  commence  two  years  after  the  lands  were  laid  out:  upon  lands  of  the 
second  class,  one  penny  farthing,  the  acre,  when  in  towns,  and  three  far- 
things the  acre,  elsewhere :  and  on  lands  of  the  third  class,  one  penny  half- 
penny the  acre,  in  towns,  and  one  penny  the  acre,  elsewhere. 

Lands  so  granted  and  settled,  were  to  be  holden,  on  condition,  that  every 
hundred  acres  should  contain,  at  least,  two  able  men  servants,  or  three  such 
weaker  servants,  and  so  proportionately,  for  a  lesser  or  greater  quantity, 
beside  what  the  master  or  mistress  should  possess,  as  granted  for  his  or  her 
own  person.  On  failure  of  which,  on  notice  to  the  occupant  or  his  assigns, 
three  years  time  was  given  for  completing  the  number  of  servants,  or  for 
the  sale  of  such  portion  of  the  lands,  as  should  not  be  so  peopled.  And,  if, 
within  such  three  years,  the  holder  should  fail  to  provide  such  number  of 
persons,  (unless  the  General  Assembly,  without  respect  to  poverty,  should 
judge  it  to  have  been  impossible,  to  keep  such  number  of  servants),  the 
commissioners,  upon  verdict  and  judgment  of  a  jury  of  the  neighbourhood, 
were  empowered  to  dispose  of  so  much  land,  for  any  term  not  exceeding 
twenty  years,  as  should  not  be  planted  with  the  due  number  of  persons,  to 
some  other,  that  would  plant  the  same ;  reserving  to  the  proprietor  his  rents. 
It  was  further  provided,  that  every  proprietor,  who  should  go  over  in  person, 
and  inhabit,  should  maintain  upon  every  lot  he  should  take  up,  one  person 

*  Thomas  Hutchinson  of  Beverly,  Thomas  Pearson  of  Benwicke,  Joseph  Holmesly 
of  Great,  Kelke,  George  Hutchinson  of  Sheffield,  and  Mahlon  Stacy  of  Hemsworth. 


70  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

for  every  two  hundred  acres.  "  And  all  other  proprietors,  that  do  but*  go 
over  in  person  and  inhabit,  should  keep  upon  every  lot  of  land  that  should 
fall  to  them,  one  person  at  least,  and  if  the  lot  exceed  one  hundred  acres, 
then,  upon  every  hundred  acres,  one  person.  And  upon  neglect,  the  com- 
missioners were  empowered  to  dispose  of  the  lands,  as  in  the  preceding 
case.  This  obligation  for  keeping  servants  upon  lands  was  to  continue  in 
force  for  ten  years,  from  the  date  of  the  Concessions ;  unless  where,  in  case 
of  default,  the  commissioners  had  let  the  lands  for  a  longer  period. 

For  the  regular  laying  out  of  lands,  the  register  having  recorded  a  grant 
from  a  proprietor,  for  any  quantity  of  acres,  made  out  a  certificate  to  the 
surveyor,  or  his  deputy,  enjoining  him,  to  survey  such  quantity,  from  the 
share  of  such  proprietor ;  which  done,  the  surveyor  returned  the  survey  to 
the  register,  and  such  return  was  duly  registered  in  a  book  kept  for  that 
purpose,  and  an  endorsement  of  the  entry  was  made  on  the  back  of  the 
warrant. 

The  commissioners  elected  by  the  Assembly,  in  1681,  prescribed  ad- 
ditional rules  for  the  settlement  of  lands;  by  which,  the  surveyor  was 
required  to  measure  the  front  of  the  river  Delaware,  beginning  at  Assunpink 
Creek,  and  proceeding  thence,  to  Cape  May,  that  the  point  of  the  compass 
might  be  found,  for  running  the  partition  line  between  each  tenth.  Each 
tenth  was  to  have  its  proportion  of  front,  on  the  river,  and  to  run  so  far  back 
into  the  woods,  as  to  give  it  64,000  acres  for  first  settlement,  and  for  sub- 
dividing the  Yorkshire  and  London  two-tenths :  Three  thousand  two  hun- 
dred acres,  were  allowed,  where  the  parties  concerned  pleased  to  choose  it, 
within  their  own  tenth,  to  be  taken  up  in  the  following  manner ;  one-eighth 
part  of  a  proprietary,  and  so  for  smaller  parts,  to  have  their  full  proportion 
of  the  said  land,  in  one  place  (if  they  pleased) ;  and  greater  shares,  not  to 
exceed  five  hundred  acres,  to  one  settlement.  All  lands,  so  taken  up  and 
surveyed,  were  to  be  seated  within  six  months,  after  being  taken  up ;  upon 
penalty,  that  the  choice  and  survey  should  become  void ;  in  which  case,  they 
might  be  taken  up  by  any  other  purchaser,  he  seating  them,  within  one 
month  after  they  should  be  taken  up :  No  person  was  permitted  to  take  up 
lands  on  both  sides  of  a  creek,  for  one  settlement,  unless  for  special  cause  • 
Nor  to  have  more  than  forty  perches  front,  to  the  river  or  navigable  creek, 
for  every  hundred  acres,  except  it  fell  upon  a  point,  so  that  it  could  not  be 
avoided — when  the  commissioners  might  exercise  their  discretion :  All  lands 
were  to  be  laid  out,  on  straight  lines,  that  no  vacancies  should  be  left  between 
tracts,  except  in  special  cases,  to  be  determined  by  the  commissioners :  All 
persons  were  allowed  their  just  proportion  of  meadow,  at  the  discretion  of 
the  same  officers:  Persons  already  settled,  were  at  liberty  to  make  their  set- 
tlements their  choice,  following  the  rules  prescribed :  Every  proprietor  was 
allowed  four  hundred  acres  to  his  proprietary,  and  proportionally  to  lesser 
quantities,  for  town  lot;  over  the  3200  above  mentioned,  which  might  be 
taken  any  where  within  his  own  tenth,  either  within  or  without  the  town 
bounds :  No  person  having  taken  up  a  town  lot,  was  permitted  to  leave  it, 
and  take  a  lot  elsewhere;  nor  could  any  one  take  up  more  land  within  the 
town  bounds,  than  belonged  to  his  town  lot,  by  virtue  of  his  purchase :  No 
person,  not  a  purchaser,  to  whom  town  lot,  or  lots,  were  given,  was  permit- 
ted to  sell  his  lot  of  land,  separate  from  his  house,  on  penalty  of  the  sale 
being  void,  and  the  lot  forfeited  to  the  townx>f  Burlington,  to  be  disposed  of 
therein,  at  the  discretion  of  the  commissioners :  No  person,  thenceforth,  was 
permitted,  to  take  up  any  land  without  special  order,  from  two  or  more 

*  The  word  but  here  is  found  in  Learning  and  Spicer's  Collection,  and  in  Smith's 
History.  Sed  quere  whether  the  word  "not"  ought  not  to  be  substituted. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  71 

commissioners  for  the  time  being:  All  settlements  were  to  be  modified  con- 
formably with  the  preceding  rules :  The  proprietors  in  England,  were  to  be 
notified,  that  it  was  necessary  for  the  speedy  settlement  of  the  province,  and 
all  concerned  therein,  that  there  should  be  allowed  to  each  proprietary  3200 
acres,  for  the  first  choice  (first  dividend);  and  in  case  of  the  arrival  of 
many  adventurers,  who  purchased  no  land  in  England,  the  commissioners 
reserved  the  liberty  to  take  up  as  much  more  land,  as  should  give  to  every 
proprietor,  a  quantity  not  exceeding  5200  acres,  which  had  been  allowed 
for  the  first  settlement  (dividend).  But  that  no  one  should  take  up  any  such 
portion  of  land,  but  as  they  should  settle  it ;  and  after  the  3200  should  have 
been  settled :  All  public  high-ways  were  to  be  laid  out  at  the  discretion  of 
the  commissioners,  through  any  lands,  allowing  the  owners  reasonable  satis- 
faction: All  persons  having  taken  up  lands  within  the  first  and  second  tenth, 
were  required  to  present  their  muniments  of  title,  to  certain  of  the  commis- 
sioners, for  inspection ;  and  persons  thereafter  taking  up  lands,  within  such 
tenth,  were  required  to  declare,  before  such  commissioners,  upon  the  pains  of 
perjury,  that  the  quantity  specified  in  their  respective  deeds,  did  really,  and 
in  good  conscience,  belong  to  them ;  upon  which  such  commissioners  might 
grant  a  warrant  to  the  surveyor,  enjoining  him  to  return  such  warrant  and 
survey,  at  the  next  court,  after  survey,  that  the  same  might  be  registered  by 
order  of  the  court:  The  proprietors  and  purchasers,  within  the  first  and 
second  tenths,  had  liberty  to  take  their  full  proportions,  as  before,  within 
mentioned,  of  the  first  and  second  choice,  provided  they  did  not,  respectively, 
take  up  more  than  five  hundred  acres,  in  one  settlement. 

By  the  subdivision  of  the  proprietys,  it  soon  became  difficult  to  ascertain 
the  sense  of  those  interested;  and  great  detriment  arising  to  the  business  of 
the  province,  it  was  resolved  by  the  proprietors,  on  the  14th  of  February, 

1687,  to  constitute  a  proprietary  council,  consisting  of  eleven  commissioners, 
to  be  annually  elected,  from  among  themselves ;  which  number  was  in  the 
subsequent  year  reduced  to  nine.     These  commissioners  were  empowered  to 
act  and  plead  in  all  such  affairs,  as  should  concern  the  body  of  the  proprie- 
tors, as  fully  and  effectually  as  if  every  proprietor  were  present;  and  two 
shillings  per  day  were  allowed  them  as  a  compensation.     In  November, 

1688,  the  commissioners  gave  the  following  instructions  relative  to  the  ex- 
amination of  deeds,  and  granting  of  warrants,  for  taking  up  of  lands.     1. 
That  no  warrants  should  be  granted,  but  upon  the  production  of  good  deeds, 
authentic  copies,  or  an  extract  of  the  record  of  such  deed,  under  the  regis- 
ter's hand.     2.  That  the  deeds  signed  by  Edward  Byllinge,  only,  before  the 
year  1682,  were  insufficient  to  sustain  warrants.     3.  That  there  should  be  a 
particular  warrant,  for  every  separate  deed  or  particular  purchase.     4.  That 
the  president  of  the  council  should,  from  time  to  time,  grant  warrants  for  the 
commissioners  for  the  taking  up  their  own  lands.    5.  That  warrants,  for  lay- 
ing out  the  lands  of  the  surveyor-general,  should  not  be  directed  to  him,  but 
to  some  other  person,  at  the  discretion  of  the  commissioner,  issuing  the  war- 
rant.    6.  That  every  proprietor  demanding  a  warrant,  should  engage  to  pay 
his  proportionate  share  of  expense  of  the  management  of  the  proprietary  affairs. 

Under  this  council,  the  land  affairs  of  West  Jersey  have  been  administer- 
ed, to  the  present  day.  The  right  to  head  lands,  as  we  have  seen,  ceased 
after  the  first  of  April,  1678.  From  that  period,  all  titles  were  derived  from 
individual  proprietors.  Dividends  were  declared  from  time  to  time,  and 
carried  to  the  credit  of  each  proprietor,  who  was  then  at  liberty  to  locate,  or 
to  sell  unlocated,  the  quantity  appropriated  to  his  share,  wherever  it  could  be 
found  unsurveyed. 

XII.  The  boundary  between  East  and  West  Jersey,  though  of  no  political 
importance,  was  long  a  vexed,  and  still  continues  an  unsettled  question.  The 


72  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

line  of  partition  was  geographically  fixed  by  the  quintipartite  deed,  between 
the  proprietors,  of  the  first  of  July,  1676,  confirmed  by  Act  of  Assembly,  27th 
March,  1719.  But  some  difficulties  occurred,  subsequently,  in  making  the 
partition,  to  the  understanding  of  which,  we  must  take  a  review  of  the  titles  of 
the  respective  proprietors. 

The  patent  from  Charles  I.  to  the  Duke  of  York,  conveyed  all  the  country 
now  within  the  states  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  The  deed  from  the 
Duke  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  extended  New  Jersey,  "  northward  as  far  as 
the  northernmost  branch  of  the  bay,  or  river  Delaware,  which  is  in  41°  40' 
of  latitude,  and  from  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  Hudson's  river  in  41°  of  lati- 
tude." Lord  Berkeley  conveyed  his  undivided  moiety  in  fee  to  Fenwicke,  in 
trust  for  Byllinge,  and  Fenwicke  conveyed  such  moiety  to  Penn,  Lawrie  and 
Lucas,  reserving  a  tenth  to  himself,  which  tenth  he  subsequently  assigned  to 
Eldridge  and  Warner,  who  conveyed  it  to  Penn,  Lawrie,  and  Lucas,  the  better 
to  enable  them,  in  conjunction  with  Byllinge,  to  make  partition  of  the  entire 
province  with  Sir  George  Carteret.  These  parties  by  the  quintipartite  deed, 
after  expressly  declaring,  that,  the  province  extended  northward,  as  far  as  the 
northernmost  branch  of  the  river  Delaware,  which  is  in  41°  40'  latitude,  de- 
termine that  the  line  of  partition  shall  be  a  straight  line  drawn  from  the  most 
northerly  point  or  boundary  on  the  Delaware,  to  the  most  southerly  point  of 
the  East  side  of  Little  Egg  Harbour.  The  confirmation  of  the  Duke  of  York, 
(6th  August,  1680,)  to  the  West  Jersey  proprietor,  and  his  confirmation, 
(14th  March,  1682),  to  the  twenty-four  East  Jersey  proprietors,  recognise 
the  northern  boundary  as  above  described,  and  referring  to  the  quintipartite 
deed,  give  the  limits  accordingly. 

As  the  country  became  populous,  much  uneasiness  was  excited  by  sundry 
fruitless  attempts  for  running  the  partition  line,  and  the  uncertainty  relative  to 
the  point  at  which  the  designated  latitude  would  fall.  For  remedy  whereof, 
the  Act  of  Assembly  of  1719  was  passed.  This,  after  recognizing  the  quin- 
tipartite deed,  and  prescribing  that  a  straight  and  direct  line  from  the  most 
northerly  point  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  northernmost  branch  of  the  river  Dela- 
ware, to  the  most  southerly  point  of  a  beach  on  Egg  Harbour,  should  be  the 
division  line,  appoints  commissioners  to  run  the  line  and  provides,  that,  which 
ever  board  of  proprietors  had  appropriated  lands  of  the  other,  should  give  an 
equivalent  of  lands,  in  satisfaction,  and  that  the  then  settlers  should  be  quieted. 

Pursuant  to  this  act,  and  another  for  establishing  the  boundary  line  with 
the  province  of  New  York,  Governor  Hunter  commissioned  John  Johnstone, 
and  George  Willocks  of  the  eastern  division,  Joseph  Kirkbride,  and  John 
Reading  of  the  western  division,  and  James  Alexander,  surveyor-general  of 
both  divisions,  in  conjunction  with  commissiouers  from  New  York,  to  discover 
and  determine  which  of  the  streams  of  Delaware  is  the  northernmost  branch 
thereof,  and  also  the  place  on  such  branch  that  lies  in  latitude  41°  40'. 
These  commissioners  together  with  Robert  Walter  and  Isaac  Hicks  commis- 
sioners, and  Allain  Jarrat  surveyor  on  the  part  of  New  York,  after  designa- 
ting the  Fishkill  branch,  and  fixing  the  point  of  latitude  in  the  low  land,  in 
the  Indian  town  called  Cosheghton,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  executed  an 
indenture  tripartite,  certifying  the  above  result  of  their  labours.  After  which, 
the  West  Jersey  commissioners  retired,  protesting  that  their  business  was 
completed. 

The  northern  station  point  thus  fixed,  appears  to  have  been  recognised  and 
acquiesced  in  by  both  parties ;  yet  the  division  line  was  not  run  for  many 
years.  But  random  lines  were  made  along  the  whole  distance  of  the  extreme 
points,  that  the  true  line  might  be  marked"  with  the  greater  certainty  and  ease; 
and  such  lines  served  to  regulate  future  surveys. 

The  assigns  of  Carteret  and  Berkeley  were  respectively  entitled  to  a 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  73 

moiety  of  the  province,  and  unacquainted  with  the  true  geography  of  the 
country,  they  imagined  that  the  line  given  in  the  quintipartite  deed,  .would 
nearly  effect  their  intentions;  and  the  idea  of  equality  of  partition  seems  to 
have  prevailed,  until  about  the  year  1687,  when  its  propriety  was  questioned 
by  Dr.  Daniel  Coxe.  Under  this  idea,  in  the  year  1686  an  agreement  was 
made  between  Robert  Barclay,  and  the  proprietors  of  East  Jersey,  and  Ed- 
ward Byllinge,  and  the  proprietors  of  West  Jersey,  for  running  the  partition 
line,  so  as  to  give  "  as  equal  a  division  of  the  province"  as  was  practicable. 
Pursuant  to  which,  Lord  Neil  Campbell,  Governor,  and  captain  Andrew  Ham- 
ilton, and  John  Campbell  of  East  Jersey,  and  John  Skene,  deputy  governor, 
and  Samuel  Jennings  and  others  of  West  Jersey,  all  of  whom  were  proprie- 
tors of  their  respective  divisions,  entered  into  bonds,  to  stand  to  the  award  of 
John  Reed  and  William  Emley,  who  were  appointed  to  determine  the  line, 
and  who  directed  that  it  should  run  from  Little  Egg  Harbour,  N.  N.  W.  and 
fifty  minutes  more  westerly,  which  was  more  than  twelve  degrees  westward 
of  the  quintipartite  line ;  and  was  so  altered,  because  the  umpires  as  well  as 
the  parties  to  the  bonds,  were  better  acquainted  with  the  quantity  of  land  in 
each  division,  than  the  partic3s  to  the  quintipartite  deed.  The  line  so  award- 
ed, was  actually  run  in  the  year  1687,  by  George  Keith,  surveyor-general 
of  East  Jersey,  from  the  south  station  point,  to  the  south  branch  of  the  Rari- 
tan ;  and  now  forms  the  straight  line,  which  in  part,  bounds  the  counties  of 
Burlington,  Monmouth,  Middlesex,  Somerset,  and  Hunterdon.  This  line 
was  deemed  by  the  West  Jersey  proprietors  to  be  too  far  west,  and  was  not 
continued. 

On  September  5,  1688,  Governors  Coxe  and  Barclay,  entered  into  an 
agreement  for  terminating  all  differences  concerning  the  deed  of  partition ; 
stipulating  that  the  line  run  by  Keith,  to  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan, 
should  be  the  bounds,  so  far,  between  the  provinces,  and  directing  the  route 
by  which  that  line  should  be  continued  for  perfecting  the  division.*  But  this 
agreement  was  never  carried  into  effect. 

Subsequent  to  the  determination  of  the  north  station  point,  in  1719,  several 
ineffectual  attempts  were  made  by  the  parties  to  ascertain  the  line.  At  length, 
John  Hamilton,  and  Andrew  Johnstone,  commissioners  under  the  Act  of  1719, 
(the  latter  named  in  1740),  at  the  request  of  the  eastern  proprietors,  in  the 
year  1743,  appointed  John  Lawrence  to  run  the  line,  pursuant  to  the  act  of 
Assembly ;  which  was,  accordingly,  done  in  September  and  October  of  that 
year.  And  this  line,  the  East  Jersey  proprietors  allege,  has  been  frequently 
recognised  by  the  West  Jersey  proprietors,  particularly,  by  the  issue  of  war- 
rants of  relocation  from  the  year  1745,  to  1765,  for  lands  which  were  found 
to  be  east  of  this  line;  by  directions  given  to  survey  and  return  for  the  use 
of  the  proprietors  of  the  fifth  dividend,  the  gore,  or  angle  formed  by  Keith's 
and  Lawrence's  lines ;  by  numerous  surveys  inspected,  approved  and  ordered 
to  be  recorded,  which  are  bounded  by  Lawrence's  line ;  and  by  other  acts  of 
acquiescence,  entered  upon  their  minutes.  To  this  line  of  Lawrence,  the 
East  Jersey  proprietors  still  firmly  adhere. 

The  division  line  between  the  provinces  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  re- 
mained long  unsettled,  by  reason  that  the  latitude  of  forty -one  degrees  on 
Hudson's  river,  was  not  ascertained.  From  the  zealous  and  violent  preten- 
sions of  the  border  inhabitants  in  the  respective  provinces,  such  disorders 
arose,  as  to  demand  the  interposition  of  their  respective  Legislatures ;  and  in 
1764,  acts  were  passed  in  both  provinces,  referring  the  subject  to  the  King. 
His  Majesty  appointed  seven  commissioners,  who,  meeting  at  New  York 
on  the  i8th  July,  1769,  determined  that,  the  boundary  should  be  a  straight 

*  See  Smith's  Hist.  N.  J.  pp.  197, 198. 

K 


74  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  direct  line,  not  from  the  station  point  in  latitude  41°  40',  as  fixed  by  the 
commission  of  1719,  but  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mackhackamack,  at  its 
junction  with  the  Delaware,  in  latitude  41°  21'  37",  to  the  latitude  of  41°  on 
Hudson's  river.  The  controversy  with  New  York,  then,  and  subsequently 
to  the  year  1719,  was  deemed,  only,  to  affect  the  property  of  the  proprietors 
of  East  Jersey, — the  Legislature  rejecting  their  application  to  defray  any 
portion  of  the  expense  of  settling  the  boundary  line;  arid  the  West  Jersey 
proprietors  refusing  to  join  in  their  request ;  alleging  that  their  stations  were 
already  fixed,  and  must  remain. 

The  alteration  of  the  boundary  on  the  Delaware  is  supposed  to  have 
been  produced  by  corrupt  influence  over  the  commissioners ;  who  were  all 
crown  officers,  and  by  the  change,  took  from  the  proprietary  government  of 
New  Jersey,  and  gave  to  the  royal  government  of  New  York,  large  tracts 
of  land,  to  be  granted  at  its  pleasure.  The  effect  of  the  change  was  to  take 
from  the  East  Jersey  proprietors,  near  two  hundred  thousand  acres,  and  to 
produce  a  new  discussion  relative  to  the  partition  between  East  and  West 
Jersey. 

The  new  station  point,  at  the'confluence  of  the  Mackhackamack  with  the 
Delaware,  now  the  most  northerly  point  or  boundary  of  the  province,  on  the 
northernmost  branch  of  the  river  Delaware,  with  a  line  thence  to  the 
station  point,  at  Little  Egg  Harbour,  would  make  a  gore  or  angle  with  Law- 
rence's line,  near  ten  miles  wide  in  the  northern  part,  narrowing  in  propor- 
tion as  it  approached  the  point  of  contact,  and  containing  about  four  hundred 
thousand  acres.  On  the  25th  of  January,  1775,  the  West  Jersey  proprietors 
assuming,  that,  the  new  northern  station  point,  was  the  true  northerly  boun- 
dary of  the  province,  from  which  the  partition  line  should  commence,  and 
altogether  losing  sight  of  the  words  of  the  quintipartite  deed  and  its  depen- 
dencies, which  assigned  the  point  on  the  river,  in  latitude  41°  40'  as  the 
station  point,  petitioned  the  legislature  to  pass  a  law  for  the  final  settlement 
of  the  said  line,  either  in  aid  of  the  act  of  1719,  or  by  the  appointment  of 
commissioners,  out  of  the  neighbouring  province,  for  that  purpose.  This 
petition  was  referred  to  the  succeeding  Legislature.  On  the  first  of  December 
following,  Daniel  Coxe,  president  of  the  board  of  western  proprietors,  re- 
quested leave,  on  their  behalf,  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  the  appointment  of  com- 
missioners for  the  same  purpose,  suggesting  the  acquiescence  of  the  eastern 
proprietors  to  the  mode  proposed,  (which  acquiescence  the  eastern  proprie- 
tors deny).  Leave  was  granted ;  but  the  public  commotions,  which  soon 
after  took  place,  prevented  the  execution  of  the  measure.  In  October,  1782, 
the  application  to  the  Legislature  was  renewed  ,stating  the  object  of  the  west- 
ern proprietors  to  be,  "  a  recompense  in  value  of  lands,  from  the  general 
stock  of  the  eastern  proprietors :  for  which  purpose,"  they  say,  "  they  un- 
derstand and  believe,  it  is  generally  known,  that,  certain  lands,  called  Rama- 
poch,  belonging  to  the  general  stock  of  the  eastern  proprietors,  and  specially 
excepted  in  all  the  warrants  of  the  eastern  proprietors,  were  particularly 
allotted  as  an  equivalent,  in  case  the  event  should  take  place,  which  hath 
since  happened,  of  the  station  point  being  fixed  farther  eastward  than  was 
formerly  expected."  This  allegation  respecting  the  Ramapoch  lands,  the 
eastern  proprietors,  scouted  as  too  void  of  truth  and  foundation  to  need  com- 
ment ;  and  resisting  the  application  to  the  Assembly,  contended,  that  the  sub- 
ject was  a  private  dispute  between  individuals,  which  should  be  decided  by 
the  courts  of  law  or  equity.  The  application  of  the  western  proprietors  was 
rejected  by  the  Assembly,  on  a  vote  of  twenty-one  to  eleven. 

Lawrence's  line  is  now  acquiesced  in,  by  the  greater  part  of  northern 
Jersey;  but  is  yet  disputed  in  Monmouth  county,  and  in  the  region  of  the 
pines,  where,  wider  West  Jersey  rights,  great  destruction  of  timber  is  com- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  75 

mitted.  These  rights  are  sought ;  having,  hitherto,  been  sold  at  a  much  less 
price  than  those  of  East  Jersey.  The  line  run  by  Lawrence,  in  Sussex 
county,  forms  the  boundary  between  Byram  and  Greene,  Newton  and 
Greene,  and  Stillwater,  and  between  Walpack  and  Sandistone  townships; 
crossing  the  Delaware  into  Pennsylvania,  about  fifteen  miles  below  the  pre- 
sent northernmost  point  of  the  state,  it  strikes  the  Delaware  again,  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  near  thirty  miles  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mackhacka- 
mack.* 

*  The  authorities  on  which  the  foregoing  statement  is  made,  are — 1.  The  several 
deeds  cited  : — 2.  The  Act  of  Assembly,  1719: — 3.  The  petitions  of  the  respective  parties 
in  1782: — 4.  The  minutes  in  the  land  offices  of  East  and  West  Jersey: — 5.  Smith's 
History ;  and — 6.  Circular  of  West  Jersey  proprietors,  in  1795.  The  following  statis- 
tical view  is  appended  to  the  petition  of  the  East  Jersey  proprietors,  1782. 

1.  The  angle  or  gore  of  land  which  East  Jersey  lost  in  the  controversy  with  New 
York,  amounts  to  about  210,000  acres.     The  remaining  quantity  of  land  in  New 
Jersey,  being  the  whole  amount  of  the  state,  is  about  4,375,970  acres. 

2.  Therefore  supposing  a  line  was  drawn,  dividing  the  state  into  two  equal  half 
parts,  and  which  would  be  the  line  of  partition  between  East  and  West  Jersey,  each 
division  would  then  contain  about  2,187,985  acres. 

3.  Supposing  Keith's  line  extended  to  Delaware  river,  to  be  the  line  of  partition 
between  East  and  West  Jersey,  the  quantity  of  land  in  East  Jersey  would,  then,  be 
about  2,214,930  acres :  the  quantity  in  West  Jersey  2,161,040  acres.   And  East  Jersey 
would,  then,  contain  53,890  acres  more  than  West  Jersey. 

4.  Supposing  Lawrence's  line  to  be  the  line  of  partition,  the  quantity  of  land  in 
West  Jersey  would,  then,  be  about  2,689,680  acres  :   the  quantity  in  East  Jersey, 
1,686,290  acres.    And  West  Jersey  would,  then,  contain  1,003,390  acres  more  than 
East  Jersey. 

5.  Supposing  a  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  Mackhackamack,  to  the  line  of  partition, 
the  quantity  of  land  in  West  Jersey  would,  then,  be  about  3,119,260  acres :  the  quan- 
tity in  East  Jersey,  1,256,710  acres.    And  West  Jersey  would,  then,  contain  1,862,550 
acres  more  than  East  Jersey. 

6.  The  angle  or  gore  of  land,  between  Keith's  and  Lawrence's  line,  contains  about 
528,640  acres.    The  angle  or  gore  between  Lawrence's  line,  and  a  line  to  be  drawn 
from  the  Mackhackamack  would  contain  about  429,580  acres. 


76  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Comprising  the  Administration  of  Lord  Cornbury,  I.  Arrival  of  Lord  Cornbury — 
Demands  a  large  and  permanent  Salary — being  refused,  dissolves  the  House. — 
II.  A  new  Assembly  chosen— Part  of  its  Members  arbitrarily  excluded— Mea- 
sures of  the  Governor. — III.  Third  Assembly  convened — Determines  to  Petition 
the  Queen,  and  to  Remonstrate  with  the  Governor — Public  Grievances— De- 
livery of  the  Remonstrance,  by  Samuel  Jennings. — IV.  Reply  of  the  Governor. — 
V.  Dispute  on  the  Treasurer's  Accounts.— VI.  The  Governor  refuses  the  Mes- 
sage of  the  Assembly,  which  they  enter  upon  their  Minutes. — VII.  The  West 
Jersey  Proprietors,  in  England,  address  a  Memorial  to  the  Commissioners  of 
Trade  and  Plantations,  against  Cornbury — Address  of  the  Lieutenant- Governor, 
and  Provincial  Council,  to  the  Queen.— VIII.  The  Governor  unable  to  obtain 
the  gratification  of  his  wishes,  by  the  Assembly,  first  prorogues,  and  then 
dissolves  them. — IX.  Offensive  Conduct  of  Lord  Cornbury,  in  his  Government 
of  New  York— His  Character. — X.  Is  reluctantly  removed  by  Queen  Anne — 
Imprisoned  by  his  Creditors. 

I.  Lord  Cornbury  arrived  in  New  Jersey,  in  August,  1703,  and  met  the 
General  Assembly,  at  Amboy,  on  the  10th  of  the  succeeding  November. 
The  House  prepared  several  bills,  but  passed,  at  this  session,  only,  the  act 
prohibiting  the  purchase  of  land  from  the  Indians,  by  any  person  except  the 
proprietaries.    At  the  next  session,  holden  at  Burlington,  in  September,  1704, 
his  lordship  recommended  to  the  Legislature,  to  ascertain  by  law,  the  rights 
of  the  general  proprietors  to  the  soil,  and  to  establish  some  permanent  fund, 
for  the  support  of  the  government.     A  French  privateer  having  committed 
depredations  about  Sandy  Hook,  he,  thence,  took  occasion,  also,  to  require  a 
militia  law,  and  the  erection  of  a  watch-tower,  on  the  Nevisink  Hills.     All 
these  measures  were  beset  with  difficulties.     The  people  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  pay,  as  they  still  are,  small  salaries  to  their  officers,  and  were  little 
disposed  to  gratify  the  wishes  of  his  lordship,  in  this  respect.     Those  who 
claimed  lands  under  Indian  grants,  and  held  adversely  to  the  proprietaries, 
resisted  the  attempt  of  the  latter  to  confirm  their  rights.    And  every  military 
effort  was  repugnant  to  the  consciences  of  a  large  portion  of  the  inhabitants. 
After  a  dilatory  discussion  of  these  embarrassing  topics,  the  House  proposed 
a  revenue  of  thirteen  hundred  pounds,  per  annum,  to  endure  for  three  years. 
But  this  sum,  being  far  short  of  the  governor's  expectation,  he  requiring  two 
thousand  pounds,  per  annum,  for  a  term  of  twenty  years,  was  indignantly 
rejected ;  and  in  the  hope  of  procuring  an  Assembly,  more  complaisant, 
he  dissolved  the  present,  and  hastily  commanded  the  election  of  another 
House. 

II.  The  people,  who,  in  the  very  wantonness  of  freedom,  had  involved 
themselves  in  contentious  strife,  discovered  that  they  had  exchanged  king 
Log  for  king  Stork.     The  precipitate  and  arbitrary  measure  of  the  governor 
was  executed  in  the  spirit  with  which  it  was  conceived.     By  corrupt  efforts, 
a  House  was  obtained,  with  a  large  proportion,  but  not  a  majority,  of  the 
members  devoted  to  the   governor.      To  obtain  the  entire  control  of  this 
body,  his  lordship  resolved,  by  the  advice  of  his  counsellors,  to  exclude  a 
portion  of  its  members,  under  the  false  pretence,  that  they  were  not  qualified 
by  the  requisite  quantity  of  estate.     As  the  representatives  appeared  before 
the  governor  to  take  the  prescribed  oaths,  without  which,  they  could  not 
exercise  their  offices,  he  refused  to  administer  them  to  Thomas  Gardiner, 
Thomas  Lambert,  and  Joshua  Wright,  distinguished  delegates  from  West 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  77 

Jersey,  by  whose  exclusion,  he  obtained  a  majority  of  one,  in  the  House. 
John  Fretwell,  of  Burlington,  was  chosen  speaker,  by  the  casting  vote  of  the 
clerk,  who,  though  nominated  by  the  governor,  was  admitted  by  the  Assem- 
bly, to  use  the  faculty  of  a  member. 

The  House,  thus  constituted,  complimented  his  excellency,  on  conducting 
the  affairs  of  his  government,  "  with  great  diligence,  and  exquisite  manage- 
ment, to  the  admiration  of  his  friends,  and  the  envy  of  his  enemies ;"  and 
granted  him  a  revenue  for  the  support  of  government,  of  two  thousand 
pounds,  for  two  years ;  six  hundred  of  which,  were  given  to  the  lieutenant- 
governor,  Colonel  Ingoldsby.  Several  other  acts  were  passed,  among  which, 
we  find  one  of  amnesty,  for  offences  during  the  late  unsettled  state  of  the 
province,  and  another  establishing  a  militia,  which,  by  its  unnecessary  seve- 
rity, gave  much  disquiet  to  the  Quakers ;  but  no  effort  was  made  to  confirm 
the  proprietary  estates.  Having  obtained  all  that  he  immediately  required, 
the  governor  adjourned  the  House,  in  December,  to  the  succeeding  year, 
with  many  encomiums  on  its  conduct. 

At  the  next  session,  however,  his  power  over  it  had  ceased.  The  rejected 
members,  after  eleven  month's  exclusion,  were  admitted  to  their  seats ;  the 
governor  having  been  forced,  by  very  shame,  to  recognise  their  qualification ; 
which  the  title  deeds  of  their  estates  had  long  before  confirmed,  to  every  dis- 
passionate inquirer.  But  the  most  interesting  object  of  his  lordship,  had 
been  obtained  by  the  settlement  of  the  revenue,  and  he  was  content  that  the 
existing  House  should  continue,  though  he  could  entertain  little  hope  of 
service  from  it,  either  to  himself  or  the  province.  It  convened  again  in  No- 
vember, 1705,  and  October,  1706,  but  did  no  business  at  either  session.* 

III.  When  the  term  of  the  revenue  had  expired,  the  convocation  of  the 
Assembly  was  indispensable  for  its  renewal;  but  it  was  impracticable,  by 
any  means,  to  procure  another  House  like  to  the  last.  Few  of  the  members 
of  that,  which  met  at  Burlington  on  the  5th  of  April,  1707,  were  favourably 
disposed  to  the  governor.  Its  most  active  leaders,  Samuel  Jennings,  the 
speaker,  and  Lewis  Morris,  who  had  been  twice  expelled  the  council,  for  his 
resistance  to  the  governor's  measures,  were  among  the  most  respectable 
and  influential  inhabitants  of  the  province,  intimately  acquainted  with  its 
interests,  and  altogether  adequate  to  sustain  them.  The  House,  therefore, 
soon  after  it  met,  resolved  itself  into  a  committee  of  the  whole,  with  a  clerk 
of  its  own  appointment,  to  consider  of  the  public  grievances ;  of  which  it  de- 
termined to  complain,  by  petition  to  the  Queen,  and  remonstrance  to  the 
governor.* 

In  the  latter,  prepared,  most  probably,  by  Morris,  they  express  their  regret, 
that,  instead  of  granting  to  the  governor  the  revenue  required  from  them,  it 
became  their  duty,  to  lay  before  him  the  unhappy  circumstances  of  the  pro- 
vince, which  they  attributed,  in  some  measure,  to  his  long  and  frequent 
absence  from  his  government.  They  then  proceeded  to  allege — That,  he 
had  obstructed  the  course  of  justice,  by  suspending,  for  years,  the  execution 
of  the  sentence  of  death,  pronounced  against  some  women,  convicted  of 
murder;  and  that  this  delay  "was  not  only  a  very  great  charge,  but  that 
the  blood  of  the  innocents  cried  aloud  for  vengeance — and  just  heaven  would 
not  fail  to  pour  it  down  upon  their  already  miserable  country,  if  the  guilty 
were  not  made  to  suffer  according  to  their  demerits :  That,  in  criminal  cases, 
the  accused  were  condemned  to  the  payment  of  costs,  even  when  no  bill  was 
found :  That,  the  sole  office  for  the  probate  of  wills,  together  with  the  secre- 
tary's office,  were  holden  at  Burlington,  to  the  great  inconvenience  of  the 
inhabitants,  who  dwelt  in  the  remoter  parts  of  the  province :  That  patents 

*  Smith's  New  Jersey,  284.    See  Appendix,  P. 


78  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

for  the  exclusive  carriage  of  goods,  on  the  road  from  Burlington  to  Am- 
boy,  had  been  granted  for  a  term  of  years,  contrary  to  the  statute  of  21 
Jac.  1,  against  monopolies:  That  fees  had  been  established  without  the  au- 
thority of  the  General  Assembly :  And  that  the  governor  had  put  the  re- 
cords of  the  eastern  division  of  the  province  into  the  hands  of  one,  the  pre- 
tended agent  of  the  proprietors,*  who  did  not  reside  in  the  province.  Some 
of  these  grievances  were  certainly  of  a  character  to  rouse  public  indignation, 
whilst  others  were,  probably,  more  the  result  of  circumstances,  which  would 
have  been  removed  by  the  Legislative  power,  as  they  were  offered  for  con- 
sideration. 

But  there  were  other  grievances,  which  the  Assembly  deemed  of  higher 
nature,  and  attended  with  worse  consequences.  Such  were — the  prohibition 
to  the  council  of  proprietors,  to  issue  warrants  for  land  in  West  Jersey, 
and  other  unauthorised  interferences  with  proprietary  rights — the  exclusion  of 
the  three  members  from  the  last  House — and  the  corruption  of  the  governor 
in  receiving  large  sums  of  money  for  the  dissolution  of  the  first  Assembly,  in 
order  that  no  act  should  be  passed  to  compel  the  payment  of  proprietary  quit- 
rents,  and  to  obtain  such  officers  as  the  contributors  should  approve.  "  This 
House,"  continues  the  remonstrance,  "  has  great  reason  to  believe,  that  the 
money  so  gathered,  was  given  to  Lord  Cornbury,  and  did  induce  him  to  dis- 
solve the  then  Assembly,  and  by  his  own  authority  to  keep  three  members 
out  of  the  next  Assembly,  and  put  so  many  mean  and  mercenary  men  in 
office ;  by  which  corrupt  practice,  men  of  the  best  estates  are  severely  ha- 
rassed, her  Majesty's  good  subjects  in  this  province,  so  impoverished,  that 
they  are  not  able  to  give  that  support  to  her  Majesty's  government,  as  is  de- 
sired, or  as  they  would  be  otherwise  inclined  to : — And  we  cannot  but  be 
very  uneasy,  when  we  find  by  these  new  methods  of  government,  our  liber- 
ties and  properties  so  much  shaken,  that  no  man  can  say  he  is  master  of 
either,  but  holds  as  tenant  by  courtesy  and  at  will,  and  may  be  stripped  of 
them  at  pleasure.  Liberty  is  too  valuable  a  thing  to  be  easily  parted  with, 
and  when  such  mean  inducements  procure  such  violent  endeavours  to  tear  it 
from  us,  we  must  take  leave  to  say,  they  have  neither  heads,  hearts,  nor 
souls,  that  are  not  moved  by  the  miseries  of  their  country,  and  are  not  for- 
ward with  their  utmost  power,  lawfully  to  redress  them." 

"  We  conclude  by  advising  the  governor  to  consider  what  it  is,  that  princi- 
pally engages  the  affections  of  a  people,  and  he  will  find  no  other  artifice  need- 
ful, than  to  let  them  be  unmolested  in  the  enjoyment  of  what  belongs  to  them 
of  right ;  and  a  wise  man  that  despiseth  not  his  own  happiness,  will  earnestly 
labour  to  regain  their  love." 

This  free  and  unceremonious  remonstrance  lost  nothing  of  its  force,  in  the 
delivery  by  speaker  Jennings.  In  vain  did  his  lordship  attempt  to  awe  his 
constant  and  spirited  temper,  by  assumed  airs  of  greatness,  and  by  repeated 
interruption,  with  the  cry  of  stop!  whafs  that?  as  the  most  offensive 
passages  were  read  to  him.  Jennings,  with  an  affectation  of  deep  humility, 
whenever  interrupted,  calmly  desired  leave  to  read  the  passages  again ;  to  all 
of  which,  he  gave  additional  emphasis,  so  that  the  second  reading  was  greatly 
more  offensive  than  the  first.f 

IV.  The  indignation  of  the  governor,  at  this  remonstrance,  is  strongly  pour- 
trayed,  in  a  long  circumstantial,  but  not  very  successful,  reply ;  in  which  he 
denied  the  truth  of  some  of  its  charges,  and  sought  to  justify  the  others.  On 
the  dread,  expressed  by  the  house,  of  divine  vengeance  for  punishments  delayed, 

*  Peter  Sonmans. 

t  When  the  House  had  retired,  Cornbury,  with  some  emotion,  says  the  historian 
Smith,  told  those  with  him,  that  Jennings  had  impudence  enough  to  face  the  devil. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  79 

he  remarked;  "  I  am  of  opinion,  that  nothing  has  hindered  the  vengeance  of 
just  heaven,  from  falling  upon  this  province  long  ago,  but  the  infinite  mercy, 
goodness,  long-suffering,  and  forbearance  of  Almighty  God,  who  has  been 
abundantly  provoked  by  the  repeated  crying  sins  of  a  perverse  generation 
among  us ;  and  more  especially,  by  the  dangerous  and  abominable  doctrines, 
and  the  wicked  lives  and  practices  of  a  number  of  people ;  some  of  whom, 
under  the  pretended  name  of  Christians,  have  dared  to  deny  the  very  es- 
sence and  being  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world."  The  practice  of  extorting  fees 
from  the  accused  against  whom  no  bill  was  found,  he  defended  on  the  ground 
of  established,  custom ;  admitting,  however,  that  if  the  juries  of  the  country 
were  such  as  they  ought  to  be,  a  different  rule  might  be  proper. 

"But,"  he  continues,  "we  find  from  woeful  experience,  that  there  are 
many  men,  who  have  been  admitted  to  serve  upon  grand  and  special  juries, 
who  have  convinced  the  world,  that  they  have  no  regard  for  the  oaths  they 
take;  especially  among  a  sort  of  people,  who,  under  a  pretence  of  conscience, 
refuse  to  take  an  oath:  and  yet,  who,  under  the  cloak  of  a  very  solemn  affirm- 
ation, dare  to  commit  the  greatest  enormities,  especially,  if  it  be  to  serve  a 
"  friend,"  as  they  call  him ;  these  are  the  designing  men,  and  the  vindictive 
tempers  of  which  all  the  Queen's  good  subjects  ought  to  beware,  and  be  pro- 
tected from ;  and  these  are  the  crying  sins  which  will  undoubtedly  draw  down 
the  vengeance  of  just  heaven  upon  this  province  and  people,  if  not  timely  and 
seriously  repented  of." 

In  considering  the  more  heinous  charge  of  corruption,  the  truth  of  which 
he  peremptorily  denies,  his  lordship  demands ;  "  who  would  not,  after  such 
assertions,  expect  to  see  the  governor  proved  guilty,  either  of  treason  or  be- 
traying the  trust  reposed  in  him,  by  the  Queen,  by  depriving  the  subjects  of 
their  lives,  their  estates,  or  their  properties ;  or,  at  least,  denying  them  justice, 
and  perverting  the  laws  to  their  oppression?  These,  or  the  like  crimes, 
manifestly  proved,  are  the  only  things  that  can  justify  men  in  the  accusing  a 
governor  of  corrupt  practice,  arid  of  shaking  the  liberties  anq1  properties  of 
the  people.  But  if  none  of  these  things  can  be  proven,  but  on  the  contrary, 
it  does  appear  plainly,  that  no  one  act  of  severity,  much  less  of  injustice  or 
oppression,  has  been  done,  since  the  government  of  this  province  come  under 
the  Queen,  but  there  has  been  an  impartial,  just,  and  equal  administration  of 
justice  observed  throughout  the  whole  course  of  my  government,  and  that 
many  acts  of  mercy  have  been  extended  to  persons  who  deserved  to  be  se- 
verely punished ;  then  what  sort  of  creatures  must  these  bold  accusers  appear 
to  be,  in  the  eyes  of  all  impartial  and  judicious  men?  That  these  are  truths 
beyond  all  contradiction,  and  which  all  the  people  of  this  province  know,  I 
do  challenge  you,  and  every  one  of  you,  to  prove  to  the  contrary.  And 
though,  I  know  very  well,  that  there  are  several  unquiet  spirits,  in  the  pro- 
vince, who  will  never  be  content  to  live  quiet,  under  any  government,  but 
their  own ;  and  not  long  under  that  neither,  as  appears  by  their  methods  of 
proceeding,  when  the  government  was  in  the  hands  of  the  proprietaries, 
when  many  of  these  very  men,  who  are  now  the  remonstrancers,  were  in 
authority,  and  used  the  most  arbitrary  and  illegal  methods  of  proceeding, 
over  their  fellow  subjects,  that  were  ever  heard  of;  yet,  I  am  satisfied,  there 
are  very  few  men  in  the  province,  except  Samuel  Jennings  and  Lewis  Morris, 
men  known,  neither  to  have  good  principles,  nor  good  morals,  who  have 
ventured  to  accuse  a  governor  of  such  crimes,  without  any  proof  to  make 
out  their  accusation;  but  they  arc  capable  of  any  thing  but  good." 

V.  New  fuel  was  added  to  this  flame,  already  unextinguishable,  by  a  dispute 
relative  to  the  accounts  of  Peter  Fauconier,  the  provincial  treasurer.  In  the 
examination  of  which  the  House  found  several  objectionable  items,  paid  upon 
the  governor's  order,  merely,  and  without  vouchers,  which  the  treasurer  re- 


80  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

fused  to  render  without  the  governor's  commands.  Upon  application  for 
these,  his  lordship  replied,  that,  he  had  already  ordered  them;  therein  ex- 
ceeding his  powers ;  inasmuch  as  the  Lord  High  Treasurer  had  appointed  an 
auditor-general,  for  the  province,  who  had  deputed  one  to  settle  the  accounts 
of  the  provincial  treasurer ;  he  being  responsible  only  to  the  Lord  High 
Treasurer.  His  lordship  proffered  to  explain  any  articles  with  which  the 
Assembly  were  dissatisfied;  but  this,  they  very  properly,  declined,  as  they 
would  have  sanctioned  the  preposterous  claim  of  irresponsibility  of  the  pro- 
vincial treasurer  to  a  provincial  Assembly,  for  the  funds  of  the  province, 
and  would  have  placed  them  still  more  at  the  mercy  of  their  extortionate 
rulers. 

VI.  In  the  temper  which  now  prevailed  among  the  officers  of  the  state, 
there  was  no  prospect  of  joint  and  beneficial  labours;  and  the  governor, 
probably,  dreading  a  caustic  rejoinder  to  his  reply,  prorogued  the  House  on 
the  16th,  to  meet  in  the  following  September,  at  Amboy.  A  subsequent 
order  convened  them  in  October,  when  they  resolved  to  answer  the  go- 
vernor's replication,  and  to  raise  no  money  unless  their  grievances  were 
redressed ;  in  which  case,  they  proposed  to  grant,  for  the  support  of  govern- 
ment, fifteen  hundred  pounds.  On  the  28th,  they  informed  the  governor, 
that  having  seen  his  reply  in  print,  they  were  disposed  to  answer  it,  and 
requested  to  know,  when  they  might  present  their  rejoinder.  He  promised 
to  receive  them  in  due  time ;  but  having  waited  for  his  message  until  next 
day,  and  then  concluding  that  he  purposed  to  elude  their  request,  they  sent 
a  committee  with  their  message,  which,  he  refusing  to  receive,  they  caused 
to  be  entered  on  their  journal. 

In  this  address  the  House  reiterated  and  amplified  their  former  complaints, 
and  spared  no  opportunity  to  give  to  his  excellency  the  retort  courteous. 
From  the  following  examples,  the  reader  will,  probably,  agree  with  us,  that, 
their  shafts  were  keen,  if  not  polished.  "  It  is,"  say  they,  "  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  province  of  New  Jersey,  that  complains,  and  not  the  Qua- 
kers, with  whose  persons  (considered  as  Quakers)  or  meetings  we  have 
nothing  to  do ;  nor  are  we  concerned  in  what  your  excellency  says  against 
them ;  they,  perhaps,  will  think  themselves  obliged  to  vindicate  their  meet- 
ings, from  the  aspersions  which  your  excellency,  so  liberally,  bestows  upon 
them,  and  evince  to  the  world  how  void  of  rashness  and  inconsideration  your 
excellency's  expressions  are,  and  how  becoming  it  is,  for  the  governor  of  a 
province,  to  enter  the  lists  of  controversy,  with  a  people  who  thought  them- 
selves entitled  to  his  protection,  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  religious  liberties  ; 
those  of  them  who  are  members  of  this  House  have  begged  leave,  in  behalf 
of  themselves  and  their  friends,  to  tell  the  governor  they  must  answer  him  in 
the  words  of  Nehemiah  to  Sanballat,  contained  in  the  eighth  verse  of  the 
sixth  chapter  of  Nehemiah;  viz.  There  is  no  such  things  done  as  thou  sayestt 
but  thoufeignest  them  out  of  thine  own  heart" 

In  reply  to  the  governor's  boast,  of  the  purity  of  his  administration,  they 
ask,  "  are  not  his  Majesty's  loyal  subjects  hauled  to  gaols,  and  there  lie 
without  being  admitted  to  bail  ?  And  those  that  are,"  they  continue,  "  is  not 
the  condition  of  the  recognizances,  that,  if  your  excellency  approves  not  of 
their  being  bailed,  they  shall  return  to  their  prisons  ?  Are  not  several  of  her 
Majesty's  good  subjects  forced  to  abscond,  and  leave  their  habitations,  being 
threatened  with  imprisonment,  and  having  no  hopes  of  receiving  the  benefit  of 
the  law,  when  your  excellency's  absolute  will  is  the  sole  measure  of  it  ?  Has 
not  one  minister  of  the  Church  of  England,  been  dragged  by  a  sheriff,  from 
Burlington  to  Amboy,  and  there  kept  in  custody,  without  assigning  any  rea- 
son for  it,  and  at  last  hauled  by  force  into  a  boat,  by  your  excellency,  and 
transported,  like  a  malefactor,  into  another  government,  and  there  kept  in  a 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  81 

garrison,  a  prisoner ;  and  no  reason  assigned  for  it,  but  your  excellency's 
pleasure?  Has  not  another  minister  of  the  Church  of  England  been  laid 
under  the  necessity  of  leaving  the  province,  from  the  reasonable  apprehen- 
sion of  the  same  treatment  1  Is  any  order  of  men,  either  sacred  or  civil, 
secure  in  their  lives,  their  liberties,  or  estates?  Where  these  procedures  will 
end,  God  only  knows." 

"  If  these,  and  what  we  have  named  before,  be  acts  of  mercy,  gentleness, 
and  good  nature — if  this  be  the  administering  laws,  for  the  protection  and 
preservation  of  her  majesty's  subjects,  then  have  we  been  the  most  mistaken 
men  in  the  world,  and  have  had  the  falsest  notion  of  things ; — calling  that 
cruelty,  oppression  and  injustice,  which  is  their  direct  opposite,  and  those 
things,  slavery,  imprisonments,  and  hardships,  which  are  freedom,  liberty, 
and  ease;  and  must  henceforth  take  France,  Denmark,  the  Muscovian, 
Ottoman,  and  Eastern  empires,  to  be  the  best  models  of  gentle  and  happy 
government." 

VII.  Beside  these  measures  of  resistance,  in  the  province,  to  the  usurped 
authority  and  irregular  proceedings  of  the  governor,  the  West  Jersey  pro- 
prietors, residing  in  England,  addressed  a  memorial  condemnatory  of  his 
conduct,  to  the  lords  commissioners  of  trade  and  plantations ;  in  which,  they 
exposed  at  length,  the  evils  resulting  from  his  interference  with  their  lands. 
The  governor  sought  to  repel  these  attacks,  by  an  address,  from  the  lieuten- 
ant-governor, and  his  council,  to  the  Queen.  After  partially  stating  the 
dissentions  in  the  province,  they  added,  "  We  are  now  obliged  humbly  to 
represent  to  your  majesty,  the  true  cause ;  which,  we  conceive,  may  lead  to 
the  remedy  of  these  confusions." 

"  The  first,  is  owing  to  the  turbulent,  factious,  uneasy,  and  disloyal  prin- 
ciples of  two  men  in  the  Assembly,  Mr.  Lewis  Morris,  and  Samuel  Jennings, 
a  Quaker;  men  notoriously  known  to  be  uneasy  under  air  government — 
men  never  known  to  be  consistent  with  themselves — men  to  whom  all  the 
factions  and  confusions  in  the  government  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania, 
for  many  years,  are  wholly  owing — men  that  have  had  the  confidence  to 
declare,  in  open  council,  that  your  majesty's  instructions  to  your  governors, 
in  these  provinces,  shall  not  oblige  or  bind  them,  nor  will  they  be  concluded 
by  them,  further  than  they  are  warranted  by  the  law,  of  which,  also,  they 
will  be  the  judges;  and  this  is  done  by  them,  (as  we  have  all  the  reason  in 
the  world  to  believe,)  to  encourage,  not  only  this  government,  but  also  the 
rest  of  your  governments  in  America,  to  throw  off  your  majesty's  royal  pre- 
rogative, and,  consequently,  to  involve  all  your  dominions,  in  this  part  of  the 
world,  and  the  honest,  good,  and  well-meaning  people  in  them,  in  confusion ; 
hoping,  thereby,  to  obtain  their  wicked  purposes. 

"  The  remedy  for  all  these  evils,  we  most  humbly  purpose,  is — that  your 
majesty  will  most  graciously  please  to  discountenance  those  wicked,  design- 
ing men,  and  show  some  dislike  to  this  Assembly's  proceedings ;  who  are 
resolved,  neither  to  support  this  your  majesty's  government,  by  a  revenue, 
nor  take  care  to  defend  it,  by  settling  a  militia.  The  last  libel,  called  '  The 
Reply,  &c.'  came  out  so  suddenly,  that  as  yet,  we  have  not  had  time  to 
answer  it  in  all  its  particulars ;  but  do  assure  your  majesty,  it  is  for  the  most 
part,  false  in  fact ;  and  in  that  part  of  it  which  carries  any  face  of  truth,  they 
have  been  malicious  and  unjust  in  not  mentioning  the  whole  truth;  which 
would  have  fully  justified  my  Lord  Cornbury's  just  conduct."* 

It  might  be  questionable  at  the  present  day,  whether  the  lieutenant- 
governor,  and  his  council,  did  not  design  to  betray  the  cause  they  seemed  to 
defend,  when  they  charged  it  as  a  crime  upon  the  citizens  of  a  government 

*  See  Appendix,  Q.,  for  names  of  Council. 


82  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  laws,  that  they  preferred  the  laws,  as  they  understood  them,  to  the  in- 
structions of  the  Queen,  and  would  obey  the  latter,  so  far  only,  as  they  were 
consistent  with  the  former.  But  we  have,  here,  only,  an  additional  instance 
of  the  subserviency,  which  the  love  of  power  and  place,  every  where  pro- 
duces. It  is  the  law  of  society,  if  not  of  nature,  that  men  should  strengthen 
the  hand  that  feeds  them.  And  ordinary  men,  like  the  beast  of  the  stall, 
lick  the  hand  that  fattens  them,  even  for  the  shambles.  The  dispenser  of 
official  favours,  whether  he  be  a  prince  or  a  president,  will  always  find 
minions,  ever  ready  to  maintain  his  prerogative  above  the  law,  and  we  are, 
therefore,  not  surprised,  that  such  hoped  for  protection,  from  a  daughter  of 
James  the  Second. 

VIII.  Two  days  after  Lord  Cornbury  had  refused  to  receive  the  Address 
of  the  Assembly,  he  prorogued  that  body,  to  the  spring  of  the  ensuing  year ; 
and  thus  avoided  the  necessity  of  a  defence,  which  he  found  difficult  to  sustain. 
The  house  met  in  Burlington,  on  the  5th  of  May,  1708;  and  in  the  illness  of 
Jennings,  their  former  speaker,  named  Thomas  Gordon  to  that  office.*     The 
governor  addressed  them  with  the  customary  speech;  to  which,  they  replied, 
by  repetition  of  former  grievances,  and  recounting  of  new  ones.     Perceiving 
that  nothing  could  be  obtained,  without  the  abandonment  of  the  ground  he 
had  taken,  he  adjourned  them,  until  September,  to  meet  at  Amboy ;  and  in 
the  interval,  dissolved  them. 

IX.  In  his  government  of  New  York,  the  conduct  of  Lord  Cornbury 
was,  if  possible,  more  offensive  to  the  people,  than  in  New  Jersey ;  and  had 
been  productive  of  like  results,  universal  dissatisfaction  of  the  people,  and 
entire  suspension  of  legislative  action.     His  character  is  described  as  a  com- 
pound of  bigotry  and  intolerance,  rapacity  and  prodigality,  voluptuousness, 
and  cruelty,  and  the  loftiest  arrogance,  with  the  meanest  chicane.     Whether 
from  real  difference  in  sentiment,  or  from  a  policy,  which  in  those  days  was 
not  uncommon,  whilst  his  father  adhered  to  James,  the  son  attached  himself 
to  king  William,  and  was  among  the  first  officers  who  deserted  to  him,  on 
his  landing  at  Torbay.     Having  dissipated  his  substance  in  riot  and  de- 
bauchery, and  being  obliged  to  fly  from  his  creditors,  in  England,  he  obtain- 
ed from  his  patron,  the  government  of  New  York,  which  was  confirmed  by 
his  kinswoman,  Queen  Anne,  who  added  the  government  of  New  Jersey. 
He  first  excited  the  odium  of  the  people  of  the  former  province,  by  the  into- 
lerance he  exercised  against  the  Presbyterians,  and  every  other  religious 
sect,  except  the  protestant  Episcopalians.     Though  the  great  body  of  the  in- 
habitants, including  the  principal  families  of  the  province,  were  of  the  former 
persuasion,  he  prohibited  their  ministers  from  preaching  without  a  license 
from  himself;  implying,  that  they  officiated  not  of  right,  but  by  his  indulgence. 
He,  in  one  instance,  fraudulently  seized  upon  their  church  property,  and 
delivered  it  to  the  Episcopal  party;  in  another,  he  indicted  two  ministers 
from  Virginia,  who  preached  without  license,  for  a  misdemeanor ;  but  his 
malice  was  defeated,  by  the  independence  of  the  jury,  who  refused  to  con- 
vict.    In  every  part  of  the  province,  he  tendered  his  assistance  to  the  Epis- 
copalians, to  possess  them  of  the  churches,  which  other  sects  had  built. 
Happily,  his  conduct  in  other  departments  of  his  government,  by  uniting  all 
parties  against  him,  soon  deprived  him  of  the  power  of  instigating  one  por- 
tion of  society  to  harass  or  oppress  the  rest.     Not  content  with  the  liberal 
grants  which  the  Assembly  had  made  him,  for  his  private  use,  he  embezzled 
large  sums  appropriated  to  the  erection  of  public  works,  and  unable  to  sub- 
sist on  his  lawful  emoluments,  even  with  the  addition  of  enormous  pillage, 
he  contracted  debts,  with  every  tradesman  who  would  trust  him,  and  set  his 

*  See  Appendix,  R. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  88 

creditors  at  defiance,  by  means  of  his  official  station.  The  Assembly 
proposed,  in  vain,  to  establish  a  body  of  functionaries,  to  control  the  public 
expenditure,  and  to  account  to  themselves ;  and,  with  as  little  success,  did 
they  transmit  remonstrances,  against  him,  to  the  Queen.*  The  only  imme- 
diate result  of  the  latter,  was  some  private  instructions  to  the  governor.  The 
proposition,  to  control  the  public  disbursements,  was  rejected;  and,  when 
they  insisted  on  a  scrutiny  of  his  accounts,  he  warned  them  not  to  provoke 
him,  to  exert  "  certain  powers  entrusted  to  him  by  the  Queen,  and  to  trouble 
him  less  about  the  rights  of  the  House ;  as  the  House  possessed  no  rights, 
other  than  the  grace  and  good  pleasure  of  her  Majesty,  suffered  it  to  enjoy." 
By  such  declaration,  and  a  line  of  policy  strictly  conformable  therewith,  he 
alienated  all  his  adherents ;  and  when  he  dissolved  one  Assembly,  for  its  at- 
tention to  the  public  interest,  he  was  unable  to  convoke  another  of  different 
character.  At  length  the  Assemblies  refused  to  vote  the  smallest  supply  for 
the  public  service,  until  he  should  account  for  all  his  past  receipts  and  appli- 
cations of  public  money,  and  perform  the  impossible  condition  of  refunding 
the  sums  he  had  embezzled.  His  dissolute  habits  and  ignoble  tastes  and 
manners,  completed  and  embittered  the  disgust  with  which  he  was,  now,  uni- 
versally regarded ;  and  when  he  was  seen  rambling  abroad  in  the  dress  of  a 
woman,  the  people  beheld  with  indignation  and  shame,  the  representative  of 
their  sovereign  and  ruler  of  their  country,  f 

X.  At  length  Queen  Anne  was  compelled,  in  the  year  1709,  by  the  reite- 
rated and  unanimous  complaints  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  to  supersede 
his  commission.  No  sooner  was  he  deprived  of  office  than  his  creditors 
threw  him  into  prison.  And  thus  degraded  from  an  honourable  station,  by 
his  public  crimes,  and  deprived  of  liberty  by  his  private  vice  and  dishonesty, 
this  kinsman  of  his  Queen,  remained  a  prisoner,  for  debt,  in  the  province  he 
had  governed,  till  the  death  of  his  father,  elevating  him  to  the  peerage,  enti- 
tled him  to  liberation.  He  then  returned  to  Europe,  and  died  in  the  year 
17234 

*  See  Appendix,  S.,  for  resolutions  of  the  Assembly  of  New  York, 
t  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  302.     Smith's  New  York. 

t  Smith's  New  York,  144,  145,  146,  164.  Grahame's  Col.  Hist.  306.  Biograph, 
Brit. 


84  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Comprising  Events  from  the  Removal  of  Lord  Cornbury  to  the  Close  of  the  Administra- 
tion of  Governor  Hunter— 1709-1719. — I.  Lord  Cornbury  succeeded  by  Lord 
Lovelace — His  conciliatory  Address  to  the  Assembly. — II.  Ready  disposition  of  the 
House  to  provide  for  the  Support  of  Government — Change  in  the  Constitution  of 
the  Assembly — Assembly  obtain  a  Copy  of  the  Address  of  the  Lieutenant  Governor 
and  Council,  to  the  Queen,  in  favour  of  Lord  Cornbury — Demand  a  hearing  for 
their  Defence  before  the  Governor. — III.  Death  of  Lord  Lovelace  and  Accession 
of  Lieutenant  Governor  Ingoldsby. — IV.  Promptitude  of  the  Province  to  aid  in 
reducing  the  French  Possessions  in  North  America. — V.  Failure  of  the  Expedi- 
tion, and  renewed  Efforts  of  the  Colonists  to  revive  it— Visit  of  the  Chiefs  of  the 
Five  Nations  to  England. — VI.  Capture  of  Port  Royal.  &c.  by  Colonel  Nicholson 
and  the  American  Forces. — VII.  Governor  Ingoldsby  removed — Government 
administered  by  William  Pinhorne  as  President  of  Council — succeeded  by  Go- 
vernor Hunter. — VIII.  Biographical  Notice  of  Governor  Hunter.— IX.  Meets 
the  Assembly,  which  prefersT  Charges  against  Members  of  Council. — X.  Expul- 
sion of  a  Member  of  the  House  for  his  Conduct  in  Council — Address  to  the 
Queen. — XI.  Bills  proposed  for  the  relief  of  the  Quakers  defeated  by  the  Coun- 
cil.— XII.  New  Efforts  for  the  Conquest  of  the  French  Provinces — Unfortunate 
Result. — XIII.  Continued  quiet  of  the  Province. — XIV.  Division  of  the  Assem- 
bly.— XV.  Governor  Hunter  returns  to  Europe — Testimonials  in  his  favour  by 
New  Jersey  and  New  York — Exchanges  his  Commission  with  William  Burnet. 

I.  Lord  Cornbury  was  succeeded  in  his  governments  of  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  by  John,  Lord  Lovelace,  Baron  of  Hurley,  who  met  the  council 
of  the  latter  province,  at  Bergen,  December  20th,  1708,  and  a  new  Assem- 
bly, at  Perth  Amboy,  in  the  following  spring. 

The  principles  which  directed  his  administration,  were  the  converse  of 
those  of  his  predecessor.  He  had  more  confidence  in  the  melting  power  of 
kindness  and  respect,  than  in  that  of  haughtiness  and  reserve ;  in  the  influ- 
ence of  justice  and  frankness,  than  in  force  and  fraud,  to  bend  the  people  to 
his  wishes.  His  address  to  the  House  was  full  of  conciliation.  He  assured 
them,  "  that  he  would  not  give  them  any  just  cause  of  uneasiness  under  his 
administration,  and  hoped  they  would  bear  with  one  another ;  and  that  past 
differences  and  animosities  would  be  buried  in  oblivion,  and  the  peace  and 
welfare  of  the  country,  only,  would  be  pursued  by  each  individual."  On 
the  subject  of  the  support  of  government  and  the  establishment  of  a  militia, 
the  contrast  is  striking  between  his  course  and  that  of  the  infatuated  Corn- 
bury.  Instead  of  peremptorily  demanding  a  large  and  fixed  annual  sum, 
payable  for  a  long  period;  he  observed,  that  "her  Majesty  would  not  be  bur- 
densome to  her  people ;  but  there  being  an  absolute  necessity,  that  govern- 
ment be  supported,  he  was  directed  to  recommend  that  matter  to  their  consi- 
deration ;  that  they  knew  best  what  the  province  could  conveniently  raise 
for  its  support,  and  the  easiest  methods  of  raising  it ;  that  the  making  a  law 
for  putting  the  militia  on  a  better  footing  than  it  at  present  stood,  with  as 
much  ease  to  the  people  as  possible,  required  their  consideration ;  that  he 
should  always  be  ready  to  give  his  assent  to  whatever  laws  they  found  ne- 
cessary for  promoting  religion  and  virtue,  for  the  encouragement  of  trade 
and  industry,  and  discouragement  of  vice  and  profaneness,  and  for  any  other 
matter  or  thing,  relating  to  the  good  of  the  province." 

II.  These  liberal  and  favourable  sentiments  were  reciprocated  by  the 
House;  they  passed  a  bill,  appropriating  a  sum  exceeding  seventeen  hun- 
dred pounds,  for  the  support  of  government;    an  act  for  settling  the  mi- 
litia of  the  province ;  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of  the  post-office;  and 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  «5 

an  act  for  explaining  grants  and  patents,  for  land,  in  the  eastern  division  of 
the  province.  They,  also,  availed  themselves  of  the  present  opportunity  of 
changing  the  constitution  of  the  General  Assembly,  giving  to  it  a  more  aris- 
tocratical  essence,  than  it  received  from  the  royal  instructions.  The  latter 
required,  that,  the  House  should  consist  of  two  members  elected  by  the 
householders  and  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of  Amboy,  Burlington,  and 
Salem,  respectively,  and  five  members,  chosen  by  the  freeholders  of  the  re- 
spective counties.  The  Assembly  now  directed  that  the  electors,  in  all  cases, 
should  be  freeholders,  and  that  two  members  should  be  chosen  for  each  of 
the  above  mentioned  towns,  and  two  for  each  county,  and  that  the  members 
should  be  freeholders  of  that  division,  for  which  they  were,  respectively, 
elected.  The  freehold  required  for  the  elector  and  representative,  was  that 
specified  in  the  instructions,  and  the  House  was  made  the  judge  of  the  quali- 
fication of  its  members.  This  change  was  induced  by  the  proprietaries ;  to 
whom  it  was  a  matter  of  obvious  and  deep  interest,  that,  every  inhabitant 
should  be  an  owner  of  land. 

The  Assembly  obtained  from  the  governor,  a  copy  of  the  address  which 
the  lieutenant  governor  and  council  had  made  to  the  Queen  in  favour  of 
Lord  Cornbury;  and  engaged  him  to  hear  their  defence  of  the  charges 
against  them,  in  presence  of  the  addressers,  but  the  latter  contrived,  for  a 
season,  to  elude  the  inquiry. 

III.  The  prospect  which  the  province  now  had  of  a  happy  administration, 
in  which  the  interests  of  the  people  were  duly  consulted,  and  the  officers  of 
government,  liberally  and  satisfactorily  maintained,  were  content  with  the 
emoluments  the  law  conferred,  was  unhappily  obscured  by  the  sudden  death 
of  their  popular  governor,  in  a  few  days  after  the  passage  of  the  above-men- 
tioned laws,  and  the  devolvement  of  his  power  upon  the  lieutenant  governor 
Ingoldsby. 

IV.  This  officer,  pursuant  to  his  instruction  from  the  ministers  of  the  Queen, 
laid  before  the  Assembly  their  demand  for  aid,  in  an  attack  upon  the  French 
provinces  in  North  America.     The  French  had  actively  prosecuted  the  war 
declared  against  them  by  England,  on  the  4th  May,  1702,  and  the  northern 
English  provinces  of  America,  had  suffered  greatly  from  their  incursions.     In 
the  preceding  year,  they  had  penetrated  to  Haverhill,  on  the  Merrimack  river, 
and  reduced  the  town  to  ashes.     Upon  the  entreaty  of  the  inhabitants  of 
New  England,  the  ministry  adopted  a  plan  proposed  by  Col.  Vetch,  for  the 
conquest  of  Arcadia,  Canada,  and  Newfoundland.     An  attack  upon  Quebec 
was  to  be  made,  by  a  squadron  of  ships  carrying  five  regiments  of  regular 
troops  from  England,  and  twelve  hundred  provincials,  furnished  by  the  zeal 
of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island;  whilst  an  army  of  fifteen  hundred  men 
from  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  conducted  by 
Colonels  Nicholson  and  Vetch,  should  attempt  Montreal,  by  way  of  the 
lakes.     The  enterprise,  however,  was  never  prosecuted;  the  exigencies  of 
the  war  in  Europe  requiring  all  the  forces  of  the  allies.     The  quota  of  troops 
required  from  New  Jersey,  was  two  hundred.     The  Assembly  entered  spi- 
ritedly into  the  views  of  the  ministry;  passed  one  act  appropriating  three 
thousand  pounds  to  aid  the  expedition,  to  be  raised  by  the  issue  of  bills  of 
credit ;  another,  for  enforcing  their  currency,  and  a  third  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  volunteers.     The  few  Indian  chiefs  who  were  in  the  province,  were 
summoned  before  the  council,  and  incited  to  engage  in  the  enterprise ;  and 
Col.  Schuyler  was  commissioned  by  the  governors  of  Connecticut,  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania,  to  direct  the  efforts  of  these  and  of  the  Five  Nations. 

V.  Upon  failure  of  the  expedition,  Col.  Nicholson  returned  to  England  to 
solicit  further  assistance,  taking  with  him,  five  of  the  Indian  sachems  of 
the  Five  Nations,  together  with  Col.  Schuyler,  whose  influence  over  these 


86  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

warlike  savages  was  almost  unbounded.  It  suited  the  ministry  to  make  an 
exhibition  of  these  sons  of  the  forest.  The  court  being  then  in  mourning 
for  the  death  of  the  prince  of  Denmark,  the  American  kings  were  dressed 
in  black  under  clothes,  and  their  coarse  and  filthy  blankets  were  exchanged  for 
rich  scarlet  cloth  mantles,  trimmed  with  gold.  A  more  than  ordinary  solemnity 
attended  the  audience  they  had  of  her  Majesty;  Sir  Charles  Cotteral  con- 
ducted them  in  coaches  to  St.  James's ;  and  the  Lord  Chamberlain  introduced 
them  into  the  royal  presence,  where  the  chief  warrior  and  orator  addressed 
a  speech,  with  the  customary  belts  of  wampum,  to  her  Majesty. 

VI.  To  the  solicitations  of  Colonels  Nicholson  and  Schuyler,  the  ministry 
returned  the  most  favourable  promises ;  but  their  execution  was  so  long  de- 
layed, that  Nicholson  resolved  to  attack  Port  Royal,  with  the  means  at  his 
disposal  in  the  colonies.     With  twelve  ships  of  war  and  twenty  transports, 
having  on  board  one  regiment  of  marines,  and  four  of  infantry,  raised  in 
New  England,  he  assailed  and  captured  the  place,  and  obtained  full  posses- 
sion of  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  5th  of  October  1710. 

VII.  Lieutenant  Governor  Ingoldsby  was,  as  we  have  seen,  justly  obnox- 
ious to  the  people  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and  their  remonstrances, 
also,  procured  his  removal  soon  after  the  dismission  of  Cornbury.     But 
before  the  arrival  of  another  governor  appointed  by  the  crown,  the  executive 
powers  were  exercised  in  New  Jersey,  by  Mr.  William  Pinhorne,  one  of  the 
most  unpopular  of  the  council.     He  was,  however,  very  soon  superseded  by 
the  arrival  of  Brigadier  General  Hunter,  on  the  14th  June,  1710,  with  the  com- 
mission of  governor  general  of  the  provinces  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

VIII.  Governor  Hunter  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  when  a  boy,  was 
put  apprentice  to  an  apothecary.     But  he  deserted  his  master  and  entered  the 
army,  and  being  a  man  of  wit  and  personal  beauty,  acquired  the  affections  of 
Lady  Hay,  whom  he  afterwards  married.     He  had  been  nominated  in  the 
year  1707,  lieutenant  governor  of  Virginia,  under  George,  Earl  of  Orkney; 
but  having  been  captured  by  the  French,  in  his  voyage  to  that  colony,  was 
carried  into  France.     Upon  his  release,  he  was  appointed  to  succeed  Lord 
Lovelace.     He  was,  unquestionably,  a  man  of  merit,  since  he  enjoyed  the 
intimacy  of  Swift,  Addison,  and  others,  distinguished  for  sense  and  learning; 
by  whose  interest,  it  is  supposed,  he  obtained  this  profitable  place.     He  min- 
gled freely  with  the  world,  and  was  somewhat  tainted  by  its  follies ;  had  en- 
gaging manners,  blended  perhaps,  not  unhappily,  for  his  success  in  the  pro- 
vince, with  a  dash  of  original  vulgarity.     His  administration  of  ten  years' 
duration,  was  one  of  almost  unbroken  harmony,  and  consequently  productive 
of  scarcely  aught  else,  worthy  of  historical  notice. 

IX.  He  met  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  on  the  6th  of  December,  1710; 
to  whom  he  delivered  a  frank,  soldierly,  and  acceptable  speech,  much  in  the 
spirit  of  his  predecessor  Lovelace.     The  session  continued  more  than  two 
months,  during  which  the  joint  labours  of  the  governor  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives were  unimpeded,  save  by  the  occasional  refractoriness  of  the  ob- 
noxious council.     This  led  the  House,  nothing  loth,  to  the  consideration  of 
the  charges  which  a  majority  of  the  present  council  had  made  to  the  Queen, 
against  a  former  Assembly,  whose  vindication  the  present  House  assumed 
not  the  less  eagerly,  that  it  was  composed,  almost  wholly,  of  other  indi- 
viduals.* 

They  presented  to  governor  Hunter  a  long  memorial,  in  which,  these 
members  of  council  were  certainly  not  spared.  And  if  we  may  judge  of 
their  characters,  from  their  sycophancy,  no  terms  of  reprobation  could 
have  been  too  strong.  It  was  scarce  possible  fot  the  minions  of  the  most 
despotic  and  profligate  court,  to  flatter  a  monarch,  more  than  the  council 

*  Smith's  N.  Y.     Smith's  N.  J.     See  note  T. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  87 

of  New  Jersey  did  the  good  Lord  Lovelace,  in  an  address,  "  which,"  say  the 
Assembly,  "  for  the  peculiarity  of  the  language,  (and  we  might  add,  the  un- 
intelligibleness of  the  terms),  ought  never  to  be  forgotten."  The  address 
commenced  thus :  "  Your  lordship  has  not  one  virtue  or  more,  but  a  com- 
plete accomplishment  of  all  perfections"  &c.  &c.  The  address  to  the  Queen, 
purporting  to  be  an  act  of  the  council,  it  appears  had  never  been  formally 
considered  before  that  body,  but  had  been  prepared  at  the  instance  of  Lord 
Cornbury,  and  was  signed  by  the  counsellors  at  different  times  and  places;  and 
many  of  them,  afterwards,  becoming  ashamed  of  its  contents,  alleged  that  they 
had  signed  it  without  having  read  it. 

In  their  defence,  the  Assembly  charge  upon  the  council  an  attempt  to  de- 
feat their  endeavours,  to  aid  the  expedition  against  Canada,  by  conspiring  to 
negative  the  acts  which  they  proposed  for  that  purpose.  And  they  allege 
such  misdeeds  against  most  of  the  counsellors,  that  we  are  driven  to  believe, 
that  party  spirit  must  have  aided  much  in  forming  the  accusation.  Thus 
Mr.  Hall  is  accused  of  extortion,  of  imprisoning  arid  selling  the  queen's  sub- 
jects, and  "of  taking  up  adrift  several  casks  of  flour,  denying  them  to  the 
owner,  and  selling  them." — Mr.  Sonmans  of  being  indicted  for  perjury,  "  from 
which,  by  a  pack'd  jury  he  was  cleared,  there  being  too  much  reason  to  be- 
lieve he  was  justly  accused,  and  of  being  a  bankrupt,"  who  at  this  time,  and 
for  some  years  past,  has  lived  in  open  and  avowed  adultery  in  contempt  of  the 
laws.  They  allege  also,  that  the  courts  of  law,  in  which  the  gentlemen  of 
the  council  were  judges,  instead  of  being  a  protection  and  security  to  her  Ma- 
jesty's subjects,  became  their  chief  invaders  and  destroyers — That  though  the 
courts  were  holden,  alternately,  at  Amboy  and  Burlington,  "  yet  the  causes 
of  one  division  were  tried  in  the  other,  and  juries  and  evidences  carried  for 
that  end;"  that  "  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  the  undoubted  right,  as  well  as 
the  great  privilege  of  the  subject,  was  by  William  Pinhorne,  Esq.  second 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  denied  to  Thomas  Gordon,  Esq.  then  speaker 
of  the  Assembly ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  station  he  was  in,  he  was  kept 
fifteen  hours  a  prisoner,  until  he  applied  by  the  said  Pinhorne's  son,  an  attor- 
ney at  law ;  and  then,  not  before,  he  was  admitted  to  bail :  that,  many  per- 
sons prosecuted  upon  informations,  had  been,  at  their  excessive  charge, 
forced  to  attend,  court  after  court,  and  not  brought  to  trial,  when  there  was 
no  evidence  to  ground  such  information  on :  that,  the  people  called  Quakers, 
who  are  by  her  Majesty,  admitted  to  places  of  the  most  considerable  trust 
within  this  province,  are  sometimes  admitted  to  be  evidences,  as  in  a  capital 
case,  at  a  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  holden  by  Chief  Justice  Mompesson, 
Colonel  Daniel  Coxe,  Colonel  Huddy  and  others,  on  which  evidence  the  pri- 
soner was  condemned  to  be  executed ;  and  sometimes,  they  are  refused  to 
be  jurors  or  evidences,  either  in  civil  or  criminal  cases ;  so  that  their  safety 
or  receiving  the  benefit  of  her  Majesty's  favour,  seems  not  to  depend  upon 
the  laws  or  her  directions,  but  the  humours  and  caprices  of  the  gentlemen 
who  were  judges  of  the  court:  all  persons  not  friends  to  the  gentlemen 
of  the  council,  or  some  of  them,  were  sure  in  any  trial  at  law  to  suffer  ; 
every  thing  was  done  in  favour  of  those  that  were:  justice  was  banish- 
ed, and  trick  and  partiality  substituted  in  its  place:  no  man  was  secure 
in  his  liberty  or  estate;  but,  both,  subjected  to  the  caprices  of  an  incon- 
siderate party  of  men,  in  power,  who  seemed  to  study  nothing  more  than 
to  make  them  as  precarious  as  possible  :" — that  "  all  the  original  copies  of 
the  laws,  passed  in  the  time  of  the  just  Lord  Lovelace,  are  somehow  or 
other  made  away  with :  Basse*  offers  to  purge  himself  by  his  oath,  that,  he 

*  Mr.  Jeremiah  Basse,  once  deputy  governor  under  the  proprietaries  of  East  Jersey, 
at  this  time,  secretary  of  state,  clerk  of  council,  and  prothonotary  of  the  Supreme 
Court. 


88  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

has  them  not,  nor  knows  any  thing  of  them ;  and  it  may  be  so,  for  aught 
we  know;  but  in  this  province,  where  he  is  known,  it  is  also  known,  that, 
few  men  ever  believed  his  common  conversation,  and  several  juries  have 
refused  to  credit  his  oaths.  It  is  certain,  that  the  secretary's  office  is  the 
place  these  laws  should  have  been."  "It  does  appear  to  have  been  the  inte- 
rest of  the  lieutenant  governor  and  his  friends,  to  destroy  it,  (the  law  appro- 
priating eight  hundred  pounds  to  Lord  Lovelace)  for  they  had  got  an  act 
passed,  which  took  from  the  Lord  Lovelace  three  hundred  and  thirty  pounds 
of  that  money,  and  gave  it  to  the  lieutenant  governor ;  and  two  hundred  and 
twenty  pounds  more  of  it  was  given  to  him  for  the  support  of  the  govern- 
ment. Had  he  sent  the  act,  made  in  favour  of  the  Lord  Lovelace,  to  the 
Queen,  for  her  approbation  or  disallowance,  it  would  not  have  served  him, 
had  her  Majesty  approved  of  it,  as,  in  all  probability,  she  would  have  done ; 
but  had  the  other  gone  home  first,  there  was  an  expectation  it  might  pass, 
the  Queen  knowing  no  more  about  the  first  act,  than  that  a  vote  had  passed 
in  favour  of  the  Lord  Lovelace." 

"  We  are  concerned,"  say  the  Assembly  in  conclusion,  "  we  have  so 
much  reason  to  expose  a  number  of  persons  combined  to  do  New  Jersey  all 
the  hurt  that  lies  in  their  power.  Her  Majesty  has  been  graciously  pleased 
to  remove  Colonel  Richard  Ingoldsby,  from  being  lieutenant  governor,  and 
we  cannot,  sufficiently,  express  our  gratitude  for  so  singular  a  favour,  and, 
especially,  for  appointing,  your  excellency,  our  governor :  we  have  all  the 
reason  in  the  world  to  be  well  assured,  you  will  not  forget  that  you  are  her 
subject ;  but  will  take  care,  that  justice  be  duly  administered  to  the  rest  of 
her  subjects  here;  which  can  never  be  done  while  William  Pinhorne,  Roger 
Mompesson,  Daniel  Coxe,  Richard  Townley,  Peter  Sonmans,  Hugh  Huddy, 
William  Hall,  or  Jeremiah  Basse,  Esquires,  continue  in  places  of  trust,  within 
this  province ;  nor  can  we  think  our  persons  or  properties  safe,  while  they 
do ;  but  if  they  are  continued,  must,  with  our  families,  desert  this  province, 
and  seek  some  safer  place  of  abode." 

These  representations  are,  without  doubt,  highly  coloured ;  but  there  must 
have  been  great  cause  for  them ;  since  sustained  by  the  governor,  they  were 
attended  with  the  desired  effect ;  all  the  obnoxious  counsellors  being  removed 
by  the  Queen. 

X.  Major  Sandford,  one  of  the  unfortunate  counsellors,  who  had  now  been 
elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  from  Bergen  county,  was  expelled  the 
House;  it  having  resolved,  "that  any  one  who  had  signed  the  false  and 
scandalous  representation  of  the  representative  body  of  the  province,  was  unfit 
to  sit  in  the  House,  unless  he  acknowledged  his  fault,"  which  the  offending 
member  refused  to  do.     An  address  to  the  Queen  was,  also,  prepared,  and 
"immediately  despatched. 

XI.  Since  the  surrender  of  the  government,  by  the  proprietaries,  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  province  had  been  greatly  embarrassed  by  the  obstacles 
created  by  the  requisition  of  oaths  from  the  Quaker  inhabitants,  who  were, 
thereby,  precluded  from  sitting  on  juries,  and  from  exercising  other  offices. 
This  grievance  had  been  foreseen,  and,  in  some  degree,  provided  for,  by  the 
instruction  of  the  ministers  to  Lord  Cornbury,  directing  that  he  should  unite 
with  the  Assembly  in  passing  an  act,  to  the  like  effect  as  that  of  the  seventh 
and  eighth  of  King  William,  entitled,  "  An  act,  that  the  solemn  affirmation 
and  declaration  of  the  people,  called  Quakers,  shall  be  accepted,  instead  of 
oath,  in  the  usual  form."     The  disregard  of  this  just  and  prudent  provision, 
enabled  the  governor,  Cornbury,  at  will,  to  admit  or  reject,  the  services  of 
Quakers,  and  became  one  of  the  means  by  which  he  oppressed  the  people. 
The  House  proposed  to  provide  against  similar  abuses,  in  future,  by  two 
bills ;  one  for  ascertaining  the  qualification  of  jurors,  and  the  other  for  sub- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  89 

stituting  affirmations,  for  oaths,  where  a  party  was  conscientiously  scrupu- 
lous in  taking  them.  But  though  laws,  for  these  purposes,  were  subsequently 
enacted,  the  opposition  of  the  council,  at  this  time,  defeated  the  efforts  of  the 
Assembly.  And  a  bill  for  explaining  the  militia  law,  and  relieving  persons 
aggrieved  thereby,  met  a  like  fate. 

XII.  Animated  by  his  successes  in  Newfoundland,  Colonel  Nicholson 
again  urged  upon  the  ministry,  the  reduction  of  Canada,  which  had  been 
strongly  recommended  by  the  Indian  chiefs,  as  the  only  effectual  means  of 
securing  the  northern  colonies.  The  attempt  having  been  resolved  upon, 
circulars  were  addressed  to  the  governors  of  the  northern  and  middle  colo- 
nies, requiring  them  to  meet  and  confer  with  Nicholson,  and  to  prepare  their 
respective  quotas  of  men  and  provisions.  Governor  Hunter  summoned  the 
Assembly  of  New  Jersey  in  July,  1711;  and  informing  them  that  the  fleet 
and  army  destined  for  this  service,  had  arrived  at  Boston,  demanded  that 
they  should  provide  three  hundred  and  sixty  effective  men  beside  officers, 
together  with  the  means  for  their  subsistence  and  pay.  The  service  was 
one  which  this,  together  with  the  northern  provinces,  looked  upon  with 
great  favour.  The  House,  therefore,  promptly  resolved  to  aid  it,  by  appro- 
priating twelve  thousand  five  hundred  ounces  of  plate  (dollars)  in  bills  of 
credit,  to  be  sunk,  together  with  the  three  thousand  pounds  formerly  appro- 
priated, by  a  subsequent  tax ;  and  by  measures  for  raising  and  supporting  the 
requisite  troops. 

But  the  expedition  proved  most  disastrous.  Colonel  Nicholson,  under 
whom  served  Colonels  Schuyler,  Whiting,  and  Ingoldsby,  mustered,  at  Al- 
bany, two  thousand  colonists,  one-  thousand  Germans  from  the  Palatinate, 
and  one  thousand  of  the  Five  Nation  Indians,  who  commenced  their  march 
towards  Canada,  on  the  28th  of  August.  The  troops  from  Boston,  consisted 
of  several  veteran  regiments  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough's  army,  one  bat- 
talion of  marines,  and  two  provincial  regiments ;  amounting  to  six  thousand 
four  hundred  men,  commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Hill,  the  brother  of  the 
Queen's  favourite,  Mrs.  Masham.  They  sailed  on  board  of  sixty-eight  vessels, 
under  convoy  of  Sir  Hoveden  Walker,  the  30th  of  July,  and  arrived  off  the 
St.  Lawrence,  on  the  14th  of  August.  In  ascending  the  river,  the  fleet,  by  the 
unskilfulness  of  the  pilots,  or  the  obstinacy  and  distrust  of  the  admiral,  was 
entangled  amid  rocks  and  islands,  on  the  northern  shore,  and  ran  imminent 
hazard  of  total  destruction.  Eight  transports,  with  eight  hundred  men,  pe- 
rished. Upon  this  disaster,  the  squadron  bore  away  for  Cape  Breton ;  and  the 
expedition,  by  the  advice  of  a  council  of  naval  and  military  officers,  was 
abandoned,  on  the  ground  of  want  of  provisions,  and  the  impossibility  of  pro- 
curing a  seasonable  supply.  The  admiral  sailed  directly  for  England,  and 
the  colonial  forces  for  New  England;  whilst  Colonel  Nicholson,  thus  de- 
serted, was  compelled  to  retreat  from  Fort  George.  The  want  of  skill  and 
fortitude,  were  eminently  conspicuous  in  the  British  commanders  of  this  en- 
terprise.* 

*  The  ministry  were,  generally,  censured  by  the  Whigs  for  the  project  of  this  en- 
terprise, and  for  the  measures  taken  for  its  execution.  It  was  never  laid  before  Par- 
liament, though  then  in  session;  on  account,  as  it  was  said,  of  the  greater  secrecy; 
and  for  the  same  reason  the  fleet  was  not  victualled  at  home.  They  relied  on  New 
England  for  supplies,  and  this  defeated  the  design;  for  the  ships  tarried  at  Boston, 
until  the  season  for  attack  was  past.  According  to  Lord  Harley's  account,  the  whole 
was  a  contrivance  of  Bolingbroke,  Moore,  and  the  Lord  Chancellor  Harcourt,  to  cheat 
the  public  of  £20,000.  The  latter  of  these,  was  pleased  to  say,  "  No  government  was 
worth  serving,  that  would  not  admit  of  such  advantageous  jobs." — Smith's  New  York, 
131.  From  the  manner  in  which  this  and  other  enterprises  against  the  possessions  of 
France,  in  America,  were  conducted,  we  are  almost  prepared  to  agree  in  opinion  with 

M 


90  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

XIII.  During  five  years,  nothing  worthy  of  historical  notice,  occurred  in 
the  province.     The  Assembly  was  occasionally  convened,  and  passed  such 
laws  as  were  required.     These  were  few  and  simple,  relating  solely  to  the 
internal  policy  of  the  colony;  the  peace  of  Utrecht,  31st  of  March,  1713, 
having  put  an  end  to  hostilities  -between  Great  Britain  and  France,  and  termi- 
nated a  merciless  war  upon  the  American  continent.     Some  leaven  of  the 
political  spirit,  which  had  been  engendered  during  the  administration  of  Corn- 
bury,  still  worked,  at  times,  among  the  people,  and  in  the  Assembly.  Gersham 
Mott,  and  Elisha  Lawrence,  members  from  Bergen,  who  had  been  of  Corn- 
bury's  party,  having  entered  on  the  minutes  of  council,  reasons  for  voting 
against  aiding  the  expedition  to  Canada,  were  severally  expelled  the  House 
of  which  they  had  become  members,   "  for  having  arraigned  the  honour 
of  the  representative  body  of  the  province."     This  would  seem  to  have 
been  a  party  vote,  scarce  warranted  by  circumstances.     In  the  interval,  we 
have  mentioned,  one  Assembly  had  been  dissolved,  by  the  demise  of  Queen 
Anne,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1714;  another,  by  the  arrival  of  a  new  com- 
mission to  the  governor,  from  her  successor  George  I.;  and  a  third,  by  some 
cause  which  is  not  apparent.     A  new  Assembly  was  convened  at  Amboy, 
on  the  4th  of  April,   1716,  in  which   there  was  a  temporary  majority, 
against  the  late  ruling  party;  and  the  party  which  had  suffered  for  ad- 
hesion to  Cornbury,  seemed  about  to  regain  its  ascendency.     Col.  Daniel 
Coxe  was  chosen  Speaker,  and  several  of  the   most  odious  members  of 
Cornbury's  council,  were  members  of  the  House.     They  contrived  to  delay 
the  business  of  the  session,  until  the  governor,  wearied  by  their  procrastina- 
tion, prorogued  them. 

XIV.  He  summoned  the  House  again,  on  the  14th  of  May,  when  nine,  only, 
out  of  twenty-four  members  appeared.    These  adjourned  from  day  to  day,  for 
five  days,  receiving  no  accession  to  their  numbers.     When  it  became  appa- 
rent, that  the  absentees,  intended  by  desertion  to  prevent  the  exercise  of  the 
legislative  authority,  now  indispensable  to  renew  the  supplies  for  the  support 
of  government,  and  to  provide  for  the  re-emission  of  the  bills  of  credit,  the 
nine  applied  to  the  governor  to  enforce,  by  some  means,  the  attendance  of  the 
absent  members.     He  issued  writs  to  several  of  them,  commanding  their  pre- 
sence, as  they  would  answer  the  contrary  at  their  peril.     Four  immediately 
appeared,  making  a  majority  of  the  House,  to  whom  he  recommended  the 
choice  of  a  new  Speaker,  (Col.  Coxe  being  of  the  absentees),  that  they  might 
despatch  their  sergeant-at-arms  to  enforce  the  attendance  of  others.    Mr.  John 
Kinsey  of  Middlesex,  was  placed  in  the  chair,  and  the  Assembly  proceeded 
with  its  usual  business.     They  also  entered  upon  an  examination  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Speaker  and  his  associates,  all  of  whom  they  expelled,  for 
contempt  of  authority  and  neglect  of  the  service  of  their  country ;  and  re- 
solved that  they  should  not  sit,  if  returned  on  a  new  election,  during  the  then 
session.     Several  of  such  members,  however,  were  returned;  but  being  re- 
jected, the  electors  were  compelled  to  choose  again. 

A  subsequent  session  of  the  same  House,  was  holden  at  Crosswicks,*  in 
consequence  of  the  small  pox  being  at  Burlington,  at  which  sixteen  public  and 
private  bills  were  enacted.  The  next  session  commenced  on  the  8th  of  April, 
1718,  but  continued  a  few  days  only;  being  adjourned  by  the  governor,  at 
the  request  of  the  House,  to  the  following  January,  a  less  inconvenient  season 
of  the  year ;  when,  also,  many  acts  were  passed ;  among  which  were,  one 
for  ascertaining  the  division  line  betwixt  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  and 

the  Swedish  traveller,  Kalm,  that  Great  Britain  "  was  not  earnestly  disposed  to  drive 
that  power  from  the  continent,  preferring  to  retain  it  as  a  check  upon  the  colonists, 
whom,  they  feared,  would  otherwise  become  powerful  and  independent." 
*  October  3d,  1716. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  91 

another  for  running  the  line  between  East  and  West  Jersey.  The  commis- 
sioners under  the  first  act,  fixed  the  northern  station  point,  on  the  25th  July, 
1719,  in  latitude  41°  40',  in  the  manner  we  have  already  stated.  But 
nothing  was  done  under  the  act  for  determining  the  line  between  the  East 
and  West  Jersey  proprietors. 

XV.  This  was  the  last  session  of  the  Assembly  during  Governor  Hunter's 
administration.  He  had  grown  tired  of  his  residence  in  America,  or  was 
called,  thence,  by  his  affairs  in  Europe;  expressing  his  intention,  however, 
with  his  Majesty's  permission,  to  return.  He  left  New  York  on  the  13th  of 
July,  1719,  and  on  his  arrival  at  London,  exchanged  his  government  with 
William  Burnet,  Esq.,  son  of  the  celebrated  bishop  of  that  name,  for  his 
office  of  comptroller  of  the  customs.  Perhaps  none  of  the  colonial  governors 
have  earned  a  more  excellent  or  more  merited  reputation  than  Brigadier 
Hunter.  Preserving  all  the  firmness  which  the  dignity  of  his  station  re- 
quired, and  maintaining  the  royal  authority  in  full  vigour,  he  conciliated 
the  people  of  both  provinces,  .in  a  very  remarkable  degree,  and  obtained 
from  both,  in  the  form  of  legislative  resolves,  the  most  enviable  testimo- 
nials. 

The  last  New  Jersey  Assembly  declared  to  him  in  their  Address,  "  Your 
administration  has  been  a  continued  series  of  justice  and  moderation,  and 
from  your -past  conduct,  we  dare  assure  ourselves  of  a  continuation  of  it; 
and  we  will  not  be  wanting  in  our  endeavours  to  make  suitable  returns,  both 
in  providing  a  handsome  support  of  the  government,  and  of  such  a  con- 
tinuation as  may  demonstrate  to  you  and  the  world,  the  sense  we  have 
of  our  duty  and  your  worth."  The  Legislature  of  New  York  addressed 
him  thus — 

"  Sir,  when  we  reflect  upon  your  past  conduct,  your  just,  mild,  and  tender 
administration,  it  heightens  the  concern  we  have  for  your  departure,  and 
makes  our  grief  such  as  words  cannot  truly  express.  You  have  governed 
well,  and  wisely;  like  a  prudent  magistrate — like  an  affectionate  parent; — 
and  wherever  you  go,  and  whatever  station  the  divine  Providence  may 
please  to  assign  you,  our  sincere  desires  and  prayers  for  the  happiness  of 
you  and  yours,  shall  always  attend  you.  We  have  seen  many  governors, 
and  may  see  more;  and  as  none  of  those  who  had  the  honour  to  serve  in 
your  station,  were  ever  so  justly  fixed  in  the  affections  of  the  governed,  so 
those  to  come  will  acquire  no  mean  reputation,  when  it  can  be  said  of  them, 
their  conduct  has  been  like  yours.  We  thankfully  accept  the  honour  you 
do  us,  in  calling  yourself  our  countryman ;  give  us  leave,  then,  to  desire, 
that  you  will  not  forget  this  as  your  country,  and  if  you  can,  make  haste  to 
return  to  it.  But,  if  the  service  of  our  sovereign  will  not  admit  of  what  we 
so  earnestly  desire,  and  his  commands  deny  us  that  happiness,  permit  us  to 
address  you  as  our  friend,  and  give  us  your  assistance,  when  we  are  oppress- 
ed with  an  administration  the  reverse  of  yours." 

Like  all  other  men,  who  have  been  in  any  way  remarkable  for  political 
success,  Governor  Hunter  selected  his  associates  and  agents,  with  much 
judgment;  and  instead  of  forcibly  opposing  the  public  will,  sought,  suc- 
cessfully, by  gentle  means,  to  guide  it.  In  New  Jersey,  Colonel  Lewis 
Morris,  a  popular  favourite,  and  chief  justice,  was  his  principal  adviser ;  and 
in  New  York,  he  was  sustained  by  that  gentleman,  and  by  Messrs.  Robert 
Livingston,  De  Lancy,  and  others,  of  high  character,  and  influence.  The 
province  of  New  Jersey  gave  him  a  salary  of  £600,  per  annum;  com- 
monly, by  acts  limited  to  two  years.  The  whole  expense  of  the  govern- 
ment, about  £1000,  per  annum,  was  raised  by  a  levy  upon  real  and  per- 
sonal estate,  by  an  excise  on  wines  and  spirituous  liquors,  and  a  duty  on 


92  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

the  importation  of  Negro  and  Mulatto  slaves — the  last,  laid,  probably,  as 
much  with  design  to  prohibit  the  traffic,  as  for  the  sake  of  revenue.  The 
extraordinary  expenses,  such  as  those  for  the  military  expeditions,  were  met 
by  bills  of  credit,  or  loans,  payable  from  the  surplus  of  the  ordinary  reve- 
nue. The  debt  of  the  province  at  this  time,  amounted  to  eight  thousand 
pounds. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  93 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Containing  Events  from  the  arrival  of  Governor  Burnet,  to  the  Death  of  Governor 
Morris,  1719-1746. — I.  Governor  Burnet — Notice  of  his  Character. — II.  Meets 
the  Assembly— Proceedings. — III.  Paper  Currency— an  Account  of  its  Rise  and 
Progress. — IV.  Bill  proposed  against  denying  the  Trinity,  &c. — V.  Governor 
Bernard  removed  to  Massachusetts. — VI.  Is  succeeded  by  John  Montgomery — 
His  Administration. — VII.  Death  of  Colonel  Montgomery,  and  Presidency  of 
Colonel  Lewis  Morris — Arrival  of  Governor  Cosby — Harmony  of  the  Province 
during  his  Administration — His  Death. — VIII.  Presidencies  of  John  Anderson, 
and  John  Hamilton,  Esquires. — IX.  Lewis  Morris,  Governor  of  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  it  being  separated  from  New  York— Gratification  of  the  Province. — 
X.  He  ceases  to  meet  the  Council,  in  Legislation. — XI.  Salaries  of  Officers. — 
XII.  Unpopular  Conduct  of  Governor  Morris. — XIII.  War  with  Spain — Aid 
required  by  Great  Britain,  from  the  Colonies— promptly  afforded  by  New  Jersey 
— Further  disputes  between  the  Governor  and  Assembly. — XIV.  Disingenuous 
Conduct  of  the  Governor,  relative  to  the  Fee  Bill. — XV.  Opposes  the  views  of 
the  House,  on  the  Bill  relative  to  the  Paper  Currency — on  that,  circumscribing 
the  Jurisdiction  of  the  Supreme  Court. — XVI.  Assembly  refuse  to  provide  for  the 
Salaries  of  the  Public  Officers. — XVII.  Efforts  at  Accommodation — defeated  by 
the  discovery  of  the  duplicity  of  the  Governor — Death  of  Governor  Morris — 
John  Hamilton,  Esq.,  President. — XVIII.  Biographical  Notice  of  Governor  Mor- 
ris.— XIX.  Application  made  by  his  Widow,  for  arrears  of  Salary — refused. 

I.  Governor  Burnet,  as  we  have  already  observed,  was  a  son  of  the  cele- 
brated Bishop  Burnet,  whose  piety  and  erudition,  but  more  especially,  whose 
zeal  and  activity,  for  the  revolution  and  protestant   succession,  in  Great 
Britain,  has  rendered  his  name  illustrious  in  English  story.     The  son  was  a 
man  of  sense  and  breeding,  a  well  read  scholar,  and  possessed  a  sprightly 
and  social  disposition,  which  his  devotion  to  study  restrained  from  excess. 
He  cherished,  successfully,  the  arts  of  popularity — had  none  of  the  moroseness 
of  the  scholar,  but  was  gay  and  affable,  avoiding  all  affectation  of  pomp,  and 
mingled  freely  with  the  reputable  families  of  his  government,  paying  great 
attention  to  the  ladies,  by  whom  he  was  much  admired.     His  fortune  was 
very  inconsiderable,  and  had  been  impaired  by  adventuring  in  the  South 
Sea  scheme;  yet,  he  was  not  avaricious,  nor  importunate,  as  most  colonial 
governors  were,  with  the  people,  for  a  permanent  salary.*     His  intimacy 
with  Mr.  Hunter,  enabled  him,  before  his  arrival,  properly  to  appreciate 
both  persons  and  things  in  the  province,  and  thus  to  obtain  many  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  experience.     He  connected  himself  closely  with  Mr.  Lewis 
Morris,  and  with  Dr.  Golden,  and  Mr.  Alexander,  men  of  learning,  good 
morals,  and  sound  judgment.     Mr.  Hunter  had  recommended  to  him  all  his 
former  friends ;  and  few  changes,  consequently,  were  made  in  the  colonial 
offices. 

II.  Governor  Burnet  met  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  soon  after  his 
arrival.     The  session  was  short,  little  business  was  done,  and  the  House 
being  soon  after  dissolved,  writs  were  issued  for  a  new  election.     In  this 
respect,  the  governor's  policy,  in  New  Jersey,  differed  from  that  which  he 

*  "  Whether  an  alteration  in  sentiment,  or  instruction,  or  both,  was  the  cause, 
must  be  left  to  conjecture ;  but  while  governor  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  his  conduct 
was  different;  there  he  insisted  for  several  years  with  the  greatest  firmness,  for  an  in- 
definite support,  and  pursued  it  through  the  plantation  board,  and  privy  council,  to 
the  Parliament,  when  his  death  prevented  its  coming  to  a  conclusion."— Smith's  New 
Jersey. 


94  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

pursued  in  New  York ;  where  he  continued  the  Assembly,  which  he  found 
existing  at  his  arrival,  until  the  people,  apprehensive  that  their  representa- 
tives might  be  corrupted,  by  executive  favour,  clamorously  demanded  a 
dissolution. 

The  new  Assembly  met  early  in  the  spring  of  1721,  and  chose  Dr.  John 
Johnson,  of  Amboy,  their  Speaker.  The  House  continued  in  being,  during 
the  whole  of  the  administration  of  Governor  Burnet,  until  December,  1727 ; 
changes  being  made  only  in  the  Speakers ;  first,  consequent  on  the  illness  of 
Mr.  Johnson,  when  Mr.  William  Trent  was  chosen ;  and  again  on  the  death 
of  Mr.  Trent,  in  1725,  when  Mr.  Johnson  was  re-elected.* 

III.  The  most  remarkable  acts  of  this  Assembly,  were,  that  for  the  sup- 
port of  government,  in  which  the  salary  of  the  governor  was  fixed  for  five 
years,  at  £500  per  annum ;  and  that,  authorizing  the  issue  of  £40,000,  in 
bills  of  credit,  with  the  view,  principally,  of  increasing  the  circulating 
medium  of  the  colony.  The  country,  as  the  preamble  to  this  act  sets  forth, 
had  been  wholly  drained  of  a  metallic  medium  of  exchange,  and  was  without 
any  means  of  replenishment ;  inasmuch,  as  the  neighbouring  colonies  of  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania,  to  which  its  produce  was  exported,  had  no  other 
than  paper  currency ;  and  as  this  was  not  a  legal  tender,  in  the  payment  of 
debts,  in  New  Jersey,  much  vexation  and  embarrassment  of  trade,  was  pro- 
duced. The  payment  of  taxes  was  occasionally  made,  in  broken  plate,  ear- 
rings, and  other  jewels ;  and  the  law  authorized  their  payment  in  wheat. 

The  expedient  of  paper  currency  had  been  long  since  resorted  to  by  Massa- 
chusetts, New  York,  and  South  Carolina ;  but  in  these  provinces,  its  benefits 
had  be"en  decreased  by  the  want  of  due  provision  for  its  redemption,  and  by 
over  issues.  In  Pennsylvania,  the  measure  was  introduced  in  1723,  by  Go- 
vernor Keith,  with  signal  success.  New  Jersey  wisely  adopted  in  the  same 
year,  the  plan  of  the  last,  which  preserved  her  currency  from  much  deprecia- 
tion. Yet,  as  from  the  limited  nature  of  her  trade,  it  was  less  convertible  into 
gold  and  silver  coin,  than  that  of  the  adjacent  colonies,  it  was,  at  times,  at  a 
discount  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  Small  amounts  had  already  been 
issued  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  Canadian  expedition,  but  the  bills  on  these 
occasions,  were  in  form,  treasury  notes,  based  on  the  faith  of  the  state,  and 
redeemable  by  taxation  only. 

Forty  thousand  pounds  in  such  bills,  in  value  from  one  shilling,  to  three- 
pounds,  were  issued  by  the  government  to  borrowers,  on  the  pledge  of  plate, 
or  real  estate,  at  5  per  cent  per  annum.  Loans  on  plate  were  made  for  one 
year,  and  on  lands,  lots,  houses  or  other  valuable  improvements,  for  twelve 
years ;  the  applicant  deposing  that  the  estate  offered,  was  held  in  his  own 
right,  and  had  not  been  conveyed  to  him  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  on 
loan  for  others ;  and  that  it  was  free  from  all  incumbrance.  The  amount 
loaned  to  any  individual  was  not  less  than  twelve  pounds  ten  shillings,  nor 
more  than  one  hundred  pounds,  unless  there  remained  bills  in  the  hands 
of  the  commissioner,  six  months  after  issue;  when  two  hundred  pounds 
might  be  loaned,  to  be  repaid  in  twelve  annual  instalments,  with  the-  in- 
terest ;  or  the  whole,  at  any  time,  at  the  pleasure  of  the  borrower.  In  de- 
fault of  payment,  for  thirty  days  after  any  instalment  became  due,  the  mort- 
gage was  to  be  foreclosed.  All  bills  thus  paid  in,  were  to  be  destroyed,  or 
when  prematurely  paid  in,  to  be  loaned  to  others.  The  whole  sum  was  spe- 
cifically apportioned  to  the  counties,  in  which,  loan-offices  were  established, 
under  commissioners  named  in  the  act,  and  created  a  body  politic.  The 
bills  were  made  current  for  twelve  years ;  were  a  legal  tender  in  payment 
of  all  debts  and  contracts,  under  penalty  of  extinction  of  the  debt,  or  a  fine 

*  See  Appendix,  U. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  95 

for  refusal,  of  not  less  than  thirty  shillings,  nor  more  than  fifty  pounds,  as 
the  case  might  be.  Forgery  of  the  bills  was  made  felony,  and  punishable 
with  death.  If,  at  the  expiration  of  the  term,  for  which  they  were  made 
current,  any  portion  of  the  amount,  respectively,  allotted  to  the  counties  re- 
mained unpaid,  the  county  became  responsible  for  it. 

For  the  better  credit,  and  sooner  sinking  of  these  bills,  and  for  the  additional 
support  of  the  government,  a  tax  of  one  thousand  pounds  a  year,  was  imposed 
for  ten  years.  Four  thousand  pounds  of  the  product  were  appropriated  to 
the  redemption  of  the  bills  of  credit  formerly  issued ;  and  the  interest  on  the 
money  loaned  under  the  act  was  applied  to  the  sinking  of  bills,  thereby 
issued ;  and  as  the  interest  and  principal  of  the  sums  loaned,  when  paid  in, 
would  much  more  than  pay  the  bills,  the  balance  was  devoted  to  the  support 
of  the  government,  in  such  manner  as  the  governor,  council,  and  General  As- 
sembly might  direct. 

In  1730,  another  act  added  twenty  thousand  pounds  to  this  medium, 
which  were  made  current  for  sixteen  years;  and  in  1733,  the  act  of  1723, 
for  the  issue  of  forty  thousand  pounds  was  renewed;  the  amounts  being 
loaned  upon  the  same  principles  as  under  the  first  act,  and  kept  in  circula- 
tion by  re-issues,  and  subsequent  issues  of  such  sums  as  were  necessary 
to  supply  the  place  of  torn  bills.  All  these  issues  were  fully  and  duly 
redeemed. 

An  additional  and  floating  debt  was  subsequently  contracted  by  the  issue  of 
bills,  from  time  to  time,  to  defray  the  war  requisitions  of  the  British  ministry, 
and  other  exigencies.  This  debt  bore  heavily  upon  the  province,  as  it  was 
payable  solely  by  taxation;  and  the  Legislature  frequently  sought  relief  by  the 
issue  of  new  bills,  the  interest  of  which  would  supply  the  means  of  ordinary 
expenditure,  and  was  cheerfully  paid  by  the  enterprising  and  industrious  bor- 
rower, who  received  an  adequate  consideration.  But  the  English  ministry, 
for  many  years,  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  assent  to  this  measure.  At 
one  period,  they  reluctantly  consented  to  the  framing  a  bill  for  the  issue  of 
sixty  thousand  pounds,  with  condition  that  it  should  receive  the  sanction  of 
the  King;  but  when  the  bill  had  passed  the  colonial  Legislature,  that  sanction 
was  refused.  The  governors  were  uniformly  instructed  to  pass  no  such  act, 
unless  with  a  clause  suspending  its  operation,  until  confirmed  by  the  crown. 
In  1758,  a  second  bill  for  sixty  thousand  pounds  was  sent  for  the  royal  ap- 
probation, which  was  rejected  by  the  board  of  trade  on  three  grounds,  which 
obstructed  the  passage  of  every  other  bill  of  this  character.  1st,  That  the 
Assembly  reserved  to  itself,  not  only  a  participation  with  the  governor  and 
council,  in  the  disposal  of  the  money  granted  by  the  bill  for  his  Majesty's 
service;  but,  also,  the  right  to  judge  of  the  propriety  of  its  application.  2d, 
That  the  surplus  of  interest  from  loans,  after  paying  a  specific  grant  to  the 
crown,  was  appropriated  to  the  redemption  of  bills  before  omitted,  in  lieu  of 
taxes;  and  3d,  That  the  bills  of  credit  were  made  a  legal  tender,  in  payment 
of  all  debts  and  contracts.  Without  these  conditions,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
province  did  not  deem  the  currency  worth  having,  and  with  them,  it  could 
not  be  obtained ;  so  that  no  other  money  bills  were  issued  for  a  long  period, 
unless  based  on  taxes  that  would  redeem  them  in  five  years. 

Sound  policy  certainly  required  that  the  paper  currency  should  be  kept 
within  narrow  bounds,  lest  over  issues  should  embarrass  the  commerce  of  the 
country  with  the  parent  state.  But  this  danger  could  scarce  be  dreaded  from 
the  small  amount  required  by  New  Jersey,  and  we  must  look  to  other  causes 
for  the  pertinacious  refusals  of  the  crown.  These  we  shall,  probably,  find  in 
the  independence  which  the  colony  acquired  by  a  certain  and  easy  revenue, 
which  it  as  pertinaciously  resolved  to  keep  within  its  own  control.  Repeat- 
ed attempts  were  made,  by  the  colonial  Legislature,  to  bend  the  will  of  the 


96  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

King,  but  always  without  success,  until  the  20th  of  February,  1775 ;  when  an 
act  passed  March  llth,  1774,  near  the  close  of  the  administration  of  Gover- 
nor Franklin,  authorizing  the  issue  on  loan  of  one  hundred  thousand  pounds, 
and  divested  of  all  the  objectional  features,  was  confirmed  by  the  King  in 
council. 

At  one  period  the  bills  of  New  Jersey  were  at  a  discount  of  sixteen  per 
cent.,  in  exchange  for  the  bills  of  New  York,  and,  consequently,  all  contracts, 
especially,  in  East  Jersey,  were  based  upon  the  New  York  currency.  The 
Assembly,  with  too  much  disregard  for  justice,  directed,  that  all  such  con- 
tracts should  be  discharged,  by  payment  of  their  nominal  value  in  Jersey 
bills. 

IV.  Among  the  acts  proposed  at  the  session  of  the  Assembly,  in  1721, 
was  one  bearing  the  singular  title,  "  An  act  against  denying  the  Divinity 
of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  doctrine  of  the  blessed  Trinity,  the  truth 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  spreading  Atheistical  books."     "Assemblies 
in  the  colonies,"  says  Smith,  "  have  rarely  troubled  themselves  with  these 
subjects.     It,  probably,  arose  from  the  governor's  motion,  who  had  a  turn 
that  way,  and  had,  himself,  wrote  a  book,  to  unfold  some  part  of  the  apoca- 
lypse."    The  bill,  however,  was  rejected,  on  the  second  reading,  in  the  As- 
sembly. 

V.  After  a  harmonious  administration,  of  nearly  seven  years,  Governor 
Burnet  was  removed,  much  against  his  will,  to  the  government  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay.     His  marriage,  in  New  York,  had  connected  him  with  a  nu- 
merous family  there;  and,  besides,  an  universal  acquaintance,  he  had  con- 
tracted with  several  gentlemen,  a  strict  intimacy  and  friendship.     The  great 
merit  of  his  administration  consisted,  in  his  effectual  exertions  to  diminish 
the  trade  of  the  French  with  the  northern  Indians,  and  to  obtain  it  for 
his  countrymen ;  and  in  the  erection  of  fort's,  and  other  means,  establishing 
the  English  influence  over  the  savages.      These  were  benefits,  however, 
not  immediately  obvious  to  the  public  sense;  and  some  contests  with  the 
Assembly  of  New  York,  caused  by  private  dissatisfaction,  deprived  him  of 
that  popularity,  which  his  general  conduct  merited. 

"  Insensible  of  his  services,  the  undistinguishing  multitude  were  taught  to 
consider  his  removal  as  a  fortunate  event ;  and  until  the  ambitious  designs 
of  the  French  monarch,  with  respect  to  America,  awakened  attention  to  the 
general  welfare,  Mr.  Burnet's  administration  was  as  little  esteemed  as  the 
meanest  of  his  predecessors."* 

"  The  excessive  love  of  money,  a  disease  common  to  most  of  his  predeces- 
sors, and  to  some  who  succeeded  him,  was  a  vice  from  which  he  was  entirely 
free.  He  sold  no  offices,  nor  attempted  to  raise  a  fortune  by  indirect  means ; 
for  he  lived  generously,  and  carried  scarce  any  thing  away  with  him,  but 
his  books.  These,  and  the  conversation  of  men  of  letters,  were  to  him  inex- 
haustible sources  of  delight.  His  astronomical  observations  were  useful j  but 
by  his  comment  on  the  apocalypse,  he  exposed  himself,  as  other  learned 
men  have  done,  to  the  criticism  of  those  who  have  not  ability  to  write  half 
so  wehV't 

VI.  John  Montgomery,  his  successor,  received  from  him  the  seals  of  the 
provinces  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  on  the  15th  of  April,  1728.    Colo- 
nel Montgomery  was  a  Scotch  gentleman,  bred  a  soldier,  but  who,  in  the 
latter  years  of  his  life,  had  been  groom  of  the  bed  chamber  to  his  Majesty, 
George  the  Second,  before  his  accession  to  the  throne.     This  station,  and  a 
seat  in  Parliament,  had  paved  his  way  to  preferment  in  America.     Good 
natured,  unenterprising,  and  fond  of  his  ease,  his  short  administration  of 

*  Smith's  New  York,  172.  t  Ibid.  173. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  97 

three  years,  is  unmarked  with  any  event  of  historical  interest.  In  1727, 
before  the  departure  of  Governor  Burnet,  a  new  Assembly  had  been  elected. 
With  settled  salaries,  and  the  means  for  support  of  government  provided  for 
years,  the  governors  had  few  inducements  to  invite  frequent  sessions  of  the 
House.  Nearly  three  years  had  elapsed  between  the  rising  of  the  last,  and 
the  convocation  of  the  present  Assembly ;  and  in  dread  that  their  meetings 
might  be  even  longer  dispensed  with,  they  passed  an  act  providing,  that,  a 
General  Assembly  should  be  holden  once  in  three  years,  at  the  least,  alter- 
nately, at  Burlington  and  Amboy ;  and  lest,  by  long  continuance  in  office,  the 
members  should  be  improperly  influenced  by  the  executive,  or  cease  to  re- 
member their  responsibility  to,  and  dependence  upon,  the  people,  it  was  further 
directed,  that,  a  new  Assembly  should  be  thenceforth  chosen,  triennially,  and 
that  the  term  of  the  present  should  expire  on  the  25th  of  October,  1727.  By 
this  act,  the  province  gained  a  partial  security  for  popular  rights.  And  by 
another,  it  was  relieved  from  the  monstrous  grievance  of  the  practice,  under 
which  the  courts  compelled  parties  acquitted  upon  indictment,  to  pay  costs 
of  prosecution.* 

VII.  Upon  the  death  of  Colonel  Montgomery,  on  the  1st  of  July,  1731, 
the  government  devolved  on  Colonel  Lewis  Morris,  until  the  1st  of  August, 
1732;  when  William  Cosby,  Esq.  arrived,  with  the  commission  of  governor 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey.    He  held  these  offices  until  his  death,  in  1736. 
His  administration  in  New  York  was  signalized  by  long  and  obstinate  con- 
tests with  the  Assembly.     Some  differences,  appear,  also,  to  have  arisen, 
between  him  and  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey ;  the  latter  complaining,  that, 
the  council  was  filled  with  members  from  New  York ;  and  the  former,  that, 
his  maintenance  had  not  been  provided  for,  during  a  long  protracted  session. 
With  this  exception,  the  harmony,  which  had  long  prevailed,  between  the 
governors  and  Assemblies  of  this  province,  was  uninterrupted  during  his 
administration. 

VIII.  The  executive  power,  on  the  demise  of  Governor  Cosby,  devolved, 
first,  on  the  president  of  the  council,  John  Anderson,  Esq.,  and  on  his  death, 
about  two  weeks  afterwards,  upon  John  Hamilton,  Esq.,  son  of  Andrew  Ha- 
milton, governor  in  the  time  of  the  proprietaries ;  who  exercised  it  for  nearly 
two  years,  and  until  superseded  by  the  appointment  of  Lewis  Morris,  by  the 
crown. 

IX.  The  provinces  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  although  wholly  inde- 
pendent of  each  other,  had,  uniformly,  been  governed  by  the  same  officer, 
since  the  surrender  of  the  proprietary  governments  of  the  latter ;  unless  for 
short  periods,  when  the  government  was  administered  by  the  presidents  of 
their  respective  councils.     Yet,  New  Jersey,  the  smaller  and  less  important 
territory,  was  treated,  almost,  as  a  dependency  of  her  greater  neighbour. 
The  governor,  attracted  by  the  pleasures,  and  enchained  by  the  business 
of  the  city,  spent  a  small  portion  of  his  time  in  New  Jersey.     The  chief 
officers  of  state  were  taken  from  New  York,  or  upon  their  appointment, 
removed  thither.     Thus,  Mr.  Alexander,  the  secretary  of  New  Jersey,  was  a 
distinguished  practitioner  of  law  of  New  York,  and  Mr.  Morris  held  the  office 
of  chief  justice  in  both  colonies;  and  hence,  the  executive  and  judicial  duties, 
were  fulfilled  with  much  difficulty,  and  frequently,  with  vexatious  delays. 
At  their  January  session,  1728,  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  petitioned  the 
King,  that  when  he  should  think  proper  to  remove  the  then  incumbent  go- 
vernor, Montgomery,  he  would  separate  the  governments,  and  appoint  a  dis- 
tinct governor  for  each  colony.     The  application  had  been  in  the  colonial 
office,  probably,  disregarded,  for  several  years,  when  Mr.  Morris  obtained 

*  See  Appendix,  note  V,  for  the  names  of  the  members  of  council,  in  1727. 

N 


98  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

its  consideration.  The  lords  of  trade  reported  favourably  upon  it  to  the 
privy  council,  and  Mr.  Morris  was  so  fortunate,  as  to  receive  for  himself,  the 
commission  of  governor  of  New  Jersey,  in  severalty. 

This  appointment  was  highly  satisfactory  to  the  people,  as  well,  because 
the  duty  of  the  governor  would  be,  exclusively,  confined  to  the  colony,  as 
that  the  officer  was  greatly  esteemed  by  them.  To  the  Assembly,  which 
he  first  met,  after  his  elevation,  on  the  27th  of  October,  1738,  he  addressed 
a  long  speech,  in  which  he  took  full  credit  for  the  services  he  had  rendered 
in  separating  the  governments,  and  did  not  leave  unnoticed  nor  unpraised, 
the  qualities  he  possessed  for  his  station.  His  self-applause  was  echoed  by 
the  House.  "  We  are,"  said  they,  "  more  deeply  sensible  of  our  sovereign's 
care  of  us,  when  we  consider,  how  exactly  he  has  adapted  the  person  to 
preside,  to  the  nature  and  circumstances  of  this  province : — a  person  who 
has  been  long  distinguished  and  highly  preferred  for  his  profound  knowledge 
of  the  law,  and  in  that  station  has  behaved,  for  a  long  tract  of  years,  with 
great  candour  and  strict  impartiality ; — a  person  well  known  to  ourselves,  to 
be  eminent  for  his  skill  in  affairs  of  government,  which  we,  more  than  once, 
have  had  experience  of;  and  from  his  knowledge  of  the  nature  and  constitu- 
tion of  this  province,  and  other  advantages  of  learning,  if  his  inclinations 
and  endeavours  to  promote  our  welfare  bear  any  proportion  to  his  abilities, 
(which  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt)  every  way  qualified  to  render  us  a 
happy  and  flourishing  people." 

X.  "  And  we  cannot,"  they  continue,  "  but  observe  with  pleasure  and 
thankfulness,  your  excellency's  candour  and  justice,  in  introducing  among 
us,  in  some  measure,  that  noble  economy  so  happily  maintained  in  the  Legis- 
lature of  our  glorious  mother  country,  by  fixing  the  gentlemen  of  the  council 
as  a  separate  and  distinct  part  of  the  Legislature;  for  all  former  governors 
have  presided  in  that  House,  in  a  legislative  capacity,  which,  not  only  very 
much  influenced  their  debates,  but  often  produced  very  bad  effects,  and 
greatly  thwarted  and  obstructed  the  despatch  of  public  business." 

This  arrangement  was  certainly  wise  on  the  part  of  the  governor.  By  it 
he  relinquished  no  power,  since  his  right  of  absolute  negative  upon  all  bills 
was  not  impaired ;  but  he  avoided  much  trouble,  and  maintained  more  secure- 
ly, the  dignity  of  his  office,  which,  in  the  debates  of  a  legislative  council, 
must  often  have  been  in  danger. 

XI.  With  such  favourable  sentiments,  and  with  full  reminiscence  of  their 
professions  of  ability,  to  maintain  an  exclusive  governor,  the  House  pro- 
ceeded, with  cheerfulness,  to  appropriate  five  hundred  pounds,  as  a  compen- 
sation to  Mr.  Morris,  for  his  expense  and  labour  in  procuring  a  separation  of 
the  governments,  and  one  thousand  pounds  per  annum,  for  three  years,  for 
his  salary ;  together  with  sixty  pounds  a  year  for  his  house  rent.     They,  at 
the  same  time,  voted  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  per  annum  to  the  chief 
justice ;  forty  pounds  to  the  second  judge ;  forty  pounds  to  the  treasurers  of 
East  and  West  Jersey,  respectively;  thirty  pounds  to  the  clerk  of  council; 
twenty  pounds  to  each  of  the  clerks  of  the  circuits,  and  eighty  pounds  to  their 
agent  in  Great  Britain,  whom  they  had  a  short  time  before  appointed. 

Unhappily,  this  good  understanding  did  not  long  continue.  The  governor 
whose  ardent,  restless,  and  persevering  temper,  when  engaged  on  the  part 
of  the  people,  had  gained  him  great  popularity,  was  now  as  little  disposed  to 
yield  his  lightest  opinions  to  their  wishes,  as  he  formerly  had  been,  to  sub- 
mit to  the  executive  will.  And  such  was  the  estimate  of  his  own  merits, 
that,  although,  he  had  now  received  double  the  salary  allowed  to  former  go- 
vernors, and  a  considerable  gratuity,  he  informed  the  Assembly  that  he 
accepted  their  grants  only  as  an  earnest  of  what  he  expected  and  deserved : 
and  he  wantonly  forbade  the  treasurer  to  pay  them  their  wages,  although 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  99 

duly  granted,  and  certified  according  to  law.  Flattered  by  the  deference, 
which  had  hitherto  been  paid  him,  and  confident  in  his  political  skill  and 
experience,  which  he  held  to  be,  incomparably,  greater  than  that,  of  any 
other  person  in  his  province,  he  was  surprised  and  offended,  at  the  presump- 
tion of  the  Assembly,  when  it  proposed  measures  which  he  did  not  approve, 
and  attained  ends  which  he  himself  sought,  by  some  unimportant  variation 
from  the  path  he  indicated.  Passionately  fond  of  argumentation,  his  addresses 
to  the  House  were,  at  times,  political  lectures,  delivered  with  all  the  airs  of 
superiority,  which  he  supposed  his  station,  and  greater  intellect  warranted ; 
and  at  other  times,  revilings,  alike  unworthy  of  him  and  the  House.  He 
rejected  several  important  bills,  passed  by  the  Assembly,  and  to  their  com- 
plaints of  the  inexpediency  of  this  conduct,  objected  his  power,  as  a  consti- 
tuent portion  of  the  Legislature  to  exercise  his  veto,  without  question ;  whilst 
he  denied,  practically,  to  the  House,  a  similar  right.  And  thus,  although  he 
proposed  no  tyrannical  or  unlawful  measures,  he  defeated,  by  his  opinionated 
obstinacy,  several  beneficial  bills ;  harassed  the  Legislature  by  repeated  ad- 
journments, prorogations,  and  dissolutions ;  and  became,  with  the  exception  of 
Cornbury,  the  most  obnoxious  governor  who  had,  in  this  province,  held  a  com- 
mission under  the  crown.  During  the  early  years  of  his  administration,  few 
instances  of  this  captious  temper  occur.  The  most  memorable  one,  was  in 
granting  aid  to  a  military  expedition  against  the  Spanish  West  Indies. 

XII.  A  misunderstanding  had  arisen,  in  the  year  1737,  between  Great 
Britain  and  Spain,  on  account  of  injuries  alleged  to  have  been  done,  to  the 
English  logwood  cutters  at  Campeachy,  and  salt  gatherers  at  Tortugas. 
The  Spaniards,  not  only  denied  them  the  privileges  they  exercised,  but 
claimed,  and  used  with  insolence  and  cruelty,  the  right  to  search  English 
vessels,  for  contraband  goods;  of  which,  large  quantities  were  introduced 
into  their  colonies.     Open  war  was,  for  a  while,  delayed,  by  a  convention, 
extremely  unpopular  in  England,  concluded  in  January,  1738 ;  but  which, 
not  having  been  observed  by  Spain,  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal  were 
issued  by  Great  Britain,  and  general    preparations  were  made  for  war; 
which  was  finally  declared,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1739.     A  fleet,  under 
Admiral  Vernon,  having  on  board  a  body  of  troops,  under  Charles,  Lord 
Cathcart,  was  despatched  against  the  Spanish  islands,  and  aid  was  required 
from  the  several  British  colonies. 

The  province  of  New  Jersey  showed  the  same  alacrity,  upon  this,  as  upon 
other  like  occasions ;  promptly  passing  a  bill  for  raising,  transporting,  and 
victualling  her  quota  of  troops ;  but,  some  of  its  details  were  unsatisfactory 
to  Governor  Morris,  and  he  delayed  his  assent  to  the  bill.  Having  despatch- 
ed all  other  business  before  them,  the  House  begged  his  excellency,  to  in- 
form them,  when  he  would  permit  them  to  return  to  their  homes.  To  this 
reasonable  request,  he  sullenly  replied,  "  When  I  think  fit ;"  and  he  kept 
the  representatives  of  the  people,  hanging  upon  his  will,  from  day  to  day, 
from  the  25th  to  the  31st  of  July,  before  he  sanctioned  their  bills,  and  pro- 
rogued them. 

XIII.  This  treatment,  justly,  gave  offence,  which  was  heightened  by  his 
refusal  at  subsequent  sessions,  to  concur  in  several  bills  deemed  essential  to 
the  welfare  of  the  province,  by  the  House;  and  by  his  pertinacious  demand 
for  some  unwelcome  modification  of  the  existing  militia  law.     The  fees  of 
the  various  officers  of  the  colony  were  not  prescribed  by  law,  but  regulated 
by  the  governor  and  council ;  and  were,  frequently,  exorbitant  and  oppres- 
sive. A  fee  bill  was,  at  length,  proposed  by  the  Assembly,  but  long  resisted  by 
the  council  and  governor,  and  finally  passed,  on  the  21st  of  October,  1743, 
with  a  clause  suspending  its  operation,  until  his  Majesty's  pleasure  in  rela- 
tion thereto,  should  be  known.     When  the  sense  of  the  several  branches 


100  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  the  Legislature,  had  thus  been  obtained,  the  Assembly,  very  rationally, 
inferred,  that  the  inchoate  law  supplied  a  more  satisfactory  rule,  than  the 
will  of  the  executive ;  and  on  the  5th  of  December,  resolved,  that,  it  ought  to 
have  due  weight  with  the  judges  and  all  others  concerned,  and,  to  govern 
their  practice,  until  the  royal  pleasure  should  be  declared.  This  expression 
of  opinion,  awakened  the  indignation  of  the  governor,  who  sternly  demand- 
ed, "  By  what  authority  the  House  ordered  an  act,  not  in  force,  to  be  printed 
as  a  rule  for  the  government  of  the  people? — or  indeed,  any  act?  And  that, 
if  they  had,  or  pretended  to  have,  such  authority,  they  would  let  him  know 
whence  they  derived  it,  and  how  they  came  by  it,  that  his  Majesty  might  be 
informed  of  it."  In  reply  to  these  queries,  the  House  resolved,  "  That  as 
they  had  only  given  their  opinion  of  an  act,  which  had  passed  the  three 
branches  of  the  Legislature  here,  and  had  not  assumed  to  themselves,  any 
unwarrantable  authority,  they  think  themselves  not  accountable  for  that 
opinion ;  and  that  it  is  not  consistent  with  the  honour  and  dignity  of  the 
House,  and  the  trust  reposed  in  them,  to  give  any  further  answer."  And 
though  the  governor  prohibited  them  from  printing  the  act,  it  was  published 
with  votes  of  the  Assembly.  Notwithstanding  the  governor  had  sanctioned 
the  law,  and  thereby  concurred  in  opinion,  with  the  Assembly,  and  the  peo- 
ple, in  the  adequacy  of  the  fees  which  it  prescribed,  he,  with  great  duplicity, 
represented  to  the  ministry,  that  they  were  so  inconsiderable,  that  no  persons 
of  character  or  reputation,  cared  to  accept  of  employments,  in  the  several 
courts  of  judicature ;  and  the  refusal  of  the  royal  assent  to  the  bill,  was 
delay ed}  only,  by  the  exertions  of  Richard  Partridge,  Esq.,  the  provincial 
agent,  at  court. 

XIV.  There  were  three  other  measures  which  the  people  were  desirous  to 
effect.  1st.  The  renewal  of  the  act,  making  current  forty  thousand  pounds, 
in  bills  of  credit,  which  was  approaching  its  term ;  2d.  An  act  to  oblige  the 
several  sheriffs  of  the  colony,  to  give  security  for  the  faithful  performance  of 
their  duties,  which  had  become  highly  necessary,  from  the  improvident  ap- 
pointments of  the  executive ;  and,  3d.  An  act  to  prevent  actions  for  small 
amounts,  in  the  Supreme  Court.  All  of  which;  whilst  productive  of  the 
public  weal,  would  impair  the  influence,  and  lessen  the  power,  of  the  go- 
vernor. 

The  interest  on  the  bills  of  credit,  loaned,  as  we  have  already  observed, 
supplied  the  treasury  with  ample  funds,  for  the  support  of  government,  with- 
out resort  to  taxation,  unless  upon  special  occasions,  and  rendered  the  As- 
sembly in  a  measure  independent  of  the  governor.  A  clause  in  the  act  made 
a  general  appropriation  of  the  interest  to  the  support  of  government,  but  as 
special  acts  were,  from  time  to  time,  requisite  to  allot  to  the  several  officers, 
such  portions  as  the  Assembly  deemed  proper,  the  amount  and  duration  of 
their  salaries,  depended  on  the  pleasure  of  the  Assembly.  A  full  treasury, 
beyond  the  control  of  the  executive,  was  reprobated  as  a  mean  of  strength- 
ening the  people,  both  by  the  governors  in  America,  and  the  ministers  of  the 
crown ;  and  both  desired,  that  specific  and  exhausting  appropriations,  should 
be  made  of  the  revenue,  by  the  act  which  created  it,  which  would,  besides 
stripping  the  Assembly  of  its  power,  make  the  executive  independent  of  its 
pleasure,  for  the  term  assigned,  to  the  currency  of  the  bills.  In  a  word,  the 
executive  department  was  indisposed  to  continue  an  acknowledged  benefit  to 
the  people,  unless  it  received,  in  payment,  what  it  deemed  its  full  value. 

Under  the  pretence,  therefore,  that  the  colonial  bills  of  credit  had  been  in- 
jurious to  English  commerce,  the  royal  instructions  forbade  the  respective 
governors  to  assent  to  any  act,  for  issuing  such  bills,  without  a  clause  sus- 
pending its  effect,  until  the  act  had  been  approved  by  the  King.  But,  this 
prohibition  having  been  disregarded,  a  bill  was,  about  this  time,  introduced 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  101 

into  Parliament,  making  it  unlawful  for  any  governor,  to  assent  to  any  act, 
whereby  paper  bills  of  credit  should  be  made,  or  the  time  limited,  for  the 
sinking  of  them,  protracted ;  and  requiring,  that  all  subsisting  bills,  should 
be  sunk  and  destroyed,  according  to  the  tenor  of  the  acts  creating  them. 
The  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  prepared  their  bill,  with  the  suspending 
clause,  yet  the  governor  refused  to  sanction  it,  or  more  properly  speaking, 
influenced  the  council  to  refuse  their  concurrence;  whilst  he  remonstrated 
with  the  House,  on  the  unseasonableness  of  their  bill,  pending  that  before 
Parliament.  The  true  cause  of  his  opposition,  was,  that  the  Assembly 
would  not  fix  the  salaries  of  the  officers,  for  a  term  concurrent  with  that  of 
the  bills. 

The  refusal  of  the  governor  and  council  to  confine  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  to  actions  in  which  the  sum  demanded  exceeded  fifteen 
pounds,  had  a  selfishness  so  naked,  that  they  should  have  blushed  to  observe  it. 
The  compensation  of  the  justices  was  partly  dependent  upon  fees ;  hence,  it 
became,  indeed,  the  part  of  a  judge  to  enlarge  his  jurisdiction,*  to  protract 
the  pleadings,  and  to  increase  litigation.  The  chief  justice,  Robert  Hunter 
Morris,  son  of  the  governor,  was  a  member  of  council,  and  his  fees  would, 
obviously,  be  diminished  by  the  limitation. 

XV.  Justly  irritated  by  these  scarce  gauze-covered  attempts,  to  make  the 
commonwealth  a  productive  estate,  regardless  of  the  public  weal,  the  Assem- 
bly resolved,  to  apply  for  defence,  to  the  passion  that  oppressed  them ;  and 
by  withholding  the  salaries  of  the  officers,  to  make  them  feel,  that,  even  in  a 
pecuniary  point  of  view,  concession  to  the  popular  will  would  be  more  profit- 
able than  resistance.  Between  October,  1743,  and  April,  1745,  three  houses 
had  been  dissolved  by  the  governor ;  each  of  which  had  given  him  distinctly 
to  understand,  that,  they  would  pass  no  act  for  the  support  of  government, 
unless,  concurrently,  with  the  bills  above-mentioned.  In  considering  this 
offer,  the  governor  in  his  address  to  the  House,  sitting  at  Amboy,  in  April, 
1745,  observed — 

"  The  kings  of  England  have,  from  time  to  time,  immemorial,  refused 
their  assent  to  many  bills  passed  by  both  Lords  and  Commons,  without  as- 
signing any  reason  for  their  so  doing ;  and  so  have  the  Lords  to  bills  passed 
by  the  Commons,  though  perhaps  not  so  often ;  and  if  it  may  be  lawful  to 
compare  small  things  with  great,  should  the  House  of  Commons  deny  to 
support  the  government,  and  assign  these  refusals  as  a  reason  for  their 
denial,  as  is  done  here,  and  appeal  to  the  populace  upon  it ;  or,  in  an  address, 
propose  to  the  King  to  pass  their  bills  previous  to  their  granting  the  support 
of  government,  could  it  bear  a  milder  construction,  than  an  attempt  to  alter 
the  constitution?  And  is  it  less  so  here? 

"  I  believe,  with  some  reason,  that  the  House  was  ashamed  of  that  ridicu- 
lous proposal  of  passing  their  bills,  previous  to  their  granting  the  support  of 
government ;  and  was  willing  for  their  sakes  to  forget  it,  and  let  it  drop  into 
the  oblivion  it  deserved ;  but,  since  the  late  House  have  thought  fit  to  men- 
tion it,  on  the  particular  occasion  they  have  done,  I  shall  say  a  few  words  to 
it.  And,  first,  it  is  known  to  all,  and  themselves,  in  particular ;  that  the 
money  in  the  treasury  is  appointed  for  the  support  of  government,  and  ap- 
propriated for  that  purpose ;  and  all  that  they  have  to  do  in  it  is,  to  agree 
with  the  council  and  myself,  what  quantity  of  it  should  be  applied  to  that 
use ;  and  the  council  could,  with  equal  propriety,  have  made  the  same  pro- 
posal, to  pass  their  bills,  that  is,  the  bills  of  the  proposers,  previous  to  their 
granting  their  support.  I  thought,  that,  what  I  had  said,  when  that  proposal 

"  Bonis  est  judicis  ampliare  jurisdictionem." — Law  maxim. 


102  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

was  made,  and  the  bills  I  then  passed,  left  no  room  for  a  second  mention  of 
it ;  but  since  they  have  done  it,  on  the  occasion,  they  did,  and  thereby  seem 
to  insinuate  to  the  populace,  that  my  passing  of  their  bills,  is  a  condition  on 
my  part,  to  be  complied  with,  before  they  will  agree  to  the  support  of  the 
government,  I  take  leave  to  say,  that  what  they  call  a  proposal,  I  esteem  a 
most  unmannerly  threat,  that,  they  would  not  support  the  government  at  all, 
unless  I  passed  all  their  bills,  before  they  did  it;  and  then  would  support  it, 
as  they  thought  fit:  To  which,  I  say,  that  I  will  assent  to  none  of  the  bills 
passed  by  the  Assembly,  unless  first  assented  to  by  the  council,  and  I  ap- 
prove them:  But  not  even  then — if  I  think  such  not  very  necessary,  unless 
sufficient  provision  be  made  for  the  support  of  the  government,  previous  to 
the  passing  of  any  bill,  by  me.  And  this,  gentlemen,  I  desire  you  to  take 
notice  of,  and  govern  yourselves  accordingly." 

To  this  assertion  of  the  governor's  determination,  the  House,  among  other 
things,  replied.  "  As  we  met  your  excellency  at  this  time,  determined,  as 
in  duty  to  his  Majesty,  we  are  bound,  to  support  his  government,  so  we  enter- 
tained hopes  that  we  might  at  least,  have  been  encouraged  to  proceed  in  pre- 
paring some  bills  we  think  very  necessary,  and  much  wanted  by  the  people, 
whom  we  represent.  But,  since  your  excellency  hath  been  pleased  to  assure 
us,  that  you  will  assent  to  none  of  the  bills  passed  by  the  Assembly,  unless 
first  assented  to  by  the  council,  and  you  approve  of  them ;  but  not  even  then, 
if  you  think  such  bill  not  very  necessary,  unless  a  sufficient  provision  be 
made  for  the  support  of  government,  previous  to  the  passing  of  any  bill  by 
you;  and  this  you  have  recommended  to  our  particular  notice,  to  govern  our- 
selves accordingly,  it  gives  us  some  concern  to  be  thus  almost,  peremptorily, 
precluded  from  proposing  such  bills  as  we  should  think  very  necessary;  but 
we  know  this  is  a  power,  your  excellency  can  make  use  of,  to  check  our 
proceedings.  We  shall,  therefore,  according  to  your  prescription,  defer  such 
bills  until  some  more  favourable  opportunity,  when  reason  and  argument  may 
have  greater  influence." 

Urged  by  the  necessity,  so  far  as  it  regarded  the  crown,  of  preserving,  at 
least,  the  appearance  of  providing  for  the  support  of  government,  the  House 
presented  to  the  governor  and  council,  a  bill  for  granting  less  than  half  the 
usual  sums,  which  was  of  course  rejected. 

At  length,  after  several  adjournments,  and  more  than  a  year's  delay,  the 
Assembly  declared,  "  that  notwithstanding  all  the  foregoing  treatment,  they 
were  still  fond  of  an  accommodation,  and  solicited  his  excellency  for  two  or 
three  laws  which  the  country  have  very  much  at  heart ;  and  they  informed 
him,  that  they  would  willingly  support  the  government  with  salaries  as 
large  as  had  been  given  during  his  administration,  on  condition,  that  they 
could  obtain  those  acts  that  would  enable  them  to  do  it  in  a  manner  they 
could  approve  of; — but  this  could  not  be  done.  They  therefore  begged  leave 
to  be  plain  with  his  excellency,  and  hoped  that  he  would  not  take  it  amiss, 
that  they  are  so;  they  are  now  willing  (if  his  excellency  and  council  think 
fit,)  to  pass  the  bills  which  they  passed  at  the  last  meeting  over  again,  but  as 
they  are  discouraged  from  giving  so  large  a  support,  as  they  would  willingly 
have  done,  they  are  determined  to  assent  to  no  longer  applications,  than  what 
in  the  late  meeting  they  assented  to,  until  they  can  have  an  assurance  of 
obtaining  some  acts  they  think  they  have  a  right  to,  and  very  necessary 
to  enable  the  colony  so  to  do."  From  this  determination,  the  House  did  not 
depart,  and  the  governor  equally  unyielding,  though  in  very  bad  health, 
prorogued  them  from  time  to  time,  twice  to  Trenton,  that  they  might  be  near 
his  residence  of  Kingsbury;  and,  at  length,  after  another  year  of  fruitless 
altercation,  dissolved  them. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  103 

XVI.  But,  the  appeal  to  the  people,  by  the  convocation  of  a  new  Assembly, 
did  not  relieve  the  governor.     The  constituents  of  the  former  House  univer- 
sally approved  their  conduct,  and  the  same  members  were  re-elected,  two 
only  excepted.     The  governor's  infirmities  increasing,  the  Assembly  met  at 
Trenton,  on  the  26th  of  February,  1746.     Both  parties  had  now  become 
heartily  weary  of  the  unprofitable  contention,  and  were  disposed  to  unite  by 
sacrificing  a  part  of  their  respective  wishes.     This  desirable  compromise  was 
induced  partly  by  the  war,  in  which  the  empire  was  engaged  with  France 
and  Spain,  and  the  dangers  dreaded  to  the  state  from  the  rebellion  in  England 
in  favour  of  the  Pretender.    These  circumstances  served  as  a  pretext,  if  they 
were  not  the  reason,  for  accommodation.  The  leaders  of  the  Assembly  agreed 
to  pass  the  militia  law,  desired  by  his  excellency,  and  he  engaged  to  concur 
in  their  bills  for  the  paper  currency,  the  requiring  security  from  sheriffs,  and 
curtailing  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Supreme  Court — it  being  well  understood, 
that  the  support  of  government  should  be  provided  for,  as  liberally  as  here- 
tofore.    These  bills  were  all  duly  approved  by  the  Assembly,  and  council, 
and  awaited  only  the  signature  of  the  governor,  to  become  laws ;  but  that  for 
the  support  of  government,  had  not  yet  passed  the  House.     The  governor 
refused  his  assent  to  those  before  him,  until  the  supply  bill  should  also  be  pre- 
sented.    Neither  party  had  confidence  in  the  other;  and  it  soon  became  ap- 
parent, that  the  distrust  of  the  House  was  but  too  well  founded.     For  at  this 
period,  they  received  a  communication  from  the  provincial  agent  at  London, 
informing  that  the  fee-bill  was  about  to  be  defeated,  by  the  representations  of 
the  governor,  notwithstanding  he  had  given  it  his  official  sanction ;  and  it 
was  subsequently  disapproved  by  the  king.     No  reliance  therefore,  could  be 
placed  in  the  success  of  their  money  bill,  even  when  approved  by  all  the 
branches  of  the  Legislature;  since  the  governor  might,  and  probably  would 
use  his  endeavours,  successfully,  under  the  suspending  clause  to  prevent  the 
royal  approbation.     The  House  resolved,  therefore,  whilst  adhering  to  the 
letter  and  spirit  of  the  agreement  for  accommodation,  and  providing,  as  usual, 
for  the  compensation  of  the  other  officers,  to  make  the  governor's  salary  de- 
pend upon  his  good  faith,  and  upon  the  final  passage  of  their  money  bill,  by 
the  King. 

XVII.  "With  this  view,  a  committee  of  the  House  informed  him,  that  they 
were  willing,  upon  giving  his  assent  to  the  bills  now  before  him,  to  vote  to  the 
commander-in-chief  for  the  time  being,  five  hundred  pounds  per  annum,  for  two 
years,  to  commence  the  23d  of  September,  1744,  and  to  end  23d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1746;  which,  with  the  other  salaries,  should  be  paid  out  of  the  money 
then  in  the  treasury.     And  as  a  grateful  acknowledgment  to  his  Majesty, 
and  his  excellency,  for  the  benefits  they  hoped  the  colony  would  receive  from 
such  bills,  they  further  assured  him,  that,  provision  should  be  made  in  the  bill, 
for  the  support  of  government,  for  the  payment  of  one  thousand  pounds  to 
him  or  his  representatives,  out  of  the  first  interest  money,  arising  from  the 
act  making  current  the  bills  of  credit,  when  his  Majesty's  assent  should  be 
had  thereto.     With  these  conditions,  the  governor  refused  compliance  and 
prorogued  the  House  until  the  following  day.    The  effect  of  prorogation  was  to 
put  an  end  to  all  business  before  the  House,  and  oblige  them  to  recommence 
their  labours.    It  had  been  repeatedly  tried  without  any  good  effect,  and  was 
probably  resorted  to  on  this  occasion,  that  the  governor,  whose  illness  daily 
increased,  and  incapacitated  him  for  business,  might  obtain  a  short  respite  from 
a  vexatious  dispute.   The  House  convened  on  the  prorogation,  and  authorized 
the  speaker,  and  any  two  members,  to  meet  and  adjourn  from  day  to  day. 

On  the  21st  of  May,  1746,  Governor  Morris,  after  a  severe  illness,  of 
more  than  two  years,  died  at  Kingsbury,  near  Trenton.  By  his  death,  the 
office  of  governor  devolved  upon  John  Hamilton,  Esq.,  the  eldest  member 


104  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  council,  All  the  bills  which  had  been  so  obnoxious  to  him,  were  passed 
in  February,  1748,  by  Governor  Belcher,  without  hesitation.  The  cham- 
pions of  the  Assembly,  in  their  long  contests  with  the  governor  appear  to  have 
been  Mr.  Richard  Smith,  Mr.  Lawrence,  Mr.  Neville,  and  Mr.  Eaton. 

XVIII.  The  family  of  Mr.  Morris,  which  for  more  than  a  century  ex- 
ercised a  controlling  influence  over  the  political  events  of  New  York,  and 
New  Jersey,  was  derived  from  Richard  Morris ;  who,  wearied  with  the  un- 
settled condition  of  affairs  in  England,  consequent  on  the  wars  of  Crom- 
well, in  whose  armies  he  is  said  to  have  been  a  distinguished  leader, 
turned  his  views  to  America,  and  came  over  first  to  the  West  Indies,  and 
shortly  after  to  New  York.  He  purchased  an  estate  near  Haerlem,  ten  miles 
from  the  city,  containing  more  than  three  thousand  acres  of  land,  which  by 
the  original  grant  was  endowed  with  manorial  privileges,  and  called  Morris- 
ania.  Richard  died  in  1673,  leaving  an  only  son,  Lewis,  the  subject  of  our 
story,  an  infant  and  an  orphan,  his  mother  having  died  a  few  years  before 
his  lather.  Thus  destitute,  he  became  the  ward  of  the  colonial  government, 
which  appointed  a  guardian  to  his  person  and  estate.  Soon  after,  however, 
his  uncle,  Lewis  Morris,  arrived  from  Barbadoes,  and  settling  at  Morrisania, 
took  his  nephew  in  charge,  and  finally  made  him  heir  to  his  fortune.  The 
early  years  of  the  nephew,  were  wild  and  erratic.  On  one  occasion,  having 
committed  some  folly,  or  extravagance,  displeasing  to  his  uncle,  he  strolled 
to  the  southern  colonies,  and  thence  to  the  West  Indies,  where  he  maintained 
himself  some  time,  as  a  scrivener.  He  soon  tired  of  his  vagaries,  and  re- 
turned to  his  uncle,  by  whom  he  was  kindly  received.  Ambitious,  and  pos- 
sessed of  much  intellectual  power,  he  entered,  at  an  early  age,  upon  a  public 
career;  and  though,  indolent  in  the  management  of  his  private  affairs,  the 
love  of  power,  rendered  him  active  in  those  of  a  political  nature.  In  New 
Jersey,  he  distinguished  himself  in  the  service  of  the  proprietaries  and  the 
Assembly;  and  by  the  latter  was  employed  to  draw  up  their  complaint 
against  Lord  Cornbury,  and  made  the  bearer  of  it,  to  the  Queen.  No  man 
in  the  colony  equalled  him  in  the  knowledge  of  the  law,  and  the  arts  of  in- 
trigue. He  was  one  of  the  council  of  the  colony,  and  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  in  1692.  Upon  the  surrender  of  the  government,  to  Queen  Anne,  in 
1702,  he  was  named  as  governor,  before  the  appointment  was  conferred 
upon  Cornbury.  He  was  several  years  chief  justice  of  New  York,  and  a 
member  of  Assembly; — was  second  counsellor,  named  in  Cornbury's  in- 
structions; but  was  suspended  by  him,  in  1704;  restored  by  the  Queen, 
and  suspended  a  second  time,  in  the  same  year.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Assembly,  in  1707,  and  was  reappointed  to  the  council,  in  1708,  from  which 
he  was  again  removed,  by  Lieutenant-Governor  Ingoldsby,  in  1709,  but 
reappointed  in  1710,  where  he  continued,  until  made  governor,  in  1738. 
The  love  of  power  was  his  ruling  passion.  Unable  to  gratify  it,  as  a  parti- 
san of  the  governor,  he  became  a  leader  of  the  people ;  and  as  their  power 
was  his,  contended  strenuously,  for  its  preservation  and  enlargement;  but 
when  that  power  was  opposed  to  his  will,  he  was  not  less  active  to  control 
and  abridge  it.  There  was  nothing  in  his  conduct  or  character,  to  separate 
him  from  the  herd  of  politicians,  who  throw  themselves  into  the  public  arena, 
like  gladiators,  to  obtain  by  combat,  with  each  other,  their  daily  bread,  and 
a  few  shouts  of  applause,  from  the  spectators ;  the  memory  of  which,  en- 
dures, scarce  longer  than  their  reverberation.  In  his  early  life,  he  rendered 
some  service  to  the  colony,  for  which  it  was  grateful ;  and  his  name,  borne 
by  one  of  the  counties  of  the  State,  will  attest,  that  he  was,  once,  a  popular 
favourite.  In  private  life,  he  was  highly  respectable,  and  happy.  Inherit- 
ing a  large  estate,  and  free  from  avarice,  he  was  not  tempted  to  increase  it, 
by  indirect  means.  Blessed  with  the  affections  of  an  amiable  wife,  he  be- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  105 

came  the  father  of  a  large  family  of  children,  many  of  whom,  he  lived  to  see 
successfully  settled.* 

XIX.  His  widow  applied,  soon  after  his  death,  to  the  Legislature,  for  the 
payment  of  what  she  termed  the  arrears  of  his  salary,  at  the  rate  of  one 
thousand  pounds,  per  annum,  for  nearly  two  years;  and  the  Assembly 
having  rejected  her  petition,  she  solicited  the  interference  of  the  lords  com- 
missioners for  trade  and  plantations.  That  Board  instructed  Governor 
Belcher,  in  November,  1748,  to  recommend,  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  to 
the  Assembly,  to  make  provision  for  the  speedy  payment  of  such  arrears — 
declaring,  that  they  earnestly  interested  themselves  in  behalf  of  the  petitioner, 
as  the  salary  was  represented  to  them  to  have  been  withheld,  merely  on 
account  of  his  adherence  to  his  duty,  and  obedience  to  the  direction  of  the 
board.  When  this  subject  was  thus  brought  before  the  Assembly,  for  con- 
sideration, they  replied,  by  a  long  enumeration  of  the  political  sins  of  the 
late  governor ;  and  for  those  causes,  trusted  that  Governor  Belcher  would 
deem  their  conduct  just  and  reasonable.  "  But,"  they  continued,  "  to  put 
the  matter  beyond  dispute,  although  Governor  Morris,  in  his  life  time,  did, 
and  his  executors,  now,  do,  insist  upon  payment  of  what  some  are  pleased 
to  term  arrears,  yet  the  House  have  his  own  opinion  in  a  similar  case,  to 
justify  their  not  allowing  them :" — (Alluding  to  the  case  of  Lord  Cornbury, 
in  which,  Mr.  Morris  had  taken,  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  the  present 
ground  of  the  House.)  "  The  subject,"  the  Assembly  further  urged,  "  was 
so  universally  disliked  in  the  colony,  that  there  is  none  except  those  who  are 
immediately  concerned,  in  point  of  interest,  or  particularly,  influenced  by 
those  who  are,  will  say  one  word  in  its  favour.  And  it  is  altogether  un- 
likely, that,  any  Assembly  in  the  colony,  would  look  upon  that  to  be  a  just 
debt,  or  apply  any  money  for  the  discharge  thereof;  and  that  they  could 
not  conceive,  that  further  recommendation  of  it,  would  be  advantageous  to 
the  executors." 

*  See  Appendix,  W. 


106  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Comprehending  Events  from  the  death  of  Governor  Morris  to  the  death  of  Governor 
Belcher — from  1746  to  1757. — I.  War  with  France — Proposal  of  Governor  Shirley 
to  attack  the  French  Settlements,  at  Cape  Breton — New  Jersey  votes  two  thou- 
sand Pounds  for  the  Service — Favourable  result  of  the  Expedition. — II.  Proposed 
attack  on  Canada — New  Jersey  Regiment  raised  and  placed  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler— March  for  Albany— Threatened  Mutiny.— III.  Plan 
of  the  proposed  Campaign. — IV.  Treaty  of  Peace. — V.  Death  of  President  Ha- 
milton— Devolvement  of  the  Government  on  President  Reading — Arrival  of  Go- 
vernor Belcher — His  Character. — VI.  Vexations  arising  from  the  Elizabethtown 
Claims  under  Indian  Grants — the  Assembly  disposed  to  palliate  the  Conduct  of 
the  Rioters — Representation  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors — their  grievous  Charge 
against  the  Members  of  Assembly,  in  a  Petition  to  the  King — the  House  transmits 
a  counter  Petition — Disingenuous  conduct  of  the  House. — VII.  Disputes  relative 
to  the  "  Quota  Bill." — Vlll.  Hostile  proceedings  of  the  French  in  America. — IX. 
Difference  between  the  French  and  Eno-lish,  in  their  mode  of  cultivating  Indian 
favour. — X.  Efforts  of  the  French  to  occupy  the  English  Lands. — XI.  Expedi- 
tion of  George  Washington  to  Fort  Venango. — XII.  Measures  of  the  English 
Government  to  resist  French  encroachments. — XIII.  Convention  of  the  Colo- 
nies— Plan  of  Union  proposed  by  Dr.  Franklin — Condemned  by  New  Jersey — 
Military  Expedition  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washington — is  captured  by  the 
French  under  De  Villiers. — XIV.  Extensive  military  Preparations  of  Great 
Britain. — XV.  Measures  of  New  Jersey. — XVI.  Arrival  of  Major  General  Brad- 
dock. — XVII.  Convention  of  Governors  to  determine  the  Plan  of  the  Campaign. 
XVIII.  Acquisitions  in  Nova  Scotia— Cruel  treatment  of  the  Neutrals.— XIX. 
New  Jersey  raises  a  Regiment  for  the  Northern  Expedition — Mr.  Philip  Schuyler 
named  Colonel. — XX.  March  of  General  Braddock  on  the  Western  Expedition — 
Fastidiousness  and  Presumption  of  the  General — is  attacked  and  defeated. — 
XXI.  Universal  Consternation  on  this  Defeat — Governor  Belcher  summons  the 
Legislature — Inroads  and  Cruelties  of  the  Indians — the  Inhabitants  of  New  Jersey 
give  aid  to  those  of  Pennsylvania. — XXII.  Success  of  the  Northern  Expedition. — 
XXIII.  Provision  against  the  Attack  of  the  French  and  Indians.— XXIV.  Plans 
proposed  for  the  Campaign  of  175G — Exertions  of  the  Colonies. — XXV.  War 
formally  declared  between  Great  Britain  and  France. — XXVI.  General  Shirley 
removed  from  the  supreme  command — General  Abercrombie,  and,  subsequently, 
Lord  Loudon  appointed.— XXVII.  Suspension  of  Indian  Hostilities.— XXVIII. 
Sluggish  military  Efforts  of  the  English — Success  of  the  French  in  the  North — 
Capture  of  part  of  the  Jersey  Regiment,  with  Colonel  Schuyler,  at  Oswego — 
Disastrous  termination  of  the  Campaign. — XXIX.  Renewal  of  Indian  Barbari- 
ties.— XXX.  Military  Requisitions  of  Lord  Loudon — New  Jersey  refuses  to  raise 
more  than  five  hundred  Men. — XXXI.  Unsuccessful  attempt  of  Lord  Loudon  on 
Louisburg. — XXXII.  Success  of  Montcalm — New  Jersey  prepares  to  raise  four 
thousand  Men — the  remainder  of  the  Jersey  Regiment  captured  by  the  Enemy. — 
XXXIII.  Death  of  Governor  Belcher— Biographical  Notice  of.— XXXIV.  John 
Reading,  President. 

I.  A  masked  war  had  been,  for  some  time,  carried  on  between  France 
and  Great  Britain ;  and  hostilities  were  openly  declared  by  the  former,  on 
the  20th.  and  by  the  latter,  on  the  24th  of  March,  1744.  In  the  spring  of 
1745,  Governor  Shirley,  of  Massachusetts,  having  conceived  the  design  of 
attacking  the  French  settlements  at  Cape  Breton,  and  the  conquest  of  Louis- 
burg,  the  capital,  endeavoured  to  enlist  the  other  colonies  in  the  enterprise. 
The  capture  of  this  place  was  greatly  desirable,  inasmuch  as  it  was  the 
largest  and  most  commodious  position  of  the  French  in  America ;  affording 
safe  harbourage  for  their  largest  vessels,  and  a  rendezvous  for  their  nume- 
rous privateers,  now  infesting  the  western  shores  of  the  Atlantic.  As  the 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  107 

design  originated  with  the  people  of  New  England,  and  had  not  been  sanc- 
tioned by  the  crown,  Commodore  Warren,  the  English  commandant  on  the 
American  station,  declined  to  join  Shirley  in  the  attack.  The  Legislature  of 
New  Jersey,  to  whom  the  plan  was  not  communicated  before  the  expedition 
had  sailed,  also,  declined  to  aid  it;  because  there  was  not  a  single  vessel  in 
the  service  of  the  province,  nor  a  ship  belonging  to  private  owners-,  that  was 
fit  for  sea;  and  because  the  expedition  not  having  received  the  approbation 
of  the  King,  might  disconcert  the  measures  of  the  ministry.  But  when  the 
House  was,  soon  afterwards,  informed,  that  the  siege  of  Louisburg  was  ear- 
nestly prosecuted  with  his  Majesty's  consent,  they  unanimously  voted  two 
thousand  pounds  of  the  interest  money,  then  in  the  treasury,  for  his  Ma- 
jesty's service,  to  be  transmitted,  in  provisions,  to  General  Shirley. 

The  plan,  when  communicated  to  the  British  government,  had  been 
warmly  approved.  Warren  was  commanded  to  repair  to  Boston,  and  to 
render  all  possible  aid  to  the  views  of  Shirley.  He  did  not  arrive,  however, 
until  after  the  provincial  fleet  had  sailed,  with  six  thousand  men,  under  the 
command  of  Mr.  Pepperel,  a  trader  of  Piscataqua.  The  result  of  the  enter- 
prise was  highly  honourable  to  its  projectors  and  executors.  The  town  sur- 
rendered after  two  months'  siege,  during  which,  the  provincial  forces  dis- 
played courage,  activity,  and  fortitude,  that  would  have  distinguished  veteran 
troops.  The  English  historians  have,  shamefully,  endeavoured  to  strip  the 
colonies  of  this  early  trophy  of  their  spirit  and  capacity.  Smollet  makes  an 
equivocal  statement  of  the  facts,  by  which  Warren  is  brought  on  the  scene, 
before  the  departure  of  the  provincial  troops  from  Boston;  when,  in  truth, 
they  sailed  without  any  expectation  of  his  assistance,  having  a  knowledge  of 
his  refusal  to  join  them.  The  English  ministry,  though  sufficiently  forward 
to  sustain  the  exclusive  pretensions  of  their  officers,  was  compelled  by  the 
merits  of  the  provincials,  to  distinguish  their  leader,  Pepperel,  and  to  reward 
him  with  a  baronetcy  of  Great  Britain. 

IT.  The  ministry,  having  resolved  to  attempt  the  conquest  of  Canada,  by 
a  combined  European  and  colonial  force,  communicated  their  instructions 
to  the  provincial  governors,  at  the  close  of  the  month  of  May,  1746.  Presi- 
dent Hamilton  laid  them  before  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  12th  of 
June.  The  House  resolved  to  raise  and  equip  five  hundred  men  for  this  ser- 
vice ;  for  facilitating  which,  they  offered  to  the  recruit,  six  pounds  bounty.  So 
popular  was  the  enterprise,  that,  in  less  than  two  months,  six  hundred  and  sixty 
men  offered  themselves  for  enlistment.  From  these,  five  companies  were  form- 
ed, and  put  at  the  charge  of  this  province,  and  a  sixth  was  transferred  to  the 
quota  of  New  York.  These  troops,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Philip 
Schuyler,  reached  the  appointed  rendezvous  at  Albany,  on  the  3d  of  Sep- 
tember; where,  the  proposed  invasion  of  the  French  provinces  having  been 
abandoned,  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  the  supply  of  forces  from  Eng- 
land, they  remained  until  the  autumn  of  the  next  year,  serving  to  overawe 
the  Indians,  and  to  protect  the  frontier.  The  pay  promised  by  the  crown, 
was  tardily  remitted,  and  the  troops,  at  the  rendezvous,  became  impatient 
of  the  delay.  In  April,  1747,  the  Jersey  companies  mutinied,  and  resolved 
to  go  off,  with  their  arms  and  baggage,  unless  their  arrears  were  paid  up. 
To  avert  this  evil,  Colonel  Schuyler  despatched  an  express  to  President  Ha- 
milton, with  an  account  of  the  disposition  of  the  troops.  The  president  re- 
commended, to  the  Assembly,  to  provide  for  the  pay,  but  the  House  having 
expended  more  than  twenty  thousand  pounds  in  equipping,  transporting, 
and  victualling  the  detachment,  declined  to  make  further  appropriations; 
and  it  was  detained  in  service  chiefly  by  the  generous  aid  of  the  colonel, 
who  supplied  the  wants  of  the  soldiers;  advancing  many  thousand  pounds 
from  his  private  funds. 


108  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

III.  The  proposed  attack  on  the  French  possessions,  originated  with  Go- 
vernor Shirley,  whose   solicitations,  enforced  by  the  brilliant  success  at 
Louisburg,  prevailed  on  the  ministry  to  undertake  it.     A  squadron  of  ships 
of  war,  having  on  board  a  body  of  land  forces,  commanded  by  Sir  John  St. 
Clair,  was,  as  early  as  the  season  would  admit,  to  join  the  troops  of  New 
England,  at  Louisburg ;  whence  they  were  to  proceed  by  the  St.  Lawrence, 
to  Quebec.     The  troops  from  New  York,  and  from  the  more  southern  pro- 
vinces, were  to  be  collected  at  Albany,  and  to  march  thence  against  Crown 
Point  and  Montreal.     This  plan,  so  far  as  it  depended  upon  the  colonies, 
was  executed  with  promptness  and  alacrity.     The  men  were  raised,  and 
waited,  impatiently,  for  employment ;  but  neither  general,  troops,  nor  orders 
arrived  from  England.;  and  the  provincial  forces  continued  in  a  state  of  in- 
activity, until  the  ensuing  autumn,  when  they  were  disbanded.     This  affair 
was  one  of  the  thousand  instances  of  incapacity  and  misrule,  which  the 
parent  state  inflicted  upon  her  dependant  American  progeny. 

IV.  No  further  material  transactions  took  place  in  America  during  the 
war.     Preliminary  articles  of  peace  were  signed  on  the  30th  of  April ;  but 
hostilities  continued  in  Europe  and  on  the  ocean,  until  October,  1748  ;  when 
the  definitive  treaty  was  executed,  at  Aix-la-Chapelle ;  in  which  the  great  object 
of  the  war  was  wholly  disregarded,  the  right  of  the  British  to  navigate  the 
American  seas,  free  from  search,  being  unnoticed.      The  Island  of  Cape 
Breton,  with  Louisburg,  its  capital,  so  dearly  purchased  by  provincial  blood 
and  treasure,  was  given  up  under  the  stipulation,  that  all  conquests  should 
be  restored ;  and  the  Americans  had  great  cause  to  condemn  the  indifference 
or  ignorance,  which  exposed  them  to  future  vexation  and  renewed  hostilities, 
by  neglecting  to  ascertain  the  boundaries  of  the  French  and  English  territo- 
ries on  the  American  continent. 

V.  President  Hamilton,  whose  health  was  in  a  very  precarious  state,  when 
the  government  devolved  upon  him,  died  about  midsummer,  1747 ;  and  was 
succeeded  by  John  Reading,  Esq.,  the  next  eldest  counsellor,  who  was  soon 
afterwards  displaced  by  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq.,  appointed  governor,  by 
the  crown.     He  met  the  Assembly  for  the  first  time,  on  the  20th  August, 
1747.     Between  this  gentleman  and  the  Legislature,  for  the  space  of  ten 
years,  considerable  harmony  prevailed.     He  seems  to  have  adopted  as  a  rule 
for  his  administration,  the  most  entire  submission  to  the  wishes  of  the  Assem- 
bly, where  they  did  not  interfere  with  the  instructions  from  the  king.     In  the 
latter  case,  he  threw  himself  behind  the  royal  will,  as  an  impregnable  rampart. 
He  was  sparing  of  words,  and  generally  preferred,  when  required  to  commu- 
nicate any  matter  to  the  House,  to  use  those  of  the  ministry,  petitioner,  or 
agent,  as  the  case  might  be ;  rarely  adding  comments  of  his  own,  or  embark- 
ing his  feelings  deeply  in  the  subject.     He  was  never  obnoxious  to  the 
reproach  of  failing  in  his  duty,  and  seldom  displayed  that  indiscreet  zeal 
which  creates  resistance,  by  the  well  known  law,  ruling  alike  in  physics,  as  in 
morals ;  by  which  the  reaction  is  always  equal  to  the  action.     His  temper 
was  imperturbable,  and  though  sometimes  severely  tried  by  the  Assembly, 
by  suspension  of  his  salary,  a  point  in  which  most  colonial  governors  were 
extremely  sensitive,  he  was  unmoved. 

VI.  Two  questions  arising  out  of  proprietary  interests,  vexed  the  whole 
term  of  his  administration;  and  though  he  earnestly  and  successfully  endea- 
voured to  avoid  becoming  a  party  to  them,  he  was  made  a  sufferer  in  the 
contests  between  the  council  and  Assembly.     For  more  than  thirty  years, 
there  had  been  no  important  controversy  between  the  grantees  of  Carteret, 
and  the  Elizabethtown  claimants,  under  the  Indian  title.     But  this  peace  was 
altogether  consequent  on  the  abstinence  of  the  first,  from  enforcing  their  title 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  109 

and  attempting  the  recovery  of  their  rents.     A  large  quantity  of  East  Jersey 
lands,  under  the  Carteret  title,  had  gotten  into  the  hands  of  Robert  Hunter 
Morris,  and  James  Alexander,  Esquires,  who  held  important  offices  in  the 
province;  the  one  being  chief  justice,  the  other  secretary;  and  both,  at  times, 
were  in  the  council.     These  gentlemen,  with  other  extensive  proprietors, 
during  the  life  of  Governor  Morris,  and  towards  the  close  of  his  administra- 
tion, commenced  actions  of  ejectment,  and  suits  for  the  recovery  of  quit-rent, 
against  many  of  the  settlers.    These  immediately  resorted  to  their  Indian  title 
for  defence;  and  formed  an  association,  consisting  of  a  large  proportion  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  eastern  part  of  Middlesex,  the  whole  of  Essex,  part  of 
Somerset,  and  part  of  Morris  counties;  who  were  enabled,  by  their  union 
and  violence,  to  bid  defiance  to  the  law,  to  hold  possession  of  the  lands  which 
were  fairly  within  the  Indian  grant,  and  to  add  to  their  party  a  great  many 
persons  who  could  not,  even  under  that  grant,  claim  exemption  from  propri- 
etary demands.     The  prisons  were  no  longer  competent  to  keep  those  whom 
the  laws  condemned  to  confinement.     In  the  month  of  September,  1745,  the 
associators  broke  open  the  gaol  of  the  county  of  Essex,  and  liberated  a  pri- 
soner, committed  at  the  suit  of  the  proprietaries ;  and  during  several  conse- 
cutive  years,  all  persons   confined  for  like   cause,  or  on  charge  of  high 
treason  and  rebellion  for  resisting  the  laws,  were  released  at  the  will  of  the 
insurgents;  so  that  the  arm  of  government,  was  in  this  regard,  wholly 
paralyzed.     Persons  who  had  long  holden  under   the  proprietaries,  were 
forcibly  ejected ;  others  compelled  to  take  leases  from  landlords,  whom  they 
were  not  disposed  to  acknowledge ;  whilst  those  who  had  courage  to  stand 
out,  were  threatened  with,  and  in  many  instances,  received,  personal  violence. 
The  council  and  the  governor  were  inclined  to  view  these  unlawful  pro- 
ceedings in  the  darkest  colours ;  to  treat  the  disturbers  of  the  peace,  as  insur- 
gents, rebels,  and  traitors,  and  to  inflict  upon  them  the  direst  severity  of  the 
laws.     They  prepared,  and  sent  to  the  Assembly,  a  riot  act,  modelled  after 
that  of  Great  Britain,  making  it  felony  without  benefit  of  clergy,  for  twelve 
or  more,  tumultuously  assembled  together,  to  refuse  to  disperse  upon  the  re- 
quisition of  the  civil  authority,  by  proclamation,  in  form  set  forth  in  the  act. 
The  Assembly  not  only  rejected  this  bill,  but  sought  to  give  a  more  favoura- 
ble colour  to  the  offences  of  the  associators.     The  council  of  the  proprietors, 
in  a  petition  to  the  king,  signed  December  23d,  1748,  by  Andrew  Johnson, 
president,  represented,  "  that  great  numbers  of  men,  taking  advantage  of  a 
dispute  subsisting  between  the  branches  of  the  Legislature  of  the  province, 
and  of  a  most  unnatural  rebellion  at  that  time  reigning  in   Great  Britain, 
entered  into  a  combination  to  subvert  the  laws  and  constitution  of  this  pro- 
vince, and  to  obstruct  the  course  of  legal  proceedings;  to  which  end  they  en- 
deavoured to  infuse  into  the  minds  of  the  people,  that  neither  your  Majesty 
nor  your  noble  progenitors,  Kings  and  Queens  of  England,  had  any  right 
whatever  to  the  soil  or  government  of  America,  and  that  their  grants  were 
void  and  fraudulent ;  and  having  by  those  means  associated  to  themselves, 
great  numbers  of  the  poor  and  ignorant  part  of  the  people,  they,  in  the  month 
of  September,  1745,  began  to  carry  into  execution,  their  wicked  schemes; 
when  in  a  riotous  manner,  they  broke  open  the  jail  of  the  county  of  Essex, 
and  took  from  thence  a  prisoner,  there  confined  by  due  process  of  law;  and 
have,  since  that  time,  gone  on  like  a  torrent,  bearing  all  down  before  them, 
dispossessing  some  people  of  their  estates,  and  giving  them  to  accomplices ; 
plundering  the  estates  of  others,  who  do  not  join  with  them,  and  dividing  the 
spoil  among  them;  breaking  open  the  prisons  as  often  as  any  of  them  are 
committed,  rescuing  their  accomplices,  keeping  daily  in  armed  numbers,  and 
travelling  often  in  armed  multitudes,  to  different  parts  of  the  province,  for  those 
purposes ;  so  that  your  Majesty's  government  and  laws  have,  for  above  three 


110  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

years  last  past,  ceased  to  be  that  protection  to  the  lives  and  properties  of  the 
people  here,  which  your  Majesty  intended  they  should  be." 

"  These  bold  and  daring  people,  not  in  the  least  regarding  their  allegiance, 
have  presumed,  to  establish  courts  of  justice,  to  appoint  captains  and  officers 
over  your  Majesty's  subjects,  to  lay  and  collect  taxes,  and  to  do  many 
other  things  in  contempt  of  your  Majesty's  authority,  to  which  they  refuse 
any  kind  of  obedience :  That  all  the  endeavours  of  the  government  to  put  the 
laws  in  execution,  have  been  hitherto  vain ;  for,  notwithstanding  many  of 
these  common  disturbers  stand  indicted  for  high  treason,  in  levying  war 
against  your  Majesty,  yet  such  is  the  weakness  of  the  government,  that  it 
has  not  been  able  to  bring  one  of  them  to  trial  and  punishment :  That  the 
petitioners  have  long  waited  in  expectation  of  a  vigorous  interposition  of  the 
Legislature,  in  order  to  give  force  to  the  laws,  and  enable  your  Majesty's 
officers  to  carry  them  into  execution :  But  the  House  of  Assembly,  after 
neglecting  the  thing  for  a  long  time,  have,  at  last,  refused  to  afford  the  go- 
vernment any  assistance ;  for  want  of  which,  your  petitioners'  estates  are 
left  a  prey  to  a  rebellious  mob,  and  your  Majesty's  government  exposed  to 
the  repeated  insults  of  a  set  of  traitors." 

This  grievous  charge  was  unknown  to  the  Assembly,  until  a  copy  of  the 
petition  of  the  proprietaries,  was  transmitted  by  the  provincial  agent.  In 
October,  1749,  the  House  sent  a  counter  petition  to  the  King,  with  the  design 
of  vindicating  its  conduct,  in  which  it  declared,  "  that  the  proprietaries  of 
East  New  Jersey  had,  from  the  first  settlement,  surveyed,  patented,  and 
divided  their  lands,  by  Concessions,  among  themselves,  in  such  manner  as 
from  thence  many  irregularities  had  ensued,  which  had  occasioned  multi- 
tudes of  controversies  and  law  suits,  about  titles  and  boundaries  of  land : — 
That,  these  controversies  had  subsisted  between  a  number  of  poor  people  on 
the  one  part,  and  some  of  the  rich,  understanding,  and  powerful  on  the  other 
part ;  among  whom  were  James  Alexander,  Esq.  a  great  proprietor,  and  an 
eminent  lawyer,  one  of  your  Majesty's  council,  and  surveyor-general  for  this 
colony,  although  a  dweller  in  New  York ;  arid  Robert  Hunter  Morris,  Esq. 
chief  justice,  and  one  of  your  Majesty's  council  in  the  said  colony:  That  the 
said  Alexander  and  Morris,  not  yielding  to  determine  the  matter  in  contest, 
by  a  few  trials  at  law,  as  the  nature  of  the  thing  would  admit,  but  on  the 
contrary,  discovering  a  disposition  to  harass  those  people,  by  a  multiplicity 
of  suits,  the  last  mentioned  became  uneasy  (as  we  conceive)  through  fear, 
that  those  suits  might  be  determined  against  them,  when  considered,  that 
the  said  Chief  Justice  Morris,  was  son  of  the  then  late  Governor  Morris,  by 
whose  commission  the  other  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  acted;  and  by 
whom  the  then  sheriffs,  throughout  the  colony,  had  been  appointed;  and 
should  a  multiplicity  of  suits  have  been  determined  against  the  people,  in- 
stead of  a  few  only,  which  would  have  answered  the  purpose,  the  extraordi- 
nary and  unnecessary  charges  occasioned  thereby,  would  have  so  far  weak- 
ened their  hands,  as  to  have  rendered  them  unable  to  appeal  to  your  Majesty 
in  council ;  from  whom  they  might  expect  impartial  justice  :  That  these  are, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  House,  the  motives  that  prevailed  on  these  unthinking 
people,  to  obstruct  the  course  of  legal  proceedings,  and  not  any  disaffection 
to  your  Majesty's  person  or  government."* 

If  the  council  of  proprietors,  supported  by  the  Legislative  council,  was 
disposed  to  aggravate  the  offences  of  the  insurgents  into  high  treason,  it  is 
apparent,  that  the  Assembly  were  not  less  resolved  to  consider  them  of  a 
very  venial  character;  and  their  conduct,  upon  this  occasion,  was  highly 
disingenuous.  The  House  could  not  refuse,  from  time  to  time,  to  condemn, 

*  Votes  of  Assembly. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  Ill 

in  strong  terms,  the  conduct  of  the  rioters ;  but,  no  representation  of  the 
governor  or  council,  could  induce  them,  either  to  pass  the  riot  act,  or  to  arm 
the  executive  with  military  force,  to  capture  the  rioters,  guard  the  prisons, 
or  protect  the  public  peace.  If,  indeed,  the  insurgents  possessed  a  coloura- 
ble title  to  the  lands,  and  had  been  oppressed  by  a  multiplicity  of  suits, 
which  they  were  disposed  to  render  unnecessary  by  submission  to  the  law, 
as  apparent  on  the  decision  of  a  few ;  if  they  had  been  content,  with  defend- 
ing their  own  possessions,  without  disturbing  those  of  others ;  the  represen- 
tations of  the  Assembly  might  have  been  less  reprehensible.  But  the  title 
of  the  insurgents  was,  on  its  merits,  wholly  unsustainable  in  an  English 
court  of  justice,  where  a  mere  Indian  right  could  never  prevail  against  the 
grant  of  the  King.  The  true  solution  of  the  course  taken  by  the  Assembly 
will  be  found,  most  probably,  in  their  sympathy  for  the  rioters,  and  their 
hostility  towards  the  leading  members  of  the  council,  who  were  large  pro- 
prietaries. The  public  peace,  from  tbis  cause,  continued  unsettled,  for  seve- 
ral years. 

VII.  The  other  subject  which  perplexed  the  administration  of  Governor 
Belcher,  was  a  difference  between  the  council  and  Assembly,  on  a  bill  for 
ascertaining  the  value  of  taxable  property  in  each  county,  with  the  view  to 
a  new  apportionment  of  their  respective  quotas.  Among  other  property  di- 
rected to  be  returned  by  this  "  Quota  Bill,"  as  it  was  termed,  was  "  the 
whole  of  all  profitable  tracts  of  land  held  by  patent,  deed,  or  survey, 
whereon  any  improvement  is  made."  To  this  clause  the  council  took  ob- 
jection on  two  grounds, — first,  that  it  was  in  contravention  of  the  royal  in- 
struction, prohibiting  the  governor  from  consenting  to  any  act  to  tax  unpro- 
fitable lands,  and  second,  that  it  would  be  gross  injustice,  by  taxing  lands 
according  to  their  quantity  and  not  according  to  their  quality,  since  tracts  of 
land  might,  and,  probably,  would,  be  deemed  profitable,  when  the  greater 
number  of  acres  were  wholly  unproductive.  The  council,  therefore,  pro- 
posed, to  amend  the  act,  by  declaring,  that  nothing  therein  was  intended,  to 
break  in  upon  the  royal  instruction,  or  to  warrant  the  assessors  to  include 
any  unprofitable  lands  in  their  lists.  The  House,  roused  by  this  attempt  to 
modify  what  they  deemed  a  money  bill,  denied  the  right  of  the  council,  to 
amend  such  bill,  and  refused  themselves  to  alter  it,  so  as  to  remove  the  ob- 
jection. 

There  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  the  Assembly  intended,  at  a  season, 
when  taxation  was  becoming  unusually  heavy,  to  reach  a  portion  of  the  un- 
profitable lands  held  by  many  of  the  rich  proprietaries,  but  which  had 
hitherto  been  protected  by  the  royal  instruction ;  and  that  they  designed  to 
make  the  whole  of  the  lands  pertaining  to  any  improvement,  whether  wild 
or  in  culture,  liable  to  taxation.  The  council,  some  of  whose  members  were 
large  proprietaries,  were  interested  in  firmly  supporting  the  King's  instruc- 
tion ;  and  in  the  space  of  a  little  more  than  three  years,  from  1747  to  1751, 
they  impeded  the  passage  of  seven  bills  of  like  tenor;  and  as  the  "Quota 
Bill"  was  an  indispensable  preliminary  to  an  act  for  the  support  of  govern- 
ment, all  the  officers  of  the  state  were,  during  this  period,  deprived  of  their 
compensations.  It  was  certainly  unjust  to  require  exemption  from  taxa- 
tion for  lands  which,  though  yielding  no  annual  returns,  were  daily  grow- 
ing in  value,  and  increasing  the  wealth  of  the  owner;  yet  there  would 
not  have  been  less  injustice  in  exacting  a  tax  proportioned  on  quantity 
alone,  since  one  fertile  acre  happily  located,  might  be  worth  a  thousand  of 
pine  barren. 

We  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  Assembly,  parts  of  messages  between 
the  council  and  the  Assembly,  in  order  to  show  the  manner  in  which  these 
bodies  treated  each  other,  and  to  give  somewhat  of  the  form  and  colour  of 


112  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

the  times.  Thus  the  cuoncil,  in  their  address  to  the  Assembly  of  the  19th 
of  February,  1750,  say — 

"  The  Assembly,  in  their  message,  and  in  their  address  to  his  excellency, 
accuse  us  of  having  taken  liberties  upon  us ;  as  to  which  we  think  we  have 
taken  none,  but  what  were  our  just  right  to  take.  But  the  liberties  the  As- 
sembly have  taken  with  his  Majesty,  with  his  excellency,  our  governor,  with 
the  magistrates  of  this  and  other  counties,  and  with  us,  by  those  papers,  and 
during  this  and  former  late  sessions,  (as  will  appear  by  their  minutes)  and 
by  spreading  base,  false,  scandalous,  and  injurious  libels  against  us ;  we  be- 
lieve all  sober  and  reasonable  men  will  think  unjustifiable — God  only  knows 
the  hearts  and  thoughts  of  men.  They  have,  it  seems  to  us,  even  not  left 
that  his  province  uninvaded ;  for  they  take  upon  them  to  suggest  our  thoughts 
to  be  not  out  of  any  great  regard  to  his  Majesty^s  instruction,  that  we  have 
been  led  to  make  our  amendment;  but  to  exempt  our  large  tracts  of  land 
from  taxes;  when  they  well  knew,  that  a  majority  of  this  House,  are  not 
owners  of  large  tracts  of  land ;  and  those  who  have  such,  do  declare,  they 
never  had  the  least  thought  of  having  their  lands  exempted  from  taxes,  con- 
sistent with  reason  and  his  Majesty's  instructions." 

The  House,  in  their  democratic  pride,  did  not  deign  to  reply  directly  to 
this  reproach.  But  they  ordered  an  entry  to  be  made  upon  their  minutes, 
declaring,  "  That  it  would  be  taking  up  too  much  time,  at  the  public  ex- 
pense, for  the  House  to  make  any  particular  answer  thereto ;  nor,  indeed,  is 
it  necessary,  when  considered,  that  the  message  itself,  will  discover  the  coun- 
cil's aim,  in  having  the  improved  part,  only,  of  tracts  of  land  taken  an 
account  of,  in  future  taxation;  which,  if  admitted,  would  exempt  the  unim- 
proved part  of  such  tracts,  from  paying  any  part  of  the  public  tax :  So  that, 
should  a  gentleman  be  possessed  of  a  tract  of  ten  thousand  acres  of  land,  in 
one  tract,  worth  ten  thousand  pounds,  and  only  fifty  acres  of  it  improved ; 
and  a  poor  freeholder  should  be  possessed  of  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres, 
only,  worth  but  one  hundred  pounds,  and  fifty  acres  of  it  improved ;  the  poor 
freeholder  must  pay  as  much  as  the  gentleman ;  and  this  we  may  venture  to 
say,  (without  invading  the  province  of  God,  which  the  council  are  pleased 
to  charge  us  with,)  would  be  the  obvious  consequence  of  the  bill,  in  question, 
if  passed  in  the  manner  the  council  insist ;  and  why,  a  poor  man,  worth  only 
one  hundred  pounds,  should  pay  as  much  tax  as  a  gentleman,  worth  ten 
thousand  pounds,  will  be  difficult  for  the  council  to  show  a  reason ;  but  at 
present,  we  may  set  it  down  as  a  difficult  and  surprising  expedient,  indeed, 
to  favour  the  poor. 

"  The  council,  instead  of  making  it  appear,  that  they  have  a  right  to 
amend  the  bill,  as  they  have  repeatedly  resolved  they  had,  have  unhappily 
fell  into  the  railing  language  of  the  meanest  class  of  mankind;  in  such  a 
manner,  that  had  it  not  been  sent  to  this  House,  by  one  of  their  members, 
no  man  could  imagine  that  it  was  composed  by  a  deliberate  determination  of 
a  set  of  men,  who  pretend  to  sit  as  a  branch  of  our  Legislature.  For,  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  above  said  message,  they  charge  us  with  having  taken 
liberties  with  his  Majesty,  with  his  excellency,  our  governor,  with  the 
magistrates  of  this,  and  other  counties,  and  with  our  having  spread  false, 
scandalous,  and  injurious  libels  against  them,  the  said  council ;  which,  they 
say,  they  believe,  all  sober  and  reasonable  men,  will  think  unjustifiable. 
What  liberties  we  have  taken  with  his  Majesty,  otherwise,  than  to  assert  our 
loyalty  to  him,  in  our  address  to  the  governor,  we  know  not :  What  liberties 
we  have  taken  with  the  governor,  unless  it  be,  to  tell  him,  the  true  reason  of 
the  government's  being  so  long  unsupported,  and  to  represent  the  public 
grievances  to  him,  for  redress,  we  know  not :  What  liberties  we  have  taken 
with  the  gentlemen  of  the  council,  other  than  to  tell  them  the  truth,  in  modest, 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  113 

plain  English,  we  know  not :  What  liberties  we  have  taken  with  the  magis- 
trates of  this  and  other  counties,  unless  it  be  to  inquire  into  their  conduct, 
upon  complaints,  and  after  a  fair  and  impartial  hearing,  to  represent  their 
arbitrary  and  illegal  proceedings,  for  redress,  we  know  not; — and  wherein 
we  have  been  guilty  of  spreading  false,  scandalous,  and  injurious  libels 
against  the  council,  we  know  not.  Therefore,  it  will  be  incumbent  on  them, 
to  point  out,  and  duly  prove,  some  undue  liberties  we  have  taken,  and  libels 
spread,  before  any  sober  and  reasonable  men,  will  be  prevailed  on  to  con- 
demn our  proceedings,  as  unjustifiable ;  which  we  think  they  will  not  do, 
upon  the  slender  authority  of  the  council's  insulting  message  to  this  House; 
which,  in  our  opinion,  is  so  far  from  being  likely  to  prevail  on  any  sober 
and  reasonable  men,  to  believe  the  false,  scurrilous,  and  groundless  charges, 
therein  alleged  against  us;  that  it  will  rather  discover  the  council  to  be  men 
at  least  under  the  government  of  passion,  if  not  void  of  reason  and  truth; 
and,  until  they  recover  the  right  use  of  their  reason  again,  it  will  be  fruitless 
for  this  House  to  spend  time  in  arguing  with  them." 

As  it  was  now  obviously  impossible  that  the  public  business  could  pro- 
ceed, whilst  these  important  branches  of  the  government  ceased  to  treat  each 
other  with  ordinary  respect,  the  governor  prudently  dissolved  the  Assembly. 
The  new  House,  which  met  on  the  20th  of  May,  1751,  consisted  of  a  majo- 
rity of  new  members,  and  was  earnestly  disposed  to  despatch  the  affairs  of 
the  province,  as  they  evinced,  by  the  passage  of  the  quota  bill,  in  a  form, 
which  dissipated  the  objections,  that  had  hitherto  prevailed  against  it ;  classi- 
fying lands,  according  to  their  quality,  and  making  all  which  could  in  any 
way  be  deemed  profitable,  liable  to  taxation,  at  a  rate  depending  on  their 
class.  This  difficulty  was  scarce  removed,  before  another,  partaking  of  the 
same  character,  arose.  In  the  adaptation  of  a  new  act,  for  the  support  of 
the  government,  to  the  principles  furnished  by  the  quota  act,  the  council 
assumed  the  right  to  amend  the  bill;  though  such  right  had  always  been 
peremptorily  denied  them,  by  the  House,  in  relation  to  all  money  bills,  and 
in  the  present  case,  their  amendments  were  unanimously  rejected.  As  this 
was  a  point  which  the  Assembly  were  resolute  to  maintain,  they  sought  to 
get  over  the  delay  by  making  the  governor  a  party  to  the  bill,  in  their 
favour;  and  for  that  purpose,  after  it  had  been  returned  by  council,  sent  it 
up  directly,  to  him,  that  he  might  place  it  again  before  that  body,  accompa- 
nied with  his  influence  for  its  passage.  This  course  would  have  brought 
the  form  of  administering  the  government  back  to  that  which  it  possessed, 
before  the  alteration  made  by  Governor  Morris,  when  the  governor  sat  and 
debated  with  the  council.  But  Mr.  Belcher,  declining  to  receive  their  bill, 
the  House,  unable  to  progress  with  it,  was  prorogued,  and  the  public  treasury 
still  continued  empty.  Nor  was  it  until  February,  1752,  after  a  delay  of 
near  four  years,  that  a  bill  for  the  support  of  the  government,  received  the 
approbation  of  every  branch  of  the  Legislature. 

VIII.  The  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  which,  in  Europe,  was  but  a  hollow 
truce,  was  scarce  regarded  by  the  French,  in  America.  Eager  to  extend 
their  territories,  and  to  connect  their  northern  possessions  with  Louisiana, 
they  projected  a  line  of  forts  and  military  positions,  from  the  one  to  the 
other,  along  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers.  They  explored,  and  occupied 
the  land  upon  the  Ohio ;  buried,  in  many  places,  through  the  country,  metal 
plates,  with  inscriptions  declaratory  of  their  claims ;  *  caressed  and  threaten- 
ed the  Indians  by  turns ;  scattered  liberal  presents,  and  prepared  to  compel 
by  force,  what  should  be  refused  to  their  kindness. 

*  In  1750, 


114  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

IX.  In  their  Indian  relations,  the  enterprise  and  industry  of  the  French, 
were  strongly  contrasted  with   the  coldness  and  apathy  of  the  English. 
After  the  peace  of  1748,  the  latter  discontinued  their  attentions,  even  to 
those  Indians  they  had  induced  to  take  up  arms.     They  suffered  the  cap- 
tives to  remain  long  unransomed ;  their  families  to  pine  in  want,  and  utterly 
disregarded  the  children  of  the  slain;  whilst  the  former,  attentive  to  the 
vanity  and  interests  of  their  allies,  dressed  them  in  finery,  and  loaded  them 
with  presents.     Their  influence  over  these  untutored  tribes,  might  have  been 
greater,  had  they  not  sought  to  convert  them  to  the  Catholic  faith ;  for  the 
Indians  fancied,  that  the  religious  ceremonies,  were  arts,  to  reduce  them  to 
slavery.*     The  French  had,  by  this  policy,  succeeded  in  estranging  the 
Indians  on  the  Ohio,  and  in  dividing  the  councils  of  the  Six  Nations;  draw- 
ing off  the  Onondagoes,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas.     Their  progress  with  these 
tribes,  was  rendered  still  more  dangerous,  by  the  death  of  several  chiefs,  who 
had  been  in  the  English  interest,  and  by  the  advances  of  the  British  in  the 
western  country,  without  the  consent  of  the  aborigines. 

X.  In  prosecution  of  their  views  of  territorial  acquisition,  and  seduction 
of  the  Indians,  the  French  attacked  the  Twightees,  and  slew  many,  in  chas- 
tisement of  their  adherence  to  the  British  and  protection  of  English  traders. 
The  Ohio  Company  having  surveyed  large  tracts  of  land  upon  the  Ohio  river, 
with  the  design  of  settlement,  the  governor  of  Canada  remonstrated  with  the 
governors  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  upon  this  invasion  of  the  French 
territories;   and  threatened  to  resort  to  force,  unless  the  English  traders 
abandoned  their  intercourse  with  the  Indians.     These  threats  being  disre- 
garded, he  captured  some  traders,  and  sent  them  to  France,  whence  they 
returned,  without  redress.    He  also  opened  a  communication  from  Presqu'isle, 
by  French  Creek,  and  the  Alleghany  river,  to  the  Ohio ;  and  though  the  Six 
Nations  forbade  him  to  occupy  the  Ohio  lands,  he  contemned  the  present 
weakness  of  those  tribes. 

XI.  Governor  Dinwiddie,  of  Virginia,  learning  that  the  French  designed 
to  proceed  southward,  from  Fort  Venango,  on  French  Creek,  resolved  to 
despatch  an  agent,  for  the  double  purpose  of  gaining  intelligence,  and  remon- 
strating against  their  designs.    For  this  duty,  he  selected  Mr.  George  Wash- 
ington, then  a  young  man,  under  twenty  years  of  age.     He  left  the  frontier, 
with  several  attendants,  on  the  14th  of  November,  1753,  and  after  a  journey 
of  two  months,  over  mountain  and  torrent,  through  morass  and  forest,  braving 
the  inclemency  of  the  winter,  and  the  howling  wilderness,  and  many  dangers 
from  Indian  hostility,  he  returned,  with  the  answer  of  Legardeau  de  St. 
Pierre,  the  French  commandant  upon  the  Ohio,  dated  at  the  fort,  upon  Le 
Boeuff  river.     The  Frenchman  referred  the  discussion  of  the  rights  of  the 
two  countries  to  the  Marquis  du  Quesne,  Governor-in -chief  of  Canada ;  by 
whose  orders,  he  had  assumed,  and  meant  to  sustain,  his  present  position. 
From  De  la  Joncaire,  a  captain  in  the  French  service,  and  Indian  interpreter, 
Washington  received  full  information  of  the  French  designs.     They  founded 
their  claim  to  the  Ohio  river,  and  its  appurtenances,  on  the  discovery  of  La 
Salle,  sixty  years  before;  and  their  present  measures  for  its  defence,  had 
grown  out  of  the  attempts  of  the  Ohio  Company  to  occupy  its  banks. 

XII.  The  British  ministry,  instructed  in  the  views  and  operations  of  the 
French  nation,  on  the  American  continent,  remonstrated  with  the  Court  of 
Versailles.    But,  whilst  that  court  publicly  instructed  the  Governor  of  Canada 
to  refrain  from  hostilities,  to  demolish  the  fortress  at  Niagara,  to  deliver  up 
the  captured  traders,  and  to  punish  their  captors,  it  privately  informed  him, 
that  strict  obedience  was  not  expected.     Deceived  and  insulted,  the  English 

*  MSS.  Journals  of  Conrad  Weiser.    Penes  me. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  115 

monarch  resolved  to  oppose  force  to  force;  and  the  American  governors 
were  directed  to  repel  the  encroachments  of  any  foreign  prince  or  state. 

The  English  force  in  America,  numerically  considered,  was  much  greater 
than  that  of  the  French ;  but  divided  among  many  and  independent  sections, 
its  combined  efforts  were  feeble  and  sluggish,  whilst  the  French,  directed  by 
one  will,  had  the  advantages  of  union  and  promptitude,  and  drew  the  hap- 
piest hopes  from  the  boldest  enterprises.  To  resist  them,  effectually,  some 
confederacy  of  the  colonies  was  necessary,  and  common  prudence  required, 
that  the  affections  of  the  Indians,  towards  the  English,  should  be  assured.  A 
conference  between  the  Six  Nations,  and  the  representatives  of  the  colonies, 
was  ordered  by  the  ministry  under  the  direction  of  Governor  De  Lancy,  oif 
New  York.  Governor  Belcher  communicated  this  order  to  the  Assembly  of 
New  Jersey,  on  the  25th  of  April,  1754.  But  the  House  refused  on  this,  as 
upon  every  other  occasion,  theretofore,  to  take  part  in  the  Indian  treaties ; 
assigning  as  a  reason,  that  their  province  had  no  participation  in  the  Indian 
trade ;  professing,  however,  their  readiness  to  contribute  their  assistance  to  • 
the  other  colonies,  towards  preventing  the  encroachments  of  the  French,  on 
his  Majesty's  dominions,  but  declaring  their  present  inability  to  do  aught,  on 
account  of  the  poverty  of  their  treasury.  The  reluctance  which  the  Assem- 
bly displayed  upon  this  subject,  together  with  their  rude  reply  to  a  remon- 
strance from  the  governor,  provoked  him  to  dissolve  them. 

The  Six  Nations,  although  large  presents  were  made  them,  were  cold  to  the 
instances  of  the  confederate  council,  which  met  on  the  14th  of  June.  Few 
attended,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  affection  of  all  towards  the  English  had 
diminished.  They  refused  to  enter  into  a  coalition  against  the  French,  but 
consented  to  assist  in  driving  them  from  the  positions  they  had  assumed  in 
the  West,  and  to  renew  former  treaties. 

XIII.  In  this  convention  of  the  colonies,  several  plans  for  political  union 
were  submitted,  and  that  devised  by  Mr.  Franklin,  of  which  the  following  is 
an  outline,  was  adopted  on  the  4th  of  July.  A  general  colonial  government 
was  to  be  formed,  to  be  administered  by  a  president-general,  appointed 
and  paid  by  the  crown;  and  a  grand  council  of  forty-eight  members  to  be 
chosen  for  three  years,  by  the  colonial  Assemblies,  to  meet  at  Philadelphia, 
for  the  first  time,  at  the  call  of  the  President.  After  the  first  three  years,  the 
number  of  members  from  each  colony  was  to  be  in  the  ratio  of  the  revenue, 
paid  by  it  to  the  public  treasury ;  the  grand  council  was  to  meet,  statedly,  an- 
nually, and  might  be  specially  convened,  in  case  of  emergency,  by  the  presi- 
dent. It  was  empowered,  to  choose  its  speaker,  and  could  not  be  dissolved, 
prorogued,  nor  kept  together  longer  than  six  weeks  at  one  time,  without  its 
consent,  or  the  special  command  of  the  crown  ;  with  the  president-general,  to 
hold  or  direct  all  Indian  treaties,  in  which  the  general  interest  of  the  colonies 
was  concerned,  and  to  make  peace  and  declare  war  with  Indian  nations: — to 
purchase  for  the  crown,  from  the  Indians,  lands  not  within  particular  colo- 
nies:— to  make  new  settlements  on  such  purchases,  by  granting  lands  in  the 
King's  name,  reserving  quit-rent  to  the  crown,  for  the  use  of  the  general  trea- 
sury:— to  make  laws  regulating  and  governing  such  new  settlements  until 
they  should  be  formed  into  particular  governments,  to  raise  soldiers,  build 
forts  and  equip  vessels  of  war ;  and  for  these  purposes,  to  make  laws  and  levy 
taxes : — To  appoint  a  general  treasurer,  and  a  particular  treasurer  in  each 
government ;  disbursements  to  be  made  only  on  an  appropriation  by  law,  or 
by  joint  order  of  the  president  and  council ;  the  general  accounts  to  be  settled 
yearly,  and  reported  to  the  several  Assemblies: — Twenty-five  members  to 
form  a  quorum  of  the  council,  there  being  present,  one  or  more,  from  a  ma- 
jority of  the  colonies : — The  assent  of  the  president-general  was  requisite  to 


116  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

all  acts  of  the  council,  and  it  was  his  duty  to  execute  them: — The  laws 
enacted  were  to  be  as  like  as  possible  to  those  of  England,  and  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  King  in  council  for  approval,  as  soon  as  might  be  after  their 
enactment,  and  if  not  disapproved  within  three  years,  to  remain  in  force.  On 
the  death  of  the  president-general,  the  speaker  was  to  succeed  him,  and  to  hold 
his  office  until  the  King's  pleasure  should  be  known.  Military  and  naval 
officers,  acting  under  this  constitution,  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  president, 
and  approved  by  the  council,  and  the  civil  officers  to  be  nominated  by  the 
council,  and  approved  by  the  president;  and  in  case  of  vacancy,  civil  or  mili- 
tary, the  governor  of  the  province  in  which  it  happened,  was  to  appoint,  until 
the  pleasure  of  the  president  and  council  should  be  ascertained. 

This  plan  was  submitted  to  the  board  of  trade  in  England,  and  to  the  As- 
semblies of  the  several  provinces.  Franklin*  says,  its  fate  was  singular. 
The  Assemblies  rejected  it,  as  containing  too  much  prerogative ;  whilst  in 
England,  it  was  condemned  as  too  democratic.  Had  it  been  adopted,  the 
projector  might  have  been  famed  as  the  forger  of  a  nation's  chains,  instead 
of  the  destroyer  of  a  tyrant's  sceptre,  f  As  a  substitute,  the  British  ministry 
proposed,  that  the  governors  of  the  colonies,  with  one  or  more  members  of 
the  respective  councils,  should  resolve  on  the  measures  of  defence,  and  draw 
on  the  British  treasury  for  the  money  required,  to  be  refunded  by  a  general 
tax,  imposed  by  Parliament,  on  the  colonies.  But  this  proposition  was 
deemed  inadmissible  by  the  provinces.  The  "  plan  of  union,"  as  adopted 
by  the  Congress,  was  laid  before  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  in  October. 
The  House  voted  that  if  it  should  be  carried  into  effect,  "  it  might  be  preju- 
dicial to  the  prerogative  of  the  crown,  and  to  the  liberties  of  the  people." 
They  instructed  their  agent,  at  court,  to  petition  the  King  and  Parliament 
against  its  ratification. 

In  the  mean  time,  Virginia  had  raised  three  hundred  men,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Fry  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washington.  The  latter 
marched  with  two  companies,  in  advance,  to  the  Great  Meadows,  in  the 
Alleghany  Mountains ;  where  he  learned,  that  the  French  had  dispersed  a 
party,  employed  by  the  Ohio  company,  to  erect  a  fort  on  the  Monongahela 
river;  were,  themselves,  raising  fortifications  at  the  confluence  of  that 
river  with  the  Alleghany,  and  that  a  detachment  was  then  approaching  his 
camp.  It  was  impossible  to  doubt  of  the  hostile  intentions  of  this  party,  and 
Washington  resolved  to  anticipate  them.  Guided  by  his  Indians,  under  cover 
of  a  dark  and  rainy  night,  he  surprised  the  French  encampment,  and  cap- 
tured the  whole  party,  save  one  who  fled,  and  Jumonville,  the  commanding 
officer,  who  was  killed.  Soon  after,  the  whole  regiment,  the  command  of 
which  had  devolved  on  Mr.  Washington,  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Fry,  was 
united  at  the  Great  Meadows ;  and  reinforced  by  two  independent  companies 
of  regulars,  the  one  from  South  Carolina,  and  the  other  from  New  York. — 
It  formed  an  effective  force  of  five  hundred  men.  Having  erected  a  stockade 
for  protecting  their  provisions  and  horses,  the  troops  marched  to  dislodge  the 
enemy  from  Fort  Du  Quesne.  But  their  progress  was  arrested  by  informa- 
tion of  the  advance  of  twelve  hundred  French  and  Indians.  As  the  Ameri- 
cans had  been  six  days  without  bread,  had  but  a  small  supply  of  meat 
remaining,  and  dreaded  the  enemy  would  cut  them  off  from  their  stores, 
they  resolved  to  retreat  to  their  stockade,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of 
Fort  Necessity.  Colonel  Washington  began  a  ditch  around  this  post,  but 
ere  he  could  complete  it,  he  was  attacked  by  the  French  force  under  Mon- 

*  Memoirs, 

t  Cceli  eripuit  fulmen  sceptrumque  tyrannis. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  117 

sieur  de  Villiers.  The  troops  made  an  obstinate  defence,  fighting  partly 
within  the  stockade,  and  partly  in  the  ditch,  half  filled  with  mud  and  water, 
from  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  dark,  when  De  Villiers  demanded  a 
parley,  and  offered  terms  of  capitulation.  During  the  night,  articles  were 
signed,  allowing  the  garrison  the  honours  of  war,  to  retain  their  arms  and 
baggage,  and  to  return  home  unmolested.  The  last  clause  was  not  strictly 
kept,  the  Indians  harassing  and  plundering  the  Americans  during  their  re- 
treat. The  courage  and  conduct  of  Washington,  on  this  occasion,  were 
greatly  applauded ;  and  the  Assembly  of  Virginia  voted  their  thanks  to  him 
and  his  officers.  The  French  retired  to  their  post  on  the  Ohio.* 

The  attack,  on  the  part  of  Jumonville,  without  summons  or  expostulation, 
was  deeply  reprobated  by  the  French.  Whilst  peace  prevailed  between  the 
two  nations,  hostility,  they  said,  should  not  have  been  presumed.  They  have 
called  the  death  of  that  officer,  an  assassination,  even  in  the  capitulation  of 
Fort  Necessity ;  the  attack  on  which,  they  state  to  have  been  made,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  outrage  upon  their  advance  party.  These  allegations  are 
refuted,  by  a  review  of  the  conduct  of  the  French,  since  the  development  of 
their  designs  upon  the  Ohio.  The  capture  of  the  persons  and  property  of 
the  settlers,  at  Logtown,  and  of  the  Indian  traders,  wherever  found  in  the 
western  country,  afforded  conclusive  evidence  of  their  intention  to  try  the 
disputed  title  by  force ;  and  they  could  not,  justly,  complain  of  the  reply  to 
their  argument.f 

With  great  industry,  the  French  completed  Fort  Du  Quesne,  at  the 
confluence  of  the  Monongahela  and  Alleghany  rivers,  where  the  thriving 
city  of  Pittsburg  now  stands;  garrisoned  it  with  one  thousand  regulars, 
amply  supplied  with  cannon,  provisions,  and  other  munitions ;  and  prepared 
to  occupy  the  country  of  the  Twightees,  with  numerous  settlers.  The  Six 
Nation  Indians,  now  more  numerous  on  the  western  waters,  than  in  their 
ancient  seats,  indifferent  to  the  English  cause,  and  divided  among  them- 
selves, barely  maintained  their  neutrality.  Some  of  them  had  removed  to 
Canada,  preferring  the  protection  of  the  active  and  enterprising  French  com- 
manders. The  small  body  of  British  troops,  collected  on  the  frontiers,  was 
weakened  by  desertion,  and  corrupted  by  insubordination;  whilst  the  Indians 
who  still  adhered  to  their  interest,  retired  to  Aughwick,  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  proclaimed  their  admiration  of  the  courage  of  the  enemy,  and 
their  contempt  of  the  sloth  of  their  friends  ;  and  were  scarcely  kept  in  quiet, 
by  the  liberality  of  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  to  their  families,  and  its 
forbearance  towards  the  license  of  their  chiefs. 

XIV.  At  length,  however,  Great  Britain  prepared  to  oppose,  energeti- 
cally, the  growing  power  of  her  restless  rival  in  the  Western  World.  Two 
regiments  of  foot  from  Ireland,  under  the  command  of  Colonels  Dunbar  and 
Halkett,  were  ordered  to  Virginia,  to  be  there  enforced ;  and  Governor  Shir- 
ley and  Sir  William  Pepperell  were  directed  to  raise  two  regiments,  of  a 
thousand  men  each,  to  be  officered  from  New  England,  and  commanded  by 
themselves.  The  provinces,  generally,  were  required,  to  collect  men  for 
enlistment,  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  a  commander-in-chief  of  rank  and 
capacity,  who  would  be  appointed  to  command  all  the  King's  forces  in  Ame- 
rica ;  to  supply  the  troops  on  their  arrival  with  provisions,  and  to  furnish  all 
necessaries  for  the  soldiers  landed  or  raised  within  the  province ;  to  provide 

*  Marshall's  Washington.  Bradford's  Journal.  Review  of  Military  Operations  in 
North  America.  London,  1757. 

t  Colonel  Washington,  who  was  ignorant  of  the  French  language,  was  unable  to 
read  the  articles  of  capitulation,  and  was,  therefore,  obliged  to  rely  on  an  interpreter, 
who  rendered  the  word  "assassinat"  into  the  word  "death"  merely. —  Wash.  Lett. 


118  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

the  officers  with  means  for  travelling,  for  impressing  carriages  and  quarter- 
ing troops.  And  as  these  were  "local  matters,  arising  entirely  within  their 
colonies,  his  Majesty  informed  his  subjects,  that  he  expected  the  charges 
thereof  to  be  borne  by  them  in  their  respective  provinces,  whilst  articles 
of  more  general  concern  would  be  charged  upon  a  common  fund  to  be 
raised  from  all  the  colonies  of  North  America;  towards  which,  the  governors 
were  severally  requested  to  urge  the  Assemblies  to  contribute  liberally,  until  a 
union  of  the  northern  colonies,  for  general  defence,  could  be  effected. 

XV.  The  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  before  whom  Governor  Belcher  laid 
these  requisitions  in  February,  and  who  were  incited  to  prompt  and  liberal  mea- 
sures by  the  solicitations  of  their  constituents,  praying  the  House  to  pass  such 
bills  as  might  be  necessary  (in  proportion  with  the  other  colonies)  to  assist 
his  Majesty  in  driving  the  French  from  their  fortifications  on  the  Ohio,  and  in 
defence  of  the  frontiers,  appropriated  live  hundred  pounds  for  the  subsistence 
of  the  royal  troops,  during  their  march  through  the  colony,  and  transporta- 
tion of  their  baggage ;  and  also  at  the  instance  of  Governor  Shirley,  passed  an 
act  to  prevent  the  exportation  of  provisions,  naval  or  warlike  stores  to  any  of 
the  French  dominions.     The  House  excused  themselves  from  appropriating 
a  larger  sum,  under  pretence,  that  by  a  bill  passed  at  a  previous  session,  and 
sent  to  England  for  the  approbation  of  the  King,  they  had  granted  for  his 
Majesty's  service,  ten  thousand  pounds.    This  bill  provided  for  issuing  in  bills 
of  credit,  the  sum  of  seventy  thousand  pounds ;  and  the  House  had  just  reason 
to  believe,  that  it  would  receive  the  royal  sanction,  since  they  had  the  assent 
of  the  board  of  trade  and  plantations,  to  issue  sixty  thousand  pounds,  and  the 
surplus  was  given  to  the  national  use.    But  the  objections  to  provincial  paper 
currency  in  England,  could  not  yet  be  overcome. 

XVI.  Major-general  Braddock,  Sir  John  St.  Glair,  adjutant-general,  and 
the  regiments  of  Dunbar  and  Halkett,  which  sailed  from  Cork  on  the  14th  of 
January,  1755,  arrived  early  in  March  at  Alexandria,  in  Virginia,  whence 
they  marched  to  Fredericktown,  in  Maryland.     The  place  of  debarkation 
was  selected  with  that  ignorance  and  want  of  judgment,  which  then  distin- 
guished the  British  ministry.     The  country  could  furnish  neither  provisions 
nor  carriages  for  the  army,  whilst  Pennsylvania,  rich  in  grain,  and  well 
stocked  with  wagons,  could  readily  have  supplied  food  and  the  means  of 
transportation ;  and  from  this  source  the  general,  with  the  aid  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Franklin,  drew  finally  the  means  of  making  the  expedition  against  the  French 
in  the  West. 

XVII.  A  convention  of  the  Governors  of  New  York,  Massachusetts,  Mary- 
land, and  Virginia,  convened  at  Annapolis,  to  settle  with  General  Braddock, 
a  plan  of  military  operations.     Three  expeditions  were  resolved  on.     The 
first,  against  Fort  Du  Quesne,  under  the  command  of  General  Braddock,  in 
person,  with  the  British  troops,  and  such  aid  as  he  could  draw  from  Mary- 
land and  Virginia, — the  second,  against  Forts  Niagara   and   Frontignac, 
-under  General  Shirley,  with  his  own  and  PepperelPs  regiments — and  the  third, 
originally  proposed  by  Massachusetts,  against  Crown  Point,  to  be  executed 
altogether  with  colonial  troops  from  New  England,  New  York,  and  New 
Jersey,  under  Major-general  William  Johnson. 

XVIII.  Whilst  these  measures  were  in  embryo,  an  attack  conducted  by  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Monckton,  a  British  officer,  and  Lieutenant-colonel  Winslow, 
a  major-general  of  the  Massachusetts  militia,  was  made  against  the  French 
who  had  possessed  themselves  of  a  portion  of  the  country  claimed  by  the 
English,  for  the  province  of  Nova  Scotia.     In  little  more  than  a  month,  with 
the  loss  of  three  men,  only,  possession  was  obtained  of  the  whole  province 
according  to  the  British  definition  of  its  boundaries.     This  easy  conquest 
•elated  the  colonies,  and  produced  sanguine  anticipations  of  the  results  of  their 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

future  efforts.     But  their  present  success  was  disgraced  by  scenes  of  devasta- 
tion and  misery,  scarce  paralleled  in  modern  history. 

The  inhabitants  of  Nova  Scotia  were  chiefly  of  French  descent.  By  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht,  (1713,)  they  were  permitted  to  retain  their  lands,  taking 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  their  new  sovereign,  with  the  qualification,  that  they 
should  not  be  compelled  to  bear  arms  against  their  Indian  neighbours,  or 
their  countrymen ;  and  this  immunity  was,  at  subsequent  periods,  assured  to 
their  children.  Such  was  the  notoriety  of  this  compact,  that,  for  half  a  cen- 
tury, they  had  borne  the  name,  and  with  few  exceptions,  maintained  the  cha- 
racter of  neutrals.  But,  now,  excited  by  this  ancient  love  of  France,  by  their 
religious  attachments,  and  their  doubts  of  the  English  rights,  some  of  these 
frugal,  industrious,  and  pious  people,  were  seduced  to  take  up  arms.  Three 
hundred  were  found  in  the  fortress  of  Beau  Sejour,  at  its  capture,  but  it  was 
stipulated,  that  they  should  be  left  in  the  same  situation,  as  when  the  army 
arrived,  and  should  not  be  punished  for  any  thing  they  had  subsequently  done. 
Yet,  a  council  was  convened  by  Lawrence,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Nova 
Scotia,  at  which  Admirals  Boscawen  and  Moyston  assisted,  to  determine  the 
fate  of  these  unfortunate  people.  Their  elders  were  required  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  British  monarch,  without  the  exemption,  which,  during 
fifty  years,  had  been  granted  to  them  and  their  fathers.  Upon  their  refusal, 
although,  out  of  a  population  of  seven  thousand,  three  hundred  only  had  borne 
arms,  the  council  resolved  to  expel  all  from  their  country,  to  confiscate  their 
property,  money  and  household  goods  excepted,  to  lay  waste  their  estates,, 
and  burn  their  dwellings.  The  public  records  and  muniments  of  title,  were 
seized,  and  the  elders  of  the  people  treacherously  made  prisoners.  Governor 
Lawrence,  with  great  presumption,  and  total  disregard  of  the  rights  of  the 
neighbouring  provinces,  imposed  a  heavy  and  durable  burden  upon  them, 
in  the  reception  and  maintenance  of  this  devoted  race.  In  transporting  them 
to  their  several  destinations,  the  charities  of  blood  and  affinity  were  wanton- 
ly torn  asunder.  Parents  were  separated  from  their  children — and  husbands 
from  their  wives.  Among  many  instances  of  this  barbarity,  was  that  of 
Rene  Le  Blanc,  who  had  been  imprisoned  four  years,  by  the  French,  on 
account  of  his  English  attachments.  The  family  of  this  venerable  man, 
consisting  of  twenty  children,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  grand-chil- 
dren, were  scattered  in  different  colonies;  and  himself,  with  his  wife  and 
two  children  only,  were  put  on  shore  at  New  York. 

XIX.  The  province  of  New  Jersey,  in  a  continental  war,  dreaded  most, 
an  attack  from  Canada,  by  the  way  of  New  York,  and  scarce  felt  any  ap- 
prehension of  danger,  from  the  French  and  Indians  on  the  Ohio.    The  Assem- 
bly cordially  approved  of  the  plan  of  operation  adopted  at  Annapolis,  and, 
particularly  of  the  expedition  against  Crown  Point ;  and  resolved,  immediately, 
to  raise  a  battalion,  of  five  hundred  men,  for  the  maintenance  of  which,  they 
issued  bills  of  credit,  for   £15,000,  redeemable  within  five   years.     The 
governor  nominated  Mr.  Peter  Schuyler,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  to  the 
command  of  this  force;  and  that  gentleman's  popularity  was  such,  that  the 
battalion  was  not  only  promptly  filled,  but  a  much  larger  number  of  men, 
presented  themselves  for  enlistment,  than  were  required.     The  arms  for 
these  troops,  of  which  the  colony  was  almost  wholly  unprovided,  were  pro- 
cured from  Virginia,  at  the  cost  of  the  Assembly. 

XX.  General  Braddock  having  removed  his  army  to  Fort  Cumberland, 
on  Wills's  Creek,  on  his  way  to  the  west,  received  there,  his  wagons,  and 
other  necessary  supplies ;  and  being,  at  length,  after  many  delays,  amply 
furnished  with  all  the  munitions  he  required,  and  also  reinforced  by  a  con- 
siderable body  of  Americans  and  Indians,  broke  up  his  encampment  on 
the  12th  of  June,  and  passed  the  Alleghany  mountain,  at  the  head  of  two 


120  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

thousand  two  hundred  men.  On  reaching  the  Little  Meadows,  five  days' 
march  from  Fort  du  Quesne,  he  convoked  a  council  of  war,  to  consult 
on  future  operations.  Colonel  Washington,  who  had  entered  his  family, 
as  a  volunteer  aid-de-carnp,  and  who  possessed  a  knowledge  of  the  coun- 
try, and  of  the  nature  of  the  service,  had  urged  the  substitution  of  pack 
horses  for  wagons,  in  the  transportation  of  the  baggage,  now  renewed  his 
advice ;  and  earnestly  and  successfully  recommended,  that  the  heavy  artil- 
lery and  stores  should  remain  with  the  rear  division,  and  follow  by  easy 
marches,  whilst  a  chosen  body  of  troops,  with  a  few  pieces  of  light  cannon 
and  stores,  of  absolute  necessity,  should  press  forward  to  Fort  du  Quesne. 
Twelve  hundred  men,  and  twelve  pieces  of  cannon,  being  selected,  were 
commanded  by  General  Braddock,  in  person.  Sir  Peter  Halkett,  acted  as 
brigadier,  having  under  him  Lieutenant-colonels  Gage  and  Burton,  and 
Major  Spark.  Thirty  wagons,  only,  including  those  with  ammunition,  fol- 
lowed the  march.  The  residue  of  the  army  remained  under  the  care  of 
Colonel  Dun  bar  and  Major  Chapman. 

The  benefit  of  these  prudent  measures  was  lost  by  the  fastidiousness  and 
presumption  of  the  commander-in-chief.  Instead  of  pushing  on  with  vigour, 
regardless  of  a  little  rough  road,  he  halted  to  level  every  molehill,  and  to 
throw  bridges  over  every  brook,  employing  four  days  to  reach  the  great 
crossings  of  the  Youghiogany,  nineteen  miles  from  the  Little  Meadows.  On 
his  march,  he  neglected  the  advantage  his  Indians  afforded  him,  of  recon- 
noitering  the  woods  and  passages  on  the  front  and  flank,  and  even  rejected 
the  prudent  suggestion  of  Sir  Peter  Halkett,  on  this  subject,  with  a  sneer  at 
his  caution.* 

This  overweening  confidence  and  reckless  temerity  were  destined  to  a 
speedy  and  fatal  reproof. f  Having  crossed  the  Monongahela  river,  within 
seven  miles  of  Fort  du  Quesne,  wrapt  in  security,  and  joyously  anticipating 
the  coming  victory,  his  progress  was  suddenly  checked,  by  a  destructive 
fire,  on  the  front  and  left  flank,  from  an  invisible  enemy.  The  van  was 
thrown  into  confusion;  but  the  main  body,  forming  three  deep,  instantly 
advanced.  The  commanding  officer  of  the  enemy  having  fallen,  it  was  sup- 
posed from  the  suspension  of  the  attack,  that  the  assailants  had  dispersed. 
But  the  delusion  was  momentary.  The  fire  was  renewed  with  great  spirit, 
and  unerring  aim ;  and  the  English,  beholding  their  comrades  drop  around 
them,  unable  to  see  the  foe,  or  tell  whence  their  death  arrived,  broke  and 
fled  in  utter  dismay.  The  general,  astounded  at  this  sudden  and  unexpected 
attack,  lost  his  self-possession,  and  neither  gave  orders  for  a  regular  retreat, 
nor  for  his  cannon  to  advance  and  scour  the  woods.  He  remained  on  the 
spot  where  he  first  halted,  directing  the  troops  to  form  in  regular  platoons 
against  a  foe  dispersed  through  the  forest,  behind  trees  and  bushes,  whose 
every  shot  did  execution.  The  officers  behaved  admirably :  but  distinguish- 
ed by  their  dresses,  and  selected  by  the  hidden  marksmen,  they  suffered 
severely ;  every  one  on  horseback,  except  Washington,  was  killed  or  wound- 
ed; he  had  two  horses  killed  under  him,  and  four  balls  through  his  coat. 
Sir  Peter  Halkett  was  killed  on  the  spot ;  and  the  general  himself,  having 
been  five  times  dismounted,  received  a  ball  through  the  arm,  and  lungs,  and 
was  carried  from  the  field  of  battle.  He  survived  only  four  days.  On  the 
first,  he  was  totally  silent,  and  at  night,  only  said,  "  Who  would  have 
thought  it?"  He  was  again  silent  until  a  few  minutes  before  his  death, 
when  he  observed,  "  We  shall  better  know  how  to  deal  with  them  another 
time." 

The  defeat  was  total — the  carnage  unusually  great.     Sixty-four,  out  of 

*  Marshall,  Wash.  Lett.  J  July  9, 1755. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  121 

eighty-five  officers,  and  one-half  the  privates,  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Many  fell  by  the  arms  of  their  fellow  soldiers.  An  absolute  alienation  of 
mind,  seems  to  have  fallen  upon  the  regular  troops.  In  despite  of  the  orders 
of  the  officers,  many  gathered  in  squads  of  ten  or  twelve  deep,  and  in  their 
confusion,  shot  down  the  men  before  them ;  whilst  the  troops  in  line  fired 
on  the  provincials  wherever  they  saw  a  smoke,  or  heard  a  shot  from  behind 
trees.  Captain  Waggoner,  of  the  Virginia  forces,  who  had  taken  an  advan- 
tageous position  on  the  flank,  with  eighty  men,  was  driven  from  it  by  the 
British  fire  with  the  loss  of  fifty.*  Fortunately,  the  Indians  were  held  from 
pursuit  by  the  desire  of  plunder.  The  artillery  and  military  stores,  even  the 
private  cabinet  of  the  commander-in-chief,  containing  his  instructions,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  whose  whole  force  was  computed  at  three 
hundred  men. 

The  fugitives  continuing  their  flight  to  Dunbar's  division,  so  infected  it 
with  their  terror,  that,  though  the  enemy  did  not  advance,  all  the  artillery  and 
stores  collected  for  the  campaign,  except  those  indispensable  for  immediate 
use,  were  destroyed,  and  the  remnant  of  the  army  marched  to  Fort  Cum- 
berland. The  loss  in  this  engagement  would  have  been  still  greater,  but  for 
the  coolness  and  courage  of  the  colonial  troops.  These,  whom  Braddock 
had  contemptuously  placed  in  his  rear,  so  far  from  yielding  to  the  panic 
which  disordered  the  regulars,  offered  to  advance  against  the  enemy,  until 
the  others  could  form  and  bring  up  the  artillery ;  but  the  regulars  could  not 
again  be  brought  to  the  charge,  yet  the  provincials  actually  formed  and 
covered  their  retreat.  The  conduct  of  the  Virginia  troops  merits  the  great- 
est praise.  Of  three  companies  brought  into  the  field,  it  is  said,  scarce  thirty 
escaped  uninjured.  Captain  Peyroney  and  all  his  officers,  down  to  the  cor- 
poral, were  killed.  Captain  Poison's  company  shared  almost  as  hard  a  fate ; 
the  captain  himself  being  killed,  and  one  officer  only  escaping.  Of  the  com- 
pany of  light-horse,  commanded  by  Captain  Stewart,  twenty-five  out  of 
twenty-nine  were  slain.f 

This  misfortune  is  solely  to  be  ascribed  to  the  misconduct  of  the  general. 
Presumptuous,  arrogant,  and  ignorant,  he  had  no  quality  save  courage  to 
insure  success.  Unacquainted  with  the  country,  and  the  Indian  mode  of 
warfare,  he  neglected  the  suggestions  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  whose  in- 
structions seem  predicated  on  a  prescience  of  his  conduct,  and  the  advice  of 
his  American  officers,  to  employ  his  Indians  in  guarding  against  ambush  and 
surprise.  He  neglected  and  disobliged  the  Virginians,  and  behaved  with  in- 
supportable haughtiness  to  all  around  him.  With  a  lethargy  in  all  his 
senses,  produced  by  self-sufficiency,  he  led  his  troops  to  be  defeated  and 
slaughtered  by  a  handful  of  men,  who  intended  only  to  molest  their 
march.J 

Dunbar  proposed  to  return  with  his  army,  yet  strong  enough  to  meet  the 
enemy,  to  Philadelphia;  but  consented,  on  the  remonstrance  of  the  Assembly 
of  Pennsylvania,  to  keep  the  frontiers.  He  requested  a  conference  with 
Governor  Morris,  at  Shippensburg ;  but  Governor  Shirley  having  succeeded 
to  the  chief  command  of  the  forces  in  America,  though  at  first  he  directed 
Dunbar  to  renew  the  enterprise  on  Fort  Du  Quesne,  and  to  draw  upon  the 
neighbouring  provinces  for  men  and  munitions,  changed  his  mind,  and  deter- 
mined to  employ  his  troops  elsewhere,  leaving  to  the  populous  provinces  of 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  the  care  of  their  own  defence. 

*  Penn.  Records, 
t  Penn.  Gaz. 

t  Modern  Univ.  Hist.  Marshall.  Franklin.  Richard  Peters'  Report  to  Council. 
W.  Shirley's  letter  to  Governor  Morris.  See  note  Z3  Appendix. 

Q 


122  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

XXI.  The  defeat  of  General  Braddock,  wholly  unexpected,  produced 
great  consternation  throughout  all  the  colonies.  Upon  receipt  of  intelli- 
gence of  this  extraordinary  event,  as  Governor  Belcher  properly  termed  it, 
he  summoned  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  to  meet  him  on  the  1st  of  Au- 
gust ;  but  it  was  not  until  the  approach  of  winter,  that  they  became  fully 
aware  of  its  disastrous  consequences,  and  began  to  prepare  against  them. 
The  enemy,  long  restrained,  by  fear  of  another  attack,  could  scarce  credit 
his  senses,  when  he  discovered  the  defenceless  state  of  the  frontiers;  and 
now  roamed,  unmolested  and  fearlessly,  along  the  western  lines  of  Virginia, 
Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania;  committing  the  most  appalling  outrages,  and 
wanton  cruelties,  which  the  cupidity  and  ferocity  of  the  savage  could  dictate. 
The  first  inroads  were  in  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania,  whence,  they 
were  soon  extended  to  the  Susquehanna;  and  thence  through  Berks  and 
Northampton  Counties,  across  the  Delaware,  into  New  Jersey.  New  hor- 
rors were  given  to  these  scenes,  by  the  defection  of  the  Shawanese  and  Dela- 
ware Indians,  who  had  hitherto  continued  faithful,  and  had  repeatedly 
solicited  employment  against  the  French  and  their  allies,  with  threats,  that 
unless  engaged  with  the  English,  they  would  take  part  against  them.  These 
threats  had  been  humanely,  if  not  wisely,  withstood ;  and  now,  irritated  by 
the  love  of  blood,  and  of  plunder,  and  the  hopes  fed  by  the  French,  of  re- 
covering the  lands  they  had  sold,  these  savages  openly  joined  the  foe.  To 
the  perversion  of  these  tribes,  the  Delaware  chiefs,  Shingas  and  Captain 
Jacobs,  were  highly  instrumental.  They  had  been  loaded  with  presents 
and  favours,  by  the  provincial  authorities  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  principal 
inhabitants  of  Philadelphia ;  and  their  defection  and  perfidy,  justly  awakened 
the  anger  of  the  citizens  of  that  province ;  who,  with  the  approbation  of  the 
governor,  proclaimed  a  reward  of  seven  hundred  dollars  for  their  heads. 

In  the  month  of  November,  these  barbarous  wretches  laid  waste  the  set- 
tlements in  Northampton  county,  not  sparing  even  those  of  the  Moravians, 
who  had  ever  treated  them  and  their  brethren,  with  the  greatest  kindness. 
Gnadenhutten,  on  the  Lehigh,  was  attacked,  and  several  of  its  inhabitants 
slaughtered;  and  the  other  Moravian  stations  soon  shared  a  like  fate.  A 
letter  from  the  Union  Iron  Works,  New  Jersey,  dated  20th  December,  1755, 
says,  "  the  barbarous  and  bloody  scene,  which  is  now  open  in  the  upper 
parts  of  Northampton  County,  is  the  most  lamentable,  that  has  perhaps  ever 
appeared.  There  may  be  seen  horror  and  desolation ;  populous  settlements 
deserted — villages  laid  in  ashes — men,  women  and  children,  cruelly  man- 
gled and  massacred — some  found  in  the  woods,  very  nauseous,  for  want  of 
interment — some  just  reeking  from  the  hands  of  their  savage  slaughterers — 
and  some  hacked,  and  covered  all  over  with  wounds."  To  this  letter  was 
annexed,  a  list  of  seventy-eight  persons  killed,  and  more  than  forty  settle- 
ments burned. 

A  letter  from  Easton,  of  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  states,  that  "  the 
country,  all  above  this  town,  for  fifty  miles,  is  mostly  evacuated  and  ruined. 
The  people  have,  chiefly,  fled  into  the  Jerseys.  Many  of  them  have  threshed 
out  their  corn,  and  carried  it  off,  with  their  cattle,  and  best  household  goods ; 
but  a  vast  deal  is  left  to  the  enemy.  Many  offered  half  their  personal  effects, 
to  save  the  rest ;  but  could  not  obtain  assistance  enough,  in  time  to  remove 
them.  The  enemy  made  but  few  prisoners ;  murdering  almost  all  that  fell 
into  their  hands,  of  all  ages,  and  both  sexes.  All  business  is  at  an  end ;  and 
the  few  remaining,  starving  inhabitants,  in  this  town,  are  quite  dejected  and 
dispirited." 

The  panic,  which  foreran  the  savage  monsters,  seemed  to  deprive  their 
prey,  of  the  means  of  concerting  defence  and  retaliation.  And  the  farmers, 
intoxicated  with  hope,  or  stupefied  by  fear,  suffered  the  invader  to  approach 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  123 

their  solitary  and  undefended  homesteads,  without  an  effort  to  stop  them  on 
the  way.  This  was  the  effect  of  a  long  period  of  peace,  and  the  consequent 
total  inexperience  of  warfare,  as  well  as  of  the  manner  by  which  the  assail- 
ants conducted  their  attacks.  They  wandered  over  the  country,  in  small 
parties,  concealing  themselves,  whilst  danger  was  near,  and  pouncing,  sud- 
denly, upon  the  unprepared,  generally  during  the  darkness  of  the  night; 
they  made  undistinguished  slaughter;  and  frequently  consumed  their  vic- 
tims, upon  the  funeral  piles  formed  of  their  dwellings.  This  senseless,  and 
emasculating  fear,  seems  to  have  spent  itself,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  De- 
laware. 

The  inhabitants  of  New  Jersey,  roused  by  the  sufferings  of  their  neigh- 
bours, prepared  seasonably,  not  only  to  resist  the  foe,  but  to  protect  their 
friends.  Among  the  energetic  citizens  of  Sussex  County,  Colonel  John 
Anderson  was  most  conspicuous.  With  four  hundred  men,  whom  he  col- 
lected, he  scoured  the  country,  marched  to  the  defence  of  Easton,  and  pur- 
sued the  dastard  enemy,  unhappily,  in  vain.  The  governor  promptly  des- 
patched troops  from  all  parts  of  the  province,  to  the  defence  of  its  western 
frontier ;  and  the  wealthy  inhabitants  advanced  the  funds  requisite  for  their 
maintenance,  until  the  Assembly,  in  the  middle  of  December,  took  such 
troops,  upon  the  provincial  establishment,  and  recalled  their  battalion,  under 
Colonel  Schuyler,  from  the  northern  service,  where  it  was  then  idle;  and 
placed  them,  also,  on  the  frontier.  To  meet,  the  expenses  thus  incurred, 
the  House,  though  greatly  chagrined,  at  the  rejection,  by  the  King,  of  their 
bill,  for  a  paper  currency,  voted  £10,000,  in  such  bills,  redeemable  at  the 
usual  period  of  five  years.* 

XXII.  The  troops  destined  for  the  northern  expeditions,  assembled  at 
Albany,  on  the  close  of  June,  but  were  not  equipped  for  the  field,  until  the 
last  of  August.  General  Johnson  proceeded  to  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
George,  on  his  way  to  Ticonderoga,  where  he  received  information  of  the 
approach  of  Baron  Dieskau,  at  the  head  of  twelve  hundred  regulars,  and  six 
hundred  Canadians  and  Indians.  He  detached  Colonel  Williams,  with  one 
thousand  men,  to  reconnoitre,  and  to  skirmish  with  the  enemy.  Engaging 
with  the  foe,  the  detachment  was  overthrown,  put  to  flight,  and  its  com- 
mander killed.  A  second  detachment,  sent  to  the  aid  of  the  first,  experienced 
a  like  fate :  both  were  pursued  to  the  camp,  where  they  found  shelter,  be- 
hind a  breast-work  of  fallen  trees,  which  the  American  army  had  thrown  up, 
in  its  front.  The  artillery,  which  had  lately  arrived,  was  served  with  effect ; 
and  though  the  Baron  advanced  firmly  to  the  charge,  his  militia  and  Indians 
deserted  him,  and  he  was  compelled  with  his  regulars  to  retreat.  In  the 
pursuit,  which  was  close  and  ardent,  Dieskau,  mortally  wounded  and  aban- 
doned, was  made  prisoner.  A  scouting  party,  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tains Folsom  and  Maginnis,  from  Fort  Edward,  fell  on  the  baggage  of  the 
enemy,  routed  the  guard,  and  immediately  after  engaged  with  the  retreating 
army ;  which,  surprised  by  an  enemy  whose  force  it  did  not  know,  fled  pre- 
cipitately towards  the  posts  on  the  lake.  This  repulse  of  Dieskau,  though 
not  followed  up  by  Johnson,  was  magnified  into  a  splendid  victory ;  served 
in  some  measure,  to  relieve  the  effect  of  Braddock's  defeat,  and  procured  the 
fortunate  general,  a  present  of  five  thousand  pounds  sterling,  from  the  House 
of  Commons,  and  the  title  of  baronet,  from  the  King.  This  army  was  soon 
after  discharged,  with  the  exception  of  six  hundred  men,  retained  to  garrison 
Forts  Edward  and  William  Henry.  The  French  seized  and  fortified  Ticon- 
deroga. 

General  Shirley,  at  the  head  of  the  expedition  against  Niagara  and  Fron- 

*  Votes. 


124  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

tignac,  did  not  reach  Oswego,  on  Lake  Ontario,  until  late  in  August.  His 
force  consisting  of  about  thirteen  hundred  regulars,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  militia  and  Indians,  he  divided ;  embarking  between  six  and  seven 
hundred  men,  for  Niagara,  and  leaving  the  remainder  at  Oswego.  But  he 
had  scarce  embarked,  before  the  rains  set  in  with  fury,  and  his  Indians,  dis- 
couraged, dispersed.  It  was  apparent,  that  the  season  was  now  too  far  ad- 
vanced for  the  accomplishment  of  his  design,  which,  by  the  advice  of  a 
council  of  war,  was  abandoned.  A.  garrison  of  seven  hundred  men  was  left 
at  Oswego,  to  complete  the  works,  and  the  general  returned  to  Albany. 

XXIII.  The  marauding  parties  of  French  and  Indians  hung  on  the  western 
frontiers  during  the  winter.     To  guard  against  their  devastations,  a  chain  of 
forts  and  block-houses,  were  erected  by  Pennsylvania,  along  the  Kittatinny 
or  Blue  Mountain,  from  the  river  Delaware  to  the  Maryland  line,  command- 
ing the  principal  passes  of  the  mountains.     In  New  Jersey,  forts  and  block 
houses  were  also  erected  along  the  mountain,  and  at  favorable  points  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Delaware  river.  Although  the  inroads  of  the  savages  across 
the  river  were  infrequent,  yet  the  fear  which  every  one  on  the  frontier  felt, 
that  his  midnight  slumbers  might  be  broken  by  the  warwhoop,  or  that  his 
dwelling  and  out-houses  might  be  consumed  before  the  morning's  dawn,  was 
sufficient  to  disturb  the  repose  of  the  most  courageous.     Many  left  their 
homes,  and  all  called  loudly  upon  the  Assembly  for  additional  means  of  de- 
fence.    And  in  the  spring,  when  the  Jersey  regiment  was  again  to  proceed 
to  the  north,  the  House  authorized  the  enlistment  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
volunteers,  to  supply  their  place  and  that  of  the  militia  on  the  frontier.   Two 
hundred  of  this  force  were  also  destined  to  unite  with  any  troops  that  might 
be  organized  by  other  colonies,  for  pursuing  the  brutal  enemy  to  his  den, 
and  making  him,  in  the  sufferings  of  his  wives  and  his  children,  feel  the 
horrors  which  he  had  delighted  to  inflict.     The  provincial  force  on  the 
frontier  was,  subsequently,  increased,  and  the  whole  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  De  Hart. 

XXIV.  Governor  Shirley,  having  been   appointed  commander-in-chief, 
summoned,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1756,  the  governors  of  the  northern 
and  middle  colonies  to  settle  the  plan  of  the  ensuing  campaign.     The  council 
resolved  on  raising  ten  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  men ;  to  attack  Nia- 
gara, that  the  communication  between  Canada  and  Louisiana  might  be  cut 
off;  to  reduce  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  that  the  command  of  Lake 
Champlain  might  be  obtained,  and  New  York  be  freed  from  the  apprehen- 
sion of  invasion ;  to  besiege  Fort  Du  Quesne ;  and  to  detach  a  body  of  forces, 
by  the  river  Kcnnebeck,  to  alarm  the  capital  of  Canada.     This  plan  was  too 
extensive  for  the  means  which  General  Shirley  possessed ;  and  served  only 
to  dissipate  the  strength,  which  more  concentrated  efforts  might  have  ren- 
dered serviceable. 

In  enlisting  troops  for  the  approaching  campaign,  the  recruiting  parties  in 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  gave  great  offence  to  the  inhabitants,  by  the 
reception,  if  not,  the  seduction  of  their  indented  servants;  and  the  Assembly 
of  the  latter  province  threatened  to  discontinue  the  regiment  they  had  fur- 
nished, unless  this  grievance  were  redressed.  Circumstances,  however,  did 
not  admit  the  discharge  of  such  recruits  to  any  great  extent;  of  which  the 
House,  becoming  sensible,  it  appropriated  £15,000,  for  the  maintenance  of 
that  regiment  for  the  ensuing  campaign.  Extraordinary  inducements  were 
offered  at  this  time,  for  enlistment  in  the  royal  regiments.  The  recruits  were 
exempted  from  service  any  where  but  in  North  America,  and  were  promised 
a  bounty  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  free  from  quit-rents,  for  ten  years, 
either  in  the  province  of  New  York,  New  Hampshire,  or  Nova  Scotia,  at 
their  option ;  to  be  assured,  in  case  they  should  be  killed  in  the  service,  to 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  125 

their  children.  And  to  stimulate  the  provinces  to  liberal  appropriations,  as 
occasion  might  require,  Parliament  voted  £115,000  sterling,  to  be  distri- 
buted at  the  King's  pleasure,  among  the  northern  and  middle  provinces,  of 
which  New  Jersey  received  five  thousand  pounds. 

XXV.  Though  France  and  England  had  been  engaged  in  the  warmest 
hostilities,  in  America,  since  1754,  the  peace  was  not  openly  and  avowedly 
broken  in  Europe,  until  May,  of  the  present  year.     The  events  in  America, 
in  1754,  had  determined  each  to  despatch  considerable  reinforcements  to  the 
colonies.     The  French,  understanding  that  orders  had  been  given  to  Bosca- 
wen,  to  intercept  their  squadron,  declared  they  would  consider  the  first  gun 
fired  as  a  declaration  of  war ;  and  their  minister  was  recalled  from  London, 
in  consequence  of  an  attack  upon  their  fleet,  by  that  admiral.     The  British 
government  instantly  issued  letters  of  marque,  under  which  a  large  number 
of  French  merchant  ships,  and  seven  thousand  French  sailors,  were  captured. 
A  blow  which  had  great  effect  upon  the  subsequent  operations  of  the  war,  in 
Europe  and  America. 

XXVI.  Either  from  want  of  confidence  in  the  military  talents  of  General 
Shirley,  or  that,  he  might  give  them  information  on  American  affairs,  the 
ministry  removed  him  from  his  command,  and  summoned  him  to  England. 
General  Abercrombie  succeeded  him ;  with  whom  came  out  two  additional 
regiments.     But  the  chief  direction  of  the  war  was  soon  after  given  to  the 
Earl  of  Loudon,  who  was  appointed  governor  of  Virginia,  and  colonel  of 
the  royal  American   regiment,   which   had  been  lately  formed  from  the 
German  emigrants. 

XXVII.  In  the  mean  time,  Sir  William  Johnson  had  succeeded,  by  the 
mediation  of  the  Six  Nations,  in  disposing  the  Shawanese  and  Delawares  to 
an  accommodation.     Hostilities  against  them  were  suspended,  and  the  treaty 
of  peace  was  soon  after  ratified  at  Easton.     This  was  the  withdrawal  of  one 
painful  thorn  from  the  side  of  the  colonies ;  and  the  chastisement  inflicted  by 
Colonel  Armstrong  of  Pennsylvania,*  by  the  destruction  of  the  den  of  the 
horde,  at  Kittanning,  soon  extracted  another.     The  conflagration  of  that 
town,  and  slaughter  of  the  Indian  families  there,  was  a  severe  stroke  upon 
the  savages.     Hitherto,  the  English  had  not  assailed  them  in  their  towns, 
and  they  fancied,  would  not  venture  to  approach  them.     But,  now,  though 
urged  by  unquenchable  thirst   of  vengeance   to   retaliate  the  blow,  they 
dreaded,  that,  in  their  absence  on  war  parties,  their  wigwams  might  be  re- 
duced to  ashes.     Such  of  them  as  belonged  to  Kittanning,  and  had  escaped 
the  carnage,  refused  to  settle  again  on  the  east  of  Fort  Du  Quesne;  resolving 
to  place  that  fortress  and  the  French  garrison  between  themselves  and  the 
English. 

XXVIII.  Of  the  many  enterprises  resolved  on  by  General  Shirley,  several 
were  unattempted  ;  none  were  successful.     Notwithstanding  the  exertions  in 
the  northern  provinces,  the  recruiting  service  moved  heavily.    Much  time  was 
lost  by  the  change  of  commanders ;  and  the  season  for  operation  was  nearly 
half  spent,  before  the  arrival  of  Lord  Loudon.     No  preparations  were  made 
against  Fort  Du  Quesne.     The  colonies  of  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Penn- 
sylvania, far  from  pursuing  offensive  measures,  were  unable  to  protect  them- 
selves.    The  expedition  against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  was  confided 
to  General  Winslow,  who  had  won  golden  opinions  during  his  last  campaign, 
in  Nova  Scotia.     Seven  thousand  provincialists  had  assembled  near  Lake 
George,  but  their  number  was  reduced  by  subtractions  for  the  garrisons  in 
their  rear.    Winslow  refused  to  proceed  without  reinforcements ;  and  though 
soon  after  strengthened  by  some  British  troops,  under  General  Abercrombie, 

*  September  8th,  1756. 


126  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

he  was  perplexed  and  embarrassed  by  disputes  relative  to  rank,  which  grew 
out  of  this  junction.  The  regulations  of  the  crown,  on  this  subject,  had 
given  great  offence  in  America ;  and  such  was  the  reluctance  of  the  provin- 
cialists  to  serve  under  British  officers,  that,  in  the  present  case,  in  order  to 
enable  the  troops  to  act,  separately,  the  Americans  were  withdrawn  from  the 
garrisons  to  the  army,  and  their  places  supplied  with  British  forces.  The 
expedition  to  Ontario  was  rendered  hopeless  by  the  successes  of  the  French 
under  Montcalm,  who  had  captured  the  forts  of  Ontario  and  Oswego,  situate 
on  either  side  of  the  Onondago  river,  at  its  junction  with  the  lake.  These 
forts  in  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations,  he,  with  sound  policy,  destroyed,  in 
their  presence.  At  the  capture  of  Oswego,  Colonel  Schuyler,  and  half  the 
Jersey  regiment,  which  formed  part  of  the  garrison,  were  made  prisoners 
and  sent  to  Canada ;  from  whence  they  were  not  released,  until  the  end  of 
the  campaign,  and  then  on  parole,  not  to  serve  for  eighteen  months.  The 
regiment  was,  however,  recruited  to  its  original  state  of  five  hundred  men, 
at  the  expense  of  the  province,  early  in  the  ensuing  spring. 

Discouraged  and  disconcerted  by  these  events,  Loudon  relinquished  all 
offensive  operations,  and  disposed  his  troops  for  the  defence  of  the  frontier. 
Renewed  efforts  to  increase  his  force  were  rendered  abortive  by  the  appear- 
ance of  the  small-pox  at  Albany.  The  troops  which  were  on  the  march 
from  New  England,  and  the  army  at  Lake  George,  were  panic-struck  by 
the  irruption  of  an  enemy  more  dreadful  than  the  French ;  and  it  became 
necessary  to  garrison  all  the  posts  with  British  troops,  and  to  discharge  the 
provincialists,  excepting  one  regiment  raised  in  New  York.  Thus  termi- 
nated, for  a  second  time,  in  defeat  and  utter  disappointment,  the  sanguine 
hopes,  formed  by  the  colonists,  of  a  brilliant  and  successful  campaign.  Much 
labour  had  been  employed,  and  much  money  expended,  in  collecting,  by 
land,  from  a  great  distance,  troops,  provisions,  and  military  stores,  at  Alba- 
ny, and  in  transporting  them  through  an  almost  unsettled  country,  to  Lake 
George ;  yet  not  an  effort  had  been  made  to  drive  the  invaders  even  from 
their  outposts  at  Ticonderoga. 

XXIX.  The  treaty  with  Teedyuscung,  had  neutralized  the  Delaware  and 
Shawanese  tribes  on  the  Susquehanna,  but  the  country  was  still  exposed  to 
the  inroads  of  the  French  and  western  Indians,  who,  growing  confident 
from  the  late  disasters  of  the  English,  roamed,  in  small  parties,  avoiding  or 
attacking  the  forts  and  armed  provincialists,  as  they  judged  most  safe.  The 
counties  of  Cumberland,  Lancaster,  Berks,  and  Northampton,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and,  occasionally,  a  part  of  Sussex,  in  New  Jersey,  were,  during  the 
spring  and  summer  months  of  1757,  kept  in  continual  alarm,  and  some  of 
the  scalping  parties  penetrated  to  within  thirty  miles  of  Philadelphia.  Many 
of  these  wretches  paid  with  their  lives,  the  just  penalty  of  their  temerity. 
But  their  sufferings  were  not  comparable  with  those  of  the  unfortunate  in- 
habitants. Incessant  anxiety  pervaded  every  family  in  the  districts  we  have 
named ;  their  slumber  was  broken  by  the  yell  of  demons,  or  by  dread  of 
attack,  scarce  less  horrible  than  their  actual  presence.  The  ground  was 
ploughed,  the  seed  sown,  and  the  harvest  gathered,  under  the  fear  of  the 
tomahawk  and  rifle.  Women  visiting  their  sick  neighbours,  were  shot  or 
captured ;  children,  driving  home  cattle  from  the  field,  were  killed  and 
scalped;  whilst  the  enemy,  dastardly  as  cruel,  shrunk  from  every  equality 
of  force.  Many  of  the  richest  neighbourhoods  were  deserted,  and  property 
of  every  kind  abandoned :  extraordinary  heroism  was  frequently  displayed 
by  men,  women,  and  children,  in  defence  of  themselves  and  their  homes, 
and  in  pursuit  of,  and  combat  with,  the  enemy.  There  was  certainly  great 
want  of  ability  and  energy  in  the  constituted  authorities,  British  and  Provin- 
cial. United  councils,  and  well  directed  efforts,  would  have  driven  the  bar- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  127 

barians  to  their  savage  haunts,  and  repeated  the  chastisement,  administered 
at  Kittanning,  until  they  sued  for  peace.  The  Assembly  of  New  Jersey, 
however,  was  not  regardless  of  the  danger  and  sufferings  of  her  frontier  citi- 
zens, and  kept  on  foot,  for  their  protection,  a  body  of  rangers,  consisting  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  under  Captain  Gardiner ;  who,  though  they 
could  not  prevent  occasional  invasions  of  the  foe,  gave  as  much  security  to 
the  frontier  as  circumstances  would  admit. 

XXX.  Lord  Loudon,  in  the  middle  of  January,  summoned  the  Governors  of 
the  New  England  provinces  to  New  York.    In  no  very  good  humour  he  attri- 
buted to  them,  the  disasters  of  the  late  campaign.    "  Their  enterprise  against 
Crown  Point,"  he  said,  "  had  not  been  timely  communicated  to  the  ministry; 
their  troops  were  inferior  to  his  expectations,  disposed  to  insubordination,  and 
less  numerous  than  had  been  promised ;  the  true  state  of  the  forts  and  gar- 
risons had  not  been  reported  to  him,  and  the  provincial  Legislatures  had 
given  him  votes,  instead  of  men  and  money."     He  concluded  this  reprimand 
with  a  requisition  for  additional  troops  from  New  England,  New  York,  and 
New  Jersey.     The  spirit  of  the  colonists,  however,  was  not  to  be  broken  by 
misfortune,  caused  by  the  incapacity  of  the  ministry  of  the  parent  state,  and 
her  delegated  satraps,  nor  to  be  perverted  by  unmerited  reproaches.     His 
demands  were,  generally,  complied  with ;  and  he  was  placed,  in  the  spring, 
at  the  head  of  a  respectable  army,  to  tempt  his  fortune  under  his  own  star. 
The  New  England  provinces  exerted  themselves  greatly  at  this  time,  and 
authorized  a  draft,  or  conscription,  should  their  quotas  not  be  completed  by 
voluntary  enlistment.  The  force  required  from  New  Jersey  was  one  thousand 
men ;  but  the  Assembly  conceiving  five  hundred  to  be  their  full  proportion, 
refused  to  do  more  than  complete  their  regiment;  and  in  an  answer  to  the 
proposal  of  Governor  Belcher,  that  they  should,  also,  authorize  a  draft,  they 
peremptorily  declared  by  a  vote  of  12,  to  7,  "that  they  were  determined  not 
to  oblige  or  compel  any  of  the  inhabitants  by  force,  to  serve  as  soldiers." 

XXXI.  The  failures  of  the  past  year  were  attributed  to  the  multiplied  ob- 
jects of  the  campaign,  and  the  consequent  division  of  the  forces.     Unity  of 
design,  and  concentration  of  the  troops,  it  was  presumed,  would  ensure  suc- 
cess.    It  was  therefore  resolved,  that  Louisburg  should  be  attacked;  and 
Halifax  was  fixed  as  the  rendezvous  of  the  fleet  and  army.     Early  in  July, 
Admiral  Holburn  arrived  there  with  a  large  squadron  of  ships  and  five  thou- 
sand land  forces ;  and  after  many  delays,  was  joined  by  Lord  Loudon,  with 
six  thousand  regulars.     Much  was  properly  anticipated  from  this  formidable 
armament,  but  the  procrastination  of  the  commander-in-chief  doomed  the 
country  to  severe  disappointment.     For  before  his  preparations  were  com- 
pleted, the  French  had  occupied  Louisburg  with  a  superior  force,  despatched 
from  Brest,  against  which  his  lordship  was  not  disposed  to  make  an  effort. 

XXXII.  The  enemy,  however,  was  not  slow  to  avail  himself  of  the  ad- 
vantages which  might  accrue  to  him  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  British  troops 
from  the  northern  frontiers  of  New  York.     Montcalm,  at  the  head  of  nine 
thousand  men,  drawn  principally  from  Crown  Point,  Ticonderoga,  and  the 
neighbouring  forts,  witth  some  Canadians  and  Indians,  invested  Castle  Wil- 
liam on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  George.     The  place  was  garrisoned  by 
three  thousand  men,  including  the  unfortunate  Jersey  regiment,  was  well  for- 
tified and  supplied  with  necessaries,  but  Colonel  Monroe  was  compelled  to 
surrender  it  within  six  days  after  its  investment.     Montcalm's  triumph  was 
stained  by  the  barbarities  of  his  Indian  allies,  and  though  he  exerted  himself 
to  protect  his  prisoners,  the  massacre  of  many  of  them  will  ever  be  coupled 
with  his  name.     Major-general  Webb  made  strenuous  exertions  to  relieve 
the  fort  by  arousing  the  militia  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey.     From  the 
latter  province,  one  thousand  men  were  despatched,  and  three  thousand  were 


128  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

put  in  readiness  to  march,  should  they  be  required.  By  these  reinforcements 
he  was  enabled  to  hold  Fort  Edward,  check  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  who 
retired  when  he  had  learned  the  return  of  Loudon  to  New  York.  The  New 
Jersey  regiment  with  other  prisoners  were  released,  and  returned  to  New 
York  under  parole,  not  to  serve  again  during  eighteen  months,  and  being  thus 
rendered  useless,  were,  at  the  instance  of  the  Assembly,  disbanded.  This  regi- 
ment, since  the  capture  of  Colonel  Schuyler,  had  been  commanded  by  Colo- 
nel Parker. 

XXXIII.  On  August  31, 1757,  died  Governor  Jonathan  Belcher,  in  the  76th 
year  of  his  age.     His  health  had  been  so  infirm,  during  the  preceding  two 
years,  that  he  summoned  the  Assembly  to  attend  him  at  Elizabethtown,  much 
to  their  dissatisfaction.    The  House  seemed  apprehensive  of  being  made  a  mere 
satellite  of  the  Executive,  to  revolve  around  him,  in  whatever  sphere  he  chose 
to  move,  and  they  therefore  attended  Governors  Morris  and  Belcher,  even 
when  illness  prevented  these  officers  from  getting  to  Burlington,  or  to  Amboy 
with  great  reluctance ;  protesting  at  all  times,  that  their  acquiescence  should 
not  be  drawn  into  precedent ;  and  they  explicitly  refused  to  adjourn  from 
Burlington  to  Trenton,  on  the  request  of  his  successor  Mr.  Readington,  al- 
though his  health  also  required  this  indulgence. 

Governor  Belcher  was  a  native  of  New  England,  and  inherited,  in  early 
youth  an  abundant  fortune,  which  enabled  him  to  visit  Europe,  and  to  mingle 
extensively  in  good  society,  until  lavish  expenditure  dissipated  his  wealth. 
He  joined  the  popular  side  in  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  in  the  long  con- 
test with  Governor  Burnet,  on  the  question  of  fixing  his  salary,  for  an  inde- 
finite time,  and  was  sent  as  an  agent  of  the  Assembly  to  represent  their 
views  to  the  King.  Upon  the  death  of  Governor  Burnet  he  was  appointed 
to  succeed  him,  and  then  maintained  the  pretension  of  his  predecessor,  which 
he  had  been  employed  to  repel,  and  with  the  like  ill  success.  His  adminis- 
tration at  Boston  was  distinguished  by  his  taste  for  ostentation,  and  his 
imperious  deportment,  and  he  finally  so  disgusted  the  influential  men  of  that 
government,  by  rejecting  several  respectable  persons  nominated  to  the  coun- 
cil, that  they  successfully  united  to  effect  his  removal.  He  afterwards  re- 
mained several  years  unemployed,  until  he  was  named  to  the  government  of 
New  Jersey.  "  He  was  now  advanced  in  age,  yet  lively,  diligent  in  his  sta- 
tion, and  circumspect  in  his  conduct,  religious,  generous  and  affable.  He 
affected  splendour,  at  least  equal  to  his  rank  and  fortune:  but  was  a  man  of 
worth  and  honour,  and  though,  in  his  last  years  under  great  debility  of  body 
from  a  stroke  of  the  palsy,  he  bore  up  with  firmness  and  resignation,  and 
went  through  the  business  of  his  government,  in  the  most  difficult  part  of  the 
war,  with  unremitting  zeal  in  the  duties  of  his  office."* 

XXXIV.  By  the  death  of  Mr.  Belcher,  the  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment again  devolved  on  Mr.  John  Reading,  the  first  named  of  the  counsellors ; 
who  being  aged  and  infirm,  at  first  refused,  and  finally  assumed,  its  duties 
with  great  reluctance.     For  the  space  of  more  than  a  month,  the  government 
was  directed  by  the  whole  council,  at  whose  instance,  on  the  application  of 
Lord  Loudon,  the  Assembly  voted  one  hundred  rangers,  to  be  employed  on 
the  frontiers  during  the  winter  season.f 

*  Smith's  Hist,  of  N.  J.  438. 

t  The  captain  of  this  company  received  six  shillings,  the  lieutenants  five,  ser- 
jeants  four,  corporals  three  and  six  pence,  and  the  private  soldier  three  shillings  per 
day.  And  each  officer  and  soldier  was  furnished  at  colonial  expense,  with  a  blanket, 
a  half  thick  under  jacket,  a  kersey  jacket  lapelled,  buckskin  breeches,  two  check 
shirts,  two  pair  of  shoes,  two  pair  of  stockings,  a  leather  cap,  and  a  hatchet;  and  20 
shillings  was  allowed  to  the  captain  for  each  private  he  should  enlist. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  129 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Containing  Events  from  the  Presidency  of  Mr.  Reading  to  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act — from  the  year  1746  to  the  year  1766. — I.  Influence  of  Mr.  Pitt  and  his 
Policy  upon  Colonial  Affairs — New  hopes  infused  into  the  Colonists. — II.  Suc- 
cessful Attack  of  the  English  upon  the  Northern  Forts. — III.  Capture  of  Fort 
Du  Quesne  by  General  Forbes. — IV.  Cheerful  and  ready  aid  of  the  Colonies. — 
V.  New  Jersey  supplies  one  thousand  Men,  and  builds  Barracks  for  the  King's 
Troops. — VI.  President  Reading  superseded  by  the  arrival  of  Governor  Ber- 
nard— His  treaty  with  the  Indians — Succeeded  by  Thomas  Boone — He,  by  Josiah 
Hardy— He,  by  William  Franklin,  the  last  of  the  Royal  Governors.— VII.  Effi- 
cient Preparations  for  the  Campaign  of  1759. — VIII.  Conquest  of  the  French 
Colonies  in  North  America. — IX.  Honourable  share  of  the  Provincialists  in  this 
Result. — X.  Treaty  of  Peace  with  France  and  Spain. — XL  New  Confederacy  and 
Hostilities  of  the  Indians— Six  hundred  Troops  raised  by  New  Jersey. — XII.  Im- 
pressions on  the  English  Ministry,  by  the  Wealth  and  Power  displayed  in  Ame- 
rica.— XIII.  Proposition  of  Mr.  Grenville  to  tax  the  Colonies. — XIV.  Conside- 
ration of  the  Principles  relating  to  Colonial  Taxation. — XV.  Mr.  Grenville 
commmunicates  his  purpose  to  the  Colonial  Agents  in  London. — XVI.  Views 
taken  by  Colonies  of  this  Proposition. — XVII.  Propositions  by  several  of  the 
Colonies  to  raise  Money,  rejected  by  Mr.  Grenville. — XVIII.  Act  of  Parliament 
for  Tax  on  Colonial  Imports  and  Exports. — XIX.  Effect  of  the  Measures  in 
America — Proceedings  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island. — XX.  Stamp  Act 
passed — Its  reception  in  the  Colonies. — XXI.  Temporary  suspension  of  legal 
proceedings  and  of  the  publication  of  Newspapers. — XXII.  Anti-Importation 
Associations. — XXIII.  Organization  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty ." — XXIV.  Proposi- 
tion of  Massachusetts  for  assembling  a  Congress  of  Deputies  from  the  Colonies — 
Action  of  New  Jersey  on  this  proposition. — XXV.  Proceedings  of  the  Con- 
gress— Messrs.  Ruggles  of  Massachusetts,  and  Ogden  of  New  Jersey,  refuse  to  join 
in  a  General  Petition. — XXVI.  The  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  approve  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  Congress — adopts  Resolutions  condemnatory  of  the  Stamp  Act. — 
XXVII.  Efforts  in  England  for  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.— XXIX.  Inquiry  be- 
fore the  House  of  Commons — Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act. 

I.  With  the  opening  of  the  year  1758,  a  new  era  dawned  upon  the  colo- 
nies, which  were  roused  from  a  state  of  apathy  by  the  voice  of  William  Pitt. 
The  enterprise,  judgment,  and  firmness,  which  had  raised  England  from  the 
depths  of  humility,  were  now  employed  for  the  reduction  of  the  American 
continent.     The  plan  of  the  campaign  was  wisely  matured,  and  committed 
for  execution,  to  men  who  had  reputations  to  lose  and  fortunes  to  gain. 
Loudon  was  recalled.     Abercrombie  commanded  in  chief,  with  Amherst  for 
his  second,  aided  by  Brigadiers  Wolfe  and  Forbes.     The  fleet,  consisting 
altogether  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  sail,  was  commanded  by  Boscawen. 

II.  The  designated  objects  of  the  campaign  were  Louisburg,  the  forts  on 
the  lakes,  and  Fort  du  Quesne.     Major-general  Amherst,  with  twelve  thou- 
sand men,  aided  by  the  fleet,  laid  siege  to  the  first,  early  in  June ;  and  cap- 
tured it,  after  an  obstinate  defence  of  seven  weeks.     General  Abercrombie, 
with  seven  thousand  regulars  and  ten  thousand  colonial  troops,  undertook 
the  expedition  against  the 'northern  forts.     He  first  attempted  that  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  which  had  been  reared  by  the  French  in  1756,  on  the  narrow  neck 
of  land  dividing  Lake  George  from  Lake  Champlain.     Its  position,  strong 
by  nature,  was  well  secured  by  art,  and  by  a  garrison  of  five  thousand  men. 
Relying  on  his  superior  force,  the  British  general  made  his  attack  without 
artillery,  which,  from  the  badness  of  the  roads,  could  not  keep  pace  with  the 
army.     He  was  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  two  thousand  men,  chiefly  killed ; 
among  whom  were  Brigadier-general  Lord  Howe,  and  many  other  officers 
of  distinction.     Though  still  superior  to  the  enemy,  he  made  a  hasty  retreat; 

R 


130  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

but  compensated  for  this  ill-timed  prudence,  by  the  capture  of  Fort  Fron- 
tignac,  situate  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  at  its  entrance 
from  Lake  Ontario ;  commanding  the  river,  and  serving  as  a  magazine  for 
the  more  southern  castles.  The  garrison  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
men  only ;  but  the  fort  contained  a  large  stock  of  arms,  stores,  and  provi- 
sions for  the  western  posts.  Nine  armed  vessels,  some  of  which  carried 
eighteen  guns,  were  also  taken.  The  enterprise  was  projected  and  executed 
by  Lieutenant-colonel  Bradstreet. 

III.  The  reduction  of  Fort  Du  Quesne  was  confided  to  Brigadier-general 
Forbes,  with  a  detachment  from  General  Abercrombie's  army,  strengthened 
by  the  southern  militia;  the  whole  computed  at  seven  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men.*  He  began  his  march  from  Carlisle  in  the  middle  of 
July,  to  join  Colonel  Bouquet  at  Raystown ;  who,  with  two  thousand  five 
hundred  men,  was  advanced  to  Loyal  Hanna,  fifty  miles  further  to  the  west- 
ward. The  march  of  the  main  body  was  delayed  until  September,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  difficulty  in  procuring  carriages  and  military  stores,  and  of 
the  tardiness  with  which  the  orders  to  the  Virginia  regulars,  under  Colonel 
Washington,  had  been  given.  In  the  mean  time,  Major  Grant  was  detached 
by  Bouquet,  with  eight  hundred  men,  to  reconnoitre  the  fort  and  adjacent 
country.  He  was  attacked,  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  and  lost  above  three 
hundred  men,  killed  and  taken,  and  was  himself  among  the  prisoners  ;  the 
remainder  retired  in  great  confusion.|  Colonel  Bouquet  still  continuing  at 
Loyal  Hanna,  the  enemy  resolved  to  attack  him,  in  his  camp.  A  force,  esti- 
mated at  twelve  hundred  French,  and  two  hundred  Indians,  commanded  by 
De  Vetri,  assailed  him  on  the  eleventh  of  October  with  great  vivacity,  but 
was  compelled  to  draw  off  with  considerable  loss,  after  a  warm  combat  of 
four  hours.  A  second  attack  was  made  during  the  night,  but  some  shells 
thrown  from  the  camp  compelled  them  to  retreat.  The  loss  of  Colonel 
Bouquet  amounted  to  sixty-seven  rank  and  file,  killed  and  wounded.  Upon 
the  twenty-third  or  twenty-fourth  of  October,  General  Forbes  proceeded  from 
Raystown  to  Loyal  Hanna.  He  continued  there  until  the  seventeenth  of 
November.  On  the  twelfth  of  that  month  Colonel  Washington,  being  out 
with  a  scouting  party,  fell  in  with  a  number  of  the  enemy  about  three  miles 
from  the  camp,  whom  he  attacked,  killing  one,  and  taking  three  prisoners : 
among  the  latter  was  one  Johnson,  an  Englishman,  who  had  been  captured 
by  the  Indians  in  Lancaster  county,  from  whom  was  derived  full  and  correct 
information  of  the  state  of  the  garrison  at  Du  Quesne.  A  most  unfortunate 
occurrence  happened  to  the  provincials  upon  this  occasion.  The  fire  of 
Washington's  party  being  heard  at  the  camp,  Colonel  Mercer,  with  a  num- 
ber of  Virginians,  were  sent  to  his  assistance.  The  two  parties  approach- 
ing, in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  reciprocally  mistook  each  other  for  enemies ; 
a  number  of  shot  was  exchanged,  by  which  a  lieutenant  and  thirteen  or  four- 
teen Virginians  were  killed.  On  the  thirteenth  of  November,  a  force  of  one 
thousand  men,  under  Colonel  John  Armstrong,  was  pushed  forward,  and  the 
general  followed  on  the  seventeenth,  with  four  thousand  three  hundred  effec- 
tive men,  leaving  strong  garrisons  at  Raystown. and  Loyal  Hanna.  For 
want  of  practicable  roads,  the  whole  march  was  tedious  and  difficult — the 
advance  of  ten  miles  a-day  being  deemed  extraordinary  progress.  The 

*    350  Royal  Americans ;  four  companies. 

1200  Highlanders;  thirteen  companies. 

2600  Virginians. 

2700  Pennsylvanians. 

1000  Wagoners,  sutlers,  and  followers  of  the  army. 

Penn.  Gazette,  1758,  No.  1553. 
i  14th  September. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  131 

army  was  greatly  afflicted  by  sickness,  and  weakened  by  desertion.  Ne- 
glecting the  road  formerly  cut  by  Braddock  over  the  mountains,  General 
Forbes  opened  a  new  one,  by  which  he  approached  the  fort.  The  capture 
of  Frontignac,  and  the  defection  of  the  Indians  from  the  French  interest,  had 
already  prepared  the  way  for  his  success.  The  garrison  of  Fort  Du  Quesne, 
unsustained  by  their  savage  allies,  and  hopeless  of  reinforcements,  the  Cana- 
dian force  lately  engaged  at  Loyal  Hanna  having  retired,  held  the  place, 
only,  until  the  approach  of  the  English  army  should  justify  its  abandonment. 
Accordingly,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  November,  when  Forbes  was  within  a 
day's  march  of  the  fort,  they  burned  and  abandoned  it,  and  escaped,  by  the 
Ohio  river,  to  the  French  settlements  upon  the  Mississippi.  The  ruined  fortifi- 
cations were  seized  by  the  English,  on  the  next  day,  and,  being  hastily  repaired, 
were  garrisoned  by  four  hundred  and  fifty  men,  chiefly  provincial  troops, 
from  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Mercer.  The  remainder  of  the  army  was  marched  into  the  interior,  and 
quartered  at  Lancaster,  Reading,  and  Philadelphia. 

IV.  In  the  preparations  of  the  colonies  for  this  campaign,  we  have  new 
evidence  of  the  power  which  an  energetic  spirit,  directed  by  wisdom,  may 
obtain,  over  the  mass  of  mankind.     The  contributions  of  the  provinces,  to- 
wards carrying  on  the  continental  war,  had,  for  the  last  campaigns,  been 
merely  the  cold  returns  of  duty ;  but  in  this,  the  people  displayed  all  the  zeal 
with  which  men  pursue  their  interests,  when  animated  by  well  founded  hopes 
of  success.     Their  combined  forces,  they  were  now  assured,  would  be  ap- 
plied to  remove  the  enemy  from  the  frontiers ;  and  instead  of  being  required 
to  furnish  a  specific  quota  of  troops,  each  colony  was  directed  to  raise  as 
large  a  force  as  was  in  its  power,  with  the  greatest  possible  despatch.     To 
render  such  force  effective,  Mr.  Pitt  recommended  to  the  respective  gover- 
nors, to  commission  popular  men  for  officers,  and  in  bestowing  military  ap- 
pointments, to  have  regard,  solely,  to  the  public  service.     Arms,  ammuni- 
tion, tents,  and  provisions,  were  to  be  furnished  by  the  crown;  and  the 
expense  of  levying,  clothing,  and  pay,  was  to  be  borne  by  the  provinces. 
But,  even  these  charges,  he  promised  to  recommend  the  Parliament  to  pay, 
as  the  vigour  and  efforts  of  the  provinces  should  merit. 

V.  Thus  inspirited,  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  instead  of  raising,  re- 
luctantly, five  hundred  men,  doubled  that  number ;  and  to  fill  the  ranks,  in 
season,  offered  a  bounty  of  twelve  pounds,  per  man ;  increased  the  pay  of  the 
officers,  and  voted  a  sum  of  fifty  thousand  pounds,  for  their  maintenance. 
They,  at  the  same  sessions,  directed  barracks  to  be  built  at  Burlington, 
Trenton,  New  Brunswick,  Amboy,  and  Elizabethtown,  competent,  each,  for 
the  accommodation  of  three  hundred  men.     Nor,  did  the  Assembly  fail  to 
remark,  on  the  constitutional  method  they  had   been  called  on  to  give 
assistance  to  the  common  cause,-  being  left  at  liberty  to  furnish  to  the 
crown,  what  their  own  ability  and  sense  of  the  occasion  required.     This 
complement  of  one  thousand  men,  New  Jersey  kept  up,  during  the  years 
1758,  1759,  and  1760;  and  in  the  years  1761  and  1762,  furnished  six  hun- 
dred men,  beside  in  the  latter  year,  a  company  of  sixty-four  men  and  officers, 
especially,  for  garrison  duty ;  for  which  she  incurred  an  average  expense  of 
forty  thousand  pounds  per  annum. 

VI.  On  the  13th  of  June,  1758,  President  Reading  was  superseded  by  the 
arrival  of  Francis  Bernard,  Esq.,  who  continued  to  govern  the  province,  in 
unbroken  harmony  with  the  Legislature,  until  the  4th  of  July,  1760.     The 
principal  service  rendered  by  this  gentleman,  was  the  aid  he  gave  in  the 
pacification  of  the  Indians,  at  the  treaty  of  Easton,  in  October,  1758,  of 
which  we  have  spoken  fully  elsewhere.    Upon  his  transfer  to  Massachusetts, 
he  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Boone,  who  continued  little  more  than  a  year; 


132  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

being  removed  to  South  Carolina,  and  his  place  in  New  Jersey  supplied  by 
Josiah  Hardy.  Upon  his  dismissal,  and  appointment  to  the  consulate  at 
Cadiz,  came  in,  William  Franklin,  the  son  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  the 
last  of  the  colonial  governors.  Thus,  in  the  space  of  five  years,  New  Jersey 
had  seen  five  governors  appointed  by  the  crown.  This  frequent  change 
proved  very  unacceptable  to  the  colony,  which  was  fully  content  with  the 
three  first  we  have  named ;  and  would  have  been  satisfied  to  have  spared  the 
repeated  gift  of  five  hundred  pounds,  usually  made  to  the  new  governor,  on 
his  arrival,  in  consideration  of  the  expense  and  trouble  of  his  voyage.  To 
Governor  Franklin  this  present  was  not  made.  But  as  the  cost  of  living  had 
considerably  increased  by  the  diminution  of  the  value  of  money,  consequent 
on  the  increased  amount  of  the  circulating  medium,  during  the  war,  the 
Assembly  added  two  hundred  pounds  to  the  annual  salary,  making  it. twelve 
hundred  pounds. 

VII.  Great  Britain,  having  resolved  to  annihilate  the  French  power  in 
North  America,  made  adequate  preparations  for  the  campaign  of  1759.     An 
army  of  eight  thousand  men,  under  General  Wolfe,  was  destined  to  attack 
Quebec;  whilst  General  Amherst,  with  12,000  regular  and  provincial  troops, 
should  reduce  the  forts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  cross  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  by  the  rivers  Richelieu  and  St.  Lawrence,  join  Wolfe;  and  General 
Prideaux,  assisted  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  at  the  head  of  some  friendly 
Indians,  should  capture  the  fort  at  the  falls  of  Niagara,  and  proceed  by  Lake 
Ontario  and  Montreal,  to  unite  with  the  other  generals.     To  General  Stan- 
wix,  was  confided  the  southern  department,  with  orders  to  watch  the  western 
frontier,  and  to  erect  proper  forts  for  its  defence. 

VIII.  This  stupendous  plan  was,  only,  partly  carried   into  execution. 
Quebec  was  purchased  with  the  life  of  the  gallant  Wolfe.    General  Amherst 
obtained  possession  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  but  too  late  in  the 
season,  to  permit  him  to  accomplish  the  remainder  of  the  plan  assigned  to 
him.     General  Prideaux  invested  Niagara,  but  was  slain  in  the  trenches  by 
the  bursting  of  a  cohort.     The  fort  was,  however,  captured  by  Sir  William 
Johnson,  who  succeeded  him  in  the  command.     It  was  not  until  September 
of  the  succeeding  year,  that  the  great  object  was  entirely  gained ;  when,  by 
the  union  of  three  British  armies,  before  Montreal,  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil, 
was  compelled  to  surrender,  by  capitulation,  the  whole  of  the  French  posses- 
sions to  his  Britannic  Majesty. 

Thus  fell  the  great  power  of  France  in  America.  Possessed  of  the  northern 
and  southern  parts  of  the  continent,  her  encroachments  became  formidable 
to  the  British  American  empire,  which  she  sought  to  confine,  to  a  narrow 
slip  of  sea-coast.  She  thus  brought  upon  her  the  united  power  of  England 
and  her  colonies,  which  she  baffled,  when  feebly  directed ;  but  which  was 
irresistible  in  the  hands  of  a  wise  and  energetic  minister. 

IX.  The  share  of  the  provincials  in  this  result,  gives  lustre  to  the  colonial 
history  of  the  American  States.    They  had  kept  in  the  field  an  average  force 
of  twenty-five  thousand  men  during  the  war ;  had  lost  thirty  thousand  of 
their  young   men,   and  contributed   three  millions  five  hundred  thousand 
pounds  sterling,  to  the  payment  of  its  expenses.*     Four  hundred  privateers, 
from  their  ports,  ravaged  the  French  West  India  islands,  and  distressed  the 
commerce  of  France,  in  all  parts  of  the  world.     Their  troops  preserved  the 
remains  of  the  army  wrecked  by  the  folly  of  Braddock ;  and  under  Monckton, 
captured  Beau  Sejour,  in  Nova  Scotia.     Commanded  by  Sir  William  John- 
son, they  destroyed  the  army  of  Baron  Dieskau ;  and  subsequently  reduced 
Fort  Niagara,  one  of  the  most  important  posts  on  the  continent.     The  merit 

*  Of  this  sum,  Parliament  reimbursed  at  several  times,  £1,031,666  sterling. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  133 

of  these  actions,  is  ascribable  to  them,  solely.  In  all  the  marches  and  battles 
they  were  principal  sufferers ;  and  where  honour  was  to  be  gained,  the  pro- 
vincial was  distinguished,  by  his  fortitude  in  adversity,  and  his  promptitude 
and  courage  in  the  hour  of  peril. 

X.  Spain  became  party  to  the  war,  in  January,  1772;  but  the  conflict 
against  the  united  house  of  Bourbon,  was  not  of  long  continuance ;  peace 
being  made  with  France  and  Spain,  on  the  3d  of  November,  of  the  same  year. 
We  are  interested  in  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  so  far  only,  as  they  affected  the 
colonies.     France  surrendered  her  pretensions  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  ceded 
Canada,  including  Louisiana.     Spain  yielded  Florida.     In  exchange  for  this 
mighty  domain,  France  received  the  islands  of  St.  Pierre  and  Miquelon,  near 
Newfoundland,  with  a  restricted  privilege  of  the  fishery,  and  the  islands  of 
Martinique,    Guadaloupe,   Mariegalante,  Deseada,   and  St.  Lucia. — Spain 
obtained  the  restoration  of  the  Havana — a  price,  more  than  adequate  for 
Florida,  which  would  not  have  been  paid,  but  with  the  design  of  preserving 
the  eastern  shore  of  North  America,  from  foreign  influence. 

XI.  In  exclusive  possession  of  this  immense  territory,  comprehending 
nearly  one-fifth  of  the  globe,  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies  rationally  looked 
forward,  to  its  peaceful  enjoyment,  in  full  confidence,  that  the  aboriginal 
inhabitants,  no  longer  exposed  to  dangerous  solicitations,  nor  supported  by 
alien  power,  would  not  dare  to  provoke  the  resentment  of  those  upon  whom 
they  must  entirely  depend,  for  the  gratifications  supplied  by  the  whites.    But 
the  cupidity  of  the  savage  had  been  highly  excited,  during  the  late  conflict, 
and  as  deeply  indulged.     The  present  unprotected  state  of  the  frontier, 
held  forth  irresistible  temptations  to  his  whetted  appetite  for  plunder.     His 
barbarities  had  been  rather  rewarded  than  chastised.     Every  treaty  brought 
him  rich   presents;    and   his  detention  of  prisoners,  whom  he  had  again 
and  again   promised   to  surrender,  was  overlooked,  on  slight  apologies; 
though,  obviously,  done  to  afford  opportunities  for  new  treaties  and  additional 
gifts.     But,  we  must,  perhaps,  look  deeper,  for  the  cause  of  the  wide  extend- 
ed confederacy,  which  now  took  place  among  the  aborigines,  and  which  may 
have  been  dictated  by  profound  policy.     They  beheld  the  French  driven  out 
of  the  whole  country,  and  themselves  in  danger  of  becoming  wholly  depen- 
dent upon  a  power,  which  already  commanded  by  its  forts,  the  great  lakes 
and  rivers ;  and  they  may  have  felt,  that  an  immediate  and  mighty  effort 
was  necessary  to  restrain  the  tide,  which,  if  unimpeded,  would  spread  itself 
over  the  continent,  overwhelming  all  their  nations  in  its  course. 

A  secret  coalition  was  formed  among  the  Shawanese,  the  tribes  upon  the 
Ohio,  and  its  tributary  waters,  and  about  Detroit,  to  attack,  simultaneously, 
the  English  posts  and  settlements,  upon  the  frontier.  The  plan  was  delibe- 
rately and  skilfully  projected.  The  settlements  were  to  be  invaded  during 
harvest ;  the  inhabitants,  with  their  corn  and  cattle,  to  be  destroyed ;  and  the 
outposts  to  be  reduced  by  famine.  The  Indians  fell,  suddenly,  upon  the 
traders,  whom  they  had  invited  among  them,  murdered  many,  and  plundered 
the  effects  of  all,  to  an  immense  amount.  The  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland  and  Virginia,  were  overrun  by  scalping  parties,  committing  their 
usual  enormities.  The  out-forts,  even  the  most  remote,  were  assailed  about 
the  same  time ;  and  all,  immediately,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  save 
Niagara,  Detroit,  and  Fort  Pitt,  which,  being  larger  and  better  garrisoned, 
were  enabled  to  stand  a  longer  siege. 

As,  in  the  preceding  Indian  contest,  the  frontier  inhabitants  were  driven  in, 
and  the  enemy  again  penetrated  into  the  thickly  settled  country;  but  more 
skill  and  courage  were  generally  displayed  in  resisting  them.  Niagara  and 
Detroit  were  protected  by  detachments  sent  to  their  relief  by  General  Am- 
herst,  whilst  Colonel  Bouquet,  after  much  fatigue  and  a  bloody  battle,  sue- 


134  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

ceeded  in  succouring  Fort  Pitt.  These  distressing  hostilities  continued  until 
October,  1764,  when  they  were  terminated  by  Col.  Bouquet,  who,  with  fifteen 
hundred  men,  overran  the  Indian  country  in  Ohio,  compelling  the  submission 
of  the  tribes,  and  releasing  many  white  prisoners.  The  Indians,  soon  after, 
entered  into  a  final  and  satisfactory  treaty  with  Sir  William  Johnson,  who 
was  authorized  for  that  purpose,  by  the  crown. 

Governor  Franklin,  on  the  approach  of  the  savages  to  the  western  fron- 
tier of  New  Jersey,  ordered  out  the  militia,  remanned  the  fortifications 
which  had  been  formerly  erected,  and  built  several  new  block-houses.  Yet 
some  parties  of  Indians  crossed  the  Delaware,  made  their  way  through  the 
lines,  and  massacred  several  families.  On  the  meeting  of  the  House,  15th  of 
November,  he  recommended  them  to  provide  six  hundred  men,  at  the  request 
of  General  Amherst,  to  unite  with  other  forces  to  invade  the  Indian  country, 
and  to  provide  more,  effectually  for  defence  of  their  own  limits.  The  latter, 
the  House  undertook,  directing  two  hundred  men  to  be  raised  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  appropriating  ten  thousand  pounds  for  their  support ;  but  they  de- 
clined to  furnish  troops  for  general  operations,  until  a  general  plan  should  be 
formed,  and  a  requisition  should  be  made  for  aid  to  the  other  colonies.  At 
their  next  subsequent  session,  however,  they  passed  a  bill  for  raising  six  hun- 
dred men,  on  condition,  that  a  majority  of  the  eastern  colonies  should  come 
into  the  requisition ;  and  when  this  bill  was  rejected  by  the  council,  and  the 
governor  prorogued  the  House,  in  order  to  give  them  an  opportunity  to  bring 
in  another,  they  authorized  the  force  required,  provided  New  York  should  con- 
tribute her  full  proportion.  In  this  shape  the  bill  passed,  and  the  troops 
joined  the  northern  army. 

XII.  The  great  pecuniary  advances  of  the  colonies,  in  the  late  wars,  dis- 
covered to  the  ministry  of  Great  Britain,  a  mine  of  wealth,  whose  existence 
they  had  not  hitherto  suspected ;  and  with  the  knowledge  came  an  inexpres- 
sible longing  to  subject  this  wealth  to  the  use  of  the  parent  state.    But  no  good 
genius  whispered,  that,  there  existed,  also,  the  spirit,  as  well  as  the  means,  to 
maintain  the  political  freedom  which  had  been,  at  once,  the  source  of  riches 
and  of  colonial  happiness.  It  was  supposed,  that,  if  in  a  few  years,  these  long 
neglected  and  distant  provinces  could  pay,  without  apparent  inconvenience, 
millions  for  defence,  they  might,  also,  be  compelled  to  pay  millions  for  tribute. 

XIII.  On  this  assumption,  Mr.  Grenville,  first  commissioner  of  the  treasury, 
flattered  himself  that  he  might  establish  a  high  financial  character,  in  reliev- 
ing his  country  by  the  taxation  of  her  provinces.     To  a  superficial  observer, 
few  obstacles  were  apparent  in  such  a  course.     Parliament  had  frequently 
imposed  duties  upon  the  colonial  trade ;  which,  as  a  part  of  a  general  system, 
for  regulating  the  commerce  of  the  empire,  had  been  patiently  borne.     But, 
no  attempt  had  been,  hitherto,  made,  avowedly,  to  raise  a  revenue  from  the 
colonies,  for  the  use  of  the  British  treasury. 

XIV.  Upon  the  principles  which  have  governed  modern  colonization,  the 
colony  is  dependent,  either  upon  the  parent  state,  or  upon  its  chief,  as  a  dis- 
tinct apanage  or  property.     The  first  case  was,  that  of  the  colonies  of  most 
of  the  European  states.    The  second,  characterized  those  of  Spain ;  the  king- 
doms of  Mexico,  Peru,  &c.,  being  long  considered  as  connected  with  those  of 
Castile  and  Arragon,  through  the  monarch  alone,  who  was  the  king  of  each, 
respectively.     A  different  view,  however,  was  taken  in  relation  to  these,  by 
the  Cortes,  in  framing  the  constitution  of  1820,  when,  as  integral  parts  of  the 
Spanish  empire,  they  were  admitted  to  representation  in  the  national  coun- 
cils.    The  English  colonies  held  their  connexion  with  Great  Britain,  to  be 
somewhat  similar  to  that  which  had  prevailed  between  Spain  and  her  pro- 
vinces; claiming,  however,  for  their  governments,  the  important  and  cha- 
racteristic principle,  which  animated  the  polity  of  the  parent  state,  that  the 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  135 

people  should  have  a  potential  voice,  in  legislation,  through  their  representa- 
tives. This  theory  was  universal,  but  the  practice  was  variously  modified ; 
the  Legislative  power,  being  more  or  less  exercised  by  the  people,  according 
to  the  provisions  of  the  several  charters  from  the  crown.  One  right,  how- 
ever, which  controlled  all  others — the  right  of  the  purse,  was  every  where 
held  sacred  to  the  people ;  and  though  the  crown  might  create  an  almost  in- 
evitable necessity  of  disbursement,  it  could  not  without  the  form,  at  least,  of 
popular  volition,  take  money  from  the  pockets  of  the  people.* 

The  right  of  the  Parliament  to  legislate,  generally,  for  the  colonies  had  not 
been  questioned  since  the  year  1692,  when  Massachusetts  and  New  York 
denied  it  by  acts  of  their  Legislatures."!"  These  laws  were  annulled  in  England; 
and  in  1698  Parliament  declared,  that  "all  laws,  by-laws,  usages  and  cus- 
toms, which  shall  be  in  practice,  in  any  of  the  plantations,  repugnant  to  any 
law  made,  or  to  be  made,  in  this  kingdom,  relative  to  the  said  plantations, 
shall  be  void  and  of  none  effect." 

By  the  charter  of  Charles  II,  to  Penn,  the  right  of  Parliament  to  lay  duties 
on  imports  and  exports,  and  to  impose  taxes  or  customs  on  the  inhabitants  of 
Pennsylvania,  their  lands,  goods  and  chattels  was  clearly  reserved.  In  1739, 
Sir  William  Keith,  in  conjunction  with  some  American  merchants,  proposed 
to  raise  troops  for  the  western  frontier,  to  be  supported  by  a  duty  laid  by 
Parliament  on  stamped  paper  and  parchment,  in  all  the  colonies.  But  the 
subject  was  then  too  inconsiderable  to  claim  the  attention  of  the  government. 
When  efforts  were  made  to  unite  the  colonies  in  1754,  a  plan  for  colonial  tax- 
ation was  suggested ;  but  the  ministers  finding  the  colonies  averse  to  their 
views,  did  not  venture  to  press  it  on  the  eve  of  a  war,  in  which  the  cordial 
and  undivided  exertions  of  the  whole  nation  were  required.:): 

A  more  favourable  occasion  seemed  now  to  present  itself.  The  war  which 
had  grown  out  of  American  interests,  had  been  honourably  terminated,  and  it 
was  supposed,  that  the  provinces,  grateful  for  their  deliverance,  would  cheer- 
fully repay  the  care  of  a  fostering  mother.  Nor  would  such  anticipations 
have  been  disappointed,  had  the  designs  of  the  ministry  no  other  consequences 
than  a  single  pecuniary  burden  upon  the  people. 

XV.  Towards  the  end  of  the  year  1763,  Mr.  Grenville  communicated  to 
the  colonial  agents  in  London,  his  purpose  of  drawing  a  revenue  from  Ame- 
rica, by  means  of  a  stamp  duty  to  be  imposed  by  Act  of  Parliament,  and  di- 
rected them  to  transmit  this  intelligence  to  their  respective  Assemblies,  that 
they  might  suggest  any  more  preferable  duty,  equally  productive.§     The  fol- 
lowing view,  briefly  exhibited,  was  then  taken  of  this  subject,  by  all   the 
provinces. 

XVI.  The  colonies  were  considered  as  integral  governments,  of  which  the 
crown  was  the  head,  having  exclusive  political  power  within  their  respective 
territories,  except  in  cases  involving  the  general  interests  of  the  empire,  in 
which,  from  principles  of  convenience  and  necessity,  they  admitted  the  su- 
premacy of  the  British  Parliament.     On  these  principles,  they  had  submitted 
to  the  general  regulations  of  commerce,  however  restrictive  of  their  exertions 
at  home  and  abroad ;  and  where  the  letter  of  the  law  pressed  heavily  on  their 

*  By  the  Concessions  of  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  and  also  of  the  West  Jersey  proprie- 
tors, it  was  provided,  "that  the  governor  and  council  are  not  to  impose,  or  suffer  to  be 
imposed,  any  tax,  custom,  or  subsidy,  tollage,  assessments,  or  any  other  duty  whatso- 
ever, upon  any  colour  or  pretence,  how  specious  soever,  upon  the  said  province,  and 
inhabitants  thereof,  without  their  own  consent,  first  had,  or  other  than  what  shall  be 
imposed  by  the  authority  and  consent  of  the  General  Assembly." 

t  Smith's  N.  Y.  75,  76. 

t  Marshall's  Life  of  Washington. 

§  One  hundred  thousand  pounds  sterling,  was  the  sum  required  by  Mr.  Grenville. 


136  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

natural  rights,  murmurs  were  seldom  heard,  as  such  acts  were  not  rigidly  en- 
forced. The  mode  of  drawing  aid  from  the  colonists  accorded  with  these 
principles.  The  sovereign  having  well  considered  the  occasion,  in  his  privy 
council,  directed  his  secretary  of  state  to  apply  to  each  colony  through  its 
governor,  to  grant  him  such  sums  as  were  suitable  to  its  ability.  And  as  the 
colonies  had  always  made  liberal  grants  on  such  requisitions,  the  proposition 
to  tax  them  in  Parliament,  was  unnecessary,  cruel,  and  unjust.  Unjust,  be- 
cause it  was  diametrically  opposite  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  their  constitu- 
tions, which  had  established  as  a  fundamental  axiom,  that  taxation  and 
representation  are  inseparable,  and  that  as  the  colonies  were  not,  and  from 
local  and  political  obstacles  could  not  be,  represented  in  the  British  Parlia- 
ment, it  would  be  the  very  essence  of  tyranny  to  attempt  to  exercise  an 
authority  over  them,  which,  from  its  nature,  must  inevitably  lead  to  gross 
abuse.  For,  when  in  absolute  possession  of  the  power  now  claimed,  could 
it  be  imagined,  that  Parliament  would  not  rather  vote  away  the  money  of  the 
colonists,  than  of  their  constituents?  By  the  constitution,  their  business  in 
matters  of  aid  was  with  the  King  alone ;  they  had  no  connexion  with  any 
financier,  nor  were  the  provincial  agents  the  proper  persons  through  whom 
requisitions  should  be  made.  For  these  reasons,  it  was  improper  for  the  pro- 
vinces to  make  propositions  to  Mr.  Grenville,  in  relation  to  taxes,  especially, 
as  the  notice  he  had  sent,  did  not  appear  to  have  been  by  the  King's  order, 
"  and  was  perhaps  without  his  knowledge."* 

XVII.  These  views  certainly  did  not  proceed  from  a  desire  to  avoid  con- 
tribution, in  relief  of  the  public  wants.     Several  of  the  colonial  Legislatures 
declared,  "  that  as  they  always  had  thought,  so  they  always  should  think,  it 
their  duty  to  grant  aid  to  the  crown."     Copies  of  these  votes  were  presented 
to  Mr.  Grenville,  and  an  opportunity  was  thus  offered  to  him,  to  raise  by 
constitutional  means,  more  than  a  compulsory  tax  would  produce.     But  he 
had  resolved  on  measures,  which  should  establish  the  absolute  supremacy 
of  Parliament  over  the  provinces,  and  open  the  way  for  its  unrestrained 
exercise. 

XVIII.  When  forming  his  plan  of  American  taxation,  Mr.  Grenville  cer- 
tainly did  not  apprehend  all  its  consequences.     But,  aware  that  it  would  be 
opposed,  he  was  desirous  of  trying  an  old  measure  under  a  new  aspect,  and 
proposed,  in  distinct  terms,  to  raise  a  revenue,  by  taxes  on  colonial  imports. 
This  measure,  sufficiently  obnoxious  in  itself,  was  accompanied  by  a  resolu- 
tion of  Parliament,  "  that  it  may  be  proper  to  charge  certain  stamp  duties  in 
the  colonies."     The  act  of  Parliament,  based  on  the  first  proposition,  was 
extremely  onerous  to  the  American  trade ;  the  duties  thereby  imposed  amount- 
ing almost  to  a  prohibition  of  commercial  intercourse  with  the  French  and 
Spanish  colonies.f     It  is  true,  that  this  trade,  previous  to  the  passage  of  the 
act  of  which  we  now  speak,  was  unlawful ;  but  it  was  connived  at,  and  was 

*  Votes  of  the  Assemblies  of  the  several  colonies.  Franklin's  Letters,  March  8th, 
1770.  Provincial  Remonstrances.  Marshall's  Life  of  Washington,  vol.  ii.  68,  &c. 

t  This  act  was  entitled,  "  An  act  for  granting  certain  duties  in  the  British  colonies 
and  plantations,  in  America,  for  continuing,  amending,  and  making  perpetual,  an  act 
passed  in  the  sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  his  late  Majesty,  King  George  the  Second, 
(entitled,  an  act  for  the  better  securing  and  encouraging  the  trade  of  his  Majesty's  sugar 
colonies  in  America,)  for  applying  the  produce  of  such  duties,  and  of  the  duties  to  arise 
by  virtue  of  the  said  act,  towards  defraying  the  expenses  of  defending,  protecting  and 
securing  the  said  colonies  and  plantations,  for  explaining  an  act,  made  in  the  twenty-fifth 
year  of  the  reign  of  King  Charles  the  Second,  (entitled,  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of 
the  Greenland  and  Eastland  trades,  and  for  the  better  securing  the  plantation  trade,) 
and  for  allowing  and  disallowing,  several  drawbacks  on  exports,  from  this  kingdom, 
and  those  effectually  preventing  the  clandestine  conveyance  of  goods,  to  and  from  the 
said  colonies  and  plantations,  and  improving  and  securing  the  trade  between  the  same 
and  Great  Britain." 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  137 

highly  profitable ;  furnishing  to  the  provinces,  gold  and  silver  for  their  re- 
mittances to  England.  The  minister,  in  his  care  to  prevent  smuggling,  did 
not  pause  to  consider  the  difference  between  an  advantageous  trade  in  the 
western  hemisphere,  and  the  illicit  commerce  on  the  British  coast.  Con- 
verting naval  officers  into  officers  of  the  customs,  he  nearly  destroyed  the 
whole  colonial  trade  with  the  Spanish  and  French  islands.  The  preamble 
to  the  new  impost  law,  declaring  it  to  be  just  and  necessary,  that  a  revenue 
should  be  raised  in  America,  and  the  resolution  to  follow  it  up,  with  a  stamp 
act,  gave  an  unequivocal  and  odious  character  to  the  law,  and  sent  it  forth 
to  the  colonies,  the  pioneer  of  a  system  of  boundless  oppression. 

The  revenue  act  became  still  more  unpopular,  by  the  means  used  to  en- 
force it.  The  penalties  for  breach  of  its  provisions,  were  made  recoverable  in 
the  courts  of  admiralty,  without  the  intervention  of  a  jury,  before  judges 
dependent  upon  the  crown,  and  drawing  their  salaries  from  forfeitures,  ad- , 
judged  by  themselves.  The  duties  were  required  to  be  paid  in  gold  and 
silver,  now  scarce  attainable,  and  consequently,  the  paper  currency,  more 
than  ever  necessary,  was  rejected  and  depreciated. 

XIX.  The  impression,  caused  by  these  measures  on  the  public  mind,  was 
uniform  throughout  America.     The  Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  whose 
population,  essentially  commercial,  felt  most  severely  the  late  restrictions, 
was  the  first  to  notice  them.     That  body  resolved,  "  That  the  act  of  Parlia- 
ment relating  to  the  sugar  trade  with  foreign  colonies,  and  the  resolution  of 
the  House  of  Commons,  in  regard  to  stamp  duties,  and  other  taxes  proposed 
to  be  laid  on  the  colonies,  had  a  tendency  to  deprive  the  colonists  of  their 
most  essential  rights,  as  British  subjects,  and  as  men — particularly,  the  right 
of  assessing  their  own  taxes,  and  of  being  free  from  any  impositions,  but 
such  as  they  consented  to,  by  themselves  or  representatives."     They  direct- 
ed Mr.  Mauduit,  their  agent  in  London,  to  remonstrate  against  the  ministe- 
rial measures,  to  solicit  a  repeal  of  the  sugar  act,  and  to  deprecate  the  impo- 
sition of  further  duties  and  taxes  on  the  colonies.     They  addressed  the  As- 
semblies of  the  other  provinces,  requesting  them  to  unite  in  a  petition  against 
the  designs  of  the  ministry,  and  to  instruct   their  agents  to  remonstrate 
against  attempts  so  destructive  to  the  liberty,  the  commerce  and  prosperity, 
of  the  colonies.     The  colony  of  Rhode  Island,  proposed  to  the  provincial 
assemblies,  to  collect  the  sense  of  all  the  colonies,  and  to  unite  in  a  common 
petition  to  the  King  and  Parliament. 

XX.  All  the  efforts  of  the  American  colonies  to  stay  the  mad  career  of  the 
English  ministry,  proved  unavailing.    The  stamp  act  was  passed,  with  slight 
opposition,  by  the  Commons,  and  unanimity  by  the  Lords.*     Dr.  Franklin, 
who  had  been  despatched  to  Europe,  in  November,  1764,  as  the  agent  of 
Pennsylvania,  laboured  earnestly  to  avert  a  measure,  which  his  sagacity  and 
perfect  knowledge  of  the  American  people,  taught  him  was  pregnant  with 
danger,  to  the  British  empire.     But,  even  he  does  not  appear  to  have  enter- 
tained the  idea,  that  it  would  be  forcibly  resisted.     He  wrote  to  Mr.  Charles 
Thompson,  "  The  sun  of  liberty  is  set,  you  must  light  up  the  candles  of  in- 
dustry and  economy."     To  which  Mr.  Thompson  replied,  "  He  was  appre- 
hensive that  other  lights  would  be  the  consequence."     To  Mr.  Ingersol,  the 
agent  of  Connecticut,  the  doctor  said,  "  Go  home,  and  tell  your  people  to  get 
children  as  fast  as  they  can."     Intimating  that  the  period  for  successful  re- 
sistance had  not  yet  arrived. 

*  The  stamp  act  was  passed  on  the  22d  of  March,  1765.  It  was  under  the  conside- 
ration of  Parliament,  in  March,  of  the  foregoing  year,  but  was  postponed,  it  was  said, 
by  the  exertions  of  Mr.  Allen,  chief-justice  of  Pennsylvania,  at  that  time  on  a  visit  to 
London. 


138  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  ministry,  desirous  to  render  the  stamp  act  as  little  obnoxious  as  pos- 
sible, resolved  to  appoint  the  officers  of  distribution  and  collection,  from 
among  the  discreet  and  reputable  inhabitants  of  the  provinces.  But,  there 
were  no  means,  by  which  to  reconcile  the  people  to  a  law,  every  where  re- 
garded as  the  forerunner  of  political  slavery.  The  stamp  officers,  either 
voluntarily  or  compulsorily  resigned  their  offices ;  some  were  hung  or  buried 
in  effigy,  in  several  of  the  provinces,  and  violent  outrages  were  committed 
on  the  person  and  property  of  the  deputy-governor,  and  other  officers,  at 
Boston.  William  Coxe,  Esq.,  who  had  been  appointed  stamp  officer,  for 
New  Jersey,  voluntarily  resigned  his  office  in  September,  1765.  Subse- 
quently, upon  the  application  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  of  East  Jersey,  he  pub- 
lished a  copy  of  his  letter  of  resignation,  which  had  been  made  to  the  com- 
missioners of  the  treasury ;  and  declared  that  he  had  appointed  no  deputy, 
and  would  never  act  under  the  law.  Towards  the  end  of  November,  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Salem  county,  learning  that  a  Mr.  John  Hatton 
was  desirous  to  be  employed  in  the  distribution  of  stamps,  compelled  him  to 
a  similar  declaration. 

On  Saturday,  the  5th  of  October,  the  ship  Royal  Charlotte,  bearing  the 
stamped  papers  for  Jersey,  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania,  convoyed  by  a 
stoop  of  war,  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  As  these  vessels  rounded  Gloucester 
Point,  all  those  in  the  harbour  hoisted  their  colours,  at  half  mast ;  the  bells 
were  muffled,  and  every  countenance  assumed  the  semblance  of  affliction. 
At  four  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon,  many  thousand  citizens  assembled  at  the 
state  house,  to  consider  of  the  means  for  preventing  the  distribution  of  the 
stamps.  Their  deliberations  resulted  in  forcing  Mr.  Hughes,  the  stamp 
officer,  most  reluctantly,  to  decline  the  exercise  of  his  office,  and  in  securing 
the  stamps  on  board  his  Majesty's  sloop  of  war,  Sardine. 

XXI.  The  universal  refusal  of  the  colonists  to  submit  to  the  stamp  act, 
occasioned  the  entire  suspension  of  legal  proceedings.     In  some  of  the  pro- 
vinces, however,  business  was  speedily  resumed;  and  in  nearly  all,  the 
penalties  of  the  act  were  braved  before  its  repeal.     The  members  of  the  bar 
in  New  Jersey,  met  about  the  middle  of  February,  1766,  at  New  Bruns- 
wick, to  consider  of  the  propriety  of  continuing  their  practice;  and  being 
waited  on  by  a  deputation  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  who  expressed  their  dis- 
satisfaction at  the  suspension  of  law  proceedings,  they  determined,  at  all 
hazards,  to  recommence  business  on  the  first  of  the  ensuing  April.     At  the 
same  time,   deputies   from  the   same  self-constituted   regulators  of  public 
affairs,  waited  on  Mr.  White,  prothonotary  of  the  county  of  Hunterdon,  who 
was  induced  by  their  polite  and  energetic  instances,  to  promise  that  his  office 
should  be  reopened  at  the  same  period.     By  law,  the  stamp  duty  was  to 
commence  on  the  first  of  November.     On  the  previous  day,  the  newspapers, 
generally,  were  put  in  mourning  for  their  approaching  extinction;  the  editors 
having  resolved  to  suspend  their  publication,  until  some  plan  should  be  de- 
vised to  protect  them  from  the  penalties  for  publishing  without  stamps.     The 
term  of  suspension,  however,  was  short.     On  the  7th  of  November,  a  simi- 
sheet  issued  from  the  office  of  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  without  title  or 
mark  of  designation,  headed,  "  No  stamped  paper  to  be  had;"  and  on  the 
14th,  another,  entitled  "  Remarkable  Occurrences."    Both  were  in  form  of 
the  gazette,  which,  after  the  21st,  was  again  regularly  published.* 

XXII.  "  To  interest  the  people  of  England  against  the  measures  of  admin- 
istration, associations  were  formed  in  every  part  of  the  continent,  for  the 
encouragement  of  domestic  manufactures,  and  against  the  use  of  those  im- 
ported from  Great  Britain.     To  increase  their  quantity  of  wool,  they  deter- 

*  Pennsylvania  Gazette. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  139 

mined  to  kill  no  lambs,  and  to  use  all  the  means  in  their  power,  to  multiply 
their  flocks  of  sheep. 

XXIII.  While  this  determined  and  systematic  opposition  was  made  by 
the  thinking  part  of  the  community,  there  were  some  riotous  and  disor- 
derly proceedings,  especially  in  the  large  towns,  which  threatened  serious 
consequences.     Many  houses  were  destroyed,  much  property  injured,  and 
several    persons,    highly    respectable    in    character   and    station,    grossly 
abused.     These  violences  received  no  countenance  from  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  society;    but  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  stimulate  the  mass  of 
the  people,  to  that  vigorous  and  persevering  opposition,  which  was  deemed 
essential  to  the  preservation  of  American  liberty,  and  yet  to  restrain  all  those 
excesses,  which  disgrace,  and  often  defeat,  the  wisest  measures.     In  Con- 
necticut and  New  York,  originated  an  association  of  persons,  styling  them- 
selves the  "  Sons  of  Liberty"  which  extended  into  New  Jersey,  and  other 
colonies ;  who  bound  themselves,  among  other  things,  to  march  to  any  part 
of  the  continent,  at  their  own  expense,  to  support  the  British  constitution  in 
America;  by  which,  was  expressly  stated  to  be  understood,  the  prevention 
of  any  attempt,  which  might  any  where  be  made,  to  carry  the  stamp  act 
into  operation.     A  corresponding  committee  of  these  sons  of  liberty  was 
established,    who    addressed    letters    to    certain    conspicuous    characters, 
throughout  the  colonies,  and  contributed  materially  to  increase  the  spirit 
of  opposition,  and  perhaps  the  turbulence,  with  which  it  was  in  some  places 
attended.* 

XXIV.  On  receipt  of  intelligence  of  the  passage  of  the  stamp  act,  several 
of  the  colonial  Legislatures,  of  which  Virginia  was  the  first,  asserted  the  ex- 
clusive right  of  the  Assemblies  to  lay  taxes  and  impositions  on  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  colonies,  respectively.     But  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
Massachusetts,  contemplating  a  still  more  solemn  and  effectual  expression  of 
the  general  sentiment,  and  pursuing  the  suggestion  of  Rhode  Island,  recom- 
mended a  Congress  of  deputies  from  all  the  colonial  Assemblies,  to  meet  at 
New  York,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  October,  to  consult  on  the  present  cir- 
cumstances of  the  colonies.     Circular  letters,  signed  by  the  speaker,  com- 
municating this  recommendation,  were  addressed,  respectively,  to  the  speakers 
of  the  Assemblies  in  the  other  provinces.     Wherever  the  Legislatures  were 
in  session,  this  communication  was  immediately  acted  upon. 

It  was  laid  before  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  (20th  June,  1765)  on  the 
last  day  of  the  session,  when  the  House  was  thin;  and  the  members,  as  Go- 
vernor Franklin  asserts,  determined  "  unanimously,  after  deliberate  consi- 
deration,  against  connecting  on  that  occasion;"  and  directed  a  letter  to  be 
written  at  the  table,  to  the  speaker  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  acquainting  him 
with  their  determination.  The  House,  at  a  subsequent  session,  question,!  but 

*  Marshall's  Life  of  Washington,  vol.  i. 

t  June  27th,  176G.  The  statement  of  the  Assembly  is  curious,  and  evidently  betrays 
a  design  to  make  the  best  of  a  circumstance,  with  the  remembrance  of  which,  they 
were  not  very  content.  They  say,  "  This  House  acknowledges  the  letter  from  the 
Massachusetts  Bay;  that  it  was  on  the  last  day  of  the  session,  some  members  gone, 
others  uneasy  to  be  at  their  homes ;  and  do  assert,  that,  the  then  speaker  agreed  to 
send,  nay  urged,  that  members  should  be  sent  to  the  intended  Congress ;  but  changed 
his  opinion  upon  some  advice  that  was  given  to  him;  that  this  sudden  change  of  his 
opinion  displeased  many  of  the  House,  who  seeing  the  matter  dropped,  were  indif- 
ferent about  it;  and  as  no  minute  was  made,  and  no  further  notice  taken  of  it,  the 
House  is  at  a  loss  to  determine  whence  his  excellency  could  get  the  information,  that 
the  House  took  the  same  into  l  deliberate  consideration,  determined  (as  his  excellency 
says,  from  their  own  words)  'unanimously  against  connecting  on  that  occasion:'  they 
have  recollected  the  whole  transaction,  carefully  examined  their  minutes,  and  can 
find  nothing  like  it  inserted  therein;  an  answer  to  the  Massachusetts  letter  was  writ- 
ten, and  if  the  expressions  his  excellency  mentions,  were  made  use  of,  in  it,  this 
House  is  at  a  loss  to  know  how  they  are  accountable  for  it,  when  it  does  not  appear 


140  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

do  not  disprove  this  statement.  But,  this  determination  was  so  highly  con- 
demned by  their  constituents,  that,  the  speaker  found  it  necessary,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  indignation  of  the  people,  and  to  preserve  the  public  peace,  to  con- 
vene the  members  by  circulars,  at  Amboy,  and  with  them  to  proceed  to  the 
nomination  of  delegates  to  the  Convention  of  New  York,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Robert  Ogden,  the  speaker,  Mr.  Hendrick  Fisher,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Borden. 
This  measure  was  severely  reprehended  by  the  governor,  and  was  the  cause 
of  an  angry  contention  between  him  and  the  Assembly. 

XXV.  Delegates  from  the  Assemblies  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island, 
Connecticut.  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland, 
and  South  Carolina,  assembled  at  New  York  at  the  time  appointed.     New 
Hampshire,  Georgia,  Virginia,  and  North  Carolina  were  not  represented; 
but  the  two  former  gave  assurances  of  their  disposition  to  unite  in  petitions 
to  the  King  and  Parliament.     The  Assemblies  of  the  two  latter  not  having 
been  in  session,  since  the  proposition  for  a  Congress  had  been  made,  had  no 
opportunity  to  act  upon  the  subject. 

This  Congress  adopted-a  declaration  of  rights  and  grievances,  upon  which 
they  founded  a  petition  to  the  King  and  a  memorial  to  Parliament.  In  these, 
they  claimed  the  full  privileges  of  English  subjects,  averred  the  plenary 
legislative  power  of  the  colonial  Assemblies,  protested  against  taxation  by 
Parliament,  and  the  dispensation  of  the  trial  by  jury ;  and  earnestly  pressed 
upon  the  attention  of  the  parent  state,  the  burdens  imposed  by  the  stamp  and 
other  acts,  with  the  utter  impossibility  of  continuing  the  execution  of  the 
former,  in  consequence  of  the  drain  of  specie  it  would  produce.  A  difference 
of  opinion  prevailed  upon  the  question,  whether  the  petitions  and  memorials 
should  be  signed  and  transmitted  by  the  Congress,  or  be  sanctioned  and 
forwarded  by  the  provincial  Assemblies,  as  their  several  acts.  Messrs. 
Ruggles  of  Massachusetts,  the  chairman  of  the  Convention,  and  Ogden  of 
New  Jersey,  believing  in  the  propriety  of  the  latter  mode,  refused  to  sign 
with  the  other  delegates ;  but  their  conduct  was  censured  by  their  constitu- 
ents: and  Mr.  Ogden,  thereupon,  resigned  'his  seat  in  the  Assembly,  which 
was  convened  by  the  governor,  at  his  special  instance,*  that  they  might  con- 
sider and  adopt  the  best  mode  of  expressing  their  sense  of  the  obnoxious 
measures."}* 

XXVI.  The  House  received  from  Messrs.  Fisher  and  Borden  their  report 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress,  and,  unanimously,  approved  thereof; 
voting  their  thanks  to  those  gentlemen,  for  the  faithful  and  judicious  dis- 
charge of  the  trust  reposed  in  them.     Mr.  Courtlandt  Skinner,  the  newly 
elected  speaker,  Mr.  John  Johnson,  Mr.  John  Lawrence,  and  Mr.  David 
Cooper  were  appointed  to  correspond  with  the  agent:]:  of  the  colony  in  Great 
Britain. 

The  House  then  proceeded  to  adopt,  unanimously,  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions :  "  Whereas,  the  late  act  of  Parliament,  called  the  stamp  act, 
is  found  to  be  utterly  subversive  of  privileges  inherent  to,  and  originally 

to  be  an  act  of  the  House  ;  but  reflection  on  this  passage,  satisfies  the  House,  that  his 
excellency  has  more  knowledge  of  the  contents  of  the  letter  in  answer,  than  the  mem- 
bers of  the  House  themselves." — votes.  It  is  impossible  not  to  perceive  that  the 
members  of  this  Assembly,  had  not  that  vivid  sense  of  evil  resulting  from  the  stamp 
act,  which  was  displayed  in  other  colonies,  particularly,  when  we  consider  that  this 
was  the  first  opportunity  for  expressing  their  sentiments,  upon  the  odious  pretensions 
of  Parliament.  Upon  their  return  to  their  constituents,  however,  the  members  im- 
bibed opinions  and  zeal  more  befitting  the  times ;  and  hence  we  have  additional  evi- 
dence, that,  resistance  to  British  oppression,  was  not  produced  by  the  efforts  of  a  few 
leading  and  aspiring  men,  but  was  the  spontaneous  act  of  a  high  spirited  people,  well 
instructed  in  their  rights,  and  resolutely  determined  to  maintain  them. 

*  27th  November,  1765.  f  Note  A  A.  I  Joseph  Sherwood,  Esq. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  141 

secured  by,  grants  and  confirmations  from  the  crown  of  Great  Britain  to  the 
settlers  of  this  colony  :  in  duty,  therefore,  to  ourselves,  our  constituents,  and 
posterity,  this  House  thinks  it  absolutely  necessary,  to  leave  the  following 
resolves  on  our  minutes:    1.  That  his  Majesty's  subjects  inhabiting  this  pro- 
vince, are,  from  the  strongest  motives  of  duty,  fidelity,  and  gratitude,  invio- 
lably attached  to  his  royal  person  and  government ;  and  have  ever  shown, 
and  we  doubt  not,  ever  will  show,  the  utmost  readiness  and  alacrity,  for 
acceding  to  the  constitutional  requisitions  of  the  crown,  as  they  have  been, 
from  time  to  time,  made  to  this  colony :  2.  That  his  Majesty's  liege  subjects 
in  this  colony,  are  entitled  to  all  the  inherent  rights  and  liberties  of  his  na- 
tural born  subjects,  within  the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain :   3.  That  it  is,  in- 
separably, essential  to  the  freedom  of  a  people,  and  the  undoubted  right  of 
Englishmen,  that  no  taxes  be  imposed  upon  them,  but  with  their  own  con- 
sent, given  personally,  or  by  their  representatives :    4.  That  the  people  of 
this  colony  are  not,  and  from  their  remote  situation  cannot,  be  represented 
in  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  if  the  principle  of  taxing  the  colo- 
nies without  their  consent,  should  be  adopted,  the  people  here  would  be  sub- 
jected to  the  taxation  of  two  Legislatures ;  a  grievance  unprecedented,  and 
not  to  be  thought  of,  without  the  greatest  anxiety :  5.  That  the  only  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people  of  this  colony,  are  persons  chosen  by  themselves ; 
and  that  no  taxes  ever  have  been,  or  can  be,  imposed  on  them,  agreeably  to 
the  constitution  of  this  province,  granted  and  confirmed  by  his  Majesty's  most 
gracious  predecessors,  but  by  their  own  Legislature :    6.  That  all  supplies 
being  free  gifts ;  for  the  people  of  Great  Britain  to  grant,  to  his  Majesty,  the 
property  of  the  people  of  this  colony  without  their  consent  and  being  repre- 
sented, would  be  unreasonable,  and  render  useless  legislation  in  this  colony, 
in  the  most  essential  point :    7.  That  the  profits  of  trade  arising  from  this 
colony,  centering  in  Great  Britain,   eventually  contribute  to  the  supplies 
granted  there  to  the  crown :    8.  That  the  giving  unlimited  power  to  any  sub- 
ject or  subjects,  to  impose  what  taxes  they  please  in  the  colonies,  under  the 
mode  of  regulating  the  prices  of  stamped  vellum,  parchment,  and  paper,  ap- 
pears, to  us,  unconsitutional,  contrary  to  the  rights  of  the  subject,  and,  appa- 
rently, dangerous  in  its  consequences :    9.  That  any  incumbrance  which,  in 
effect,  restrains  the  liberty  of  the  press  in  America,  is  an  infringement  of  the 
subject's  liberty  :    10.  That  the  extension  of  the  powers  of  the  court  of  admi- 
ralty, within  this  province,  beyond  its  ancient  limits,  is  a  violent  innovation 
of  the  right  of  trial  by  jury — a  right  which  this  House,  upon  the  principles 
of  their  British  ancestors,  hold  most  dear  and  invaluable:    11.  That,  as  the 
tranquillity  of  this  country  hath  been  interrupted  through  fear  of  the  dreadful 
consequences  of  the  stamp  act ;  that,  therefore,  the  officers  of  the  govern- 
ment, who  go  on  in  their  offices,  for  the  good  and  peace  of  the  province,  in 
the  accustomed  manner,  while  things  are  in  their  present  unsettled  situation, 
will,  M  the  opinion  of  this  House,  be  entitled  to  the  countenance  of  the  Legis- 
lature; and  it  is  recommended  to  our  constituents,  to  use  what  endeavours 
lie  in  their  power,  to  preserve  the  peace,  quiet,  harmony,  and  good  order  of 
the  government;  that  no  heats,  disorders,  and  animosities  may,  in  the  least, 
obstruct  the  united  endeavours,  that  are  now  strongly  engaged  for  the  repeal- 
ing the  act  abovementioned,  and  other  acts  affecting  the  trade  of  the  colo- 
nies." 

XXVII.  Whilst  these  efforts  were  being  made  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic 
to  obtain  redress  for  American  grievances,  the  colonial  agents,  the  friends  of 
freedom  and  equal  rights,  and  the  merchants  interested  in  the  American 
trade,  were  not  idle  in  Great  Britain.  The  refusal  to  import  her  manufac- 
tures touched  her  in  a  vital  part.  The  great  diminution  of  orders  for  goods, 


142  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

so  honourable  to  the  self-control  of  the  colonists,  compelled  a  powerful  class  of 
traders  to  advocate  liberal  principles,  who,  under  other  circumstances,  would 
have  gladly  sustained  any  policy  which  might  have  lessened  their  burden  of 
taxation.  Powerful  as  this  combination  certainly  was,  it  had  to  contend 
against  the  most  imperious  passions,  the  pride  and  avarice  of  the  people.  The 
lofty  position  assumed  by  the  Americans  was  intolerable.  They  had  long 
been  viewed  as  men  of  an  inferior  race.  The  arrogant  philosophy  of  Europe 
had  placed  them  and  the  animal  productions  of  their  country,  low  in  the  scale 
of  perfectibility.  By  the  mass  of  the  English  vulgar,  they  were  ranked  with 
savages  and  negroes.  The  colonies,  the  dependencies  of  Great  Britain,  on 
which  she  had,  for  years,  poured  forth  the  scourings  of  her  prisons,  had  de- 
nied her  supremacy,  and  refused  to  submit  to  her  Parliament,  hitherto  deemed 
throughout  her  vast  empire,  politically  omnipotent.  With  the  sin  of  a  re- 
bellious temper,  they  were  also  charged  with  ingratitude.  Under  the  pres- 
sure of  accumulated  debt  and  heavy  taxation,  the  English  people  envied  the 
display  of  wealth  by  the  provincialists  in  the  late  war,  and  forgot  that  its  ex- 
hibition was  made  in  the  common  cause,  with  a  generosity  which  had  enforced 
from  English  justice,  the  return  of  more  than  a  million  sterling.  Thus  sup- 
ported, the  ministry  which  sought  relief  for  the  people,  by  taxing  American 
industry,  would  scarcely  have  been  driven  from  their  purpose.  But  other 
causes  transferred  the  government  to  other  statesmen,  whom  consistency 
required,  at  least,  to  reverse  measures  which  they  had  denounced  with  un- 
qualified reprobation. 

XXVIII.  Under  the  new  ministers  an  inquiry  was  instituted  into  the  effects 
of  the  colonial  policy  of  their  predecessors.  The  merchants  and  manufac- 
turers gave  ample  testimony  of  the  paralysis  in  trade,  whilst  Dr.  Franklin, 
as  the  representative  of  America,  before  a  committee  of  the  whole  House  of 
Commons,  demonstrated  the  impossibility  of  levying  the  new  impositions,  and 
the  consequent  necessity  of  their  repeal.  The  majority  of  Parliament  was, 
now,  divided  into  two  parties.  The  larger  one  affirmed  the  right  to  tax  the 
colonies,  but  denied  the  expediency  of  its  present  exercise ;  the  other,  led  by 
Mr.  Pitt,  repudiated  this  right,  on  the  ground  that  all  aids  are  gifts  from  the 
people,  and  can  never  be  legally  obtained  without  their  assent ;  and  that  this 
assent  could  not  be  had  in  Parliament,  since  the  colonists  were  not  there 
represented.  A  repeal  on  these  principles,  however  just,  according  to  the 
English  constitution,  would  not  have  saved  the  pride  of  the  nation,  and  would 
have  destroyed  the  hopes  of  future  revenue  at  the  will  of  Parliament.  Hence, 
the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  which  took  place  on  the  eighteenth  of  March 
by  a  vote  of  two  hundred  and  seventy -five,  to  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven, 
was  accompanied  by  a  declaration  of  the  right  of  Parliament  to  tax  America. 
It  was  followed  by  an  act  indemnifying  those  who  had  incurred  penalties  on 
account  of  stamp  duties.  The  tidings  of  this  event  were  received  in  America 
with  joy  more  temperate  than  might  have  been  expected  from  the  excitement 
of  the  public  mind.  The  prudence  displayed  on  this  occasion  had  been  ear- 
nestly recommended  by  a  committee  of  merchants  in  London  trading  with 
America,  and  by  others  friendly  to  American  interests. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  in  June,  1766,  Governor 
Franklin  congratulated  the  House  on  the  repeal  of  the  odious  stamp  act ;  to 
which,  however,  he  had  been  little  accessory;  and  whilst  he  lauded,  with  the 
warmth  becoming  a  dependent  of  the  crown,  "the  tenderness,  lenity,  and 
condescension,  the  wisdom,  justice,  and  equity,  which  his  Majesty  and  the 
Parliament  had  manifested  on  this  signal  occasion,"  he  carefully  refrained  from 
reminding  the  members  of  the  obstacles  he  had  endeavoured  to  raise,  to  their 
action  on  the  case,  and  the  severity  with  which  he  reprehended  them  for 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  143 

sending  delegates  to  the  New  York  convention,  and  their  approval  of  its  pro- 
ceedings. The  Assembly  did  not  fail  to  use  so  favourable  an  opportunity  for 
retaliation,  rendered  more  poignant,  that  the  moderation  of  the  province  had 
received  the  commendation  of  the  ministry;  but  the  House  would  have  en- 
joyed its  triumph  with  forbearance,  had  not  the  governor,  by  an  angry  mes- 
sage, drawn  forth  a  severe  retort. 


144  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Comprising  Events  from  1766  to  1769. — I.  Remaining  discontents  in  the  Colonies, 
after  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act. — II.  Dissatisfaction  in  Great  Britain  on  ac- 
count of  the  repeal — American  taxation  again  proposed  in  Parliament,  by  Mr. 
Townsend — Bill  imposing  Duties  on  Goods  imported  into  America,  passed. — IV. 
Circular  Letter  of  Massachusetts  to  the  other  Colonies. — V.  Promptitude  and 
Unanimity  of  the  Colonies  produced  by  the  Farmer's  Letters. — VI.  Resort  to 
Non-importation  Agreements. — VII.  The  Ministry  condemn  the  Circular  Letter. 
VIII.  Menacing  Resolutions  of  Parliament  against  Massachusetts — The  other 
Colonies  approve  her  conduct. — IX.  Modified  repeal  of  the  Imposts — Consequent 
modification  of  the  Non-importation  Agreements. — X.  Numerous  Law  Suits — 
The  People  complain  of  the  Fees  of  the  Courts. — XI.  Disputes  between  the  Go- 
vernor and  the  Assembly. — XII.  Robbery  of  the  Treasury  of  East  Jersey— The 
Assembly  require  the  removal  of  the  Treasurer — He  is  protected  by  the  Gover- 
nor.— XIII.  Efforts  of  Governor  Franklin  to  encourage  the  culture  of  Hemp, 
Flax,  and  Silk. — XIV.  New  apportionment  of  Members  in  the  Province. — XV. 
Testimonial  of  the  Northern  Indians  to  the  Justice  of  the  Colony. 

I.  Although  the  joy  produced  by  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  was  com- 
mon to  all  the  colonies,  the  same  temper  did  not  prevail  in  all.  In  the  com- 
mercial cities,  the  restrictions  on  trade  excited  scarce  less  disgust  than  had 
been  created  by  the  stamp  act  itself;  and  in  the  north,  political  parties  had 
been  formed,  which  betrayed  excessive  bitterness  in  opposition  to  each  other. 
The  first  measures  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York  demonstrated  that  the 
reconciliation  with  the  colonies  was  not  cordial. 

With  the  circular  of  Mr.  Secretary  Conway,  announcing  the  repeal  of  the 
stamp  act,  came  a  resolution  of  Parliament,  declaring,  that  those  persons 
who  had  suffered  injury  by  assisting  to  execute  that  act,  ought  to  be  compen- 
sated by  the  colonies,  respectively,  in  which  such  injury  was  done.  This, 
specially,  affected  Massachusetts,  where  compliance  with  the  resolution  was 
tardy,  reluctant,  and  ungracious.  An  act  of  pardon  to  the  offenders,  and  of 
indemnity  to  the  sufferers,  was,  however,  passed ;  but  it  was  rejected  by  the 
King;  because  the  colonial  Assembly  had  no  power  under  their  charter,  to 
pass  an  act  of  general  pardon,  but  at  the  instance  of  the  crown. 

In  New  York,  where  General  Gage  was  expected  with  a  considerable 
body  of  troops,  the  governor  required  from  the  Legislature,  compliance 
with  the  act  of  Parliament,  called  the  " Mutiny  Act"  which  directed,  the 
colony,  in  which  any  of  his  Majesty's  forces  might  be  stationed,  to  provide 
barracks  for  them,  and  certain  necessaries  in  their  quarters.  The  Legis- 
lature, reluctantly  and  partially,  complied  with  the  requisition ;  but  at  a  sub- 
sequent session,  when  the  matter  was  again  brought  before  them,  they  deter- 
mined, that  the  act  of  Parliament  could  only  be  construed  to  require  neces- 
saries for  troops  on  a  march,  and  not  while  permanently  stationed  in  the 
country ;  on  a  contrary  construction,  they  said,  the  colony  might  be  griev- 
ously burdened,  by  marching  into  it  several  regiments.  This  reason  ad- 
mits the  obligation  to  obey  the  act.  Yet,  its  requisitions  were,  unquestiona- 
bly, a  tax ;  and  between  the  power  of  Parliament  to  levy  money  by  its  own 
authority,  and,  compulsorily,  through  the  colonial  Legislatures,  no  essential 
distinction  can  be  drawn.  A  like  requisition  was  made  on  the  Legislature 
of  New  Jersey,  in  April,  1768,  by  Governor  Franklin,  which  was  fulfilled 
with  cheerful  alacrity.  Such  were  the  inaccurate  ideas,  which  even  then 
prevailed,  in  parts  of  the  continent,  relative  to  the  control  which  Parliament 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  145 

might  justly  exercise  over  the  colonies.  The  contumacy  of  New  York  was 
punished  and  removed  by  prohibiting  the  Legislature  from  passing  any  act, 
until  the  requisition  of  the  Parliament  had  been,  in  every  respect,  complied 
with.*" 

Some  troops  having  been  driven,  by  stress  of  weather,  into  the  harbour  of 
Boston,  their  commander  applied  to  Governor  Bernard,  for  the  necessary 
and  usual  supplies,  which  were  granted  by  consent  of  the  council,  "  in  pur- 
suance of  the  act  of  Parliament."  But  the  general  court  which  met  soon 
afterwards,  (1767)  disapproved,  in  pointed  terms,  the  conduct  of  the  gover- 
nor, declaring,  that,  "  after  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  they  were  surprised 
to  find,  that  this  act,  equally  odious  and  unconstitutional,  should  remain  in 
force.  They  lamented  the  entry  of  the  reason  for  the  advice  of  council,  the 
more,  as  it  was  an  unwarrantable  and  unconstitutional  step,  which  totally 
disabled  them  from  testifying  the  same  cheerfulness  they  had  always  shown, 
in  granting  to  his  Majesty,  of  their  free  accord,  such  aids  as  his  service  had, 
from  time  to  time,  required." 

II.  The  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  however  grateful  to  the  friends  of  liberty, 
to  the  colonists,  and  to  the  English  merchants  trading  with  them,  was  not 
popular  with  the  nation  at  large.     The  supremacy  of  the  Parliament  was 
maintained  by  the  mass  of  the  people ;  the  hope  of  revenue  from  America 
was  too  fascinating  to  be  surrendered  without  further  exertion ;  and  the  King 
beheld,  with  high  indignation,  the  resistance  to  his  authority,  and  the  political 
principles  which  his  American  subjects  had  displayed.     Moved  by  these  con- 
siderations, Mr.  Charles  Townsend,  chancellor  of  the  exchequer,  in  an  ad- 
ministration formed  by  Lord  Chatham,  a  man  of  splendid  and  versatile  ta- 
lents, invited  the  attention  of  Parliament,  again,  to  the  subject  of  American 
taxation.     He  boasted,  "  that  he  knew  how  to  draw  a  revenue  from  the 
colonies,  without  giving  them  offence,  and  animated  by  the  challenge  of  Mr. 
Grenville,  to  make  his  vaunting  true,  he  proposed  and  carried  almost  unani- 
mously, a  bill  imposing  certain  duties  on  tea,  glass,  paper,  and  painters' 
colours,  imported  into  the  colonies  from  Great  Britain ;  the  proceeds  of  which 
were  appropriated  to  the  support  of  government  in  America,  so  far  as  should 
be  necessary,  and  the  balance  to  be  paid  into  the  British  treasury. 

This  measure  was  founded  in  the  erroneous  belief,  that  the  colonists  ob- 
jected rather  to  the  mode  than  to  the  right  of  taxation.  But  though  there 
had  been  some  inaccuracies  in  expressing  their  views  on  the  statutes  regu- 
lating trade,  there  should  have  been  no  misapprehension  of  their  determination 
to  resist  every  attempt  to  tax  them  without  their  consent.  The  bill  of  Mr. 
Townsend  had  the  unequivocal  character  of  a  revenue  law,  and  as  such  was 
avowedly  enacted ;  nor  were  the  provincialists  slow  to  declare  their  sense  of 
its  true  character. 

III.  Petition  and  remonstrance  were  again  resorted  to  by  the  colonial 
Legislatures.     The  tone,  generally  taken,  was  not  so  high,  as  in  case  of 
the  stamp  act ;  but  the  conviction  that  the  one  was  as  great  a  violation  of 
public  liberty  as  the  other,  soon  became  universal. 

The  colony  of  Massachusetts,  in  addition  to  her  other  measures,  addressed 
a  circular  letter  (llth  February,  1768,)  to  the  Assemblies  of  the  respective 
colonies,  stating  her  own  proceedings  to  obtain  redress.  This  was  laid  be- 
fore the  House  of  Representatives  of  New  Jersey  by  the  speaker,  Courtland 
Skinner,  Esq.,  on  the  16th  of  April,  and  was  referred  to  Messrs.  Borderi, 
J.  Lawrence,  and  R.  Lawrence,  with  instructions  to  draught  an  answer 
thereto.  The  answer,  signed  by  the  speaker,  remarks,  "  sensible  that  the 
law  you  complain  of  is  a  subject  in  which  every  colony  is  interested,  the 

•  Marshall, 


146  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

House  of  Representatives  readily  perceived  the  necessity  of  an  immediate  ap- 
plication to  the  King,  and  that  it  should  correspond  with  those  of  the  other 
colonies ;  but  as  they  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of  knowing  the  sentiments 
of  any  other  colony,  but  that  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  they  have  endea- 
voured to  conform  themselves  to  the  mode  adopted  by  you.  They  have 
therefore  given  instruction  to  their  agent,  and  enjoined  his  attention  on  the 
subject  of  their  petition."  And  it  concluded,  "the  House  have  directed  me 
to  assure  you,  that  they  are  desirous  to  keep  up  a  correspondence  with 
you,  and  to  unite  with  the  colonies  if  necessary,  in  further  supplications 
to  his  Majesty,  to  relieve  his  distressed  American  subjects.  Pursuant  to 
these  sentiments,  the  House,  May  7th,  1768,  adopted  a  petition  to  his  Ma- 
jesty, in  which,  after  recounting  the  perils  and  labours  of  the  primitive 
settlers,  they  declared,  that  "  the  subjects  thus  emigrating  brought  with  them, 
as  inherent  in  their  persons,  all  the  rights  and  liberties  of  natural  born  sub- 
jects within  the  parent  state.  In  consequence  of  these,  a  government  was 
formed  under  which  they  have  been  constantly  exercised  and  enjoyed  by  the 
inhabitants,  and  repeatedly  and  solemnly  recognised  and  confirmed  by  your 
royal  predecessors,  and  the  Legislature  of  Great  Britain." 

"  One  of  these  rights  and  privileges  vested  in  the  people  of  this  colony,  is 
the  privilege  of  being  exempt  from  any  taxations,  but  such  as  are  imposed  on 
them  by  themselves,  or  by  their  representatives ;  and  this  they  esteem  so  in- 
valuable, that  they  are  fully  persuaded,  no  other  can  exist  without  it." 

Then,  after  recalling  to  the  remembrance  of  their  sovereign,  their  past 
promptitude  in  furnishing  all  necessary  supplies  required  from  them,  and  their 
disposition  for  the  future,  to  evince  "  their  unfeigned  affection  for  his  Majesty's 
person,  their  distinguished  duty  to  his  government,  and  their  inflexible  reso- 
lution to  maintain  his  authority  and  defend  his  dominions,"  they  proceed; 

"Penetrated  with  these  sentiments,  this,  your  people,  with  the  utmost  con- 
cern and  anxiety  observe,  that  duties  have  lately  been  imposed  upon  them  by 
Parliament,  for  the  sole  and  express  purposes  of  raising  a  revenue.  This  is 
a  taxation  upon  them  from  which  they  concieve  they  ought  to  be  protected, 
by  the  acknowledged  principles  of  the  constitution :  that  freemen  cannot  be 
legally  taxed  but  by  themselves  or  by  their  representatives ;  and  that  they  are 
represented  in  Parliament  they  not  only  cannot  allow,  but  are  convinced  from 
their  local  circumstances  they  never  can  be." 

"  Very  far  is  it  from  our  intention,  to  deny  our  subordination  to  that  au- 
gust body,  or  our  dependence  on  the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain ;  in  these  con- 
nections, and  in  the  settlement  of  our  liberties  under  the  auspicious  influence 
of  your  royal  House,  we  know  our  happiness  consists,  and  therefore,  to  con- 
firm those  connexions  and  to  strengthen  this  settlement,  is  at  once  our  interest, 
duty,  and  delight.  Nor  do  we  apprehend,  that  it  lies  within  our  power  by 
any  means  more  effectually,  to  promote  these  great  purposes,  than  by  zeal- 
ously striving  to  preserve  in  perfect  vigour,  those  sacred  rights  and  liberties, 
under  the  inspiriting  sanction  of  which,  inconceivable  difficulties  and  dangers 
opposing,  this  colony  has  been  rescued  from  the  rudest  state  of  nature,  con- 
verted into  a  populous,  flourishing,  and  valuable  territory;  and  has  contributed 
in  a  very  considerable  degree,  to  the  welfare  of  Great  Britain." 

"Most  gracious  sovereign,  the  incessant  exertions  of  your  truly  royal 
cares,  to  procure  your  people  a  prosperity  equal  to  your  love  of  them,  en- 
courage us,  with  all  humility,  to  pray,  that,  your  Majesty's  clemency  will  be 
graciously  pleased  to  take  into  consideration  our  unhappy  circumstances,  and 
to  afford  us  such  relief,  as  your  Majesty's  wisdom  shall  judge  to  be  most 
proper." 

IV.  The  Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  which  convened  early  in  January, 
1768,  addressed  remonstrances  to  the  King,  to  Parliament,  and  to  the  minis- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  147 

ters,  and  a  circular  letter  to  the  several  colonies.  The  latter  contained  an 
exposition  of  the  subject  of  their  remonstrances,  a  recapitulation  of  the  argu- 
ments urged  against  the  stamp  act,  and  declared  the  taxes  lately  imposed,  to 
be  inequitable,  because  exacting  a  duty  upon  the  importation  into  America, 
on  British  manufactures,  in  addition  to  that  paid  on  exportation  from  Eng- 
land ;  and  that,  the  proposed  disbursements  of  the  revenue,  in  the  payment  of 
the  salaries  of  the  governors  and  judges  appointed  by  the  crown,  had  a  ten- 
dency to  subvert  the  principles  of  equity,  and  to  endanger  the  happiness  and 
security  of  the  subject. 

V.  The  promptitude  and  unanimity  of  the  colonies,  generally,  on  this  oc- 
casion, has  been,  with  great  justice,  ascribed  to  the  judicious  arid  eloquent 
essays  of  Mr.  John  Dickerson,  published  as  "  Letters  from  a  Farmer  in 
Pennsylvania,  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  British  colonies."     These  papers,  in 
which  the  rights  of  the  colonists  were  ably  maintained,  were  republished  in 
every  colony;  and  the  people  of  Boston,  and  other  towns,  in  town  meeting, 
voted  a  letter  of  thanks  to  their  "  patriotic,  enlightened,  and  noble  spirited 
author." 

VI.  In  their  controversy  upon  the  stamp  act,  the  colonists  found  their 
most  effectual  weapon  in  their  non-importation  agreements.     Recourse  was 
again  had  to  them.     But  as  New  Jersey  had  little  direct  commerce,  of  im- 
portation, she  could  not  express  her  sense  of  injury,  adequately,  by  this 
mode ;  but  she  was  not  precluded  from  giving  to  her  commercial  neighbours 
the  stimulus  of  her  approbation.     Accordingly,  in  the  October  session  of 
1769,  her  Legislature  resolved  unanimously,  "  That  the  thanks  of  the  House 
be  given  to  the  merchants  and  traders  of  this  colony,  and  of  the  colonies  of 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  for  their  disinterested  and  public  spirited  con- 
duct, in  withholding  their  importations  of  British  merchandise,  until  certain 
acts  of  Parliament,  laying  restrictions  on  American  commerce,  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America,  be  repealed." 

Efforts  being  made  in  Rhode  Island,  to  break  through  the  non-importation 
agreement,  the  freeholders,  merchants  and  traders,  of  the  county  of  Essex, 
convened  at  Elizabethtown,  on  the  5th  of  June,  1770,  and  resolved,  that 
such  agreement  was  founded  on  the  truest  policy,  and  was  a  legal  and  con- 
stitutional method  of  discovering  their  sense  of  the  acts  of  Parliament,  for 
raising  a  revenue  in  the  colonies ;  and  therefore  should  be  firmly  adhered  to, 
until  such  acts  were  repealed :  That  they  would  not  themselves,  or  by  others, 
receive,  purchase,  sell,  or  otherwise  use,  any  of  the  manufactures  or  mer- 
chandise, imported  from  Great  Britain,  contrary  to  the  agreement;  and  that, 
they  would  not  trade,  nor  have  any  commercial  intercourse,  with  such  per- 
sons, who  should  import  goods  or  cause  them  to  be  imported,  or  with  any 
person,  who  shall  purchase  goods  so  imported ;  but  would  use  every  lawful 
means,  to  hinder  the  sale  of  such  goods,  in  any  way  whatever :  That  they 
highly  approved  the  spirited  behaviour  of  their  Boston,  New  York,  and  Phi- 
ladelphia brethren,  in  renouncing  all  commerce  and  intercourse  with  the 
traders  and  inhabitants  of  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  who  had  perfidiously 
deserted  them  in  this  struggle ;  and  that  they  would  observe  the  same  rules 
of  conduct  they  had  so  properly  adopted,  with  respect  to  the  traders  and  in- 
habitants of  Newport.  And  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  same  place,  on  the  16th 
of  July,  when  having  learned,  that  "  the  merchants  and  traders  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  had  lately  thought  proper,  contrary  to  their  own  agreement,  and 
in  violation  of  their  public  faith,  to  break  through  the  only  measure  that 
could  have  obtained  redress,  they  declared  that  the  signers  to  the  late  non-im- 
portation agreement,  at  New  York,  had  perfidiously  betrayed  the  common 
cause,  deserted  their  countrymen,  in  their  united  struggles  for  the  removal  of 
ministerial  oppression;  and  that  every  person  who,  contrary  to  the  non,* 


148  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

importation  agreement,  shall  import,  ought,  by  the  friends  of  their  country, 
to  be  treated,  not  only  in  like  manner,  as  they  themselves  set  the  example, 
in  the  late  case  of  the  merchants  and  traders  of  Newport,  but  be  held  in  the 
utmost  contempt  by  all  the  friends  of  liberty,  and  treated  as  enemies  to  their 
country :  And  that  they  would  strictly  adhere  to  their  resolutions,  adopted 
at  a  former  meeting.  The  conduct  of  the  New  York  importers  was  con- 
demned by  the  inhabitants  of  Woodbridge,  and  New  Brunswick,  and  other 
places,  in  terms  still  more  energetic.  Some  of  these  importers,  ventur- 
ing, soon  after,  to  New  Brunswick  and  Woodbridge,  with  their  goods,  were 
severely  handled  by  the  populace. 

VII.  "  On  the  first  intimation  of  the  measures  taken  by  Massachusetts,  the 
Earl  of  Hillsborough,  who,  about  the  close  of  the  year  1767,  had  been  appoint- 
ed to  the  then  newly  created  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  for  the  department 
of  the  colonies,  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  several  governors,  to  be  laid 
before  the  Assemblies,  in  which  he  treated  the  circular  of  Massachusetts, 
as  of  the  most  dangerous  and  factious  tendency,  calculated  to  inflame  the 
minds  of  his  Majesty's  good  subjects  in  the  colonies — to  promote  an  un- 
warrantable combination,  to  excite  and  encourage  an  open  opposition  to,  and 
denial  of,  the  authority  of  Parliament ;  and  to  subvert  the  true  principles  of 
the  constitution ;  and  he  endeavoured  to  prevail  upon  them  to  treat  with  re- 
sentment, "  such  an  unjustifiable  attempt  to  revive  those  distractions,  which 
had  operated  so  fatally  to  the  prejudice  of  the  colonies,  and  of  the  mother 
country ;  but  in  any  event,  not  to  take  part  with  Massachusetts,  by  approv- 
ing such  proceedings."     Instructions  accompanied  this   letter,  to  dissolve 
such  Assemblies  as  should  refuse  to  comply  with  its  recommendation.     It 
does  not  appear,  that  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  took  any  order  upon  the 
circular  of  Massachusetts.     But  other  colonies  declared,  that  they  could  not 
consider  as  an  unwarrantable  combination,  a  concert  of  measures  to  give 
efficacy  to  their  representations,  in  support  of  principles  essential  to  the  Bri- 
tish constitution.* 

"  This  circular  of  Massachusetts,  together  with  the  violent  proceedings 
which  were  subsequently  had  in  that  colony,  were  the  cause  of  joint  resolu- 
tions of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  condemning  in  the  strongest  terms,  the 
measures  pursued  by  the  Americans.  An  address  was  agreed  upon,  approving 
the  conduct  of  the  crown,  giving  assurances  of  effectual  support  to  such 
further  measures  as  should  be  found  necessary  to  maintain  the  civil  magis- 
trates in  a  due  execution  of  the  laws  within  the  province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay ;  and  beseeching  his  Majesty,  to  direct  the  governor  of  that  colony,  to 
obtain  and  transmit  to  him,  information  of  all  treasons  committed  therein, 
since  the  year  1767,  with  the  names  of  the  persons  who  had  been  most 
active  in  promoting  such  offences,  that  prosecutions  might  be  instituted 
against  them,  within  the  realm,  in  pursuance  of  the  statute  of  the  35th  of 
Henry  VIII."t 

VIII.  The  impression  made  by  these  menaces,  directed  specially  against 
Massachusetts  Bay,  in  expectation  that  the  other  provinces  would  be,  thereby, 
deterred  from  involving  themselves  in  her  dangers,  was  very  unfavourable  to 
the  views  of  the  mother  country.     The  resolution  to  resist  the  exercise  of 
the  authority  claimed  by  her,  was  not  only  unshaken,  but  manifested  itself 
in  a  still  more  determined  form.     The  Assembly  of  Virginia,  soon  after  the 
receipt  of  these  resolutions,  asserted,  unanimously,  the  exclusive  right  of  that 
Assembly  to  impose  taxes  on  their  constituents,  and  their  undoubted  privi- 
lege to  petition  for  redress  of  grievances,  and  to  obtain  the  concurrence  of 
the  other  colonies  in  such  petitions.     Alluding  particularly  to  the  joint  ad- 

*  Marshall.  t  Ibid. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  149 

dress  of  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament  to  the  King,  they  also  resolved,  that 
ail  persons  charged  with  the  commission  of  any  offence,  within  that  colony, 
were  entitled  to  a  trial  before  the  tribunals  of  the  country,  according  to  the 
fixed  and  known  course  of  proceedings  therein ;  and  that  to  seize  such  per- 
sons, and  transport  them  beyond  seas  for  trial,  derogated,  in  a  high  degree, 
from  the  rights  of  British  subjects ;  as,  thereby,  the  inestimable  privilege  of 
being  tried  by  a  jury,  from  the  vicinage,  as  well  as  the  liberty  of  summon- 
ing and  producing  witnesses,  in  -such  trial,  would  be  taken  from  the  party 
accused.  This  last  resolution  was  also  adopted,  in  terms,  by  the  Assembly 
of  New  Jersey.* 

IX.  Notwithstanding  these  strong  measures  on  the  part  of  Parliament,  the 
mass  of  the  English  trading  population,  feeling,  severely,  the  consequences 
of  the  non-importation  agreement,  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the  new 
duties.     And  the  ministry,  affected  by  the  commercial  distress,  were  desirous 
to  give  relief,  but  were  resolute  to  maintain  the  parliamentary  right  to  tax 
the  colonies. 

With  criminal  weakness  they  adopted  a  middle  course,  remarkable  for  the 
ignorance  it  displays  of  the  state  of  the  public  mind,  and  the  nature  of  the 
public  character,  in  America.  The  earnest  remonstrances  and  prompt  and 
energetic  resistance  of  the  colonies,  had  failed  to  convince  them,  that  the 
assertion  of  the  right,  and  not  the  amount  of  duty  levied,  was  the  true  source 
of  complaint.  The  ministers  persisted  in  believing  that  a  reduction  of  the 
tax  would  restore  tranquillity.  Under  this  delusion,  assurances  were  given, 
in  1769,  that  five-sixths  of  the  taxes  imposed  in  1767,  should  be  repealed: 
and,  in  1770,  the  whole  were  abolished. 

Adhering  strictly  to  their  principles,  the  colonists  modified  their  non-im- 
portation agreements,  to  operate  on  tea  alone.  This  they  were  better  ena- 
bled to  do,  as  that  article  could  be  obtained  from  continental  Europe,  by 
smuggling,  in  sufficient  quantities,  and  at  less  price,  than  if  regularly  im- 
ported from  Great  Britain.  The  anticipation  of  revenue,  by  continuance  of 
the  impost  act,  was,  therefore,  vain ;  and  its  preservation  on  the  statute  book, 
served  but  to  keep  the  jealousies  and  fears  of  the  provinces  in  constant  acti- 
vity, and  to  familiarize  the  people  with  opposition  to  a  power,  which  like  the 
sword  of  Damocles,  threatened,  momentarily,  their  destruction. 

In  some  of  the  colonies  the  non-importation  agreements  were  partially  vio- 
lated; but,  in  the  greater  part,  they  were  religiously  observed.  By  the  reve- 
nue act,  in  its  modified  form,  their  rights  were  exposed  to  violation,  yet  their 
preservation  depended  on  themselves ;  since,  whilst  no  dutiable  commodity 
was  purchased,  no  duty  was  paid ;  and  whilst  this  commodity  was,  other- 
wise, cheaply  procured,  no  privation  was  sustained.  Hence,  a  state  of  poli- 
tical quiet  ensued  the  repealing  act  of  1770.  The  ministry  seemed  disposed 
to  avoid  further  aggression,  and  the  Americans,  generally,  ceased  to  remon- 
strate and  complain ;  although  they  continued  to  watch,  with  lynx-eyed  vigi- 
lance, every  movement  of  the  British  government,  and  to  discuss,  publicly 
and  privately,  the  value  of  the  union  between  the  colonies  and  the  parent 
state. 

X.  The  period  of  four  years,  which  succeeded  the  modification  of  the 
revenue  act,  contains  few  incidents  of  historical  interest.     The  late  war,  by 
the  great  expenditure  of  money,  and  consumption  of  agricultural  products, 
had  caused  an  extraordinary  appearance  of  prosperity  in  New  Jersey,  as  in 
other  colonies.     A  ready  market  and  advanced  price  for  grain,  increased 
the  value  of  lands,  and  seduced  the  enterprising  into  improvident  purchases. 
The  causes  of  this  excited  state  ceasing  with  the  peace,  great  depression 

*  December  6th,  1769. 


150  HISTORY  OP- NEW  JERSEY. 

of  prices,  and  contraction  of  business,  ensued.  Debtors  were  unable  to  pay ; 
bankruptcies  and  suits  at  law  were  numerous,  and  the  prosecuting  creditor 
and  his  attorney  became  odious  to  the  debtor  and  his  sympathizing  friends. 
In  popular  distress,  as  amid  arms,  the  laws  are  silent.  In  January,  1770, 
many  citizens  of  Monmouth  county,  assembled  at  Freehold,  on  the  stated 
day  for  holding  the  county  court,  and  violently  deterred  the  judges  from  exe- 
cuting their  office ;  compelling  them  to  return  to  their  respective  homes ;  and 
a  similar  riot,  in  Essex,  was  suppressed,  only,  by  the  spirited  conduct  of  the 
sheriffs,  magistrates,  and  the  better  disposed  inhabitants.  The  cause  alleged 
for  these  unwarrantable  proceedings,  was  oppression  by  the  lawyers,  in  their 
exorbitant  charges  for  costs.  The  governor,  by  the  advice  of  his  council, 
issued  a  special  commission  for  the  trial  of  the  offenders,  adding  to  the  jus- 
tices of  the  Supreme  Court,  some  gentlemen  of  distinguished  character.  In 
Essex,  the  rioters  were  immediately  tried,  convicted,  and  punished;  but,  in 
Monmouth,  they  were  screened  from  chastisement,  by  the  sympathy  of  their 
fellow-citizens.  The  Assembly  was  specially  convened  as  well  to  receive 
and  continue  legal  process,  which  had  abated  by  the  lapse  of  a  term,  as  to 
provide  additional  means  for  the  preservation  of  the  public  peace.  And  whilst 
effecting  these  objects,  they  inquired  strictly  into  the  allegations  against  the 
lawyers,  acquitting  them  of  extortion,  but  providing  by  law  against  exces- 
sive costs,  in  the  recovery  of  debts  under  fifty  pounds.  In  suppressing  these 
seditions  Mr.  Richard  Stockton  was  highly  instrumental,  supporting  with 
dignity  the  authority  of  government,  and  mildly  assuaging  the  temper  of  the 
people. 

XI.  In  the  intercourse  between  Governor  Franklin  and  the  Assembly, 
considerable  harmony  prevailed.     But,  occasionally,  differences  of  opinion 
led  to  intemperate  altercation.     Thus,  a  war  of  words  grew  out  of  the  appli- 
cation of  the  officers  of  the  King's  troops,  for  supplies  and  accommodations 
greater  than  the  House  was  disposed  to  grant.     For,  although  the  statesmen 
of  New  Jersey  did  not  take  the  high  ground  of  Massachusetts,  upon  this  sub- 
ject, they  were  reluctant  to  expend  any  thing  more  than  the  strictest  con- 
struction of  the  act  of  Parliament  required.     A  lengthened  discussion  was 
finally  terminated  by  mutual  concession.     But  another  dispute  soon  after 
arose,  on  the  application  of  the  Assembly,  for  the  removal  of  the  treasurer  of 
the  eastern  division  of  the  province.     With  singular  policy,  a  treasurer  was 
retained  and  located  in  each  of  the  ancient  divisions  of  the  colony ;  and  by 
policy  not  less  singular,  they  were  appointed  by  the  governor,  gave  no  secu- 
rity for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  duties,  but  were  responsible  to,  and 
always  accounted  with,  the  Assembly. 

XII.  Mr.  Stephen  Skinner  was  treasurer  of  East  Jersey,  and  resident  at 
Perth  Amboy.     On  the  night  of  the  21st  of  July,  1768,  his  house  was  broken 
open,  and  the  iron  chest  in  which  he  kept  the  provincial  funds,  was  robbed  of 
sixty-six  hundred  pounds,  chiefly  in  bills  of  credit.     The  character  of  the 
treasurer  was  fair,  and  his  statement  of  circumstances  was  received  without 
inquiry,  during  two.  years ;  when  no  clue  being  discovered  to  the  robbery, 
the  Assembly,  October,  1770,  directed  an  investigation,  and  came  to  the 
conclusion,  that  the  loss  was  occasioned  by  the  want  of  that  care,  which  was 
necessary  to  the  safe  keeping  of  the  money ;  and  that,  the  treasurer  ought 
not  to  be  allowed  therefor  in  his  accounts.      But  no  further  steps  were 
taken  in  this  matter,  until  September,  1772;  when,  the  treasurer  remon- 
strating against  this  vote,  the  then  House  approved  the  sentiment  of  its  pre- 
decessor, and  invited  the  governor  to  join  them  in  some  method  to  compel 
the  treasurer  to  account  for  the  sum,  said  to  be  stolen. 

The  committee,  addressing  his  excellency,  complained,  "  that  though  the 
treasurer  did  not  apprehend  himself  accountable  for  that  sum  to  the  public, 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  151 

as  in  the  treasury,  he  was  still  continued  in  office,  the  public  money  still  de- 
pended on  his  care,  and  nothing  had  been  done  to  recover  the  deficiency. " 
Notwithstanding  this  broad  intimation,  the  governor  insisted,  that  if  the 
House  desired  the  removal  of  the  treasurer,  they  should  tell  him  so,  in  plain 
terms.  He  reproached  them  for  their  insinuation  of  neglected  duty,  and  re- 
torted the  charge,  averring,  that  for  several  years,  they  had  taken  no  order 
on  the  matter.  The  Assembly,  thus  urged,  now  left  the  governor  no  cause 
to  doubt  their  wishes,  and  closed  a  long  argumentative  reply,  with  "  humbly 
requesting  his  excellency,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  remove  the  treasurer 
from  his  office,  appoint  some  other  person  therein,  and  unite  with  them  in 
passing  a  law,  authorizing  the  treasurer,  so  appointed,  to  commence  suit  for 
the  deficiency  against  his  predecessor.  The  governor  did  not  object  to  a 
suit  for  determining  the  liability  of  the  officer ;  and  a  committee  of  the  coun- 
cil, in  conference  with  one  from  the  Assembly,  proposed  to  file  an  informa- 
tion against  the  treasurer";  but  the  House  rejected  the  mode,  alleging,  that  a 
criminal  prosecution  would  not  attain  their  object.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
governor  refused  to  commit  the  injustice  of  removing  a  public  officer,  who, 
though  unfortunate,  had  not  been  convicted  of  malfeasance ;  and  whose  con- 
duct and  character  the  Assembly,  after  examination,  had  declared  unim- 
peached.  He  pleaded,  also,  a  royal  instruction,  forbidding  him  to  displace 
any  officer  or  minister,  in  the  province,  without  sufficient  cause,  to  be  signified 
to  the  king ;  an  instruction,  he  said,  wisely  calculated  to  guard  against  that 
arbitrary,  despotic  temper,  which  sometimes  actuated  governors,  as  well  as 
that  levelling,  democratic  disposition,  which  too  often  prevails  in  popular 
assemblies.* 

This  was  a  subject  of  angry  discussion,  between  the  governor  and  As- 
sembly, for  nearly  two  years  longer;  in  which  the  former  was  encouraged, 
by  the  discovery  of  a  gang  of  counterfeiters  and  forgers,  one  of  whom,  it 
was  probable,  from  the  evidence  of  his  accomplices,  had  perpetrated  the  rob- 
bery of  the  treasury.  At  length,  the  treasurer,  who  had  repeatedly,  but  in 
vain,  prayed  the  Assembly  to  cause  a  suit  to  be  instituted  against  him,  re- 
signed his  commission ;  and  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  directing 

*  May  we  not  here  properly  remark,  that  a  clause  in  our  republican  constitutions, 
prohibiting  the  removal  of  public  officers,  without  good  and  sufficient  cause,  would  pro- 
tect useful  public  servants  against  the  arbitrary  and  despotic  temper,  which  some- 
times actuates  governors  and  presidents,  as  well  as  that  capricious  disposition,  and 
proscriptive  spirit  of  party,  which  too  often  prevails  in  popular  assemblies?  Officers 
of  state  are  created  for  the  service  of  the  people,  as  the  state  itself  is  constituted  for 
their  benefit.  The  individual  emolument  which  arises  from  the  maintenance  of  the 
officer,  is  an  accident,  not  the  object,  of  the  creation.  Yet,  a  fatal  misconstruction  of 
the  maxim,  that  offices  are  created  for  the  people,  has  been  so  widely  spread  through- 
out our  republics,  as  to  threaten  their  safety  and  duration.  Leaders  of  parties,  in  high 
stations,  proclaim  "  rotation  in  office"  to  be  republican;  that  all  citizens  are  entitled 
to  participate  in  official  emoluments,  and  are  competent  to  the  performance  of  of- 
ficial duties.  Such  doctrines  have  a  demoralizing  effect,  tending  to  discourage 
industry,  and  to  create  numerous  anxious,  idle,  venal,  expectants  of  office.  Their 
absurdity  becomes  apparent,  by  following  them  out  to  their  proper  results.  Even, 
if  we  limit  the  position,  by  saying,  that  all  men  duly  qualified,  are  entitled  to 
participate  in  official  emoluments,  it  will  be  obvious  that  an  attempt  to  reduce  it  to 
practice,  however  impossible,  would  produce  a  change  every  hour,  in  every  office  of 
the  country.  The  true  principle  is,  that  public  officers  are  agents  of  the  people,  to 
be  appointed,  directly  or  indirectly,  by  the  people,  as  they  shall  in  their  wisdom  deter- 
mine; and  should  be  changed,  only,  when  the  public  interests  require.  Like  other  agents 
they  should  receive  a  moderate,  but  just,  compensation  for  their  services,  with  the 
assurance  of  its  continuance,  whilst  those  services  are,  faithfully,  rendered.  Towards 
their  public  servants,  the  whole  people,  the  state,  should  pursue  the  course  which 
each  individual  possessing  common  sense,  adopts  in  his  own  affairs.  No  prudent  man 
discharges  a  competent,  experienced,  and  faithful  servant,  to  receive  others  in  quick 
succession,  who  enter  his  service  with  a  view  solely  to  the  wages,  and  whose  capacity 
for  service  is  to  be  acquired  at  his  expense. 


152  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

his  successor  to  sue  for  the  balance.  One  good  effect  resulting  from  this 
contest,  was  the  requisition  on  future  treasurers,  to  give  adequate  security  to 
the  province  for  the  faithful  disbursement  of  public  moneys.* 

XIII.  Governor  Franklin  seems  to  have  been  truly  solicitous  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  the  colony,  by  increasing  its  agricultural  and  commercial  pro- 
ducts.    At  his  instances,  which  in  the  present  season  of  political  quiet,  he 
earnestly  renewed,  the  Assembly  established  bounties  for  the  growth  of 
hemp,  flax  and  silk ;  considerable  efforts  were  made  to  diffuse  the  culture  of 
the  mulberry  tree,  and  had  not  this  simple  branch  of  industry  been  prostrated 
by  the  war,  silk  would  soon  have  become  a  staple  commodity  of  the  country. 
At  the  suggestion  of  the  governor,  also,  means  were  taken  by  the  Assembly, 
to  obtain  a  full  census,  and  statistical  account  of  the  province;  but  these 
were  rendered  ineffective   by  the  scenes  of  political  disquiet  which  soon 
after  arose. 

XIV.  Previous  to  the  year  1772,  the  House  of  Representatives  consisted 
of  twenty  members.     The  cities  of  Perth  Amboy  and  Burlington,  and  the 
counties  of  Middlesex,  Essex,  Somerset,  Bergen,  Gloucester,  and  Cape  May, 
each  sending  two  representatives,  whilst  Salem  and  Cumberland  jointly,  sent 
only  two,  and  Hunterdon,  Morris,  and  Sussex  jointly,  the  same  number. 
But  in  that  year,  an  act  of  Assembly  for  increasing  the  number  of  represen- 
tatives, had  been  approved  by  the  King,  and  seems  to  have  been  a  cause  of 
gratulation  between  the  governor  and  Assembly.     By  this  act,  each  county 
was  entitled  to  two  representatives,  and  the  whole  number  was  increased 
to  thirty.     The  representation  which  appears  to  have  been  based  upon  ter- 
ritorial divisions,  merely,  without  regard  to  the  essential  principle  of  popu- 
lation, was,  thus,  continued  upon  an  erroneous  basis,  and  has  not  been  fully 
corrected,  even  at  the  present  day. 

XV.  Governor  Franklin,  on  the  part  of  the  province,  contrary  to  the  policy 
which  it  had  hitherto  pursued,  attended  two  conferences  with  the  northern 
Indians.     The  first  was  in  1769,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  at  which  he  was  accom- 
panied by  the  chief  justice ;  and  where  the  Six  Nations  having  agreed  upon 
a  general  boundary  line,  between  them  and  the  northern  colonies,  (the  object 
of  the  meeting)  publicly  acknowledged  the  repeated  instances  of  the  justice  of 
the  province,  in  bringing  murderers  to  condign  punishment;  and  declared  that 
they  had  no  claim,  whatever,  upon  the  province,  and  in  the  most  solemn  man- 
ner conferred  upon  the  government  of  New  Jersey,  the  distinguishing  name 
of  Sagorighwiyogstha,  or  the  great  arbiter,  or  doer  of  Justice. 

*  See  note  BB., 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  153 


CHAPTER  XL 

Comprising  Events  from  the  year  1773,  to  1776. — I.  Committees  of  Correspondence 
established  in  the  several  Colonies. — II.  The  British  Ministry  encourage  the  ship- 
ment of  Teas  to  America,  by  the  East  India  Company. — III.  Alarm  of  the  Colo- 
nists— Consignees  of  the  India  Company  compelled  to  forego  their  appointments. — 
IV.  Measures  pursued  in  New  Jersey. — V.  Reception  of  the  Tea  in  America. — 
VI.  Indignation  of  the  King  and  Parliament. — VII.  Violent  measures  adopted 
against  Boston. — VIII.  Alarming  Act  of  Parliament,  relative  to  the  Provincial 
Government  of  Canada. — IX.  Proceedings  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston — General 
commiseration  of  their  fate. — X.  New  Jersey  appoints  Members  to  Congress. — 
XI.  Congress  assemble  at  Philadelphia — Their  proceedings. — XII.  The  Assembly 
of  New  Jersey  approve  the  Proceedings  of  Congress,  and  appoint  Delegates  to 
the  next  Convention — Instructions. — XIII.  The  Provincial  Governors  instructed 
to  impede  the  Union  of  the  Colonies — Efforts  of  Governor  Franklin. — XIV.  Reply 
of  the  House. — XV.  Rejoinder  of  the  Governor — Address  of  the  Council. — XVI. 
The  Assembly  petition  the  King. — XVII.  Reception  of  the  Proceedings  of  Con- 
gress in  London. — XVIII.  Proceedings  of  Parliament — Conciliatory  Propositions 
of  Lord  North. — XIX.  Sense  of  New  Jersey  upon  this  proposition. — XX.  State  of 
the  Dispute  with  England. — XXI.  Second  New  Jersey  Convention  called — En- 
courages Political  Associations — Organizes  the  Militia,  and  provides  funds. — XXII. 
Meeting  of  Congress  at  Philadelphia — Its  Measures. — XXIII.  Appointment  of 
Commander-in-Chief  and  subordinate  Generals. — XXIV.  Congress  again  petition 
the  King — Ungracious  reception  of  the  petition. — XXV.  Address  their  fellow- 
subjects  of  Ireland,  &c. — XXVI.  New  Jersey  Convention  re-assembles — Proceed- 
ings— Provision  for  the  continuance  of  a  Provincial  Congress — Committee  of  Safety 
appointed. — XXVII.  Meeting  of  the  Assembly — Address  of  Governor  Franklin — 
He  claims  assurance  of  protection  for  himself  and  others,  the  King's  officers. — 
XXVIII.  Reply  of  the  Assembly. — XXIX.  Act  authorizing  the  issue  of  Bills  of 
Credit,  for  £100,000,  approved  by  the  King. 

I.  It  is  not  our  purpose  to  detail  all  the  remote  causes  and  immediate  mo- 
tives that  led  to  the  revolution,  which  dissolved  the  connexion  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  North  American  colonies;  but  to  keep  up  such  a  connected 
narrative  of  circumstances  pertaining  to  that  great  event,  as  will  enable  us 
to  exhibit  the  part  which  New  Jersey  bore  in  the  contest.    We  do  not,  there- 
fore, enter  upon  the  various  causes  of  dissatisfaction  in  Massachusetts,  and  the 
measures  resulting  therefrom,  which  preserved  there  a  spirit  of  opposition  to 
the  crown,  whilst  a  general  calm  was  elsewhere  pervading  the  continent.     It 
may  be  proper,  however,  to  not§,  that,  from  the  commencement  of  the  con- 
test, Massachusetts  was  particularly  solicitous  of  uniting  all  the  colonies  in 
one  system  of  measures.     In  pursuance  of  this  object,  she  devised  the  plan 
of  electing  committees  in  the  several  towns  for  the  purpose  of  corresponding 
with  each  other,  and  with  the  other  colonies,  which  was  adopted  by  the 
other  provinces.     The  honour  of  originating  the  Legislative  committees  of 
correspondence  in  the  several  colonies,  which  afterwards  became  so  essen- 
tially useful,  is  claimed,  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  for  Virginia. 

II.  The  general  state  of  quiet  which  had  been  induced  by  the  prudence  of 
the  European  and  American  parties,  the  one  forbearing  to  ship,  and  the  other 
to  order  teas,  was,  after  three  years'  continuance,  terminated  by  the  impolitic 
avarice  of  the  British  ministry.     The  East  India  company,  the  most  daring, 
ambitious,  and  successful  of  commercial  associations,  had  became  embarrassed 
by  lavish  expenditure,  the  peculations  of  their  servants,  and  the  diminution 
of  their  trade  in  consequence  of  the  American  quarrel.     Applying  to  the 
government  for  assistance,  they  proposed,  that  the  duty  of  three  pence  per 
pound,  payable  on  teas  imported  into  the  colonies,  should  be  abolished,  and 


154  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

that  six  cents  per  pound  should  be  imposed  on  the  exportation.  This  fa- 
vourable and  honourable  mode  of  removing  the  occasion  for  dispute  between 
the  parent  and  her  offspring  was,  we  cannot,  now,  say,  unfortunately,  rejected 
by  the  administration;  who,  as  if  by  extraordinary  stimulus  to  accelerate  the 
coming  contest,  proposed  and  carried  a  bill  authorizing  the  company  to  ex- 
port their  teas  altogether  free  of  duty.  Lord  North,  says  the  English  histo- 
rian, recommended  this  measure  to  Parliament  with  a  twofold  view;  to 
relieve  the  India  Company  and  to  improve  the  revenue.  The  latter  was  to 
be  accomplished  by  tempting  the  Americans  to  purchase  large  quantities  of 
teas  at  a  low  price.  But  the  Company  would  not  venture  to  ship,  until 
assured  by  the  ministry,  that  in  no  event  they  should  suffer  loss. 

III.  The  export  of  tea  to  America,  under  these  circumstances,  was,  in 
itself,  sufficient  to  arouse  opposition.     But  the  occasion  was  eagerly  seized 
by  those  whose  interests  would  be  promoted  by  popular  resistance.     Mer- 
chants in  England,  whose  profits  were  endangered  by  this  operation  of  the 
India   Company,  and  cis-atlantic   smugglers,  whose  trade  was  threatened 
with  extinction,  laboured  with  the  patriot,  to  convince  the  people  of  the  im- 
mutable determination  of  the  parent  state  to  tax  the  colonies ;  and  for  that 
purpose,  to  compel  the  sale  of  the  tea,  in  despite  of  the  solemn  resolutions, 
and  oft  declared  sense  of  the  inhabitants.     The  cry  of  endangered  liberty 
was  again  heard  from  New  Hampshire  to  Georgia.     Town  meetings  were 
held  in  the  capitals  of  the  different  provinces,  and  combinations  formed  to 
obstruct  the  sale  of  the  fatal  weed.     The  consignees  of  the  Company  were, 
generally,  compelled  to  relinquish  their  appointments,  and  substitutes  could 
not  be  procured. 

IV.  The  most  determined  spirit  of  resistance  displayed  itself,  in  New 
Jersey,  upon  the  first  favourable  opportunity.     On  the  eighth  of  February, 
1774,  the  Assembly,  on  the  proposition  of  Virginia,  appointed  from  its  mem- 
bers, a  standing  committee  of  correspondence,*  whom  they  instructed  to 
obtain  the  most  early  and  authentic  intelligence  of  all  the  acts  and  reso- 
lutions of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  or  the  proceedings  of  the  adminis- 
tration, which  might  affect  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  his  Majesty's  sub- 
jects, in  the  British  colonies  of  America ;  to  maintain  a  correspondence  with 
the  sister  colonies,  respecting  these  important  considerations,  and  to  inform 
the  speakers  of  the  several  continental  Assemblies  of  this  resolution,  request- 
ing, that,  they  would  submit  them  to  their  several  Houses.    They  gave  thanks, 
also,  to  the  burgesses  of  Virginia,  for  their  early  attention  to  the  liberties  of 
America. 

V.  On  the  approach  of  the  tea  ships  destined  for  Philadelphia,  the  pilots 
in  the  Delaware  were  warned  not  to  conduct  them  into  harbour;  and  their 
captains,  apprized  of  the  temper  of  the  people,  deeming  it  unsafe  to  land  their 
cargoes,  consented  to  return  without  making  an  entry  at  the  custom  house ; 
the  owners  of  goods,  on  board,  cheerfully  submitting  to  the  inconvenience  of 
having  their  merchandise  sent  back  to  Great  Britain.     The  captains  of  ves- 
sels addressed  to  New  York,  wisely,  adopted  the  same  resolution.     The  tea 
sent  to  Charleston  was  landed  and  stored,  but  not  offered  for  sale ;  and  being 
placed  in  damp  cellars,  became  rotten,  and  was  entirely  lost.     The  ships  de- 
signated for  Boston  entered  that  port,  but  before  the  tea  could  be  landed,  a 
number  of  colonists,  disguised  as  Indians,  pursuant  to  a  concerted  plan, 
entered  the  vessels,  and  without  doing  other  damage,  broke  open  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-two  chests,  and  emptied  their  contents  into  the  sea.     Such 

*  Consisting  of  James  Kinsey,  Stephen  Crane,  Hendrick  Fisher,  Samuel  Tucker, 
John  Wetherill,  Robert  Friend  Price,  John  Hinchman,  John  Mehelm,  and  Edward 
Taylor. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  155 

was  the  union  of  sentiment  among  the  people,  and  so  systematic  their  oppo- 
sition, that  not  a  single  chest  of  the  cargoes,  sent  out  by  the  East  India 
Company,  was  sold  for  their  benefit. 

VI.  The  conduct  of  the  colonists,  generally,  in  relation  to  the  tea  ships,  and, 
especially,  the  daring  trespass  at  Boston,  gave  great  umbrage  to  the  King. 
In  his  message*  to  Parliament,  he  characterized  the  colonial  proceedings  as 
obstructing  the  commerce  of  Great  Britain,  and  subversive  of  her  constitu- 
tion.    High  and  general  indignation  was  excited  in  that  body.     His  Ma- 
jesty's measures  were  almost  unanimously  approved,  and  pledges  were  given 
to  secure  the  due  execution  of  the  laws,  and  the  dependence  of  the  colonies. 
To  maintain  that  dependence,  the  whole  nation  seemed  disposed  to  approve 
and  support  the  severest  measures  of  the  ministry.    All  consideration  for  the 
just  rights  of  the  colonists,  was  lost  in  the  desire  to  punish  their  audacity ; 
and,  for  the  moment,  the  patriot  forgot  his  principles,  and  the  merchant  his 
interest,  whilst  fired  with  indignation  at  the  bold  resistance  to  the  will  of  the 
parent  state. 

VII.  Upon  Massachusetts  the  vials  of  wrath  were  first  poured  out.    Before 
the  magnitude  of  her  guilt  the  offences  of  other  colonies  became  insignificant. 
By  one  act  of  Parliament  the  port  of  Boston  was  closed,  and  the  custom 
house  and  its  dependencies  transferred  to  the  town  of  Salem,  until  compen- 
sation should  be  made  to  the  East  India  Company,  and  until  the  King  in 
council,  should  be  satisfied  of  the  restoration  of  peace  and  good  order  in  the 
town  of  Boston :    By  another  act,  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  was  subvert- 
ed; the  nomination  of  counsellors,  magistrates,  and  other  officers,  being 
vested  in  the  crown,  during  the  royal  pleasure :    By  a  third,  persons  indicted 
in  that  province,  for  any  capital  offence,  if  an  allegation  were  made  on 
oath  to  the  governor,  that  such  offence  had  been  committed,  in  aid  of  the 
magistracy  in  the  suppression  of  riots,  and  that  a  fair  trial  could  not  be  had 
in  the  province,  might  be  sent  to  any  other  colony,  or  to  Great  Britain,  for 
trial.     A  bill  was  also  passed  for  quartering  soldiers  upon  the  inhabitants. 
But  these  penal  bills  were  not  wholly  unopposed,  in  either  house  of  Parlia- 
ment ;  in  the  Lords,  the  minority  entered  their  protest  against  each. 

VIII.  An  act  passed  simultaneously  with  the  foregoing,  making  more 
effectual  provision  for  the  government  of  the  province  of  Quebec,  excited  as 
much  indignation  and  more  dread  among  the  colonies,  than  the  severe  mea- 
sures against  Massachusetts.     The  latter  might  be  palliated  as  the  result  of 
indignation,  violent,  but  not  causeless ;  while  the  former,  vesting  the  legisla- 
tive power  in  a  council  dependent  on  the  crown,  arid  subjecting  the  whole 
revenue  to  the  King's  disposal ,«bore  strong  indications  of  the  resolution  of  the 
ministry  to  take  from  the  colonies,  generally,  the  right  of  self-government. 
Had  sympathy  failed  to  unite  the  other  provinces  to  the  fate  of  Massachusetts, 
regard  to  their  common  safety,  so  openly  threatened,  would  have  rendered 
their  union  indissoluble.     Both  were  intensely  felt. 

IX.  The  inhabitants  of  Boston  had  foreseen  the  present  crisis,  and  they 
met  it  with  undaunted  spirit.     Information  of  the  passage  of  the  port  act  was 
received  on  the  tenth  of  May,  and  on  the  thirteenth,  the  town  resolved,  "that 
if  the  other  colonies  would  unite  with  them  to  stop  all  importations  from 
Great  Britain  and  the  West  Indies,  until  that  act  should  be  repealed,  it  would 
prove  the  salvation  of  North  America  and  her  liberties ;  but  should  they  con- 
tinue their  exports  and  imports,  there  was  reason  to  fear  that  fraud,  power, 
and  the  most  odious  oppression,  would  triumph  over  justice,  right,  social  hap- 
piness, and  freedom."   A  copy  of  this  resolution  was  transmitted  to  the  other 
colonies,  the  inhabitants  of  which  expressed  deep  sympathy  in  the  sufferings 

*  7th  March,  1774. 


156  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  their  brethren  in  Boston,  endured  in  the  common  cause;  and  concurring 
in  opinion  with  them  on  the  propriety  of  convening  a  provincial  Congress, 
delegates  for  that  purpose  were  generally  chosen. 

Throughout  the  continent,  the  first  of  June,  the  day  on  which  the  Boston 
port  act  was  to  take  effect,  on  the  resolution  of  the  Assembly  of  Virginia, 
was  adopted  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer,  to  implore  the 
divine  interposition  to  avert  the  heavy  calamity  which  threatened  destruc- 
tion to  their  civil  rights,  and  the  evils  of  civil  war,  and  to  give  one  heart  and 
one  mind  to  the  people,  firmly  to  oppose  every  invasion  of  their  liberties. 

X.  Early  in  the  month  of  July,  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  counties  of 
New  Jersey,  assembled  at  their  respective  county  towns,  and  adopted  reso- 
lutions strongly  disapprobatory  of  the  course  of  the  ministry  and  of  the  late 
acts  of  Parliament,  closing  the  port  of  Boston,  invading  the  charter  rights  of 
the  province  of  Massachusetts,  subjecting  supposed  offenders  to  trial  in  other 
colonies  and  in  Great  Britain,  and  sending  an  armed  force  to  carry  these  in- 
jurious measures  into  effect.  They  nominated  deputies,  to  meet  in  conven- 
tion, for  the  purpose  of  electing  delegates  to  the  general  Congress,  about  to 
convene  at  Philadelphia.  The  Convention,  consisting  of  seventy -two  mem- 
bers, selected  from  the  most  intelligent  and  respectable  citizens  of  the  colony, 
among  whom  were  many  members  of  Assembly,  met  at  New  Brunswick  on 
the  twenty-first  of  July,  1774;  and  choosing  Stephen  Crane,  chairman,  and 
Jonathan  D.  Sergeant,  clerk,  proceeded  to  reiterate  the  sentiments  of  their 
constituents,  and  to  nominate  James  Kinsey,*  William  Livingston,  John  De 
Hart,  Stephen  Crane,  and  Richard  Smith  to  represent  them  in  Congress,  and 
the  following  gentlemen  as  a  standing  committee  of  correspondence:!  Wil- 
liam Peartree  Smith,  John  Chetwood,  Isaac  Ogden,  Joseph  Borden,  Robert 

*  Kinsey  left  Congress  in  November,  1775,  refusing  to  take  the  republican  oath  of 
allegiance. — Journal  of  Congress,  2d  December,  1775.  He  was  highly  esteemed  not- 
withstanding the  course  he  took  at  this  time.  "  He  is  a  very  good  man,"  says  Go- 
vernor Livingston,  in  a  letter  to  Samuel  Allinson,  of  the  25th  of  July,  1773,  "  though 
not  the  best  hand  on  deck  in  a  storm."  To  Kinsey  himself  the  governor  wrote,  6th 
of  October,  of  the  same  year:  "As  I  find  myself  engaged  in  writing  to  my  old  friend, 
I  cannot  help  embracing  this  opportunity  to  express  my  concern  at  your  standing  so 
much  in  your  own  light,  as  to  forego  your  practice  rather  than  submit  to  a  test,  which 
all  governments  ever  have,  and  ever  will,  impose  upon  those  who  live  within  the 
bounds  of  their  authority  *  *  *  *.  Your  voluntary  consent  to  take  the  test  prescribed 
by  law,  would  soon  restore  you  to  the  good  opinion  of  your  country,  (every  body 
allowing  you,  notwithstanding  unaccountable  political  obliquities,  to  be  an  honest 
man)  and  your  way  to  the  magistracy  would,  doubtless,  be  easy  and  unincumbered." 
Some  years  afterwards  Mr.  Kinsey  became  chief  justice.  He  died  about  1801. — 
Sedgwick's  Life  of  Livingston,  p.  169. 

We  find  the  following  minute  in  the  votes  of  the  Assembly.  November  17, 1775. 
"  Mr.  Kinsey  and  Mr.  De  Hart,  two  of  the  delegates  appointed  by  this  House,  to  at- 
tend the  continental  Congress,  applied  to  the  House  for  leave  to  resign  their  said  ap- 
pointments, alleging  that  they  are  so  particularly  circumstanced,  as  to  render  their 
attendance,  exceedingly,  inconvenient  to  their  private  affairs. "  On  the  22d  November, 
their  resignations  were  accepted,  and  the  three  remaining  delegates,  or  any  two  of 
them,  were  empowered  to  represent  the  colony  in  Congress. 

t  Mr.  De  Hart  appears  to  have  soon  grown  weary  in  the  race.  On  the  organization 
of  the  state  government  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  but  refused 
the  office.  Mr.  Smith  held  out  much  longer,  but  his  course  was  equivocal.  He  was 
a  representative  from  Burlington,  in  the  first  legislative  council,  but  did  not  attend  its 
session.  Upon  a  requisition  to  perform  his  duties,  by  the  council,  he  tendered  his  re- 
signation, which  was  rejected,  on  the  ground  that  the  constitution  did  not  warrant  its 
acceptance.  Persevering  in  his  refusal,  the  council,  on  the  seventeenth  of  May,  1777, 
resolved,  "  that  he  had  neglected  and  refuse.d  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  station,  as 
a  member  of  that  House,  in  divers  instances,  and,  particularly,  by  contumaciously 
withholding  his  attendance  at  that  sitting,  though  duly  and  repeatedly  summoned ; 
and  that  he  be  expelled."  He  was  re-elected  to  council  in  the  succeeding  October, 
but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  served.  He  was  elected  state-treasurer,  in  joint  meet- 
ing, September  5th,  1776,  and  performed  the  duties  of  that  station  for  about  six 
months. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  .  157 

Field,  Isaac  Pierson,  Isaac  Smith,  Samuel  Tucker,  Abraham  Hunt,  and 
Hendrick  Fisher. 

XI.  The  delegates  from  eleven  provinces  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  on 
the  fourth  of  September ;  those  from  North  Carolina  did  not  appear  until  the 
fourteenth.*  On  the  fifth,  Peyton  Randolph,  of  Virginia,  was  unanimously 
chosen  president,  and  Charles  Thompson  elected  secretary.  As  the  Con- 
gress was  composed  of  men  who  gave  tone  to  the  sentiments  of  the  provinces 
which  they  respectively  represented,  it  was  in  course,  that  the  prominent  acts 
of  the  colonies  should  be  supported  and  enforced  with  the  ability  and  dignity 
pertaining  to  their  joint  endeavours.  Still  there  was  a  chivalrous  disregard 
of  self,  in  the  prompt  and  energetic  approbation  of  the  highest  measures  of 
Massachusetts,  which  history  rarely  discloses  among  a  temperate  and  calcu- 
lating people,  even  amid  the  excitements  of  political  revolution ;  and  which 
leads  us  to  believe,  that  even  at  this  time,  independence  of  Great  Britain  was 
a  foregone  conclusion,  in  the  bosoms  of  most  members  of  the  Congress, 
which  yet,  they  scarce  dared  acknowledge  to  themselves,  still  less  breathe  to 
others. 

Whilst  expressing  "  their  sympathy  in  the  sufferings  of  their  countrymen 
of  Massachusetts,  under  the  late  unjust,  cruel,  and  oppressive  acts  of  the 
British  Parliament,"  Congress  approved  of  the  resolve  of  the  county  of  Suf- 
folk, in  which  Boston  lies,  "that  no  obedience  was  due  from  that  province 
to  such  acts,  but  that  they  should  be  rejected  as  the  attempts  of  a  wicked 
administration."  They  resolved,  that  contributions  from  all  the  colonies,  for 
supplying  the  necessities,  .and  alleviating  the  distresses  of  their  brethren  at 
Boston,  ought  to  be  continued  in  such  manner,  and  so  long,  as  their  occa- 
sions might  require.  They  requested  the  merchants  of  the  several  colonies 
to  refuse  new  orders  for  goods  from  Great  Britain,  and  to  suspend  the  execu- 
tion of  such  as  had  been  sent,  until  the  sense  of  Congress,  on  the  means  to 
be  adopted  for  the  preservation  of  the  liberties  of  America,  should  be  made 
public.  And  soon  after,  they  adopted  resolutions  prohibiting  the  importa- 
tion, the  purchase,  or  use,  of  goods  from  Great  Britain,  or  Ireland,  or  their 
dependencies,  after  the  first  day  of  the  succeeding  December ;  and  directing 
that  all  exports  to  Great  Britain  and  the  West  Indies,  should  cease  on  the 
tenth  of  September,  1775,  unless  American  grievances  should  be  sooner  re- 
dressed. An  association,  corresponding  with  these  resolutions,  was  then 
framed,  and  signed  by  every  member  present.  "  Never,"  says  Mr.  Mar- 
shall, "  were  laws  more  faithfully  observed,  than  were  the  resolves  of  Con- 
gress at  this  period,  and  their  association  was,  of  consequence,  universally 
adopted." 

The  better  to  enforce  these  resolutions,  Congress  recommended  the  ap- 
pointment of  committees  in  the  several  counties  and  towns,  who,  soon  after 
their  appointment,  under  the  names  of  committees  of  superintendence  and 
correspondence,  assumed  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  executive  power 
and  duties  in  the  several  colonies,  and  became  efficient  instruments  in  aiding 
the  progress  of  the  revolution. 

XII.  The  New  Jersey  delegates  reported  the  proceedings  of  Congress  to 
the  Assembly  of  that  colony,  on  the  llth  January,  1775,  by  whom  they 
were  unanimously  approved;  such  members  as  were  Quakers,  excepting, 
only,  to  such  parts  as  seemed  to  wear  an  appearance,  or  might  have  a  ten- 
dency to  force,  as  inconsistent  with  their  religious  principles. 

And  the  House  resolved,  that  the  same  gentlemen  should  represent  the 
colony  in  the  future  Congress,  should  report  their  proceedings  therein  to  the 
Assembly  at  its  next  session ;  should  propose  and  agree  to  every  reasonable 

*  Congress  held  their  sessions  in  Carpenter's  Hall. 


158  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  constitutional  measure,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  unhappy  differ- 
ences subsisting  between  the  mother  and  her  colonies.  And  having  been 
informed  that  at  the  preceding  Congress,  an  attempt  was  made  to  give 
some  of  the  colonies  a  greater  number  of  votes  than  others,  in  determin- 
ing questions  before  it,  the  Assembly,  instructed  their  delegates  not  to  agree 
to  a  measure  of  that  kind  unless  upon  condition,  that  no  vote  so  taken, 
should  be  obligatory  on  any  colony,  whose  delegates  did  not  assent  thereto. 
The  equality  of  the  colonies  in  their  deliberations  was,  however,  preserved, 
and  all  questions  were,  throughout  the  contest,  resolved  by  Congress,  each 
colony  having  a  voice  alike  potential. 

XIII.  The  joint  action  of  the  colonies  was,  specially,  obnoxious  to  the  royal 
government;  and  the  governors  of  the  respective  colonies  threw  every  obsta- 
cle in  their  power  in  the  way  of  its  accomplishment.  To  this  end,  Governor 
Franklin  refused  to  summon  the  Assembly,  notwithstanding  the  petitions  of 
the  people;  and  the  first  delegates  to  Congress  were  consequently  elected  by 
a  convention,  and  not  by  the  House.  On  opening  the  session  of  the  Assem- 
bly, January,  1775,  he  observed.  "It  would  argue  not  only  a  great  want  of 
duty  to  his  Majesty,  but  of  regard  to  the  good  people  of  this  province,  were 
I,  on  this  occasion,  to  pass  over  in  silence,  the  late  alarming  transactions  in 
this  and  the  neighbouring  colonies,  or  not  endeavour  to  prevail  on  you  to 
exert  yourselves  in  preventing  those  mischiefs  to  this  country,  which,  with- 
out your  timely  interposition,  will,  in  all  probability,  be  the  consequence. 

"  It  is  not  for  me  to  decide  on  the  particular  merits  of  the  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  colonies,  nor  do  I  mean  to  censure  those  who  conceive 
themselves  aggrieved,  for  aiming  at  a  redress  of  their  grievances.  It  is  a  duty 
they  owe  themselves,  their  country,  and  their  posterity.  All  that  I  would 
wish  to  guard  you  against,  is  the  giving  any  countenance  or  encouragement 
to  that  destructive  mode  of  proceeding  which  has  been  unhappily  adopted,  in 
part,  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  colony,  and  has  been  carried  so  far  in 
others,  as  totally  to  subvert  their  former  constitution.  It  has  already  struck 
at  the  authority  of  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Legislature  in  a  particular  man- 
ner. And  if  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Assembly,  should  give  your  approbation 
to  transactions  of  this  nature,  you  will  do  as  much  as  lies  in  your  power,  to 
destroy  that  form  of  government,  of  which  you  are  an  important  part,  and 
which  it  is  your  duty  by  all  lawful  means  to  preserve.  To  you,  your  con- 
stituents have  entrusted  a  peculiar  guardianship  of  their  rights  and  privileges, 
you  are  their  legal  representatives,  and  you  cannot,  without  a  manifest  breach 
of  your  trust,  suffer  any  body  of  men  in  this,  or  any  of  the  other  provinces, 
to  usurp  and  exercise  any  of  the  powers  vested  in  you  by  the  constitution. 
It  behooves  you,  particularly,  who  must  be  constitutionally  supposed  to  speak 
the  sense  of  the  people  at  large,  to  be  extremely  cautious  in  consenting  to 
any  act  whereby  you  may  engage  them  as  parties  in,  and  make  them  an- 
swerable for  measures  which  may  have  a  tendency  to  involve  them  in  diffi- 
culties far  greater  than  those  they  aim  to  avoid." 

"  Besides,  there  is  not,  gentlemen,  the  least  necessity,  consequently,  there 
will  not  be  the  least  excuse  for  your  running  such  risks,  on  the  present  occa- 
sion. If  you  are  really  disposed  to  represent  to  the  King  any  inconveniences 
you  conceive  yourselves  to  lie  under,  or  to  make  any  propositions  on  the 
present  state  of  America,  I  can  assure  you,  from  the  best  authority,  that  such 
representations  or  propositions  will  be  properly  attended  to,  and  certainly  have 
greater  weight  coming  from  each  colony  in  its  separate  capacity,  than  in  a 
channel,  the  propriety  and  legality  of  which  there  may  be  much  doubt." 

"  You  have  now  pointed  out  to  you,  gentlemen,  two  roads — one  evidently 
leading  to  peace,  happiness,  and  a  restoration  of  the  public  tranquillity — the 
other  inevitably  conducting  you  to  anarchy  and  misery,  and  all  the  horrors 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  159 

of  a  civil  war.  Your  wisdom,  your  prudence,  your  regard  for  the  true  inte- 
rests of  the  people,  will  be  best  known,  when  you  have  shown  to  which  road 
you  give  the  preference.  If  to  the  former,  you  will  probably  afford  satisfac- 
tion to  the  moderate,  the  sober,  and  discreet  part  of  your  constituents.  If  to 
the  latter,  you  will'perhaps  give  pleasure  to  the  warm,  the  rash,  and  inconsi- 
derate among  them,  who,  I  would  willingly  hope,  violent,  as  is  the  temper  of 
the  present  times,  are  not  even  now  the  majority.  But,  it  may  be  well  for 
you  to  remember,  should  any  calamity  hereafter  befall  them  from  your  com- 
pliance with  their  inclinations,  instead  of  pursuing,  as  you  ought,  the  dictates 
of  your  own  judgment,  that  the  consequences  of  their  returning  to  a  proper 
sense  of  their  conduct,  may  prove  deservedly  fatal  to  yourselves." 

XIV.  These  persuasions  were  powerless,  as  we  have  seen,  with  the  As- 
sembly, who,  unanimously  approved  and  adopted  the  very  measures  which 
the  governor  condemned ;  and  it  may  be  proper  to  give  their  justification  of 
their  conduct,  in  the  reply  of  the  House  to  his  address. 

"  We  should  have  been  glad,"  they  say,  "  that  your  excellency's  inclina- 
tions to  have  given  us  early  an  opportunity  of  transacting  the  public  busi- 
ness, as  was  consistent  with  our  '  convenience,'  had  terminated  in  a  manner 
more  agreeable  to  your  design,  and  more  favourable  to  us,  than  it  really  has 
done,  on  the  present  occasion.  If  the  petitions,  which  we  understand  have 
been  presented  to  you,  had  been  granted,  we  should  have  had  a  meeting 
more  convenient  to  us  than  the  present ;  and  that  meeting,  perhaps,  would 
have  prevented  some  of  those  *  alarming  transactions,'  which  your  excel- 
lency's apprehensions  of  your  duty  leads  you  to  inform  us,  as  having  hap- 
pened in  this  colony.  We  thank  you  for  your  intention  to  oblige  us ;  but 
that  it  may  not  be  so  entirely  frustrated  in  future,  permit  us  to  inform  you, 
it  will  be  much  the  most  agreeable  to  us,  that  the  meeting  of  the  House,  to  do 
public  business,  should  not  be  postponed  to  a  time  later  than  when  the  bill 
for  the  support  of  government  expires." 

"  We  are  sorry  to  hear,  that  in  your  excellency's  opinion,  there  has  been 
of  late,  any  '  alarming  transactions'  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  colonies ; 
our  consent  to,  or  approbation  of  which,  may  lead  the  good  people  we  repre- 
sent, into  '  anarchy,  misery,  and  all  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war.'  It  is  true 
you  are  pleased  to  tell  us,  that  this  destructive  mode  of  proceeding  has  been 
adopted,  but  '  in  part,'  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  colony.  We  as- 
sure you,  that  we  neither  have,  nor  do  intend  to  give  our  approbation  to 
measures  destructive  to  the  welfare  of  our  constituents,  and  in  which  we  shall 
be  equally  involved  with  them. — Their  interests  and  our  own,  we  look  upon 
as  inseparable.  No  arguments  are  necessary  to  prevail  on  us  to  endeavour 
to  prevent  such  impending  calamities ;  and  if  we  should,  at  any  time,  mistake 
our  duty  so  much,  we  hope  your  regard  to  the  public  will  induce  you  to 
exert  the  prerogative,  and  thereby  give  them  the  choice  of  other  representa- 
tives, who  may  act  with  more  prudence.  The  uncertainty,  however,  to 
what  '  alarming  transactions,'  in  particular,  you  refer,  renders  it  sufficient 
for  us  to  assure  you,  only,  that  we  profess  ourselves  to  be  the  loyal  subjects 
of  the  King,  from  whose  goodness  we  hope  to  be  relieved  from  the  present 
unhappy  situation ;  that  we  will  do  all  in  our  power  to  preserve  that  excellent 
form  of  government,  under  which  we  at  present  live;  and  that  we  neither 
intend  to  usurp  the  rights  of  others,  nor  suffer  any  vested  in  us  by  the 
constitution,  to  be  wrested  out  of  our  hands,  by  any  person  or  persons 
whatever. 

"  We  sincerely  lament  the  unhappy  differences  which  at  present  subsist 
between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies.  We  shall  heartily  rejoice  to  see 
the  time,  when  they  shall  subside,  on  principles  consistent  with  the  rights  and 
interests  of  both,  which  we  ardently  hope  is  not  far  off;  and  though  we  can- 


loo  ULsTOUY   OF  NEW  JEUSKN  . 

not  conceive  how  the  separate  petition  of  one  colony,   is   more  likely  to 

I,  than  the  united  petitions  of  all,  yet,  in  order  to  show  our  desire  to  pro- 

good  a  purpose,  by  ftVQry  proper  means,  we  shall  make  use  of  the 

mode  pointed  out  by  your  excellency  ,  in  hopes  that  it  will  meet  that  attention, 

v\hich  you  a  iv  pleased  to  assmv  us,  will  bo  paid  to  the  representatives  of 

tJio  people." 

This  was  the  language  of  men  who  had  well  weighed  their  measures,  and 
were  resolved  to  abide  their  consequences.      Nor  is  such  resolution  rendered 


loss  obvious,  by  the  tone  of  irony  anil  /xT.NV/Arj.'r,  which  pervades  their 
eonnnents  on  tlie  speeious,  but  hollow  assuranees  of  the  governor,  of  the 
success  which  might  ensue  a  departure  from  the  union  entered  into  by  the 

XV.  The  rejoinder  of  the  governor,  was  remarkable  for  good  temper  and 
moderation;  evincing  that  his  course  was  prompted,  more  by  the  duties  of 
his  station,  than  by  his  judgment,  which  would  probably  have  united  him 
with  the  people. 

"Were  I  to  give  such  an  answer,"  he  said,  "to  your  address,  as  the  pecu- 
liar nature  of  it  seems  to  require,  I  should  be  necessarily  led  into  the  expla- 
nation and  discussion  of  severed  matters  and  transactions,  which,  trow  the 
regard  I  bear  to  you,  and  the  people-  of  this  colony,  I  would  far  rather  have 
buried  in  {vrpetual  oblivion.  It  is,  besides,  now  vain  to  argue  on  the  subject, 
as  von  have  with  the  most  uncommon  and  unnecessary  precipitation,  given 
your  entire  approbation  to  that  destructive  mode  of  proceeding,  which  1  so 
earnestly  warned  you  against.  Whether,  aficr  such  a  resolution,  the  petition 
you  mention,  can  be  reasonably  exjvcied  to  produce  any  ge  and 

whether  you  or  I  have  Ivst  consulted  the  true  interests  of  the  people,  on  this 
important  occasion,  1  shall  leave  others  to  determine." 

The  language  of  the  council,  however,  was  in  a  different  tone,  and  as 
loyal  as  the  governor  himself  could  desire.  "  We  agree  with  your  excellen- 
cy," say  they,-  "that  it  would  argue  not  only  a  great  want  of  duty  to  his 
Majesty,  but  of  regard  to  the  good  people  of  ibis  province,  were  we,  on  this 
occasion,  to  pass  over  in  silence,  the  present  alarming  transactions,  which 
are  so  much  the  objects  of  public  attention,  and,  therefore,  bog  leave  to  as- 
sure you,  that  feeling  ourselves  strongly  influenced,  by  a  yoalous  attachment 
to  the  interests  of  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies,  and  deeply  impressed  with 
a  sense  of  the  important  connexion  they  have  with  each  other,  we  shall,  with 
all  sincere  loyalty  to  our  most  gnu  us  -  \oreign,  ami  all  due  regard  to  the 
true  welfare  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  province,  endeavour  to  prevent  those 
mischiefs  which  the  present  situation  of  affairs  seems  to  threaten;  and  by  our 
zeal  for  the  authority  of  government  on  the  one  hand,  and  lor  the  constitu- 
tional rights  of  the  people  on  the  other,  aim  at  restoring  that  health  of  the 
political  body,  which  every  good  subject  must  earnestly  desire." 

"  Your  excellency  may  Iv  assured,  that  we  will  exert  our  utmost  influence. 
:n  our  public  and  private  capacities,  to  restore  that  harmony  between 
the  parent  state,  and  his  Majesty's  American  dominions,  which  is  so  essen- 
tial to  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the  w  hole  empire.  And  earnestly 
looking  for  that  happy  event,  we  will  endeavour  to  preserve  peace  and  good 
order,  among  the  people,  and  a  dutiful  submission  to  the  l;i\\  -." 

XVI.  The  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  composed  of   M  ss 

vrill.  Fisher,  Ford,  Tucker,  and  Shepherd,  reported  a   petition  to  his 

Ity,  which  was  adopted  by  the  House.     This  instrument  contained,  in 

a  short  compass,  the  black  catalogue  of  the  grievances  of  ihe  colonies,  and 

d  for  that  redress,  which  his  Ma    st}  '-  gracious  assurances  signified  by 

their  governor,  that  the  representations  or  propositions  of  the  colonies  would 

be  attended  to,  led  them  to 


HISTORY  OF  NKW  JKKSKY.  1(31 

In  Kngland,  tlic  proceedings  of  the  Americans  were  still  viewed  with  great, 
indignation  by  tin:  King  and  his  ministry.  J  lis  Majesty,  in  his  opemii" 
speech/  to  a  Parliament  newly  elected,  declared,  before  intelligence  had 
hem  received  of  the  course  of  the  Congress,  "  that  a  most  (hiring  spirit,  of 
' a nr.e  and  disohedience  to  the  |;t\vs  unhappily  prevailed  in  the  province 
of  Massachusetts,  and  had  broken  forth  in  fresh  violences  of  a  very  criminal 
nature;  and  that  these  proceedings  had  heen  countenanced  and  cnroiirag<  d 
in  his  other  colonies;  that  unwarrantable  attempts  had  been  made  to  obstruct 
the  commerce  of  his  kingdoms  by  unlawful  combinations ;  and  that  In;  had 
taken  such  measures,  and  given  such  orders,  as  he  judged  most  proper  and 
effectual  for  carrying  into  execution  the-  laws,  which  were  passed  in  the  last 
session  of  the  late  Parliament,  relative:  to  the  province  of  .Massachusetts ;  an 
address,  echoing  the  royal  speech,  was  carried  by  large  ma joriti'-s  in  both 
Houses  of  Parliament,  but  not  without  a  spirited  protest  from  some  lew  lords 
of  the  minority. f 

XVII.  The  reception,  in  London,  of  thg  proceedings  of  Congress  appear  d 

to  have  a  momentary  beneficial  died,  upon  their  cause.  The  administration 
was  staggered,  and  the  opposition  triumphed  in  the  truth  of  their  prediction  . 
that  the  measures  pursued  by  the  ministry  would  unite  all  the  colonies  in  re- 
sistance. The  petition  of  Congress  to  the  King  was  declared  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  Stale,  after  a  day's  perusal,  to  be  decent  and  proper,  and  was  received, 
graciously,  by  his  Majesty,  who  promised  to  lay  it  before  his  two  Houses  of 
Parliament.  But  the  ministry  had  resolved  to  compel  the  obedience  of  the 
Americans.  Hence  every  representation  from  America,  coming  through 
channels  other  than  ministerial  ] (artisans,  was  unwillingly  received,  and  de- 
nied all  credit.  The  remonstrances  of  the  representatives  of  three  millions 
of  men,  made  under  the  most  awful  and  all? cling  circumstances,  and  the 
most  sacred  responsibilities,  were  treated,  perhaps  believed,  as  the  clamours 
of  an  unruly  multitude.  In  vain  did  the  merchants  of  London,  Bristol, 
(Glasgow,  Norwich,  Liverpool,  Manchester,  Birmingham,  and  other  places, 
by  petition,  pourtray  the  evils  which  must  result  from  such  determination, 
and  predict  the  dangers  to  the  commercial  interests  of  the  kingdom:  In  vain 
did  the  planters  of  the  sugar  colonies,  resident  in  ( Ireat  Britain,  represent, 
that  the  profits  on  British  property  in  the  West  India  islands,  amounting  to 
many  millions,  which  ultimately  (-entered  in  ( Ireat  Britain,  would  be  deranged 
and  endangered  by  the  continuance  of  the  American  troubles:  In  vain  did 
the  venerable  Karl  of  Chatham,  roused  from  a  long  retirement,  by  the  dan- 
ger of  losing  these  colonies,  which  his  own  measures  had  protected,  and, 
.seemingly,  assured  to  the  parent  state,  apply  his  comprehensive  mind  and 
matchless  eloquence  to  arrest  the  fatal  course  of  the  administration  :  In  vain, 
from  a.  prophetic  view  of  events,  did  lie  demonstrate  the  impossibility  of  sub- 
jugating I  he  colonies;  and  urge  the  immediate  removal  of  the  troops  collect- 
ed bydeneral  (Inge,  at  Mosfon,  as  a  measure  indispensably  necessary  to 
open  the  way  for  an  adjustment  of  the  difli-rcners  with  the  provinces:  In 
vain,  when  nndiscouraged  by  the  rejection  of  the  motion,  did  he  prop., 
bill  for  settling  the  troubles  in  America.  The  period  of  American  emancipa- 
tion had  approached,  and  the  power  which  might  have  delayed  it,  was  pro- 
videntially stultified. 

XVI II.  Hoth  Houses  of  Parliament  joined  in  an  address  to  the  King,  de- 
claring "  that  they  find  a  rebellion  actually  exists  in  the  province  of  Ma 
chusetts."     This  was  followed  by  an  act  for  restraining  tin;  trade  and  com- 

*  October  Mth. 

t  Richmond,  Portland,  Rockinghani,  Stamford,  Stanhope,  Torrmgton,  Foiuonbj, 
Wycombo,  nnd  Camden. 

X 


162  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

merce  of  the  New  England  provinces,  and  prohibiting  them  from  carrying 
on  the  fisheries  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  which  was  subsequently 
extended  to  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  South  Carolina, 
and  the  counties  on  the  Delaware. 

Pending  the  consideration  of  this  bill,  Lord  North  introduced  what  he 
termed  a  conciliatory  proposition.  It  provided  that  when  any  colony  should 
propose  to  make  provision,  according  to  its  circumstances,  for  contributing 
its  proportion  to  the  common  defence,  (such  proportion  to  be  raised  under 
the  authority  of  the  General  Assembly  of  such  colony,  and  disposable  by 
Parliament,)  and  should  engage  to  make  provision  also,  for  the  support  of 
the  civil  government,  and  the  administration  of  justice  in  such  colony; 
it  would  be  proper,  if  such  proposal  were  approved  by  his  Majesty  and 
Parliament,  and  for  so  long  as  such  provision  should  be  made,  to  forbear 
to  levy  any  duty  or  tax,  except  such  duties  as  were  expedient  for  the  re- 
gulation of  commerce ;  the  net  produce  of  such  duties  to  be  carried  to  the 
account  of  such  colony.  This  proposition  was  opposed  by  the  friends  of  the 
minister,  as  an  admission  of  the  correctness  of  the  American  views  as  to 
taxation  by  Parliament,  and  as  a  concession  to  armed  rebels;  until  it  was 
explained,  that  the  resolution  was  designed  to  enforce  the  essential  part  of 
taxation,  by  compelling  the  Americans  to  raise,  not  only  what  they,  but  what 
Parliament,  should  think  reasonable.  The  minister  declared,  "  that  he  did 
not  expect  the  proposition  would  be  acceptable  to  the  Americans ;  but,  that, 
if  it  had  no  beneficial  effect  in  the  colonies,  it  would  unite  the  people  of  Eng- 
land by  holding  out  to  them  a  distinct  object  of  revenue;  that,  as  it  tended 
to  unite  England,  it  would  produce  disunion  in  America;  for,  if  one  colony 
accepted  it,  the  confederacy,  which  made  them  formidable,  would  be 
broken." 

This  avowal  of  the  character  and  tendency  of  the  resolution  was  not  re- 
quisite to  enlighten  the  colonists.  On  its  transmission  to  the  provinces,  it 
was  unanimously  rejected. 

XIX.  For  the  sole  purpose  of  communicating  this  resolution,  Governor 
Franklin  convened  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  at  Burlington,  on  the  15th 
of  May,  1775;  when,  by  a  long  and  elaborate  speech,  he  sought  to  set  it  be- 
fore them,  in  a  light,  different  from  that  in  which  it  had  been  viewed  by  the 
Legislatures  of  the  other  colonies.  Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  session,  a 
circumstance  occurred,  illy  adapted  to  prepare  the  House  for  any  favourable 
impression  from  the  governor.  Mr.  Tucker  laid  before  the  Assembly,  a 
copy  of  "  The  Parliamentary  Register,  No.  5,"  containing,  among  other 
things,  an  extract  of  a  letter,  from  Governor  Franklin  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, dated  the  1st  February,  1775,  received  February  28th;  in  which  the 
governor  represents  the  House  as  divided  in  their  approbation  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  late  Congress.  The  House  sent  the  governor  a  copy  of  the  ex- 
tract, with  a  request,  to  be  informed,  whether  it  contained  a  true  representa- 
tion of  the  words  or  substance  of  the  letter  written  by  him,  relative  to  the 
proceedings  of  the  last  session  of  Assembly.  His  excellency  complained  of 
the  course  of  the  House,  in  entering  the  extract  upon  their  minutes,  and  en- 
deavouring to  inculpate  him;  but  denied  the  correctness  of  the  extract. 
The  House  was  still  dissatisfied,  and  referred  his  answer  to  a  committee,  to 
report  thereon,  at  the  next  session,  when  the  matter  was  suffered  to  fall, 
without  further  notice.  Under  the  excitement  produced  by  this  affair,  the 
House  replied  to  the  governor's  address,  delivered  at  the  opening  of  the 
session. 

"  As  the  continental  Congress,"  they  said,  "  is  now  sitting,  to  consider  of 
the  present  critical  situation  of  American  affairs,  and  as  this  House  has  al- 
ready appointed  delegates  for  that  purpose,  we  should  have  been  glad  that 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  163 

your  excellency  had  postponed  the  present  meeting,  until  their  opinion  could 
be  had  upon  the  resolution  now  offered  for  our  consideration,  and  to  which 
we  have  no  doubt  a  proper  attention  will  be  paid ;  more  especially,  as  we 
cannot  suppose  you  to  entertain  a  suspicion,  that  the  present  House  has  the 
least  design  to  desert  the  common  cause,  in  which  all  America  appears  both 
deeply  interested,  and  firmly  united,  so  far  as  separately  and  without  the 
advice  of  a  body,  in  which  all  are  represented,  to  adopt  a  measure  of  so 
much  importance.  Until  this  opinion  be  known,  we  can  only  give  your 
excellency  our  present  sentiments,  being  fully  of  the  opinion,  that  we  shall 
pay  all  proper  respect  to,  and  abide  by  the  united  voice  of  the  Congress  on 
the  present  occasion."  *  *  *  *  *  "We  confess  that  your  excellency  has  put 
a  construction  on  the  proposition  which  appears  to  us  to  be  new,  and  if  we 
could  be  of  the  opinion  that  the  resolution  « holds  no  proposition  beyond  the 
avowal  of  the  justice,  the  equity,  and  the  propriety  of  subjects  of  the  same 
state,  contributing  according  to  their  abilities  and  situation  to  the  public  bur- 
dens,' and  did  not  convey  to  us  the  idea  of  submitting  the  disposal  of  all  our 
property  to  others,  in  whom  we  have  no  choice,  it  is  more  than  probable,  that 
we  should  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity  of  settling  this  unhappy  dispute." 
"  Most  Assemblies  on  the  continent  have,  at  various  times,  acknowledged 
and  declared  to  the  world  their  willingness,  not  only  to  defray  the  charge  of 
the  administration  of  justice  and  the  support  of  the  civil  government,  but  also 
to  contribute,  as  they  have  hitherto  done,  when  constitutionally  called  upon, 
to  every  reasonable  and  necessary  expense  for  the  defence,  protection,  and 
security  of  the  whole  English  empire ;  and  this  colony  in  particular,  hath 
always  complied  with  his  Majesty's  requisitions  for  these  purposes :  And  we  do 
assure  your  excellency,  that  we  shall  always  be  ready,  according  to  our  abili- 
ties and  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  to  maintain  the  interest  of  his  Majesty  and 
of  the  parent  state.  If,  then,  your  excellency's  construction  be  right,  and  if  a 
'proposal  of  this  nature,'  will,  as  you  are  pleased  to  inform  us,  be  received 
by  his  Majesty  with  every  possible  indulgence,  we  have  hopes,  that  the  decla- 
ration we  now  make,  will  be  looked  on  by  his  Majesty  and  his  ministers,  not 
only  to  be  similar  to  what  is  required  from  us,  but  also  to  be,  "  a  basis  of  a 
negotiation,  on  which  the  present  differences  may  be  accommodated — an 
event  which  we  most  ardently  wish  for." 

"  We  have  considered  the  resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons.  We  would 
not  wish  to  come  to  a  determination,  that  might  be  justly  called  precipitate, 
in  the  present  alarming  situation  of  affairs.  But  if  we  mistake  not,  this  reso- 
lution contains  no  new  proposal.  It  appears  to  us  to  be  the  same  with  one 
made  to  the  colonies,  the  year  preceding  the  passage  of  the  stamp  act.  Ame- 
rica then  did  not  comply  with  it ;  and  though  we  are  sincerely  disposed  to 
make  use  of  all  proper  means  to  obtain  the  favour  of  his  Majesty  and  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  yet  we  cannot  in  our  present  opinion,  comply 
with  a  proposition,  which  we  really  apprehend  to  give  up  the  privileges  of 
freemen ;  nor  do  we  want  any  time  to  consider,  whether  we  shall  submit  to 
that,  which,  in  our  apprehension,  will  reduce  us  and  our  constituents  to  a 
state  little  better  than  that  of  slavery." 

"  By  the  resolution  now  offered,  if  assented  to,  we  think  we  shall  be  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  as  fully  and  effectually  taxed  by  our  fellow  subjects,  in 
Great  Britain,  where  we  have  not  any  representation,  as  by  any  of  the  late 
acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  under  which  we  have  been  aggrieved,  of  which 
we  have  complained,  and  from  which  we  have  prayed  to  be  relieved ;  and 
that,  too,  in  a  much  greater  degree  perhaps,  than  by  all  those  acts  put  to- 
gether. We  cannot  consent  to  subject  the  property  of  our  constituents  to  be 
taken  away  for  services  and  uses,  of  the  propriety  of  which  we  have  no  right 
to  judge,  while  to  us,  are  only  left  the  ways  and  means  of  raising  the  money. 


164  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

We  have  always  thought  and  contended,  that,  we  had  a  right  to  disposeof 
our  property  ourselves,  and  we  have  always  cheerfully  yielded  our  assistance 
to  his  Majesty  in  that  way,  when  the  exigencies  of  affairs  required  us  so  to 
do,  and  he  has  condescended  to  ask  it  of  us.  At  this  period  we  cannot  form 
any  judgment,  either  of  the  extent  of  the  proposition,  or  of  the  consequences 
in  which  the  good  people  of  the  colony  may  be  involved,  by  our  assent  to  a 
provision  so  indeterminate,  for  it  appears  to  us  to  be  impossible  to  judge  what 
proportion  or  share  the  people  can  bear,  until  we  know  what  situation  they 
will  be  in,  when  any  sum  is  intended  to  be  raised." 

"  Upon  the  whole,  though  sincerely  desirous  to  give  every  mark  of  duty 
and  attachment  to  the  King,  and  to  show  all  due  reverence  to  the  Parliament, 
we  cannot,  consistently,  with  our  real  sentiments,  and  the  trust  reposed 
in  us,  assent  to  a  proposal  big  with  consequences  destructive  to  the  public 
welfare,  and  hope  that  the  justice  of  our  parent  country  will  not  permit  us  to 
be  driven  into  a  situation,  the  prospect  of  which  fills  us  with  anxiety  and 
horror." 

If  the  governor  really  supposed  that  he  could  prevail  on  the  colony  over 
which  he  presided  to  separate  from  the  union,  he  had  egregiously  mistaken 
his  power ;  but  he  laboured  so  earnestly  to  effect  this  object,  that  his  defeat 
should  not,  and  did  not  lessen  his  claim  upon  the  favour  of  his  royal  master. 
He  observed,  however,  that  his  labour  was  in  vain,  and  had  the  good  sense 
to  retire  from  further  contest  by  a  short  and  moderate  rejoinder. 

Congress  had  fixed  on  the  month  of  May,  for  their  next  meeting,  that 
the  disposition  of  the  parent  state  might  be  known  previously  to  their  deli- 
berations. They  entertained  hopes,  that  their  re-assembling  might  be  un- 
necessary; that  the  union  of  the  colonies,  their  petition  to  the  King,  and 
address  to  the  people  of  Great  Britain,  might  lead  to  the  redress  of  their 
grievances.  But  these  flattering  delusions  now  gave  place  to  the  stern  and 
gloomy  truth,  that  their  rights  must  be  defended  by  the  sword,  their  quarrel 
be  determined  by  the  god  of  battles.  For  this  appeal,  the  colonies,  generally 
prepared,  as  soon  as  the  proceedings  of  Parliament,  and  the  resolution  of  the 
ministry  to  send  out  additional  troops  were  known.  Means  were  every 
where  taken  to  organize  and  instruct  the  militia,  and  to  procure  arms  and 
munitions  of  war. 

XXI.  The  New  Jersey  committee  of  correspondence  appointed  by  the 
convention,  met  at  New  Brunswick  on  the  second  of  May,  1775;  when 
taking  into  consideration  the  alarming  and  very  extraordinary  conduct  of 
the  British  ministry  for  executing  the  acts  of  Parliament,  as  also  the  several 
acts  of  hostility  which  had  been  actually  commenced  for  this  purpose  by  the 
regular  forces  under  General  Gage,  they  directed  their  chairman,  imme- 
diately, to  call  a  second  provincial  convention,  to  meet  at  Trenton  on  the 
23d  of  May,  to  consider  and  determine  on  such  matters  as  should  then  come 
before  them.* 

This  important  body  met  at  the  time  and  place  appointed,  and  elected 
Hendrick  Fisher  their  president,  Samuel  Tucker,  vice-president,  Jonathan 
D.  Sergeant,  Secretary,  and  William  Patterson,  and  Frederick  Freling- 
hausen,  his  assistants.  On  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Sergeant,  soon  after,  Mr. 
Patterson  was  chosen  principal,  and  Mr.  Frelinghausen  deputy  secretary. 

Under  a  deep  and  religious  sense  of  the  responsibility  they  had  assumed, 
the  members  of  the  Convention  declared,  that,  "  Inasmuch  as  the  business 
on  which  this  Congress  are  now  assembled,  and  is  likely  to  engage  their  de- 
liberation, appears  to  be  of  the  highest  moment,  and  may,  in  the  event,  affect 
the  lives  and  properties,  the  religion  and  the  liberties  of  their  constituents, 

*  See  Appendix,  note  CC,  for  the  names  of  the  members. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  165 

and  of  their  remotest  posterity,  it  unquestionably  becomes  the  representative 
body  of  a  Christian  community,  to  look  up  to  that  all  powerful  Being,  by 
whose  providence  all  human  events  are  guided,  humbly  imploring  his  divine 
favour,  in  presiding  over,  and  directing  their  present  councils,  towards  the 
re-establishment  of  order  and  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  her  dis- 
tressed colonies;  and  that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  succeed  the 
measures  that  may  be  devised  as  most  conducive  to  these  desirable  ends :  It 
is,  therefore,  ordered,  that  the  president  do  wait  on  the  ministers  of  the 
gospel  in  this  town,  and  in  behalf  of  this  Congress,  request  their  alternate 
attendance  and  service,  every  morning  at  eight  o'clock,  during  the  session,  in 
order,  that,  the  business  of  the  day  may  be  opened  with  prayer  for  the  above 
purposes." 

The  president  opened  to  the  Congress,  the  important  occasion  of  their  meet- 
ing, recommending  the  utmost  deliberation  in  determining  on  the  measures 
to  be  pursued  in  the  defence  of  their  rights  and  privileges,  to  which,  by  their 
happy  constitution,  the  inhabitants  of  the  province  were  justly  entitled,  and 
that  due  care  might  be  taken  to  support  the  established  civil  authority,  (so 
far  as  might  consist  with  the  preservation  of  their  fundamental  liberties)  for 
the  maintenance  of  good  order  and  the  undisturbed  administration  of  justice. 
The  restriction,  which  regard  for  "  the  established  civil  authority,"  imposed 
on  the  power  of  the  Congress,  was,  indeed,  very  inconsiderable.  For  the 
Convention,  reflecting  the  majesty  of  the  people,  assumed  as  occasion  re- 
quired, the  full  power  of  all  the  branches  of  government. 

They  proceeded,  to  take  into  consideration  the  unhappy  contest  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  colonies,  which  they  determined  was  of  such  a  na- 
ture, and  had  reached  such  a  crisis,  that  the  Convention  had  become  abso- 
lutely necessary,  to  provide  such  ways  and  means  for  the  security  of  the 
province  as  the  exigencies  of  the  times  require :  and  at  the  same  time  de- 
clared, that  they  had  assembled  with  the  profoundest  veneration  for  the  per- 
son and  family  of  his  sacred  majesty,  George  III.,  firmly  professing  all  due 
allegiance  to  his  rightful  authority  and  government.  And  as  a  majority  of 
the  members  of  the  Legislature,  convened  at  Amboy,  in  the  preceding  Janua- 
ry, had  been  instructed  by  their  constituents,  to  appoint  deputies  to  the  Con- 
gress, and  some  of  the  counties  had  omitted  so  to  instruct  their  representa- 
tives, who,  notwithstanding,  had  cordially  joined  in  such  appointment,  the 
Convention  approved  the  nomination,  and  rendered  thanks  to  the  House,  for 
the  regard  they  had  shown  for  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  province,  in 
timely  adopting  the  continental  association,  and  resolving  in  favour  of  the 
resolutions  and  proceedings  of  the  continental  Congress.  But  the  Conven- 
tion, also,  resolved,  that  whenever  a  continental  Congress  should  again  be 
necessary,  that  it  would  be  most  eligible,  for  the  inhabitants  of  each  county, 
to  apoint  deputies  for  the  purpose  of  electing  delegates. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  May,  a  written  message  was  addressed  to  the  conti- 
nental Congress,  then,  in  session  at  Philadelphia,  declaring  that  the  provincial 
Congress  was  convened  "  with  dispositions  most  heartily  to  concur,  to  the 
utmost  of  their  abilities,  in  the  common  cause  of  America,  but  that  they  did 
not  deem  it  advisable  to  enter  into  any  measures  of  consequence,  until  some 
general  plan  had  been  adopted  by  the  general  Congress :  That,  in  this  first 
instance  of  such  an  assembly  in  the  colony,  without  precedent  for  their 
direction,  and  anxiously  desirous  to  make  their  provincial  measures  con- 
sistent with  that  plan,  they  deemed  it  necessary,  by  a  special  deputation,  to 
request  such  advice  and  assistance  as  the  Congress  might  be  disposed  to 
give,*  This  deputation  reported  on  the  thirtieth,  that  the  Congress  was  not, 

*  This  committee  consisted  of  William  P.  Smith  and  Elias  Boudinot. 


166  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

then,  prepared  to  give  any  advice  upon  the  state  of  the  province,  but  promised 
due  attention  to  the  request. 

The  Convention  adopted  the  following  form  of  association,  which  they 
directed  to  be  sent  to  the  committees  of  observation  or  correspondence  in  the 
several  counties,  which  had  not  already  associated  in  a  similar  manner,  in 
order  that  it  might  be  signed  by  the  inhabitants. 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  township  of 
in  the  county  of  and  province  of  New  Jersey,  having 

long  viewed  with  concern,  the  avowed  design  of  the  ministry  of  Great 
Britain  to  raise  a  revenue  in  America ;  being  deeply  affected  with  the  cruel 
hostilities,  already  commenced  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  for  carrying  that 
arbitrary  design  into  execution;  convinced  that  the  preservation  of  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  America  depends,  under  God,  on  the  firm  union  of 
its  inhabitants;  do,  with  hearts  abhorring  slavery,  and  ardently  wishing 
for  a  reconciliation  with  our  parent  state,  on  constitutional  principles, 
solemnly  associate  and  resolve,  under  the  sacred  ties  of  virtue,  honour, 
and  love  to  our  country,  that  we  will,  personally,  and  so  far  as  our  in- 
fluence extends,  endeavour  to  support  and  carry  into  execution,  whatever 
measures  may  be  recommended  by  the  continental  and  our  provincial 
Congress,  for  defending  our  constitution  and  preserving  the  same  inviolate. 
We  do,  also,  further  associate  and  agree,  as  far  as  shall  be  consistent 
with  the  measures  adopted  for  the  preservation  of  American  freedom,  to 
support  the  magistrates  and  other  civil  officers  in  the  execution  of  their 
duty,  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  this  colony,  and  to  observe  the  direction  of 
our  committee,  acting  according  to  the  resolutions  of  the  continental  and  pro- 
vincial Congresses ;  firmly  determined,  by  all  means  in  our  power,  to  guard 
against  those  disorders  and  confusions  to  which  the  peculiar  circumstances 
of  the  times  may  expose  us."  Surely,  no  more  effectual  mode  could  have 
been  devised,  of  subjecting  a  people  to  the  will  of  their  leaders,  than  this 
association  and  its  written  pledge.  Happily,  the  leaders  and  the  people  had 
the  same  interest,  which  the  former  steadily  pursued. 

Mr.  Pierpoint  Edwards,  having  been  deputed  from  Connecticut  to  New 
Jersey,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  intelligence  of  the  true  state  of  the  pro- 
vince, and  to  communicate  the  actual  condition  of  his  own,  the  Convention 
gave  their  state  and  purposes  as  we  have  detailed  them;  and  they,  also, 
opened  a  correspondence  with  the  provincial  Congress  of  New  York. 

The  organization  of  the  military  force  was,  in  every  colony,  an  object  of 
the  first  importance,  and  received  from  the  provincial  Congress  of  New- 
Jersey,  due  attention.  One  or  more  companies  of  eighty  men,  each,  were 
directed  to  be  formed  in  each  township  or  corporation,  from  the  male  inha- 
bitants between  sixteen  and  fifty  years  of  age,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
respective  committees,  with  power  to  elect  their  commissioned  officers :  The 
officers  of  the  companies  determined  the  number  which  should  form  a  regi- 
ment, and  named  the  officers.  And  as  the  inhabitants  of  Morris,  Sussex, 
and  Somerset  counties,  had  made  spirited  exertions  in  raising  minute  men, 
pledged  to  march  to  any  point  of  the  country  whenever  called  on,  the  Con- 
gress approved  their  conduct,  and  voted  their  thanks. 

In  order  to  raise  the  necessary  funds,  the  convention  imposed  a  tax  of  ten 
thousand  pounds,  which  they  apportioned,  specifically,  among  the  several 
counties ;  arid  each  county  quota  was  apportioned  among  the  townships,  by 
the  township  committees,  according  to  the  act  of  Assembly,  settling  the  quotas 
of  the  several  counties,  to  be  collected  by  agents  nominated  by  the  township 
committees,  and  to  be  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  county  committees.  Then, 
after  appointing  a  committee  of  their  body,  any  three  of  whom,  together  with 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  167 

the  president  or  vice-president,  were  empowered  to  convoke  them,  the  Con- 
gress adjourned,  upon  the  3d  day  of  June,  after  a  session  of  eleven  days. 

XXII.  Before  the  continental  Congress  again  met,*  hostilities  between  the 
colonists  and  the  British  troops  in  America,  had  commenced.  The  battle  of 
Lexington  was  fought ,f — and  Ticonderoga  captured  ;:£ — and  soon  after,  the 
ever  memorable  engagement  at  Breed's  Hill,§  gave  confidence  to  the  colo- 
nists ;  and  the  British  army,  under  General  Gage,  was  besieged  in  Boston. 
Instead  of  contending  against  orations  of  ministers,  votes  and  acts  of  Parlia- 
ment, by  petition  and  remonstrance,  addresses  and  resolutions,  Congress  was 
now  to  be  employed,  in  developing  the  resources  and  directing  the  energies 
of  the  colonies,  to  resist  the  military  power  of  Great  Britain. 

Peyton  Randolph  was  again  chosen  president,  but  being  in  a  few  days 
called  to  his  duties,  as  speaker  of  the  house  of  burgesses,  of  Virginia,  Mr. 
John  Hancock,  of  Boston,  was  unanimously  elected  his  successor.  Mr. 
Charles  Thompson  was  re-appointed  secretary.  The  leading  patriots  had 
long  foreseen,  that,  the  controversy  must  be  decided  by  arms ;  yet  they  were 
anxious,  that  the  odium  of  the  war  should  fall  on  their  oppressors.  Care 
was,  therefore,  taken,  to  show  that  the  royal  troops  had  been  the  aggressors 
at  Lexington ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  New  York  were  advised  to  act,  defen- 
sively, on  the  arrival  of  British  troops  there ;  to  permit  the  forces  to  remain  in 
barracks,  but  to  suffer  no  fortifications  to  be  erected,  nor  the  communication 
between  the  town  and  country  to  be  impeded.  To  this  cause,  we  must  also 
assign  the  resolution  of  Congress  ascribing  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  to 
the  imperious  necessity  of  resisting  a  cruel  invasion  from  Canada,  planned 
and  commenced  by  the  ministry. 

Congress  promptly  proceeded  to  further  measures  of  offence  and  defence. 
They  prohibited  exports  to  such  parts  of  British  America,  as  had  not  joined 
the  confederacy — forbade  the  supply  of  provisions,  or  other  necessaries,  to 
the  English  fisheries  on  the  coast,  to  the  army  and  navy  in  Massachusetts, 
and  to  vessels  employed  in  transporting  British  troops  and  munitions  of  war; 
and  interdicted  the  negotiation  of  bills  of  exchange,  drawn  by  British  officers, 
agents  or  contractors,  and  the  advance  of  money  to  them,  on  any  terms  what- 
ever. To  secure  the  colonies  against  the  forcible  execution  of  the  late  ob- 
noxious acts  of  Parliament,  they  resolved,  to  put  them  immediately  in  a  state 
of  defence;  recommending  to  them,  severally,  to  provide  the  munitions  of 
war — to  prepare  the  militia ;  so  classing  them,  that  a  fourth  of  their  number 
might  be  drawn  into  action,  at  a  minute's  warning;  and  to  form  a  corps  for 
continual  service; — authorizing  each  colony,  apprehensive  of  attack,  to  levy 
one  thousand  regulars  at  the  expense  of  the  confederacy.  They  organized 
the  higher  departments  of  the  army,  framed  regulations  for  its  government, 
and  issued  three  millions  of  dollars,  in  bills  of  credit,  for  its  maintenance. 
They  prepared  an  address  to  the  army  and  the  people,  reviewing  the  conduct 
of  Great  Britain,  exposing  the  enormity  of  her  pretensions,  exhibiting  the 
dreadful  alternative  she  had  created,  of  unconditional  submission,  or  resist- 
ance by  arms,  and  asserting  the  justice  of  their  cause,  the  competency  of  the 
means  to  maintain  it,  and  their  fixed  determination  to  employ,  at  every 
hazard,  the  utmost  energy  of  the  powers  granted  them  by  their  Creator,  for 
the  preservation  of  their  liberties.  This  spirit-stirring  manifesto  closed  with 
the  following  solemn  protestation. — "In  our  native  land,  in  defence  of  the 
freedom  which  is  our  birth-right,  and  which  we  ever  enjoyed,  until  the  late 
violation  of  it,  for  the  protection  of  our  property,  acquired  solely  by  the 
honest  industry  of  our  forefathers,  and  ourselves,  against  violence  actually 

*  10th  May,  1775.  t  19th  April. 

t  9th  May.  §  June  17th,  1775. 


168  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

offered,  we  have  taken  up  arms ;  we  shall  lay  them  down  when  hostilities 
shall  cease  on  the  part  of  the  aggressors,  and  all  danger  of  their  being  re- 
moved, and  not  before." 

XXIII.  Under  other  circumstances,  the  selection  of  a  commander-in-chief, 
amid  opposing   pretensions,  would  have  been  exceedingly  difficult.     The 
individual  best  fitted  for  this  important  trust  was  now  a  delegate  in  Con- 
gress, and  had  embarked  a  high  character  and  splendid  fortune,  with  his  life, 
in  the  perilous  contest.     Of  mature  age,  and  advantageously  known  to  all 
British  America,  by  his  military  talents,  sound  judgment,  firm  temper,  spot- 
less integrity,  and  dignified  person  and  demeanour,  there  could  not  exist  a 
single  personal  objection  to  his  nomination.     The  middle  and  southern  dis- 
tricts possessed  no  man  having  superior  claims  to  public  confidence ;  and  if 
the  northern  had  a  preference  for  an  individual  of  their  own  section,  policy 
and  gratitude  required  its  sacrifice.     The  delegates  of  Massachusetts,  there- 
fore, nominated  Colonel  George  Washington,  of  Virginia,  who  was  unani- 
mously appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  united  colonies.*     His  com- 
mission, revocable  by  Congress,  invested  him  with  "  full  power  and  autho- 
rity to  act  as  he  should  think  for  the  good  and  welfare  of  the  service;" 
subject  to  the  rules  of  war  and  the  orders  of  Congress.     By  a  resolution, 
simultaneous  with  his  appointment,  Congress  declared,  "  that  for  the  main- 
tenance and  preservation  of  American  liberty,  they  would  adhere  to  him 
with  their  lives  and  fortunes."     The  reply  of  Mr.  Washington,  to  the  an- 
nunciation of  his  appointment,  by  the  president  of  Congress,  was  marked  by 
that  modesty,  disinterestedness,  and  devotion  to  duty,  which  eminently  dis- 
tinguished him.     As  no  pecuniary  motive  had  excited  him  to  assume  the 
dangerous  honour,  he  declined  all  compensation  for  services  that  were  in- 
estimable; declaring  that  he  would  accept  only  the  reimbursement  of  his 
expenses. 

Soon  after  the  nomination  of  the  commander-in-chief,  Congress  created 
and  filled  the  offices  of  subordinate  generals.  Artemas  Ward,  Charles  Lee, 
Philip  Schuyler,  and  Israel  Putnam,  were  appointed  major-generals,  ranking 
in  the  order  we  have  named  them;  Horatio  Gates,  adjutant-general;  and 
Seth  Pomeroy,  Richard,  Montgomery,  David  Wooster,  William  Heath, 
Joseph  Spencer,  John  Thomas,  John  Sullivan,  and  Nathaniel  Greene, 
brigadiers. 

XXIV.  Although  determined  to  resist  to  the  uttermost  the  tyranny  of  the 
parent  state,  the  colonies  had  given  no  public  indication  of  their  desire  to  be- 
come independent  of  her  government.    Many  provincialists,  certainly,  looked 
to  political  independence  as  the  possible  result  of  the  contest ;  some,  perhaps, 
wished  and  sought  it,  but  none  avowed  such  wishes.     The  American  people 
were  proud  of  their  derivation,  and  exulted  in  their  connexion  with  Great 
Britain.     Some  of  their  most  distinguished  patriots  could  under  no  circum- 
stances, resolve  to  break  the  bonds  which  bound  them  to  her.     It  was  cha- 
racteristic,  therefore,  that,   amid   warlike  preparations,  renewed   attempts 
should  be  made  to  propitiate  the  British  government  and  people.     Another 
petition  to  the  King  was,  however,  opposed  by  several  members  of  the 
Congress,  from  a  conviction  that  it  would  prove  nugatory.     But  the  influ- 
ence of  Mr.  Dickenson,  by  whom  it  was  proposed  and  written,  procured  its 
adoption. 

This  address,  replete  with  professions  of  duty  and  attachment,  declared, 
that  "  the  provincialists  not  only  most  fervently  desired  the  former  harmony 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies  to  be  restored,  but  that  a  concord 
might  be  established  between  them  upon  so  firm  a  basis,  as  to  perpetuate  its 


*  June  loth,  1775. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  169 

blessings,  uninterrupted  by  any  future  clissentions,  to  succeeding  generations 
in  both  countries.  They,  therefore,  besought  his  Majesty  to  direct  some 
mode  by  which  the  united  applications  of  his  faithful  colonists  to  the  throne, 
in  pursuance  of  their  common  counsels,  might  be  improved  to  a  happy  and 
permanent  reconciliation.  These  sincere  professions  of  three  millions  of  his 
subjects,  were  contemptuously  treated  by  the  King.  The  petition  was  pre- 
sented through  the  secretary  for  American  affairs,  on  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber, by  Messrs.  Richard  Penn  and  Henry  Lee;  and  on  the  fourth,  Lord 
Dartmouth  informed  them,  that  "  to  it  no  answer  would  be  given."  And  in 
a  speech  from  the  throne,  the  colonists  were  accused  of  designing  "  to  amuse, 
by  vague  expressions  of  attachment  to  the  parent  state,  and  the  strongest 
protestations  of  loyalty  to  their  King,  while  they  were  preparing  for  a  ge- 
neral revolt;  and  their  rebellious  war  was  manifestly  carried  on  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  an  independent  empire."  Contumely  so  unwise  and 
undeserved,  served  but  to  confirm  the  scrupulous  in  America,  in  the  course 
of  resistance — removing  the  faintest  hope  of  redress  by  the  humble  and 
pacific  means  of  petition  and  remonstrance. 

Whilst  resorting  to  arms,  respect  for  the  opinions  of  their  fellow  subjects 
induced  Congress  to  make  an  exposition  of  their  motives  in  addresses  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  to  the  people  of  Ireland,  and  to  the  Assembly  of 
Jamaica.  They  also  published  a  declaration  to  the  world,  setting  forth  the 
necessity  of  assuming  arms,  and  recapitulating  the  injuries  they  had  sustain- 
ed. "  We  are,"  they  said,  "  reduced  to  the  alternative  of  choosing  an  un- 
conditional submission  to  the  tyranny  of  irritated  ministers,  or  resistance  by 
force.  The  latter  is  our  choice.  We  have  counted  the  cost  of  this  contest, 
and  find  nothing  so  dreadful  as  voluntary  slavery." 

General  Washington,  immediately  after  his  appointment  to  the  chief  com- 
mand, repaired  to  the  army  before  Boston.  .With  incredible  difficulty  he 
was  enabled  to  maintain  a  show  of  force,  which  confined  the  British  troops 
to  that  town  from  the  month  of  June,  1775,  until  the  month  of  March  follow- 
ing, when  the  Americans,  having  seized  and  fortified  Dorchester  Heights, 
which  overlooked  and  commanded  the  place,  General  Howe,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded General  Gage,*  abandoned  it,  and  sailed  with  his  command  for 
Halifax. 

The  capture  of  Ticonderoga  had  opened  the  gates  of  Canada,  and  the  im- 
petuous spirit  of  Colonel  Arnold  was  eager  to  enter  them.  At  his  instance, 
Congress  resolved  to  invade  that  province ;  and  from  the  unprepared  state  of 
its  defence,  and  the  friendly  disposition  of  its  inhabitants,  well  founded  hopes 
were  entertained  of  success.  This  step,  which  changed  the  character  of  the 
war  from  defensive  to  offensive,  was  justified  by  the  obvious  propriety  of  de- 
priving the  enemy,  for  such  the  parent  state  was  now  considered,  of  the 
means  of  assailing  the  colonies  from  that  quarter.  The  command  of  this  en- 
terprise was  given  to  Generals  Schuyler  and  Montgomery.  The  former, 
however,  soon  retired,  in  consequence  of  ill  health.  The  latter,  with  a  force 
of  one  thousand  men,  having  captured  the  fort  at  Chamblee,  and  the  post  of 
St.  Johns,  proceeded  to  Montreal  in  despite  of  the  opposing  efforts  of  General 
Carlton,  governor  of  the  province ;  and,  having  obtained  at  this  place  many 
necessary  supplies,  led  his  gallant  little  army  to  the  walls  of  Quebec. 

During  the  progress  of  General  Montgomery,  Colonel  Arnold,  with  bold- 
ness and  perseverance  rarely  surpassed,  conducted  a  detachment  to  the  St. 
Lawrence,  by  an  unexplored  course  along  the  Kennebeck  and  Chaudiere 
rivers,  through  a  trackless  desert  of  three  hundred  miles.  His  force  origi- 
nally consisted  of  one  thousand  men,  one-third  of  whom  were  compelled  to 

*  October  10th. 


170  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

return  by  the  want  of  necessaries.  The  remainder  persevered  with  unabated 
resolution ;  surmounting  every  obstacle  of  mountain  and  forest ;  progressing 
at  times,  not  more  than  five  miles  a  day ;  whilst  so  destitute  of  provisions,  that 
some  of  the  men  ate  their  dogs,  cartouch  boxes,  breeches  and  shoes.  When 
distant  a  hundred  miles  from  any  habitation,  their  whole  store  was  divided, 
yielding  only  four  pints  of  flour  per  man ;  and  after  having  baked  and  eaten 
their  last  morsel,  they  had  thirty  miles  to  travel  before  they  could  expect 
relief.  After  a  march  of  thirty-one  days,  they  reached  the  inhabited  parts 
of  Canada,  where  they  were  kindly  received,  and  their  wants  supplied  by  the 
astonished  natives. 

Before  Montgomery  attained  Montreal,  Arnold  had  reached  Point  Levy, 
opposite  Quebec;  and  had  it  been  possible  for  the  latter  to  cross  the  St. 
Lawrence,  that  important  place  would,  probably,  have  been,  immediately,  sur- 
rendered by  the  astonished  and  affrighted  garrison.  But  the  want  of  boats 
occasioned  an  indispensable  delay  of  a  few  days,  and  the  inhabitants, 
English  and  Canadians,  alarmed  for  their  property,  united  for  its  defence. 

The  prospects  of  the  Americans,  however,  were  not  desperate.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  Canada,  many  of  whom  were  from  the  colonies  of  New  England 
and  New  York,  were  friendly  to  the  colonial  cause,  and  excited  by  the  wis- 
dom and  humanity  of  General  Montgomery,  gave  the  most  efficient  aid. 
The  united  American  forces  laid  siege  to  Quebec,  but  the  paucity  of  their 
number  forbade  any  just  expectations  of  reducing  the  place,  unless  by  a 
coup  de  main.  General  Montgomery  was  induced,  by  various  considera- 
tions, to  attempt  it  by  storm.  The  depth  of  winter  was  approaching ;  dissen- 
tions  had  arisen  between  Arnold  and  his  officers ;  the  specie  of  the  military 
chest  was  exhausted,  and  the  continental  bills  were  uncurrent;  the  troops, 
worn  by  toil,  were  exposed  to  the  severities  of  the  season ;  the  term  for 
which  many  had  enlisted  w<as  near  expiring,  and  their  departure  for  home 
was  apprehended ;  and  the  brilliant  success  that  had  hitherto  attended  them 
had  excited  hopes,  which  their  high-spirited  and  enthusiastic  commander 
dreaded  to  disappoint.  He  was  not  unaware  of  the  danger  and  hazard  of  such 
an  attempt.  Governor  Carlton,  who  commanded  in  Quebec,  was  an  expe- 
rienced and  able  soldier ;  and  the  garrison,  provided  with  every  thing  neces- 
sary for  defence,  daily  acquired  firmness.  But  success  had  often  crowned 
adventures  more  hopeless  than  that  which  he  proposed ;  and  the  triumph  of 
Wolfe,  on  this  very  field,  taught  him,  that  to  the  brave  and  resolute,  difficult 
things  were  not  impossibilities. 

The  escalade  of  the  town  was  made  with  a  force  of  less  than  eight  hun- 
dred men.*  Two  feints  were  directed,  one  by  Colonel  Livingston,  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment  of  Canadian  auxiliaries,  the  other  by  Major  Brown ;  the 
principal  attacks  were  conducted  by  Montgomery  and  Arnold,  in  person. 
The  former  advancing  against  the  lower  town,  had  passed  the  first  barrier, 
and  was  preparing  to  storm  the  second,  when  he  was  killed  by  the  discharge 
of  a  cannon  fired  by  the  last  of  its  retreating  defenders.  His  death  so  dispi- 
rited the  assailants,  that  Colonel  Campbell,  on  whom  the  command  devolved, 
thought  proper  to  draw  them  off.  Arnold,  at  the  head  of  about  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  with  irresistible  impetuosity,  carried  a  two  gun  battery ; 
but  in  the  conflict,  receiving  a  wound  from  a  musket  ball,  which  shattered 
his  leg,  he  was  compelled  to  quit  the  field.  His  party  continued  the  assault, 
and  mastered  a  second  barrier.  But,  after  a  contest  for  three  hours  with  the 
greater  part  of  the  garrison,  finding  themselves  hemmed  in,  without  hopes  of 
success,  relief,  or  retreat,  they  yielded  themselves  prisoners.  This  issue,  so 
unfortunate  for  the  colonists,  relieved  the  town  from  all  apprehensions  for  its 

*  December  31st,  1775. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  171 

safety ;  the  invaders  being  so  much  weakened  as  to  be  scarce  competent  to 
their  own  defence.  Arnold  encamped  at  three  miles  distance  from  Quebec, 
and  maintained  his  position  amid  many  difficulties  and  great  privations,  until 
the  spring,  when  he  was  joined  by  reinforcements. 

The  fall  of  General  Montgomery  was  deplored  by  friends  and  foes.  He 
was  an  Irishman  by  birth,  and  though  scarce  thirty-eight  years  of  age, 
a  veteran  soldier.  He  had  shared  in  the  labours  arid  triumph  of  Wolfe ; 
was  distinguished  for  talent  and  military  genius,  and  blessed  with  a  mild  and 
constant  temper,  and  dauntless  courage.  The  highest  honours  of  his  profes- 
sion awaited  him  in  the  British  service.  These  he  abandoned  for  the  enjoy- 
ments of  domestic  happiness  in  the  country  of  his  adoption.  But,  devoted  to 
freedom,  he  engaged  enthusiastically  in  defence  of  the  American  cause,  and 
by  his  early  successes  in  the  Canadian  campaign,  induced  the  highest  antici- 
pations of  future  greatness.  In  Parliament,  his  worth  was  acknowledged, 
and  his  fate  lamented ;  the  minister  himself  joined  in  his  praise,  whilst  con- 
demning the  cause  in  which  he  fell,  and  concluded  his  involuntary  panegyric, 
in  the  language  of  the  poet,  crying,  "  Curse  on  his  virtues,  they've  undone 
his  country."  In  Congress  he  was  mourned  as  a  martyr  to  liberty,  and  by 
their  direction  a  marble  monument,  of  beautiful  simplicity,  with  emblematical 
devices,  has  been  erected  to  his  memory,  in  front  of  St.  Paul's  church,  New 
York. 

XXVI.  The  provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey  re-assembled  on  the  fifth 
of  August,  1775,  and  engaged  in  devising  further  means  for  the  collection 
of  the  tax  they  had  imposed  and  for  the  organization  of  the  militia.  They 
directed  fifty-four  companies,  each  of  sixty-four  minute  men,  to  be  organized, 
allotting  to  each  county  a  specific  number,  and  assigning  the  duty  of  ap- 
pointing their  officers  to  the  respective  county  committees.  The  minute 
men  entered  into  the  following  engagement :  "  We,  the  subscribers,  do  vo- 
luntarily enlist  ourselves  as  minute  men  in  the  company  of 
in  the  county  of  And  do  promise  to  hold  ourselves  in  constant 

readiness,  on  the  shortest  notice,  to  march  to  any  place  where  our  assistance 
may  be  required,  for  the  defence  of  this  and  any  neighbouring  colony ;  as 
also  to  pay  due  obedience  to  the  commands  of  our  officers,  agreeable  to  the 
rules  and  orders  of  the  continental  Congres,  or  the  provincial  Congress  of 
New  Jersey,  or  during  its  recess,  of  the  committee  of  safety."  These  troops 
were  formed  into  ten  battalions ;  in  Bergen,  Essex,  Middlesex,  Monmouth, 
.Somerset,  Morris,  Sussex,  Hunterdon,  and  Burlington,  one  each ;  in  Glou- 
cester and  Salem  one,  whilst  in  the  counties  of  Cumberland  and  Cape  May 
were  independent  light  infantry  and  rangers: — They  took  precedence  of  the 
other  militia,  and  were  entitled  to  be  relieved  at  the  end  of  four  months, 
unless  in  actual  service.  Congress,  also,  resolved,  that  two  brigadier-gene- 
rals should  be  appointed,  but  named,  at  the  time,  only  Mr.  Philemon  Dicken- 
son  to  that  command.  Mr.  Livingston  soon  after  received  the  other  com- 
mission. And  as  there  were  a  number  of  people  within  the  province, 
whose  peculiar  religious  principles  did  not  allow  them,  in  any  case  to 
bear  arms — the  Congress  declared,  that  they  intended  no  violence  to  con- 
science ;  and,  therefore,  earnestly  recommended  it  to  such  persons  to  con- 
tribute the  more  liberally,  in  these  times  of  universal  calamity,  to  the  relief 
of  their  distressed  brethren ;  and  to  do  all  other  services  to  their  oppressed 
country,  consistent  with  their  religious  profession. 

But  the  chief  measure  of  the  provincial  Congress  was  the  perpetuation  of 
the  authority  which  they  had  assumed.  To  this  end  they  resolved,  that, 
"  Whereas,  it  is  highly  expedient,  at  a  time  when  this  province  is  likely  to 
be  involved  in  all  the 'horrors  of  civil  war,  and  when  it  has  become  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  increase  the  burden  of  taxes,  already  laid  on  the  good 


172  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

peopte  of  this  ooiony,  for  the  just  defence  of  their  invaluable  rights  and  privi- 
leges, that  the  inhabitants  thereof  should  have  frequent  opportunities  of  re- 
newing their  choice  and  approbation  of  the  representatives  in  provincial 
Congress : — Therefore,  the  inhabitants  in  each  county,  qualified  to  vote  for 
representatives  in  General  Assembly,  shall  meet  together,  (at  places  desig- 
nated) on  the  twenty-first  day  of  September  next,  and  elect,  not  exceeding 
five  substantial  freeholders  as  deputies,  with  full  power  to  represent  such 
county  in  provincial  Congress  to  be  holden  at  Trenton  on  the  third  of  Octo- 
ber next: — That  during  the  continuance  of  the  present  unhappy  disputes 
between  Great  Britain  and  America,  there  be  a  new  choice  of  deputies  in 
every  county,  yearly,  on  the  third  Thursday  of  September : — That  on  the 
said  Thursday  in  every  year,  such  inhabitants  shall  choose  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  freeholders  to  constitute  a  county  committee  of  observation  and  cor- 
respondence, with  full  power  as  well,  to  superintend  and  direct  the  necessary 
business  of  the  county,  as  to  carry  into  execution  the  resolutions  and  orders 
of  the  continental  and  provincial  Congresses: — That  the  inhabitants  of  each 
township,  so  qualified,  do  immediately  choose  a  sufficient  number  of  free- 
holders to  constitute  a  township  committee,  and  that  on  the  second  Tuesday 
of  March,  thereafter,  they  make  a  like  choice,  to  act  as  committee  of  observa- 
tion and  correspondence,  in  the  townships,  respectively,  with  power  within 
their  precincts,  similar  to  that  conferred  upon  the  county  committees. 

Having  appointed  Jonathan  D.  Sergeant  their  treasurer,  and  a  committee  of 
safety  to  exercise  their  powers  during  the  recess,  the  Congress  adjourned  to 
the  twentieth  day  of  the  ensuing  September,*  at  which  session  no  important 
matters  seem  to  have  occurred.  The  Congress,  elected  in  September,  con- 
vened in  October,  when  they  were  employed  chiefly  in  modifying  the  ordi- 
nance for  regulating  the  militia,  and  in  collecting  and  preparing  the  scanty 
stock  of  munitions  of  war  which  the  country  contained.  At  their  rising,  this 
Congress,  also,  appointed  a  committee  of  safety  from  among  themselves, 
who,  in  the  vacation,  continued  the  measures  for  the  defence  of  the  country. 
They  called  before  them  persons  accused  of  disaffection  to  the  American 
cause,  fined,  imprisoned,  or  held  them  to  bail,  as  they  deemed  meet;  and 
where  the  accused  was  an  officer  of  the  government,  they  suspended  him 
from  the  exercise  of  his  functions.  But  having  received  several  communica- 
tions from  the  continental  Congress,  relative  to  raising  of  additional  force 
for  the  general  service,  the  establishment  of  a  court  of  admiralty,  and  regu- 
lations for  the  continental  troops,  raised  in  the  colonies,  they  summoned  the 
provincial  Congress  to  meet  at  New  Brunswick,  on  the  thirty-first  of  Ja- 
nuary.f 

The  procurement  of  arms  and  munitions  was  a  labour  of  very  great  diffi- 
culty. The  policy  of  the  continent,  in  its  anterior  warfare  with  the  ministry, 
having  prohibited  importation,  the  whole  country  was  bare  of  these  indis- 
pensable agents  of  war;  and  to  equip  even  one  battalion,  that  of  Colonel 

*  Names  of  committee  of  safety — Hendrick  Fisher,  Samuel  Tucker,  Isaac  Pearson, 
John  Hart,  Jonathan  D.  Sergeant,  Azariah  Dunham,  Peter  Schenk,  Enos  Kelsey, 
Joseph  Borden,  Frederick  Freelinghausen,  and  John  Schurman.— Min.  of  Convention. 
This  committee  was  changed,  by  the  Congress  holden  in  Trenton,  in  October.  But  I 
have  not  been  able  to  find  the  minutes  of  the  sessions  of  the  provincial  Congress  of 
September  and  October,  1775.  The  proceedings,  then  had,  do  not  seem  to  have  been 
considered  important,  since  they  were  not  printed,  so  far  as  my  researches  have  ena- 
bled me  to  dicover.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  committee  of  safety  ap- 
pointed in  October;  at  least  of  such  as  attended  the  session  of  January  10th,  177G;  the 
proceedings  of  which  have  been  published,  viz.  Samuel  Tucker,  president,  Hendrick 
Fisher,  vice-president,  Abraham  Clark,  secretary,  Azariah  Dunham,  Ruloffe  Van- 
dyke, John  Dennis,  Augustine  Stevenson,  John  Pope,  John  Hart,  Joseph  Holmes.  . 

t  See  Appendix,  note  D  D,  for  the  names  of  the  members  of  provincial  Congress, 
elected  in  September,  1775. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  173 

Maxwell,  ordered  to  march  to  Canada,  the  provincial  Congress  was  com- 
pelled to  apply  to  the  county  committees,  and  to  appeal  to  the  patriotism  of 
individuals. 

On  the  sixth  of  February,  1776,  the  Convention  made  a  new  appointment 
of  delegates,  to  the  continental  Congress,  for  the  current  year,  consisting  of 
William  Livingston,  John  de  Hart,  Richard  Smith,  John  Cooper,  and  Jona- 
than Dickenson  Sergeant,  who,  or  any  three  of  them,  were  empowered  to 
agree  to  all  measures  which  such  Congress  might  deem  necessary,  and 
in  case  of  the  adjournment  of  the  continental  Congress,  to  represent  the  pro- 
vince in  any  other  such  Congress  as  might  assemble  during  their  delegation. 
The  thanks  of  the  Convention  were  given  to  their  late  representatives. 

This  Congress,  like  its  predecessors,  exercised  the  whole  power  of  the 
state,  assuming  control  over  its  funds,  and  directing  its  physical  energies.  A 
first  measure  was  an  endeavour  to  protect  such  points  as  they  deemed  most 
exposed  to  the  forces  from  the  British  fleet ;  which,  under  the  supposition, 
that  New  York  was  adequately  defended,  they  believed  to  be  Perth  Am- 
boy,  and  Swedesborough  on  the  Delaware.  For  this  object  the  conti- 
nental Congress  was  solicited  to  take  into  pay  two  battalions  and  two  com- 
panies of  artillery ;  but  Congress  were  unable  to  do  more  than  order  the 
procurement  of  twelve  pieces  of  small  cannon,  and  to  engage  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  two  companies  of  artillery;  which  were  raised  by  the  province.  An 
ordinance  was  passed  modifying  the  form  of  association,  and  delaring,  that, 
though  it  was  not  the  design  of  the  Congress  to  offer  violence  to  conscience, 
yet  it  was  highly  necessary,  that  all  the  inhabitants  should  associate,  so  far  as 
their  religious  principles  would  permit ;  and,  therefore,  directing,  that  all  per- 
sons, whose  religious  principles  would  not  suffer  them  to  bear  arms,  and  to 
sign  the  general  association,  might  sign  it  with  the  following  proviso.  "  I 
agree  to  the  above  association,  as  far  as  the  same  is  consistent  with  my  reli- 
gious principles."  All  persons  refusing  to  sign  this  modified  form,  were 
to  be  disarmed,  to  give  security  for  their  peaceable  conduct,  and  pay  the 
expenses  attending  thereon.  The  township  and  county  committees  were 
charged  with  the  execution  of  this  ordinance,  and  appeal  by  a  party  aggrieved 
was  permitted  from  the  township,  to  the  county,  committee,  and  from  the  latter 
to  the  Congress.  These  committees  were  also  empowered  to  confine  any 
person,  notwithstanding  his  offer  of  security,  whose  freedom  might  prove 
dangerous  to  the  common  cause.  It  was  further  declared,  that  all  such 
persons,  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  fifty  years,  who  should  not  attend, 
properly  accoutred,  and  bear  arms,  on  the  times  appointed  for  the  general 
muster  of  the  militia,  should  pay  ten  shillings  for  each  default,  to  be  reco- 
vered by  warrant  of  distress.  And  in  order  to  encourage  enlistment  into  the 
service  of  the  United  Colonies,  the  Congress  granted  to  the  soldiers,  exemption 
of  person  and  goods  from  execution  for  small  debts,  and  to  procure  a  sup- 
ply of  nitre  and  common  salt,  they  established  a  bounty  on  the  manufacture 
of  both  articles. 

The  impending  invasion  of  New  York,  filled  that  city  with  alarm,  and 
many  of  its  inhabitants  actuated  by  various  motives,  disposed  themselves  in 
the  neighbouring  counties  of  New  Jersey.  So  numerous  was  this  emigration 
that  the  provincial  Congress,  doubting,  whether  it  was  caused  by  cowardice 
or  cunning,  passed  an  ordinance  to  repress  it. — Providing,  that  "  whereas, 
large  numbers  of  people  are  daily  removing  from  the  neighbouring  colonies 
into  New  Jersey,  and  it  being  unknown  upon  what  principles  such  removals 
are  occasioned,  whether  to  seek  an  asylum  from  ministerial  oppression,  or 
the  resentment  of  their  injured  country,  to  whom  they  may  have  become  ob- 
noxious, by  adhering  to  the  present  system  of  tyranny,  now  endeavouring  to 
be  executed  in  America ;  and  it  being  inconsistent  with  the  principles  of  per- 


174  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

sons,  properly  attached  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  to  desert  their  town  or  county 
at  a  time  their  assistance  may  be  absolutely  necessary  for  its  defence,  unless 
the  support  and  maintenance  of  their  families  may  make  such  removal  neces- 
sary— This  Congress,  therefore,  think  it  advisable,  that,  although  the  inha- 
bitants of  this  colony  ought  most  cheerfully,  to  receive  into  their  protection, 
and  afford  all  the  relief  in  their  power,  to  all  such  as  are  helpless,  and  unable 
to  defend  themselves,  yet  they  ought  to  prevent  the  desertion  of  places  in 
immediate  danger  of  attack  from  the  enemy,  by  all  who  are  proper  to  re- 
main for  the  defence  thereof,  and  also  to  prevent  persons  inimical  to  the 
liberties  for  which  the  United  States  are  contending,  from  taking  refuge  in 
this  province — For  remedy  whereof,  they  resolved,  that  all  persons  proper 
to  bear  arms,  who  had  removed,  or  should  remove  into  the  colony  from  any 
city  or  county  of  another  province,  in  danger  of  being  suddenly  attacked, 
should  immediately  return  to  make  that  defence,  becoming  every  good  citi- 
zen, unless  they  should  produce  permits  from  the  committee  of  the  precinct, 
from  whence  they  removed,  to  reside  in  this  colony,  or  unless  such  residence 
appeared  necessary  for  the  support  of  the  resident's  family,  or  he  had  no 
visible  means  of  support  whence  he  came,  and  could  procure  such  support 
by  his  industry  in  this  colony.  And  they  further  resolved,  that  all  suspected 
persons  removing  into  the  colony,  should  be  immediately  returned  to  the 
place  whence  they  came,  unless  their  detention  as  delinquents  should  be 
proper;  or  unless  they  produced  certificates  from  the  committee  of  the 
precinct,  from  which  they  came,  that  they  had  signed  the  association  recom- 
mended by  Congress,  and  had  not  subsequently  contravened  it."  The  execu- 
tion of  this  ordinance  was  consigned  to  the  several  county  and  township 
committees. 

Some  irregularities  having  taken  place  in  the  election  of  the  existing  Con- 
gress, this  body  resolved  to  dissolve  itself,  and  to  direct  the  election  of  another, 
on  the  fourth  Monday  of  May,  following,  and  thence  annually ;  and  repealing 
a  former  ordinance,  they  passed  one,  for  that  purpose,  in  which  the  right 
to  vote  was  extended  to  all  persons,  who  having  signed  the  general  associa- 
tion, were  of  full  age,  had  resided  immediately  preceding  the  election,  for  the 
space  of  one  year,  in  the  colony,  and  were  worth  fifty  pounds  in  personal 
estate. 

XXVII.  Governor  Franklin  convened  the  Legislature  on  the  16th  of  No- 
vember, 1775,  that  they  might  have  an  opportunity  of  transacting  such  busi- 
ness as  the  public  exigencies  required.  In  his  opening  address  he  observed. 
11  Having  lately  said  so  much  to  you,  concerning  the  present  unhappy  situa- 
tion of  public  affairs,  and  the  destructive  measures  which  have  been  adopted 
In  the  colonies  under  the  pretence  of  necessity ;  and  as  I  do  not  see,  that  the 
urging  any  more  arguments  on  that  head  has  a  chance  of  producing  any 
good  effect,  I  shall  not  endanger  the  harmony  of  the  present  session  by  a 
further  discussion  of  the  subject."  He  proceeded,  however,  to  inform  them 
from  his  instructions,  "  That  his  Majesty  laments  to  find  his  subjects  in  Ame- 
rica, so  lost  to  their  own  true  interests,  as  neither  to  accept  the  resolution  of 
the  House  of  Commons  of  the  20th  of  February,  nor  make  it  the  basis  of  a 
negotiation,  when,  in  all  probability,  it  would  have  led  to  some  plan  of  ac- 
commodation, and. that,  as  they  have  preferred  engaging  in  a  rebellion,  which 
menaces  to  overthrow  the  constitution,  it  becomes  his  Majesty's  duty,  and  is 
his  firm  resolution,  that  the  most  vigorous  efforts  should  be  made,  both  by 
sea  and  land  to  reduce  his  rebellious  subjects  to  obedience.  But  it  is  hoped, 
that  unfavourable  as  the  prospects  are  at  present,  the  time  will  come,  when 
men  of  sense,  and  friends  to  peace  and  good  order  will  see  the  fatal  conse- 
quences of  the  delusions  which  have  led  to  the  measures  the  people  of  America 
are  now  pursuing,  and  that  we  may  yet  see  the  public  tranquillity  re-esta- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  175 

Wished  on  the  ground  of  the  terms  held  out  by  his  Majesty  and  the  Parlia- 
ment." 

"Although,"  he  continued,  "the  King's  officers  in  this  province,  have  not, 
as  yet,  (except  in  one  or  two  instances,)  met  with  any  insults  or  improper 
treatment  from  any  of  the  inhabitants ;  yet  such  has  been  the  general  infatua- 
tion and  disorder  of  the  times,  that  had  I  followed  the  judgment  and  advice  of 
some  of  my  best  friends,  I  should  ere  this,  have  sought,  (as  others  of  the 
King's  governors  have  done,)  an  asylum  on  board  of  one  of  his  Majesty's 
ships.  But,  as  I  am  conscious  that  I  have  the  true  interest  and  welfare  of 
the  people  at  heart,  (though  I  am  so  unhappy  as  to  differ  widely  in  opinion 
with  their  representatives  with  respect  to  the  best  means  of  serving  them,  in 
the  present  crisis,)  I  shall  continue  my  confidence  in  that  affection  and  re- 
gard which  I  have  on  so  many  occasions  experienced  from  all  ranks  during 
my  residence  in  this  colony." 

"I  have,  indeed,  the  stronger  inducement  to  run  this  risk  and  to  use  my 
influence  with  the  other  crown  officers  to  do  the  same,  because  our  retreat 
would  necessarily  be  attributed  to  either  the  effect,  or  well  grounded  appre- 
hension of  violence,  and  of  course  subject  the  colony  to  be  more  immediately 
considered  as  in  actual  rebellion,  and  be  productive  of  mischiefs,  which  it  is 
my  earnest  inclination  and  determination  to  prevent,  as  far  as  may  be  in  my 
power.  Let  me,  therefore,  gentlemen,  entreat  you  to  exert  your  influence 
likewise  with  the  people,  that  they  may  not  by  any  action  of  theirs,  give 
cause  for  bringing  such  calamities  on  the  province.  No  advantage  can 
possibly  result  from  the  seizing,  confinement,  or  ill-treatment  of  officers,  ade- 
quate to  the  certain  damage  such  acts  of  violence  must  occasion  the  province 
to  suffer." 

"  However,  gentlemen,  if  you  should  be  of  a  different  opinion,  and  will  not, 
or  cannot,  answer  for  our  safety,  all  I  ask  is,  that  you  would  tell  me  so  in 
such  plain  and  open  language,  as  cannot  be  misunderstood.  For  as  senti- 
ments of  independency  are,  by  some  men  of  present  consequence,  openly 
avowed,  and  essays  are  already  appearing  in  the  public  papers,  to  ridicule 
the  people's  fear  of  that  horrid  measure,  and  remove  their  aversion  to  repub- 
lican government,  it  is  high  time,  that  every  man  should  know,  what  he  has 
to  expect.  If,  as  I  hope,  you  have  an  abhorrence  of  such  a  design,  you  will 
do  your  country  an  essential  service,  by  declaring  it  in  so  full  and  explicit 
terms,  as  may  discourage  the  attempt.  You  may  always  rely  on  finding  me 
ready  to  co-operate  with  you  in  every  proper  expedient  for  promoting  peace, 
order,  and  good  government ;  and  I  shall  deem  it  a  particular  happiness  to 
have  an  opportunity  of  being  instrumental  in  saving  this  province  from  the 
present  impending  danger." 

XXVIII.  The  prominent  objects  of  this  address,  seem  to  have  been  to  ob- 
tain from  the  Assembly,  an  assurance  of  personal  safety,  and  a  disavowal  of 
all  intention  to  proclaim  independence.  And  in  these,  the  governor  was 
successful.  For  the  House  replied,  "your  excellency's  safety,  or  that  of  any 
of  the  officers  of  government,  we  apprehend  to  be  in  no  danger.  We  place  our 
own  safety  in  that  protection  which  the  laws  of  our  country  and  the  execu- 
tive powers  of  government  afford  to  all  the  King's  subjects.  It  is  the  only 
asylum  which  we  have  to  fly  to,  and  we  make  no  doubt  that  it  will  be,  as  it 
hitherto  hath  been,  found  fully  equal  to  the  purpose,  both  of  securing  your 
excellency  and  others.  And  we  hope  to  find,  that  the  officers  of  government 
will  conduct  themselves  so  prudently,  as  not  to  invite  any  ill  usage ;  and  that 
they  will  not  make  any  supposed  '  infatuation  or  disorder'  of  the  times,  a  pre- 
tence to  leave  the  province,  and  thereby  endeavour  to  subject  the  inhabitants 
to  any  calamities." 

"  We  know  of  no  sentiments  of  independency,  that  are,  by  men  of  any  con- 


176  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

sequence,  openly  avowed ;  nor  do  we  approve  of  any  essays  tending  to  encou- 
rage such  a  measure.  We  have  already  expressed  our  detestation  of  such 
opinions,  and  we  have  so  frequently  and  fully  declared  our  sentiments  on 
this  subject,  and  particularly,  in  our  petition  to  the  King,  at  the  last  session 
of  the  Assembly,  that  we  should  have  thought  ourselves,  as  at  present  we 
really  deserve  to  be,  exempt  from  all  suspicions  of  this  nature." 

The  dread  of  independence  seems  to  have  seized,  at  this  time,  others  than 
the  governor.  Several  petitions  were  presented  from  the  freeholders  of  Bur- 
lington county,  praying  the  House  to  enter  into  such  resolves  as  might  dis- 
courage an  independency  on  Great  Britain.  The  petitioners  were  summoned 
before  the  House,  and  stated,  that  they  had  been  induced  to  address  it, 
"  from  reports  that  some  affected  independency."  Whereupon,  it  was  re- 
solved, that  reports  of  independency,  in  the  apprehension  of  the  House,  are 
groundless : — That  it  be  recommended  to  the  delegates  of  the  colony,  to  use 
their  utmost  endeavours  for  obtaining  a  redress  of  grievances,  and  for  restor- 
ing the  union  between  the  colonies  and  Great  Britain,  upon  constitutional 
principles ;  and  that,  the  said  delegates  be  directed  not  to  give  their  assent, 
but  utterly  to  reject  any  propositions,  if  such  should  be  made,  that  may  sepa- 
rate this  colony  from  the  mother  country,  or  change  the  form  of  government 
thereof.  The  spirit  of  these  resolutions  differed  widely  from  that  which  ani- 
mated the  provincial  Congress,  which,  in  the  succeeding  February,  instructed 
the  delegates  to  agree  to  all  measures  which  the  continental  Congress  might 
deem  necessary. 

XXIX.  At  this  session  the  governor  communicated  to  the  Legislature,  the 
royal  approbation  of  an  act,  for  issuing  on  loan,  bills  of  credit  to  the  amount 
of  one  hundred  thousand  pounds.  For  more  than  twelve  years  this  had  been 
a  desirable  object  with  the  Assembly,  who,  as  we  have,  elsewhere,  observed, 
frequently  passed  bills  for  this  purpose,  which  had  hitherto  been  rejected  by 
the  crown ;  but  as  if  every  concession  to  the  wishes  of  the  people,  was  a 
grant  of  property  for  which  some  consideration  was  due,  Lord  Dartmouth, 
in  remitting  the  approval,  informed  the  governor,  "  At  the  same  time  I  am 
commanded  by  the  King,  to  say  to  you,  that  it  would  have  been  more  agreea- 
ble to  his  Majesty,  if  the  Assembly,  instead  of  a  general  appropriation  of  the 
interest  of  the  loan  to  the  support  of  government  in  such  manner  as  shall  be 
directed  by  future  acts,  had  thought  fit  to  make  a  settlement,  during  the 
existence  of  that  loan,  upon  the  civil  officers  of  government,  of  salaries  more 
suitable  to  their  respective  offices  than  they  now  receive ;  and  to  appropriate 
a  specific  proportion  of  the  said  interest,  to  building  houses  for  the  residence 
of  the  governor  and  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  of  which  you  say  there 
is  a  shameful  want.  Such  an  appropriation  is  no  more  than  what  they  owe 
to  the  dignity  of  their  own  government,  and  his  Majesty's  just  expectations ; 
and,  therefore,  it  is  his  Majesty's  pleasure,  that  you  do  require  the  Assembly, 
in  his  Majesty's  name,  to  make  such  provision  accordingly,  trusting  that 
they  will  not  make  such  an  ill  return  to  his  Majesty's  grace  and  favour,  in 
the  confirmation  of  this  law,  as  not  to  comply  with  so  just  and  reasonable  a 
requisition."  Thus,  a  measure  was  conceded  by  all  parties,  having  power  over 
it,  to  be  just  and  necessary,  and  yet,  an  individual,  who,  in  all  matters  relating 
to  the  public  weal,  should  have  been  deemed  but  an  individual,  inflated  by  the 
worship  of  crowds,  dared  to  talk  of  grace  and  favour  in  the  performance  of  a 
simple  and  imperious  duty.  But  the  age  is  passing  away,  when  men  will 
make  themselves  golden  calves  for  worship,  and  when  a  feeble  mortal  shall 

"Assume  the  God, 

Affect  to  nod, 

And  seem  to  shake  the  spheres." 

But  the  name  of  the  King  was  no  longer  a  spell  sufficiently  potent  to  open 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  177 

the  purses  of  the  people,  for  a  prescribed  series  of  years,  in  favour  of  royal 
officers.  The  Assembly  declared,  "  that  though  they  entertained  the  most 
grateful  sense  of  the  attention  shown  to  the  wishes  of  the  colony,  in  the 
allowance  of  the  loan  act,  and  of  his  Majesty's  gracious  inclinations  to  give 
"  every  indulgence  consistent  with  the  true  principles  of  commerce  and  the 
constitution,"  and  are  sincerely  disposed  to  grant  his  Majesty's  requisitions ; 
yet,  at  this  time,  the  House  cannot  consider  it  prudent,  to  go  into  any  in- 
crease of  the  salaries  of  the  officers  of  government,  nor  do  they  apprehend 
that  it  will  be  beneficial  for  his  government  over  us,  to  settle  them  longer 
than  the  usual  time ;  or  expedient  to  erect  buildings  at  present,  better  to  ac- 
commodate the  branches  of  the  Legislature." 

On  December  6th,  1775,  the  House  was  prorogued  by  the  governor  until 
the  third  day  of  January,  1776,  but  it  never  re-assembled;  and  thus  termi- 
nated the  provincial  Legislature  of  New  Jersey. 


178  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Comprising  Civil  Events  of  the  year  1776.— I.  State  of  the  Public  Opinion  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  year  1776 — Gradual  growth  of  the  desire  of  Independence. — 
II.  Resolution  of  Congress  for  the  establishment  of  Independent  Colonial  Go- 
vernments.— III.  Provincial  Congress  re-assembles — Proceeds  to  the  Forma- 
tion of  a  Colonial  Constitution. — IV.  Review  of  the  Constitution.— V.  Oath  of 
Abjuration  and  Allegiance  established. — VI.  Tories — their  motives. — VII.  Law 
relative  to  Treason. — VIII.  Imprisonment  and  Relegation  of  Governor  Frank- 
lin.— IX.  Measures  adopted  against  the  Disaffected. — X.  Adoption  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence. 

I.  For  more  than  a  year  the  whole  country  had  been,  not,  only,  in  open 
rebellion  against  the  King,  but  its  inhabitants  had  actually  made  war  upon 
their  fellow  subjects,  who,  unconscious  of  oppression,  had  preserved  their 
loyalty.  Yet,  during  this  period,  the  governments  of  the  United  Colonies, 
respectively,  were  administered  in  the  King's  name,  and  the  people,  every 
where,  professed  affection  for  his  person,  and  attachment  to  the  parent  state. 
In  the  first  half  of  the  year  1755,  amongst  the  great  mass  of  the  people  and 
many  of  their  leaders,  these  sentiments  were  real.  But  the  more  daring  and 
ambitious  spirits  had,  not  only  foreseen  that  the  continuance  of  political  con- 
nexion was  not  much  longer  possible,  but  had,  successfully,  sought  to  in- 
spire the  people  with  the  desire  of  independence.  And,  probably,  there  was 
not  a  profoundly  reflecting  man  in  revolted  America,  who  did  not,  in  the 
depths  of  his  heart,  believe,  that  the  severance  of  the  ties  between  the  parent 
and  daughters  was,  at  no  very  distant  period,  inevitable;  though  many, 
from  various  causes,  such  as  timidity,  selfish  policy,  and  influence  of  family 
relations,  were  disposed  to  postpone  the  event.* 

But  this  inconsistent,  state  of  things  could  not  continue,  without  the  most 
odious  and  useless  hypocrisy,  nor  without  the  greatest  injury  to  the  cause  of 
the  colonists.  Whilst  the  expectation  of  a  reunion  was  suffered  to  delude  the 
minds  of  men,  a  reluctance  to  pursue  those  energetic  measures  which  the 
crisis  demanded,  would  paralyze  the  best  efforts  of  the  patriots  who  had 
assumed  the  direction  of  affairs.  In  effecting  a  change  and  demonstration  of 
public  opinion,  perhaps,  no  single  agent  was  more  powerful,  than  a  pamphlet 
styled  Common  Sense,  written  by  Thomas  Paine;  which,  in  a  clear,  perspi- 
cuous, and  popular  style,  boldly  pronounced  a  continued  connexion  with 
England  unsafe,  as  well  as  impracticable;  and  successfully  ridiculed  her 

*  In  1768  the  following  language  was  holden  in  the  American  Whig,  a  periodical 
paper,  published  in  New  York,  edited  by  Mr.  William  Livingston,  afterwards,  gover- 
nor of  New  Jersey;  and  the  article  is  said  to  have  been  written  by  him. — Sedgicick's 
Life  of  Livingston,  p.  145.  "  The  day  dawns  in  which  the  foundation  of  this  mighty 
empire  is  to  be  laid,  by  the  establishment  of  a  regular  American  Constitution.  All  that 
has  hitherto  been  done,  seems  to  be  little  besides  the  collection  of  materials  for  the 
construction  of  this  glorious  fabric.  'Tis  time  to  put  them  together.  The  transfer  of 
the  European  part  of  the  great  family  is  so  swift,  and  our  growth  so  vast,  that  before 
seven  years  roll  over  our  heads,  the  first  stone  must  be  laid.  Peace  or  war,  famine  or 
plenty,  poverty  or  affluence,  in  a  word,  no  circumstance,  whether  prosperous  or  ad- 
verse, can  happen  to  our  parent,  nay,  no  conduct  of  hers,  whether  wise  or  imprudent; 
no  possible  temper  on  her  part,  will  put  a  stop  to  this  building  *  *  What  an  era  is 
this  to  America !  and  how  loud  the  call  to  vigilance  and  activity !  As  we  conduct,  so 
will  it  fare  with  us  and  our  children."  Notwithstanding  this  prophecy  and  the  spirit 
which  prompted  it,  and  which  filled  the  bosom  of  every  leading  man  in  every  colony, 
Mr.  Livingston  was  of  those  who  believed,  that  the  time  for  its  fulfilment  had  not 
arrived,  and  that  the  declaration  of  independence,  when  made,  was  premature. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  179 

constitution,  which  had  hitherto  been  deemed  the  masterpiece  of  political 
workmanship.  This  pamphlet  was  universally  read,  and  among  those  who 
were  zealous  in  the  war,  obtained,  every  where,  friends  to  the  measure  of 
independence.  The  belief  became  general,  that  a  cordial  reconciliation  with 
Great  Britain  was  impossible ;  that,  mutual  confidence  could  never  be  re- 
stored ;  that,  reciprocal  jealousy,  suspicion,  and  hate,  would  take  place  of 
that  affection,  indispensably  necessary  to  a  beneficial  connexion ;  that,  the 
commercial  dependence  of  America  upon  Britain,  was  injurious  to  the  former, 
which  must  derive  incalculable  benefit  from  full  liberty  to  manufacture  her 
raw  material,  and  to  export  her  products  to  the  markets  of  the  world ;  that 
further  dependence  upon  a  nation  or  sovereign,  distant  three  thousand  miles, 
ignorant  and  regardless  of  their  interests,  was  intolerable  in  the  present  ra- 
pidly increasing  strength  and  power  of  the  colonies;  that  the  hazard  in  pro- 
longing the  contest  was  as  great  as  in  the  declaration  of  independence ;  and 
that,  since  the  risk  of  every  thing  was  unavoidable,  the  greatest  good  attaina- 
ble should  be  made,  in  common  justice  and  prudence,  the  reward  of  success. 
It  was  urged,  also,  with  great  force,  that  foreign  aid  could  be  more  certainly 
obtained  from  the  rivals  of  Great  Britain,  if  they  felt  assured  that  such  aid 
would  tend  to  the  permanent  dismemberment  of  her  empire.  The  bias 
given  by  all  these  forces  was  confirmed  among  the  people,  on  finding,  that, 
they  were  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of  rebellion ;  that  foreign  mercenaries 
were  employed  to  forge  their  chains ;  that  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife 
were  engaged  in  the  British  service ;  and  that  their  slaves  were  to  be  seduced 
from  their  masters  and  armed  against  them. 

II.  The  measures  of  Congress  during  this  remarkable  contest,  took  their 
complexion  from  the  temper  of  the  people.  Their  proceedings  against  those 
disaffected  to  their  cause  became  more  vigorous ;  their  language  relative  to  the 
British  government,  less  that  of  subordinate  states — general  letters  of  marque 
and  reprisal  were  granted,  and  the  ports  were  opened  to  all  nations  not  sub- 
ject to  the  British  crown.  At  length,  the  great  and  important  step  of  inde- 
pendence was  in  effect,  though  not  in  form,  taken.  On  the  15th  May,  1776, 
Congress  declared,  that  his  Britannic  Majesty,  with  the  lords  and  commons, 
had,  by  act  of  Parliament,  excluded  the  united  colonies  from  the  protection  of 
the  crown ;  that,  not  only  had  their  humble  petition  for  redress  and  reconcilia- 
tion been  received  with  disdain,  but  the  whole  force  of  the  kingdom,  aided  by 
foreign  mercenaries,  was  about  to  be  exerted  for  their  destruction ;  that,  there- 
fore, it  was  irreconcilable  with  reason  and  good  conscience  for  the  colonists 
to  take  the  oaths  for  supporting  any  government  under  the  crown  of  Great 
Britain ;  and  it  was  necessary  that  the  exercise  of  every  kind  of  authority 
under  the  crown  should  be  suppressed,  and  that  all  the  powers  of  government 
should  be  exercised  by  the  people  of  the  colonies  for  the  preservation  of  inter- 
nal peace,  virtue,  and  good  order,  and  the  defence  of  their  lives,  liberties,  and 
properties,  against  the  hostile  invasions  and  cruel  depredations  of  their  ene- 
mies. And  they  resolved,  "  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  respective  Assem- 
blies and  conventions  of  the  united  colonies,  where  no  government  sufficient 
to  the  exigencies  of  their  affairs  has  been  hitherto  established,  to  adopt  such 
government  as  shall,  in  the  opinions  of  the  representatives  of  the  people,  best 
conduce  to  the  happiness  and  safety  of  their  constituents  in  particular,  and 
America  in  general." 

This  was  virtually  a  declaration  of  independence.  It  was  such  almost  in 
terms.  The  renunciation  of  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  governments  by  the  authority  of  the  people,  were  made,  certainly, 
with  no  hope  of  reconciliation,  nor  desire  of  re-union  with  the  parent  state. 
When  Massachusetts  asked  advice  of  Congress  on  the  propriety  of  "  taking 


180  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

up  and  exercising  the  powers  of  civil  government,"*  they  recommended  such 
regulations,  only,  as  were  indispensable,  and  those  to  be  conformed  as  nearly 
as  possible  to  the  spirit  of  their  charter,  and  to  endure  no  longer  than  until  a 
governor  of  his  Majesty's  appointment  should  consent  to  govern  the  colony 
according  to  that  instrument.  This  was  in  perfect  accord  with  the  profes- 
sions of  the  colonies  of  respect  and  attachment,  and  dependence  on  Great 
Britain.  But  the  resolution  now  adopted  spoke  not  of  limitation  to  the  powers 
to  be  assumed  by  the  people,  neither  as  to  their  nature  nor  duration. 

In  seeking  redress  from  British  taxation,  and  denying  to  Parliament  the 
right  for  its  unlimited  exercise,  great  unanimity  had  prevailed.  The  old 
parties  forgot  their  animosities,  and  united  to  oppose  a  common  oppression. 
Whilst  bound  with  the  band  of  loyalty  to  the  King,  this  union  appeared  indis- 
soluble, but  when  armed  resistance  became  necessary,  still  more,  after  it  had 
commenced,  strong  repulsive  qualities  discovered  themselves  in  the  mass. 
The  Quakers,  opposed  to  every  form  of  war,  and  strongly  attached  to  the 
parent  state,  and  to  their  church,  and  family  connexions  therein,  shrunk 
with  deep  sensibility  from  the  unnatural  contest,  and  with  horror  from  perma- 
nent separation  and  independence.  The  royal  officers,  their  dependents  and 
connexions,  embracing  a  large  proportion  of  the  wealthy  and  distinguished 
of  the  province,  beheld  in  a  change  of  government  the  loss  of  official  emolu- 
ment and  influence.  The  great  body  of  the  people,  however,  led  by  enter- 
prising spirits,  who  were  not  only  impatient  of  oppression,  but  who  saw  even 
in  the  vicissitudes  of  war  the  excitement  they  loved,  and  in  independence 
successfully  maintained,  bright  visions  of  glory  and  wealth,  hailed  with  rap- 
ture the  recommendation  of  Congress  to  take  the  first  irrevocable  step  towards 
political  emancipation. 

For  these  parties  names  were  borrowed  from  English  politics.  The  de- 
votees of  American  freedom  and  independence  assumed  the  title  of  whigs, 
whilst  they  designated  their  opponents  by  that  of  tories. 

III.  The  provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey,  elected  on  the  fourth  Monday 
in  May,  pursuant  to  the  ordinance  of  the  preceding  Congress,  convened  at 
Burlington  on  the  10th  of  June,  1776,  and  was  organized  by  choosing 
Samuel  Tucker,  Esq.  president,  and  William  Patterson,  Esq.  secretary.  Before 
the  21st  of  that  month,  many  petitions  were  received  from  East  Jersey,  for 
and  against  the  formation  of  a  new  government ;  and  on  the  day  last  men- 
tioned, the  convention  resolved,  that  a  government  be  formed  for  regulating 
the  internal  police  of  the  colony,  pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  the 
continental  Congress,  of  the  15th  of  May,  by  a  vote  of  54,  against  three  mem- 
bers. Messrs.  Green,  Cooper,  Jonathan  D.  Sergeant,  Lewis  Ogden,  Jona- 
than Elmer,  Hughes,  Covenhoven,  Symmes,  Condict,  and  Dick,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  a  constitution  on  the  24th  of  June,  who 
reported  a  draught  on  the  26th,  which,  after  a  very  short  and  imperfect  con- 
sideration, was  confirmed  on  the  2d  day  of  July. 

At  this  time  Congress,  impelled  by  the  tide  of  public  opinion,  had  gone  far 
beyond  their  resolutions  of  the  15th  of  May;  and  had,  actually,  resolved  on 
declaring  the  colonies  independent  states,  thereby  severing  forever,  all  politi- 
cal ties  which  had  connected  them  with  Great  Britain.  Yet,  the  convention 
of  New  Jersey  was  not  disposed  to  abandon  all  hopes  of  accommodation ; 
providing  in  the  last  clause  of  their  constitution,  that  if  reconciliation  between 
her  and  the  colonies  should  take  place,  and  the  latter  be  again  taken  under 
the  protection  and  government  of  the  crown,  the  charter  should  be  null  and 
void.  This  door  of  retreat  was  kept  open  by  the  fears  of  the  president  of 
the  convention,  who,  in  a  few  months  after,  claimed  the  clemency  of  the 

*  June,  1775. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  181 

enemy,  with  whom  this  clause  gave  him  an  interest.*  Other  clauses  of  the 
constitution  show  also,  that  it  was  made  for  the  colony.  The  laws  were  to 
be  enacted,  and  all  commissions,  writs,  and  indictments,  were  to  be  in  the 
name  of  the  colony.  On  the  18th  of  July,  1776,  the  provincial  Congress 
assumed  the  title  of  the  "  convention  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey."  And  after 
the  declaration  of  independence,  in  practice,  the  commissions  and  writs  ran  in 
the  name  of  the  state,  the  indictments  concluded  against  the  peace  of  the 
state,  and  an  act  of  Assembly  of  20th  September,  1777,  substituted  the  word, 
state,  in  all  such  cases  for  the  word,  colony. 

The  collision  between  the  views  of  the  continental  Congress,  and  the  New 
Jersey  convention  did  not  escape  the  reprobation  of  some  of  the  members  of 
the  latter,  who  moved  to  defer  the  printing  of  the  constitution  for  a  few  days, 
that  the  last  clause  might  be  considered  by  a  full  House.  The  effort,  how- 
ever, was  negatived,  when  not  more  than  half  the  members  were  present.  It 
must  not  hence  be  inferred,  that  New  Jersey  was  timid  or  backward  in  en- 
gaging in  the  contest.  She  had  kept  pace  with  the  foremost,  and  her  spirited 
conduct  was  the  more  meritorious,  that  it  had  less  of  the  excitement  of  imme- 
diate interest,  inasmuch,  as  she  had  yet  felt  no  burthen,  and  was  not  irritated  by 
the  vexations  of  commercial  restrictions.  She  had  no  ships,  no  foreign  com- 
merce. Her  instructions  to  her  delegates  in  Congress,  chosen  on  the  21st  of 
June,  empowered  them  to  join  in  declaring  the  united  colonies  independent  of 
Great  Britain.  The  convention  consisted  of  sixty-five  members,  five  from 
each  of  the  thirteen  counties,  and  on  the  2d  of  July  when  the  motion  for  re- 
considering the  last  clause  was  made,  there  were  present  only  twenty-five 
members ;  of  whom,  Messrs.  Camp,  Hardenburg,  Joseph  Holmes,  Mott,  Sparks, 
Cooper,  Clark,  Elmer,  Harris,  Bowen,  Learning,  Shaver,  Shinn,  Tallman, 
Fennimorc,  Shreve,  and  Covenhoven,  voted  in  the  negative.  And  Messrs. 
Frelinghausen,  Paterson,  Mehelm,  Josiah  Holmes,  Ellis,  Sergeant,  Symmes, 
and  Dick,  in  the  affirmative.  Had  the  House  been  full  on  this  vote,  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution  would  have,  probably,  been  delayed,  and  the  character 
of  an  independent  state,  at  once  fearlessly  assumed. 

IV.  This  instrument  is  styled  in  the  proceedings  of  the  convention,  and 
within  itself,  a  constitution.  But  it  is  not  such,  in  the  present  political  sense  of 
this  word,  in  America.  A  constitution  of  government  may  now  be  defined,  a 
written  expression  of  the  will  of  the  people  of  a  state,  establishing  and  limiting 
unalterably,  except  by  themselves,  the  political  powers  therein  created.  Or 
it  may  be  deemed  a  power  of  attorney  from  the  people  to  their  agents,  speci- 
fying, distinctly,  the  powers  assigned  to  each.f  The  constitution  and  the 
government  are  frequently  confounded,  and  treated  as  synonymous ;  whereas, 
they  are  essentially  different;  the  former  being  the  creator  and  the  law  of  the 
latter.  The  difference  between  them  is  not  less,  than  that,  between  the  whole 
power  of  the  people,  and  that  of  their  special  delegates.  Every  country  has 
a  government,  but  few  have  a  constitution.  The  government  in  England,  is 
by  king,  lords,  and  commons,  but  that  nation  has  no  constitution;  that  is, 
no  instrument  restraining  the  political  omnipotence  of  those  agents.  No  act 
of  theirs  can  be  compared  with  a  designation  of  their  powers,  and  be  thereby 
corrected  or  annulled.  But,  whatever  they  may  do,  however  oppressive  and 
arbitrary,  has  necessarily  the  authority  of  law.  A  constitution  may  create 
any  form  of  government — may  give  any  quantum  of  power,  less  than  the 
whole ;  for  if  it  give  the  whole,  it  destroys  itself.  And  such  is  the  defect, 

*  Votes  of  Assembly,  1776. 

t  It  might  be  objected,  that  the  convention  which  framed  the  constitution,  exceeded 
their  powers,  or  had,  in  fact,  no  power  to  touch  the  subject — that  they  mistook  in  sup- 
posing themselves  the  people,  and  that  it  is  essential  io  the  existence  of  a  constitution, 
that  the  people  should  formally  and  expressly  pass  upon  it.  But  acquiescence  must 
be  deemed  assent. 


182  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


and  such  has  been,  partially,  the  fate,  of  the  constitution  of  New  Jersey.  The 
only  restriction  it  contains,  upon  the  agents  to  which  it  gave  being,  is  found 
in  the  twenty-third  article,  requiring  each  member  of  Council  and  Assembly, 
to  declare,  upon  oath  or  affirmation,  that  he  will  "  not  assent  to  any  law, 
vote  or  proceeding,  which  shall  appear  to  him  injurious  to  the  public  welfare; 
nor  that  shall  annul  or  repeal  that  part  of  the  third  section  of  the  charter, 
which  establishes ,  that,  the  elections  of  members  of  the  legislative  Council 
and  Assembly,  shall  be  annual;  nor  that  part  of  the  twenty-second  section, 
respecting  the  trial  by  jury;  nor  that  shall  annul,  repeal  or  alter  the 
eighteenth  and  nineteenth  sections;"  which  relate  to  the  freedom  of  religious 
worship.  This  specification  of  things,  which  the  Legislature  shall  not  alter, 
admits  its  power  to  change  all  others,  and  puts  within  its  control,  the  whole 
form  of  the  government,  with  the  partition  of  its  powers. 

The  powers  of  government  are  commonly  divided  into  the  legislative, 
executive  and  judicial  branches ;  though  the  third  is  but  a  modification  of  the 
second,  since  the  making  and  executing  the  laws,  comprise  the  whole  duty  of 
every  government.  Most  of  the  constitutions  of  the  States  of  North  America, 
define  the  manner  in  which  these  branches  shall  be  constituted,  the  powers 
they  shall,  respectively,  exercise,  and  protect  each  against  the  other.  But, 
by  the  constitution  of  New  Jersey,  the  executive,  and  judiciary  powers,  may 
be  remodelled  in  any  way.  The  office  of  governor  may  be  vested  in  an  in- 
dividual for  life,  or  made  hereditary — the  judges  may  be  appointed  for 
months,  for  years,  or  for  life — their  number  be  increased  or  diminished,  and 
their  compensation  varied,  and  the  courts  continued  or  abolished,  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  Assembly — in  a  word,  all  the  ordinate  branches  are  depen-  , 
dent  on,  and  at  the  mercy  of,  the  legislative.  And,  with  the  very  inconsi- 
derable restrictions  already  noticed,  the  whole  power  of  the  people,  for  all 
purposes,  is  in  the  hands  of  their  representatives ;  who  are,  thus  created 
universal  and  not  special  agents,  and  have  no  law  but  their  own  will. 

We  have  seen  with  what  extraordinary  haste  this  instrument  was  formed. 
Less  than  two  days  were  employed  by  the  committee  in  framing,  and  less 
than  six  days  by  the  convention,  in  considering  and  confirming,  the  govern- 
ment of  the  state.  This  would  be  deemed  extraordinary  and  unprofitable 
haste,  at  the  present  day,  when  political  science  is  more  generally  under- 
stood, the  several  powers  more  orderly  classified,  and  models  of  tried  con- 
stitutions abound.  At  that  period,  resort  could  be  had  to  two  models,  only, 
of  free  government — those  of  England,  and  her  colonies.  In  both,  the  pow- 
ers of  the  state  were  divided  between  the  king,  or  his  representatives,  and 
the  representatives  of  the  people.  But  most  of  the  powers  which  had  been 
exercised  by  the  royal  governors,  were  held  by  this  convention  to  have  been 
taken  from  the  people,  and  were,  by  it,  restored  to  their  representatives ; 
doubtless,  in  the  conviction,  that,  they  were  thereby  restored  to  the  people. 
The  government  of  Great  Britain  was  deemed  too  exceptionable  to  copy 
from ;  and  its  hereditary  executive  and  hereditary  branch  of  the  Legislature, 
were  not  congenial  with  the  habits  and  wishes  of  the  people. 

By  the  constitution  of  New  Jersey,  the  legislative  power  is  vested  in  an 
assembly  and  council,  annually  elected  by,  and  from,  the  people. 

The  council  is  composed  of  one  representative  from  each  county.  This 
allotment  seems  based  upon  no  political  principle.  It  has  regard,  neither  to 
extent  of  territory,  nor  amount  of  population ;  but  would  seem  to  be,  wholly, 
arbitrary. 

The  minimum  number  of  the  Assembly,  was  fixed  at  thirty-nine.  Three 
members  were  given  to  each  county,  with  a  like  disregard  of  territorial 
extent  and  population.  But  the  Legislature  was  empowered  to  diminish 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  183 

the  number  or  proportion  of  the  representatives  in  the  Assembly  for  any 
county. 

The  qualification  for  a  member  of  the  Legislature  is,  that  he  should  be 
for  one  whole  year,  before  his  election,  an  inhabitant  and  freeholder  of  the 
county  in  which  he  is  chosen. — If  for  council,  that  he  should  be  worth  one 
thousand  pounds. — If  for  the  Assembly,  five  hundred  pounds,  in  real  or  per- 
sonal estate.  Neither  mature  age,  nor  citizenship,  nor  oath  of  allegiance, 
are  required  from  the  law-giver  of  the  land.  But  notwithstanding  the  con- 
stitution has  thus  defined  the  qualification  of  the  representative,  the  Legisla- 
ture, exercising  the  power  which  it  unquestionably  possesses,  but  which 
would  not  pertain  to  it,  if  the  constitution  were  obligatory  upon  it,  have  de- 
clared, that  no  alien  should  hold  office ;  and  that  every  officer  shall  take  a 
prescribed  oath  of  allegiance.  And  it  has,  thus,  by  the  requisition  of  qualifi- 
cations not  prescribed  by  the  constitution,  added  to  the  instrument. 

That  the  Legislature  may  be  preserved  as  much  as  possible  from  all  sus- 
picicn  of  corruption,  no  judge,  sheriff,  or  other  person  possessed  of  any  post 
of  profit,  under  the  government,  other  than  justices  of  the  peace,  may  sit 
in  the  Assembly.  But,  on  taking  his  seat,  his  office  is  vacated.  This  re- 
striction does  not  extend  to  the  council,  and  was  borrowed  from  the  provin- 
cial laws. 

The  electors  are  required  to  be  of  full  age,  worth  fifty  pounds,  clear  estate, 
and  to  have  resided  within  the  county  for  twelve  months  previous  to  the 
election.  This  qualification  also,  has  been  found  in  practice  too  broad;  ad- 
mitting all  inhabitants,  bond  and  free,  white  or  black,  male  or  female,  native 
or  foreign,  citizen  or  alien;  and  the  Legislature  has  again  exercised  its 
power,  over  the  constitution,  by  limiting,  more  narrowly,  the  qualification  of 
electors;  declaring  that  no  person  shall  vote  in  any  state  or  county  election, 
unless  he  be  a  free  white  male  citizen  of  the  state. 

The  property  qualification  required  in  the  electors  and  elected,  is  a 
striking,  because  the  only  aristocratic,  feature  in  the  constitution.  It  is 
copied  from  the  law  of  the  colony,  and  was  introduced,  probably,  into  the 
constitution,  by  proprietary  influence,  which  still  prevailed  in  both  sections 
of  the  province.  But  the  people  having  since  condemned  the  restriction,  the 
Legislature  has  removed  it  from  the  electors,  by  declaring,  that,  every  person 
who  shall,  in  other  respects,  be  entitled  to  a  vote,  and  who  shall  have  paid  a 
tax  for  the  use  of  the  county,  or  state,  and  whose  name  shall  be  enrolled  on 
any  duplicate  list  of  the  last  state  or  county  tax,  shall  be  adjudged  by  the 
officers  conducting  the  election,  to  be  worth  fifty  pounds.  In  practice,  the 
property  qualification  of  the  elected,  is  almost  wholly  disregarded.  Under 
the  royal  government,  a  freehold  estate  was  required  in  the  voter.  In  the 
convention,  an  effort  was  made  to  give  this  franchise  to  all  who  paid  taxes, 
and  the  qualification  required  by  the  constitution  was  probably  a  composition 
between  the  parties. 

The  Assembly  has  power,  under  the  constitution,  to  choose  its  officers — 
to  judge  of  the  qualification  and  election  of  its  members — to  sit  upon  its  own 
adjournments — prepare  bills — and  to  empower  the  speaker  to  convene  the 
members  when  necessary.  Like  powers  are  given  to  the  council ;  except, 
that,  it  may  not  alter  any  money  bill.  In  this  restriction,  we  have  a  striking 
evidence  of  the  haste,  and  confusion  of  ideas,  under  which  the  constitution 
was  framed.  In  the  British  government,  the  right  to  grant  money  is  claimed, 
exclusively,  by  the  commons,  because  the  other  branches  of  the  Legislature 
are  presumed  to  have  an  interest,  and  to  be  subject  to  an  influence,  foreign  to 
the  mass  of  the  people.  The  principle  was  adopted  in  the  colonies,  and  the 
right  of  framing  money  bills  reserved  to  the  Assembly,  for  the  same  cause; — 
the  governor  and  council  being  creations  of  the  crown.  But  the  reason 


184  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

ceasing,  wholly,  with  the  change  of  government,  the  rule  should  have  ceased, 
also.  The  members  of  council,  in  their  relation  to  the  people,  differ  in 
nothing  from  the  members  of  the  Assembly.  They  are  not  like  the  senators 
of  the  United  States,  the  representatives  of  territorial  divisions ;  removed  in 
a  degree  from  the  people  by  the  mode  of  their  creation,  and  less  responsible 
by  the  length  of  the  term  of  office ;  but  are  annually  elected,  by  the  same 
electors,  at  the  same  time,  and  in  practice,  from  the  same  class,  as  the  mem- 
bers from  the  lower  House.  By  the  letter  of  the  constitution  a  distinction  is 
made.  More  property  is  requisite  to  qualify  them  for  office.  But  this  dis- 
tinction makes  them  safer  guardians  of  the  public  purse,  because  it  gives 
them  a  deeper  interest  in  it. 

The  Assembly  and  council  have  power  to  make  the  great  seal : — They 
are  required  to  meet,  separately,  on  the  second  Tuesday  next  after  the  day 
of  election;  and  the  consent  of  both  Houses  is  necessary  to  every  law. — 
Seven  form  a  quorum  of  the  council ;  and  no  law  can  pass,  unless  there  be 
a  majority  of  all  the  representatives  of  each  body,  personally  present,  and 
agreeing  thereto. 

'  The  council  and  Assembly,  in  joint  meeting,  are  empowered  to  elect  the 
governor,  annually,  by  a  majority  of  votes,  at  their  first  meeting  after  each 
annual  election ;  to  elect,  in  the  same  manner,  the  judges  of  the  supreme  and 
inferior  courts,  justices  of  the  peace,  clerks  of  courts,  the  attorney  general, 
the  secretary  of  state,  the  treasurer,  and  all  general  and  field  officers  of 
militia. 

It  is  now  a  settled  principle  of  political  science,  that,  the  legislative  and 
executive  powers  of  government  ought  not  to  be  in  the  same  hands.  That 
government  in  which  they  are  blended  is  a  tyranny  in  proportion  to  the 
extent  of  the  amalgamation ;  because,  responsibility  for  the  execution  of  the 
laws  is,  proportionately,  destroyed.  Where  the  whole  of  the  legislative  and 
executive  powers  are  vested  in  the  same  person  or  persons,  the  government 
is  despotic ;  and  it  may  be  the  despotism  of  the  one,  or  of  the  many.  Every 
executive  act  may  be  a  new  volition  of  the  legislative  power,  and  the  law 
may,  nay,  will  be,  changeable  and  uncertain ;  and  ofttimes  never  proclaimed, 
never  known,  until  its  execution.  In  the  classification  of  powers,  that  of 
appointing  the  expounders  and  the  subordinate  executors  of  the  law,  is  pro- 
perly assigned  to  the  executive  branch  of  the  government,  co-ordinate  with, 
and  independent  of,  the  Legislature ;  \ut  the  difficulty  of  producing  a  prompt 
and  adequate  responsibility,  of  the  executive  to  the  people,  has,  in  practice, 
occasioned  various  restrictions  on  the  exercise  of  this  power.  When  the  Le- 
gislature appoints  these  officers,  it  assumes  the  functions  of  the  executive. 
But  experience  would  seem  to  teach  us,  that  the  danger  of  corrupt  adminis- 
tration is  equal,  where  the  ministrative  or  judicial  officer  depends,  for  the 
tenure  of  his  office,  upon  the  chief  executive,  or  upon  the  legislative  Assem- 
bly. The  corruption  most  common,  and  most  to  be  dreaded,  in  popular 
governments,  is  subservience  to  party  spirit.  Thus,  we  daily  see  officers  de- 
pendent upon  the  will  of  a  single  headed  executive,  a  council  of  appointment, 
or  a  legislative  assembly,  changing  their  opinions,  modelling  their  conduct, 
or  losing  their  offices,  with  the  mutations  of  party — following  all  its  phases, 
or  buried  in  the  obscurity  of  forgetfulness.  To  preserve  the  Legislature, 
whose  purity  is  indispensable  to  the  public  weal,  from  every  temptation,  to 
act  under  any  other  influence,  than  that  of  sound  reason  and  discretion,  it 
should  have,  neither  the  power  to  appoint,  nor  remove,  any  other,  than  such 
officers,  as  are  necessary  to  the  exercise  of  its  functions.  It  is,  wisely,  object- 
ed, that  the  power  of  appointment  should  not  be  exercised  by  a  body- 
posed  of  several  individuals ;  because  responsibility  for  its  deeds  is  diminish^ 
or  destroyed,  by  comminution ;  and  because  consociated  assemblies,  evei 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  185 

where^  take  a  latitude  in  morals,  from  which  unprotected,  unsupported  indi- 
viduals, would  shrink  with  dismay.  If  such  power  be  vested  in  an  indivi- 
dual, although  he  be  not  elevated  above  the  temptation  to  abuse  it,  he  is  not 
only  legally  responsible  for  its  improper  exercise,  but  he  stands  constantly 
before  the  tribunal  of  public  opinion,  and  may  be  instantly  arraigned  for 
malversation  in  this,  as  in  every  other  department  of  his  office ;  and  when 
the  continuance  of  the  appointee  in  office,  is  independent  of  the  will  of  the 
appointor,  it  would  seem,  that,  the  constitution,  in  this  particular,  possesses  all 
practical  guarantees  for  honest  administration. 

But  the  constitution  of  New  Jersey  vests  in  the  legislative  power,  to  an 
alarming  degree,  all  the  powers  of  government.  Thus,  the  incumbents  of 
chief  executive  offices,  including  the  judiciary,  are  not  only  dependent  upon 
the  Legislature,  for  their  commissions,  but  for  the  amount  of  their  salaries, 
which  is  subject  to  enlargement,  or  diminution,  at  its  pleasure.  The  place- 
men, therefore,  moved  by  ambition  or  avarice,  whether  governor,  judges, 
secretary,  treasurer,  clerks,  of  chief  officers  of  the  army,  are  the  creatures  of 
the  Assembly,  not  of  the  people ;  receiving  from  it,  life  and  daily  sustenance, 
and  following  it,  as  the  sunflower  does  the  sun,  whatever  be  its  course. 
Officers  actuated  by  such  motives,  are  always  attainable;  and  when  the 
Legislature  may  be  corruptly  influenced,  its  power  will  be  despotic  in  the 
direct  or  indirect  exercise  of  all  the  functions  of  the  government.  If  the 
constitution  were,  indeed,  the  supreme  law  of  the  land,  unchangeable  by  the 
Legislature,  it  would  present,  in  the  prescribed  tenure  of  office  for  some  of 
the  officers,  a  check  upon  legislative  influence.  Thus,  judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  hold  their  offices  for  seven — judges  of  the  inferior  courts,  justices  of 
the  peace,  clerks  of  courts,  the  attorney-general,  and  secretary,  for  five 
years.  But  the  Legislature  may  alter  the  constitution,  in  this,  as  in  other 
particulars,  and  make  the  term  of  office  in  these  cases  annual,  as  in  case  of 
the  governor  and  treasurer,'  or  at  will,  as  in  the  case  of  the  principal  militia 
officers.* 

*  The  following  is  given,  by  Judge  Griffiths,  as  the  actual  result,  in  the  state,  of 
this  commingling  of  powers.  We  cannot  of  our  own  knowledge,  vouch  for  the  truth 
of  the  picture,  but  it  has  sufficient  verisimilitude. 

"  One  of  the  most  threatening  effects  of  the  connexion  of  the  legislative  and  execu- 
tive in  the  same  body,  is  its  apparent  tendency  to  corrupt  the  Legislature. 

"  First.  By  placing  the  p»ower  of  filling  the  offices  of  government  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  permitting  the  choice  from  their  own  body,  a  temptation  of  the  most  direct 
kind  is  offered  to  their  virtue :  offices  will  be  erected  for  no  other  purpose,  but  to 
gratify  the  expectations  or  promote  the  private  ends  of  popular  and  ambitious  leaders 
in  the  Assembly. 

"  Second.  But  the  most  pernicious  effect  of  this  executive  power  in  the  Legislature, 
is  seen  in  the  intrigues  and  party  purposes,  which  it  promotes  and  cherishes  in  a  body, 
that  ought  to  be  free  from  every  local  and  every  interested  consideration. 

"  It  is  impracticable  here  to  enter  into  a  detail  of  facts,  to  prove,  that  the  virtue  of 
the  Legislature  has  been,  and  will  be,  constantly  assailed  and  overcome,  by  commit- 
ting to  it  the  nomination  and  appointment  of  the  executive  officers.  It  shows  itself  in 
the  very  formation  of  the  Legislature.  No  sooner  does  an  election  for  a  legislative 
assembly  and  council  approach,  than  the  question  is  not,  who  are  the  wisest  and  most 
disinterested,  and  of  most  integrity;  but  who  will  best  answer  the  views  of  party,  of 
private  ambition,  or  personal  resentment.  In  every  county,  there  will  be  constantly 
a  succession  of  people  aspiring  to  appointments,  civil  or  military:  some  desire  to  be 
judges,  some  justices,  some  majors,  and  some  colonels;  some  have  interests  depend- 
ing in  the  courts  of  law,  and  some  perhaps  have  resentments  against  existing  officers, 
and  would  fain  oust  them  from  their  seats:  all  these,  and  a  thousand  more  passions, 
are  set  to  work,  parties  are  formed,  and  nominations  to  the  Legislature  will  be  direct- 
ed and  supported,  upon  principles  altogether  beside  those,  which  should  form  the 
basis  for  a  right  election  of  legislative  characters;  the  result  must,  of  course,  be  un- 
favourable to  the  public  good.  But  this  is  not  all; — not  only  are  elections  rendered 
vicious,  and  the  morals  of  the  people  corrupted  in  these  struggles  for  personal  advan- 
tages, but  unhappily  the  candidates  partake  of  the  contamination  They  must  promise 

2  A 


186  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

By  the  constitution  the  governor  has  the  supreme  executive  power;  is 
captain-general  of  all  the  militia  and  other  military  force;  is  chancellor,  and 
ordinary  and  surrogate-general ;  and  as  president  of  council,  is  judge  of  the 
court  of  appeals,  in  the  last  resort;  presides  in  council,  and  has  a  casting 
vote  in  their  proceedings.  The  council  choose  a  vice-president,  who  acts  as 
president,  and  governor,  in  the ,  absence  of  the  governor ;  and  any  three 
members  of  the  council,  are  at  all  times  a  privy  council,  to  advise  the 
governor,  in  all  cases  where  he  may  find  it  necessary  to  consult  them. 

Whilst  the  proper  powers  of  the  executive  are  given  to  the  Legislature, 
the  governor  is  oppressed  with  various  heterogeneous  duties,  which  have  been 
conferred  upon  him ;  not  because  he  is  the  proper  organ  for  their  exercise, 
but  because  the  members  of  the  convention  were  habituated  to  behold  them 
lodged  with  the  colonial  governors;  who  engrossed  them,  that  they  might 
increase  their  emoluments.  As  chancellor,  surrogate,  and  president  of  the 
court  of  appeals,  the  governor  is  a  high  judicial  officer,  and  as  such,  gives 
decisions,  which  as  an  executive  officer,  he  may  be  called  upon  to  enforce. 
As  the  president  of  council,  he  has  a  potential  voice  and  influence  in  legisla- 
tion, and,  thus,  exercises,  in  a  limited  degree,  to  be  sure,  all  the  powers  of 
government.  Thus,  in  another  of  its  branches,  the  government  assumes 
the  essence  of  tyranny.  This  combination  of  powers,  might  prove  very 
dangerous,  were  not  the  governor  so  ephemeral  in  his  existence,  that  he 
has  not  space,  in  his  official  life,  to  mature  and  effectuate  a  plot ;  and  is 
wholly  dependent  upon  the  Legislature  for  his  compensation,  which  is,  not 
uncommonly,  a  principal  mean  of  his  subsistence.  But,  he  is  not  deterred 
from  making  his  powers  subservient  to  the  dominant  party  of  the  Legislature, 

allegiance  to  their  party — you  shall  be  a  judge,  and  you  a  justice — you  a  major,  and 
you  a  colonel — you  a  clerk,  and  you  a  commissioner,  I  will  solicit  your  cause  in  the 
court  of  errors,  and  will  vote  for  your  friend  to  fill  a  seat  in  the  judiciary.  Thus  the 
executive  authorities  confided  to  an  annual  legislature,  lay  the  foundation  of  corrup- 
tion at  the  threshold  of  its  election;  instead  of  being  elected  with  a  national  view, 
and  for  the  purpose  of  forming  general  laws,  for  the  more  equal  and  salutary  govern- 
ment of  the  people,  the  persons  go  there  to  represent  the  interests  and  gratify  the  de- 
sires of  a  few  partisans  in  their  different  districts,  upon  the  performance  of  which  will 
depend  their  reappointment  at  the  ensuing  election ! 

"  When  the  Legislature  is  formed,  and  a  joint  meeting  agreed  upon,  then  begins  a 
scene  of  intrigue,  of  canvassing  and  finesse,  which  baffles  all  description,  and  is  too 
notorious  to  require  proof,  and  too  disgusting  for  exhibition.  The  members  of  a 
county,  in  which  an  office  is  to  be  disposed  of,  are  beset  by  friends  and  partisans  of 
the  candidates ;  their  hopes  and  fears  are  excited,  by  all  the  arts  which  can  be  sug- 
gested to  influence  their  choice;  from  these,  the  attack  extends  itself,  till  it  reaches 
every  member  of  the  Legislature  ;  and  so  strong  and  so  general  does  the  contest  be- 
come, by  the  different  representations,  having  each  particular  objects  to  attain,  that 
one  grand  scene  of  canvass  and  barter  ensues;  a  vote  for  one,  is  made  the  condition 
of  voting  for  another,  without  regard  to  qualifications;  even  laws  which  are  to  affect 
the  public  interest,  are  made  the  price  of  these  interested  concessions;  and  not  nnfre- 
quently  almost  the  whole  sitting  of  the  Legislature  is  spent  in  adjusting  the  preten- 
sions, and  marshalling  the  strength  of  the  respective  candidates  for  office.  To  such 
a  pitch  has  this  grown,  that  even  the  members  of  the  Legislature  complain  of  it,  as 
an  intolerable  evil.  These  contests  again,  lay  the  foundation  for  new  parties  and 
new  resentments  at  the  next  election.  To  counteract  the  opposition  which  may  be 
stirred  up,  all  the  appointments  will  be  made,  with  a  view  to  strengthen  the  interest 
of  the  sitting  members.  New  commissions,  civil  and  military,  judges  and  justices, 
general  officers,  general  staff  and  field  officers,  will  be  made  with  a  reference  to  the 
state  of  parties  in  the  county,  instead  of  being  dictated  by  quite  a  contrary  spirit. 

"  The  result  of  all  this,  is  seen  and  felt  in  every  quarter.  .From,  hence  proceed  the 
jars  and  divisions  which  destroy  the  pleasures  of  social  life  in  every  neighbourhood 
and  village;  and  from  hence  arises  the  instability  of  laws,  the  multiplication  of  magis- 
trates, the  weakness  and  divisions  of  the  courts  of  justice,  the  heats  and  ill-directed 
zeal  at  elections,  and  that  general  languor  and  dereliction  of  principle  in  every 
department,  which  menaces  the  total  depravation  of  the  body  politic."— Eumenes, 
pp.  130—132. 


-HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  187 

and  thus  to  submit  himself  to  a  corrupt  influence.  There  is  another  point  of 
view  in  which  this  commingling  of  powers  is  prejudicial  to  the  state.  It  de- 
mands qualities  for  their  execution,  which  are  so  rarely  found  in  the  same 
individual,  as  to  seem  incompatible.  The  qualifications  for  a  commander- 
in-chief,  are  not  those  of  the  legislator,  much  less  those  of  the  judge. 

It  is  not  the  fault  of  the  constitution  of  New  Jersey,  alone,  to  vest  in  the 
chief  executive  officer,  a  portion  of  the  legislative  power.  It  is  done  by  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  by  many  of  the  states,  with  an  ex- 
pediency, which  daily  experience  renders  less  than  doubtful.  The  feature 
is  borrowed  from  the  English  government,  where  its  chief  use  is  to  preserve 
the  prerogative  of  the  King,  against  the  encroachments  of  the  people. 

The  inferior  executive  officers,  beside  those  abovenamed,  who  are  cre- 
ated by  the  constitution,  are  a  sheriff,  and  one  or  more  coroners,  elected, 
annually,  from  each  county;  who  are  eligible  three  years,  successively,  but 
after  which,  not  again  for  three  years ; — and  a  constable,  and  commissioners 
of  appeal,  in  case  of  taxation,  also,  annually  elected  in  each  township. 

But  in  no  particular,  is  the  imperfection  of  this  constitution  more  visible, 
than  in  its  provisions  relative  to  the  judiciary.  Neither  the  courts  nor  the 
number  of  judges  which  shall  respectively  constitute  them,  are  determined 
by  it.  The  power  is  given  to  appoint  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
of  the  inferior  courts  of  Common  Pleas,  of  the  several  counties.  These 
courts,  and  the  chancery,  were  established  by  an  ordinance  of  the  King,  re- 
cognised and  confirmed  by  the  acts  of  Assembly,  and  are  continued  under 
the  new  constitution,  by  articles  twelve  and  twenty-two ;  declaring,  that  all 
the  laws  contained  in  Allinson's  edition,  and  the  common  law  of  England, 
and  so  much  of  the  statute  law,  as  had  been  theretofore  practised,  shall 
continue  in  full  force,  until  altered  by  the  Legislature ;  such  parts  only  ex- 
cepted,  as  were  incompatible  with  the  charter.  If  any  difference  of  opinion 
may  exist,  relative  to  the  power  of  the  Legislature  over  the  constitution, 
there  can  be  none,  as  to  their  power  over  the  laws; — consequently,  they 
may  alter  or  abolish,  all  or  either  of  the  courts,  at  their  pleasure ;  and  there- 
fore the  constitution  has  made  no  provision  for  the  permanence  of  the  judi- 
ciary. The  fixed  term  of  office  of  the  judges,  supposing  the  constitution 
unalterable  by  the  Legislature,  becomes  no  protection  to  their  independence, 
since  the  laws  upon  which  the  courts  depend,  may  be  repealed,  and  the 
commissions  of  the  judges  fall  with  them.  Of  the  manner  in  which  the 
courts  are  at  present  constituted,  there  are  many  seemingly  well  founded 
complaints,  which  it  is  no  part  of  our  province  to  examine  or  to  judge.  But 
we  may  remark,  with  regard  to  the  Court  of  Chancery,  that  we  cannot  con- 
ceive, of  a  worse  organization,  than  that,  by  which  the  highest  law  officer  of 
the  state,  is  not  only  subject  to  annual  change,  but  is  actually  and  repeatedly 
changed  from  year  to  year.  The  judge  has  no  inducement  to  qualify  him- 
self for  the  duties  of  his  place,  since  his  labour  will  not  be  rewarded ;  and 
the  business  of  the  court  must  be  ignorantly,  slovenly  and  sluggishly  exe- 
cuted, inasmuch,  as  more  than  one  chancellor  may  frequently  intervene  be- 
tween the  hearings  of  the  same  cause.* 

*  For  the  manner  in  which  the  system  of  the  inferior  courts  works,  we  refer  the 
reader  to  the  following  remarks  of  Judge  Griffiths — observing  that  the  judges  of  these 
courts  are  without  limit  as  to  number,  have  not  a  professional  education,  and  receive 
no  compensation,  save  some  inconsiderable  bench  fees. 

"  Let  any  man  go  into  a  county  court  in  New  Jersey,  and  one  hour's  observation 
will  satisfy  him,  that  it  is  neither  a  place  of  common  sense,  nor  of  common  justice. 
He  will  see  disputes  maintained  with  great  heat  and  prolixity,  on  questions  which 
none  would  hear  debated,  but  those  who  feel  difficulty  in  every  thing,  from  their 
total  ignorance  of  every  thing,  of  a  legal  complexion;  he  will  see  the  most  prepos- 
terous decisions,  after  those  preposterous  pleadings;  he  will  see  cause  after  cause 


188  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  judges  and  other  officers,  chosen  by  the  Assembly,  are  commissioned 
by  the  governor,  and  may  be  reappointed  at  the  end  of  their  several  terms, 
and  dismissed  when  adjudged  guilty  of  misbehaviour,  by  the  council,  on  im- 
peachment of  the  Assembly. 

By  article  ninth,  the  governor  and  council,  (seven  whereof  shall  be  a 
quorum,)  form  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in  the  last  resort,  in  all  cases  at  law,  as 
theretofore;  and  have  power  to  grant  pardons  to  criminals,  after  condemna- 
tion. By  statute,  this  court  has  also  been  made  the  Court  of  Appeals  in 
equity  cases. 

This  feature  is  also  copied  from  the  colonial  government,  in  which,  it 
was  analogous,  somewhat,  to  the  judicial  power  of  the  House  of  Lords; 
with  this  important  and  extraordinary  difference,  that  in  England,  the  execu- 
tive, or  the  King,  is  not  a  member  of  the  court;  and  the  court  there,  is 
always  aided  by  the  great  law  officers  of  the  state,  and  guided  by  their  col- 
lected wisdom  and  learning.  Whilst  in  New  Jersey,  the  executive  forms  a 
part  of  the  court,  and  the  court  consisting  of  members  annually  chosen,  and 
perhaps  annually  changed,  whose  education  and  pursuits  do  not  qualify 
them  to  determine  legal  questions,  sits  to  revise^-and  perhaps,  to  reverse  de- 
cisions given  under  the  best  lights  of  the  land.* 

The  18th  and  19th  articles  of  the  constitution,  which  are  exempted  from 
the  power  of  the  Legislature,  provide,  that  no  person  shall  be  deprived  of  the 
privilege  of  worshipping  Almighty  God,  in  a  manner  agreeable  to  the  dic- 
tates of  his  own  conscience,  nor  under  any  pretence,  compelled  to  attend  any 
place  of  worship  contrary  to  his  own  faith  and  judgment,  nor  be  obliged  to 
pay  tithes,  taxes,  or  any  other  rates,  for  the  purpose  of  building  or  repairing 
any  church,  or  place  of  worship,  or  for  the  maintenance  of  any  minister  or 
ministry,  contrary  to  what  he  believes  to  be  right,  or  has  deliberately  or 
voluntarily  engaged  himself  to  perform. 

"  That  there  shall  be  no  establishment  of  any  one  religious  sect,  in  prefer^ 
ence  to  another ;  and  that  no  protestant  inhabitant  shall  be  denied  the  enjoy- 
ment of  any  civil  right,  merely  on  account  of  his  religious  principles;  but, 
that  all  persons  professing  a  belief  in  the  faith  of  any  protestant  sect,  who 
shall  demean  themselves  peaceably  under  the  government,  shall  be  capable 
of  being  elected  into  any  office  of  profit  or  trust,  or  being  a  member  of  either 

torn  by  piecemeal  from  their  foundations ;  the  judges  perplexed  or  dismayed  with 
every  trifling  occurrence,  upon  which  a  legal  doubt  arises:  he  will  see  the  judges 
divided  in  opinion,  looking  round  for  help;  and  finally,  he  will  see  the  business  of  the 
session  abandoned  where  it  began,  and  put  off  upon  frivolous  pretexts  to  a  more  con- 
venient season;  and  when  he  has  seen  this  at  one  court,  at  one  term,  he  will  have  a 
very  accurate  sample  of  the  dignity  and  ability,  which  pervades  the  judiciary  system 
of  his  enlightened  country.  Those  who  are  best  acquainted  with  the  subject  of  this 
description,  will  allow  that  it  is  not  exaggerated;  they  know  that  there  is  little 
dignity,  and  less  ability  in  most  of  the  courts,  to  which  their  professional  pursuits  call 
them;  they  know,  it  is  sometimes  a  subject  of  ridicule,  and  oftener  of  serious  regret, 
that  the  judges,  instead  of  knowing  the  laws  better  than  those  who  advocate  them, 
are  generally  ignorant  of  first  principles,  and  instead  of  directing  business  with  that 
manly  confidence,  which  is  always  the  attendant  of  knowledge,  they  are  Jed  away  by 
their  deference  to  professional  eminence,  perhaps  by  the  fallacious  sophistry  of  a  con- 
cluding harangue.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  apply  this  indiscriminately;  there  are  ex- 
ceptions; and  still  farther  it  is  from  me,  to  place  this  general  defection  in  the  judi- 
ciary, to  a  depravity  of  personal  character;  quite  the  contrary.  It  would  be  difficult 
to  find  more  private  integrity  in  any  equal  number  of  men;  but  no  qualities  of  the 
heart,  can  compensate  for  the  want  of  knowledge  in  any  science ;  and  in  that  of  the 
law,  however  paradoxical  it  may  seem,  mere  goodness  of  heart  is  a  dangerous  pro- 
pensity."— Eumenes,  pp.  107, 108. 

*  Members  of  the  bar  are  frequently  elected  to  council.  To  them,  of  course,  the 
foregoing  remark  is  not  applicable.  An  increase  of  business  in  this  court,  would  pro- 
bably render  it  as  necessary  to  have  the  councillors  all  lawyers,  as  it  is  that  tho 
governor  should  be  one. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  189 

branch  of  the  Legislature,  and  shall  fully  and  freely  enjoy  every  privilege 
and  immunity  enjoyed  by  others,  their  fellow  subjects." 

This  last  clause,  much  less  liberal  than  were  the  Concessions  of  the  pro- 
prietaries, stands  a  monument  of  British  intolerance ;  for  it  is  modelled  on  the 
laws  of  England,  excluding  Catholics  from  office ;  yet  whilst  in  Great  Britain 
this  intolerance  has  ceased,  it  is  continued  here,  and  the  Catholic  Christian, 
together  with  all  who  do  not  profess  a  belief  in  the  faith  of  a  Protestant  sect, 
are  excluded  from  full  participation  in  civil  rights.  This  restriction  is  far 
behind  the  age,  and  calls  loudly  for  removal ;  although,  to  the  honour  of  the 
state,  in  no  instance,  has  it  been  enforced.  Yet,  it  is  a  foul  blot  on  the  polity 
of  the  country. 

By  the  16th  article  of  the  constitution,  aH  criminals  were  admitted  to  the 
same  privileges  of  witness  and  counsel,  as  the  prosecutor;  and  by  the  18th, 
the  estates  of  persons  destroying  their  own  lives,  and  chattels  occasioning, 
accidentally,  the  death  of  any  one,  are  declared  not  to  be  subject  to  forfeiture. 
We  have  thus  given  all  the  provisions  of  the  existing  constitution,  with  a 
running  commentary  upon  its  leading  features,  in  which  the  deficiency  of 
the  instrument,  as  a  constitution,  has  been  chiefly  considered.  Compared 
with  what  such  an  instrument  should  be,  it  has  many  faults  of  expediency, 
which  have  been  frequently  noticed  by  eminent  citizens  of  the  state ;  some  of 
which  have  been,  and  others  may  be,  amended,  by  the  Legislature.  But  as  a 
constitution,  the  instrument  is  radically  defective ;  first,  that  it  is  not  obliga- 
tory upon  the  Legislature,  but  may  be,  as  it  has  been,  altered,  by  the  power 
which  makes  the  ordinary  law ;  second,  that  it  does  not  separate  and  define 
the  powers  of  the  several  departments  of  the  government;  and  third,  that  it 
has  made  every  department  subject  to,  and  dependent  upon,  the  Legislature. 
Consequently  a  despotic  power  lies  in  that  body,  which  may  be  abused  to 
party  purposes,  and  to  the  subversion  of  political  liberty.  That  this  power 
has  been  so  abused,  is  not  less  certain,  than  that  every  cause  in  action  must 
produce  its  appropriate  effect.  That  such  abuses  have  not  been  intolerable, 
may  be  ascribed  first,  to  the  want  of  opportunity  of  working  extensive  evil ; 
for  no  great  convulsion  of  the  people  has  yet  arisen,  in  which  individuals 
could  advance  their  interests,  by  the  utter  subversion  of  established  principles, 
and  drawing  to  themselves  as  members  of  the  Assembly,  the  actual  exercise 
of  all  political  power ;  although  a  continued  assumption  of  such  power  might, 
perhaps,  be  traced  in  the  Legislature,  from  the  establishment  of  the  state 
government :  2dly,  To  the  restraining  power  of  public  opinion,  enlightened 
by  that  political  science,  which  sends  more  or  less  of  its  rays  into  every  part 
of  our  country,  and  to  which  the  annual  election  of  the  members  of  the  Legis- 
lature makes  them  amenable.  But,  that  the  state  is  subject  to  all  the  evils 
which  may  result  from  an  unlimited  and  indefinite  government,  is  as  unques^ 
tionable,  as  that  the  man  who  dwells  beneath  the  impending  avalanche,  or  on 
the  slumbering  volcano,  is  exposed  to  destruction  from  the  fall  of  the  one,  oi? 
irruption  of  the  other.  That  he  has  not  already  been  overwhelmed,  can  bo 
no  protection  against  the  next  convulsion  of  nature. 

The  transition  from  a  provincial  to  an  independent  state,  was  made  with  as 
little  pain  and  confusion,  at  the  moment,  as  a  modification  might  now  be 
effected  in  an  American  state,  where  the  sense  of  a  majority  of  the  people, 
forms  the  unresisted  law.  A  simple  resolution  of  the  convention,  "that  the 
judges,  justices  of  the  peace,  sheriffs,  coroners,  and  other  inferior  officers  of 
the  late  government,  proceed  in  the  execution  of  the  several  offices  under  the 
authority  of  the  people,  until  the  intended  Legislature,  and  the  several  officers 
of  the  new  government  should  be  settled  and" perfected,  having  respect  to  the 
present  constitution,  and  the  orders  of  the  provincial  Congresses ;  and  that, 
all  suits  of  law  should  be  continued,  altering  only  the  style  and  form  thereof," 


190  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

was  sufficient  to  continue  without  much  embarrassment,  the  whole  machinery 
of  society. 

V.  After  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  the  provincial  Congress,  pro- 
ceeded by  an  ordinance,  to  carry  it  into  eifect.     The  second  section  of  the 
charter  appointed  the  second  Tuesday  in  August,  for  the  election  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature,  sheriffs,  and  coroners.   The  ordinance  ascertained  the 
places  and  manner  of  election,  and  created  a  new  qualification  for  the  mem- 
bers of  council  and  Assembly,  and  for  the  electors,  which  may  be  considered 
the  second  violation  of  the  constitution  just  established ;  requiring,  from  the 
voter  and  member,  respectively,  an  oath  or  affirmation,  that  he  did  not  hold 
himself  bound  to  bear  allegiance  to  George  the  Third,  King  of  Great  Britain, 
and  would  not  by  any  means,  directly  or  indirectly,  oppose  the  measures 
adopted  by  the  colony,  or  the  continental  Congress,  against  the  tyranny 
attempted  to  be  established  over  the  colonies  by  the  Court  of  Great  Britain ; 
but  would  bear  true  allegiance  to  the  government  established  in  the  colony, 
under  the  authority  of  the  people.     The  council  and  Assembly,  when  elected, 
were  directed  to  meet,  the  first  time,  at  Princeton. 

VI.  The  period  of  the  revolution  has  been  termed  the  "  time  for  trying 
men's  souls ;"  and  this  was  emphatically  true,  at  the  moment  of  declaring 
independence.     The  unanimity  with  which  resistance  against  the  measures 
of  the  parent  state  had  been  continued,  was  then  broken.     The  timid,  the 
interested,  and  the  conscientious,  were  alike  unwilling  to  sever  irreparably, 
the  ties  which  connected  them  with  her.     The  professions  of  loyalty  and  de- 
pendence, were  sincerely  made  by  a  large  majority  of  the  provincialists,  and 
they  were  adhered  to  by  many,  with  religious  tenacity,  who  truly  believed 
that  political  happiness  and  salvation  existed,  only,  in  the  British  empire.  The 
timid,  and  especially  the  timid  rich,  shrunk  from  the  disgrace  and  pains  of 
treason — the  placeman,  and  the  expectant  of  place,  who  looked  upon  the 
rising  sun,  struggling  amid  clouds  as  a  portentous,  but  evanescent,  meteor, 
could  not  turn  from  the  rays  of  meridian  splendour,  in  which  they  had  long 
lived  or  hoped  to  bask ;  whilst  others  united  with  their  fellow  subjects  of  the 
European  isles,  by  the  tenderest  charities  of  blood  and  affinity,  of  tastes  and 
business,  could  not  summon  resolution  to  break  connexions,  which  were  the 
great  pleasures  of  their  existence.  The  wonder,  therefore,  is  not  that  a  great 
many  valuable  men  preserved  their  loyalty  and  became  distinguished  as 
tories ;  but,  that  the  declaration  of  independence  had  not  more  equally  divided 
the  country.     But  there  was,  also,  a  class  of  men  of  desperate  character, 
opposed  to  American  independence,  who,  confident  in  the  strength  and  suc- 
cess of  Great  Britain,  availed  themselves  of  her  protection  to  prey  upon 
the  country,  and  under  pretence  of  loyalty  and  readiness  to  punish  treason, 
to  gratify  their  own  malignant  passions,  their  foul  revenge,  and  cupidity. 
Bands  of  these  marauders  soon  haunted  the  forests  and  shores  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state,  particularly  of  Monmouth,  and  the  mountains  of  Morris  and 
Sussex  counties ;  breaking  out  from  time  to  time,  and  doing  far  greater  evil, 
than  the  regular  inimical  soldiery.     New  York,  one  of  the  largest,  richest, 
and  most  powerful  of  the  royal  colonies,  was  the  most  divided  on  the  question 
of  independence.     The  tories,  there  protected  by  the  English  forces,  were 
numerous,  wealthy,  and  active ;  they  had  many  friends,  relatives,  and  de- 
pendents in  East  Jersey,  over  whom  they  exercised  a  dangerous  influence. 
During  the  whole  interval  from  the  commencement  of  hostilities  until  the 
treaty  of  peace,  New  Jersey  was  a  frontier  state,  and  exposed  to  all  the  mise- 
ries of  border  warfare ;  at  one  time,  the  enemy  lay  upon  her  northern  and 
southern  boundaries,  and  her  losses  in  proportion  to  her  wealth  and  popula- 
tion, were  probably  greater  than  those  of  any  other  state,  save  South  Caro- 
lina- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  191 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  British  army  in  1776,  the  disaffected  in  New  York 
and  New  Jersey,  were  embodied  under  officers  selected  from  among  them- 
selves. Mr.  Oliver  Delancey,  an  influential  officer  of  the  late  government, 
in  New  York,  was  appointed  brigadier-general,  and  empowered  to  raise 
three  battalions,  to  consist  of  fifteen  hundred  men.  But,  notwithstanding 
great  exertions  on  his  part,  his  command  did  not  exceed  six  hundred.  Mr. 
Courtlandt  Skinner,  late  attorney-general,  and  speaker  of  the  Assembly 
of  New  Jersey,  his  brother,  the  late  treasurer,  who  had  recently  been  re- 
ceived in  the  council,  and  every  member  of  that  family,  adhered  to  the 
enemy.  Courtlandt  was,  also,  appointed  a  brigadier,  and  directed  to  raise 
two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  but  he  could  rarely  bring  into  the  field  more 
than  five  hundred. 

VII.  With  the  assumption  of  independent  sovereignty,  came  the  duty  of 
supporting  it,  by  the  denunciation  of  the  pains  and  penalties  of  treason, 
against  such  as  should  attempt  its  overthrow.     An  ordinance  of  the  18th  of 
July,  1776,  therefore,  prescribed,  that,  all  persons  abiding  within  the  state, 
deriving  protection  from  its  laws,  owed  allegiance  to  its  government,  and 
were  members  of  its  community ;  and,  that,  sojourners  receiving  like  pro- 
tection, owed  like  allegiance  whilst  within  its  limits;  that  all  persons,  so 
owing  allegiance,  who  should  levy  war  against,  and  within,  the  state,  or  be 
adherent  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  or  others,  the  enemies  of  the  state 
within  the  same,  or  to  the  enemies  of  the  United  States  of  North  America, 
giving  them  aid  or  comfort,  should  be  adjudged  guilty  of  high  treason,  and 
suffer  the  pains  thereof  (death)  as  by  the  ancient  laws.    This  act  transmitted 
the  cases  of  disaffected  residents,  en  masse,  to  the  ordinary  tribunals. 

VIII.  To  those  opposed  to  the  rising  order  of  things,  the  loyalty  of  Go- 
vernor Franklin  afforded  countenance.     The  torrent  of  public  opinion  was 
too  strong,  for  him  to  attempt  to  turn  its  course,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
stand  by,  an  almost  idle  spectator,  whilst  it  swept  away  all  the  powers  and 
services  which,  lately,  pertained  to  him ;  but  which  he  was  not  disposed  to 
abandon  without  an  effort  for  their  maintenance.     Before  the  resolution  to 
establish  a  new  government  had  been  formally  adopted,  by  this  state,  the 
whole  political  power  had  passed,  by  the  voice  of  the  people,  to  their  dele- 
gates in  Convention ;    which  became  the  government  de  facto;   and  the 
powers  flowing  from  royal  authority,  were  suspended  by  the  exercise  of 
those  derived  from  the  people.     This,  however,  was  a  conclusion  which  the 
governor  was  very  unwilling  to  attain,  and  he  resolved  to  determine  whether 
it  were  indeed  true,  by  attempting  to  collect  and  set  in  action  the  component 
parts  of  his  Majesty's  government.     Could  this  be  effected,  a  powerful  effort 
might  yet  be  made  in  the  royal  cause;  and  whatever  might  be  the  final 
result,  disunion  and  distraction  in  the  proceedings  of  the  state  would  be  inevi- 
table.    Of  the  thirty  members  of  Assembly,  seven,  only,  were  members  of 
the  Convention;  and  the  governor  may,  probably,  have  supposed,  as  some 
of  the  former  body  were  distinguished  royalists,  that  he  might  array  one 
popular  Assembly  against  another.     He,  therefore,  by  proclamation  of  the 
thirtieth  of  May,  summoned  the  House,  in  the  name  of  the  King,  to  meet  on 
the  twentieth  of  June.     The  provincial  Congress,  instantly,  foresaw  the  mis- 
chief of  this  measure,  and  prepared  to  defeat  it.     On  the  fourth  of  the  last 
month,  they  resolved,  by  a  vote  of  thirty-eight  to  eleven,  that  the  proclama- 
tion of  William  Franklin,  late  governor,  ought  not  to  be  obeyed ;  and  on  the 
sixteenth,  by  a  vote  of  thirty-five  to  ten,  that,  by  such  proclamation,  he  had 
acted  in  direct  contempt,  and  violation,  of  the  resolve  of  the  continental  Con- 
gress of  the  fifteenth  of  May;  had  discovered  himself  to  be  an  enemy  to  the 
liberties  of  the  country ;  and  that,  measures  should  be  immediately  taken  to 
secure  his  person: — And  by  a  vote  of  forty-seven  to  three,  they  further  re- 


192  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

solved,  that  all  payments  of  money,  on  account  of  salary,  or  otherwise,  to 
him,  as  governor,  should  thenceforth  cease;  and  that  the  treasurers  of  the 
province  should  account  for  the  moneys,  in  their  hands,  to  the  provincial 
Congress,  or  to  the  future  Legislature  of  the  colony. 

Immediately  upon  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions,  the  Congress  issued 
the  following  order  to  Colonel  Nathaniel  Heard,  of  the  first  battalion  of  the 
Middlesex  county  militia.  "  The  provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey,  re- 
posing great  confidence  in  your  zeal  and  prudence,  have  thought  fit  to  entrust 
to  your  care,  the  execution  of  the  enclosed  resolves.  It  is  the  desire  of  Con- 
gress, that  this  necessary  business,  be  conducted  with  all  the  delicacy  and 
tenderness  which  its  nature  can  possibly  admit.  For  this  end  you  will  find, 
among  the  papers,  the  form  of  a  written  parole,  in  which  there  is  left  a  blank 
space  for  you  to  fill  up,  at  the  choice  of  Mr.  Franklin,  with  the  name  of  Prince- 
ton, Bordentown,  or  his  own  farm  at  Rancocus.  When  he  shall  have  signed 
the  parole,  the  Congress  will  rely  upon  his  honour,  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  his  engagements ;  but  should  he  refuse  to  sign  it,  you  are  desired  to 
put  him  under  strong  guard,  and  keep  him  in  close  custody,  until  further 
orders.  Whatever  expense  may  be  necessary  will  be  cheerfully  defrayed 
by  the  Congress.  We  refer  to  your  discretion,  what  means  to  use  for  that 
purpose,  and  you  have  full  power  and  authority  to  take  to  your  aid,  what- 
ever force  you  may  require." 

On  the  seventeenth,  Colonel  Heard  and  Major  Deare,  waited  on  the  gover- 
nor at  Amboy,  and  desired  him  to  comply  with  the  order  of  Congress,,  and 
sign  the  parole.  Upon  his  refusal,  they  surrounded  his  house  with  a  guard 
of  sixty  men,  and  despatched  an  express  to  report  their  proceedings  to,  and 
ask  further  instructions  from,  the  Congress;  who  commanded,  that  Mr. 
Franklin  should  be  immediately  brought  to  Burlington. 

In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  Tucker  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hancock,  presi- 
dent of  the  continental  Congress,  in  the  following  terms  :  "  Sir,  our  colony 
has,  of  late,  been  alarmed  with  sundry  attempts  of  disaffected  persons,  to 
create  disturbances.  The  proclamation  of  Mr.  Franklin,  our  late  governor, 
for  calling  together  the  Assembly,  is  one  of  those  we  have  thought  deserving 
the  most  serious  attention.  Enclosed,  we  have  sent  a  copy  of  certain  resolves 
which  we  have  thought  necessary  to  pass  on  the  occasion,  together  with  a 
copy  of  our  instructions  to  Colonel  Heard.  We,  this  minute,  received,  by 
express  from  Colonel  Heard,  a  letter,  of  which  the  enclosed  is  a  copy.  We 
have  ordered  down  to  this  place,  Mr.  Franklin,  under  guard ;  and  now  beg 
leave  to  submit,  to  the  consideration  of  the  Congress,  whether  it  would  not 
be  for  the  general  good  of  the  United  Colonies,  that  Mr.  Franklin  should  be 
removed  to  some  other  colony.  Congress  will  easily  conceive  the  reasons 
of  this  application,  as  Mr.  Franklin,  we  presume,  would  be  capable  of  doing 
less  mischief  in  Connecticut  or  Pennsylvania,  than  in  New  Jersey.  What- 
ever advice  Congress  may  think  proper  to  give  us,  we  shall  be  glad  to  re- 
ceive ;  and  would  further  intimate,  that  the  countenance  and  approbation  of 
the  continental  Congress,  would  satisfy  some  persons  who  might,  otherwise, 
be  disposed  to  blame  us." 

President  Hancock  replied,  transmitting  the  following  resolution :  "  In 
Congress,  June  19th,  1776 — Resolved,  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Con- 
vention of  New  Jersey,  to  proceed  on  the  examination  of  Mr.  Franklin ;  and 
if,  upon  such  examination,  they  should  be  of  opinion,  that  he  should  be  con- 
fined, to  report  such  opinion  to  this  Congress,  and  then  this  Congress  will 
direct  the  place  of  his  confinement;  they  concurring  in  sentiment  with  the 
Convention  of  New  Jersey,  that  it  would  be  improper  to  confine  him  in 
that  colony." 

On  the  twenty-first  of  June,  Mr.  Franklin  was,  accordingly,  called  before 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  193 

the  provincial  council,  to  be  examined,  touching  such  parts  of  his  conduct, 
as  were  deemed  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  America.  He  refused  to  answer 
all  questions  put  to  him;  denying  the  authority  of  this  body,  which  he 
alleged  had  usurped  the  King's  government  in  the  province.  Whereupon, 
the  Congress  resolved,  that  as  by  this  and  his  former  conduct,  in  many  in- 
stances, he  appeared  to  be  a  virulent  enemy  to  this  country,  and  a  person 
who  might  prove  dangerous,  he  should  be  confined  in  such  place  and  man- 
ner, as  the  honourable  continental  Congress  should  direct ;  and  that  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Bowes  Read,  should  keep  him  under  safe  guard,  until  further 
order  of  the  continental  Congress.  That  order  was  received  on  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  June,  directing  that  the  deposed  governor  should  be  sent,  under  guard, 
to  Governor  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  who  was  desired  to  take  his  parole, 
and  in  case  he  refused  to  give  it,  to  treat  him  agreeably  to  the  resolutions  of 
Congress,  respecting  prisoners.  This  request  was  immediately  complied  with. 
On  his  release,  he  sailed  to  England,  where  he  received  a  pension  for  his 
losses.* 

IX.  Towards  the  disaffected  the  conduct  of  the  patriots  was,  at  first,  truly 
lenient.  Those  taken  in  arms  were  treated  as  prisoners  of  war ;  and  no 
other  proceeding  was  had  against  those  not  in  arms,  from  whom  danger 
was  apprehended,  than  such  as  would  prevent  them  from  committing  the 
mischief  they  meditated.  Congress  had  great  confidence  in  the  power  of 
reason  and  gentle  treatment,  on  the  presumption,  that  the  disaffected  were, 
generally,  the  misinformed.  Under  this  impression,  resolutions  were  adopt- 
ed, second  January,  1776,  recommending  to  the  several  township  and  county 
committees,  and  other  friends  of  American  liberty,  to  explain  to  the  honest 
and  misguided,  the  nature  of  the  controversy,  and  the  many,  but  fruitless 
efforts  which  had  been  made  to  effect  an  accommodation ;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  to  proceed  with  vigour,  against  active  partizans  from  whom  danger 
might  be  apprehended,  disarming  them,  keeping  them  in  safe  custody,  or 
binding  them  with  sufficient  sureties  to  their  good  behaviour.  Strong  mea- 
sures were  not,  however,  immediately  taken  against  them,  in  those  parts  of 
the  country  where  they  were  the  most  powerful.  In  Long  and  York  islands, 
where  General  Lee  had  been  stationed,  principally,  to  counteract  their  ma- 
chinations, they  maintained,  even,  after  the  arrival  of  the  commander-in- 

*  Governor  Franklin  was  born  about  the  year  1731.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  French 
war,  and  served  at  Ticonderoga.  After  the  peace  of  Paris  he  accompanied  his  father 
to  England.  Going  to  Scotland  he  became  acquainted  with  the  Earl  of  Bute,  on 
whose  recommendation,  to  Lord  Halifax,  he  was  appointed  governor  of  New  Jersey, 
in  1763;  from  which  time  he  continued  in  office,  until  deposed  in  the  manner  above 
stated.  He  died  in  England,  November  17th,  1813,  aged  eighty-two  years.  By  his 
first  wife,  a  West  Indian,  he  had  a  son,  William  Temple  Franklin,  who  edited  the 
works  of  his  grandfather,  suppressing,  as  it  is  said,  at  the  instance  of  the  British  go- 
vernment, some  very  important  memoirs.  He  died  at  Paris,  May  25th,  1823.  Go- 
vernor Franklin  differed,  essentially,  in  temperament  from  his  illustrious  father,  pre- 
fering  ease  to  action,  and  gained  a  life  of  inglorious  comfort,  by  the  sacrifice  of  an 
eternity  of  fame.  His  own  conduct  and  the  reputation  of  his  father,  had  made  him 
respected  in  New  Jersey,  and  had  he  joined  the  popular  party,  he  would,  probably, 
have  attained  high  distinction  among  American  patriots.  Governor  Franklin,  as  well 
as  Governors  Bernard  and  Hutchinson,  were  Americans,  and  though  sons  of  the  soil, 
their  devotion  to  the  parent  state,  and  the  royal  cause,  was  right  loyal ;  arid  such  was 
the  effect  of  the  royal  favour,  on  them,  as  to  give  us  occasion  to  rejoice,  that  it  had 
not  been  more  bountifully  dispensed  among  the  patriots  of  1776.  To  carry  his  points 
in  England,  Lord  North  was  profusely  beneficent.  Ten  peers,  at  once,  were  called 
up  into  the  English  House,  and  one  day,  the  22d  of  July,  1777,  saw  the  Irish  peerage 
reinforced  by  eighteen  new  barons,  seven  barons  further  secured  by  being  created 
viscounts,  and  five  viscounts  advanced  to  earldoms.  It  was,  perhaps,  happy  for  Ame- 
rica, that,  at  the  dawn  of  the  rebellion,  the  griefs  of  the  complainants  had  not  been 
medicated  by  a  patronage  like  this. 

2B 


194  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

chief,  a  regular  intercourse  with  Governor  Tryon,  and  devised  plans  for  co- 
operating \\ith  the  enemy.  When  the  contest  assumed  the  form  of  active 
hostility,  disallection  to  the  American  cause  took  a  decided  shape,  and  its 
enemies  united  as  a  party;  still  numhers  followed  witli  the  hody  of  their 
countrymen,  and  were  not  distinguishable  until  the  declaration  of  indepen- 
dence. That  measure  effectually  separated  the  mass. 

Where  the  previous  measures  of  the  continental  and  local  governments 
had  heen  generally  and  cordially  supported,  the  public  mind  was  prepared 
for  independence.  In  New  England,  Virginia,  and  South  Carolina,  there 
was  scarce  a  dissentient  voice.  From  New  York  to  Maryland,  inclusive,  the 
people  were  more  divided.  In  North  Carolina  an  efficient  majority  was 
friendly,  but  there  was  a  powerful  minority,  ready  to  seize  the  first  oppor- 
tunity to  manifest  their  hostility.  Georgia  was  weak  and  disunited. 

In  New  York  and  New  Jersey  the  Uritish  were  received  with  open  arms, 
by  the  disalloeted,  as  their  deliverers  from  oppression.  The  lories  wer 
numerous,  that,  as  the  army  advanced  into  the  country,  the  militia  of  the 
islands  were  embodied  for  their  dclencc;  and  these  states  afforded  corps  of 
regulars,  equal  to  their  quotas  in  the  American  army.  Upon  taking  pos- 
session of  Long  Island,  General  Howe  assured  his  army,  that  they  wen- 
among  friends,  and  prohibited,  under  the  severest  penalties,  every  species  of 
violence.*  As  he  advanced  to  the  White  Plains,  the  state  Convention  enter- 
tained fears  of  a  dangerous  insurrection,  and  seemed  apprehensive  of  an 
attempt  to  punish  the  disaffected,  though  actually  engaged  in  enlisting  men 
for  the  British  service.  Much  dread  Avas  (Mt,  that  they  would  sei/.e  the  im- 
portant passes  of  the  highlands;  and  it  was  thought  dangerous  to  march  the 
militia  from  some  of  the  neighbouring  counties  for  their  protection,  lest 
their  absence  should  encourage  the  loyalists  to  assemble  in  arms. 

On  entering  the  Jerseys,  Lord  Cornwall  is  gave  orders  similar  to  those  of 
General  Howe,  on  Long  Island.  The  proclamation,  olli-ring  protection  to 
those  who  would  come  in  and  take  the  oaths  of  allegiance,  within  sixty 
days,  also,  contained  assurances,  that  the  obnoxious  laws,  which  had  occa- 
sioned the  war,  would  be  revised.  The  effect  of  these  measures,  \\ith  tin- 
military  success  of  the  enemy,  was  to  extinguish,  nearly,  the  spirit  of  re- 
sistance. A  few  militia,  only,  were  in  arms,  under  General  Williamson; 
whose  indisposition,  compelling  him  to  leave  the  service,  they  were  after- 
wards commanded  by  General  Dickenson;  but  the  great  body  of*the 
country  was  either  with  the  enemy,  or  had  too  little  zeal  for  the  cause,  to 
hazard  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  its  support.  When  urged  to  take  up  arms. 
they  answered,  "  that  General  Howe  promised  them  peace,  liberty,  and 
safety,  and  more  they  could  not  require." 

The  articles  of  association  of  1775,  may  be  deemed  the  entering  wedge  of 
division,  between  the  parties  in  New  Jersey,  as  in  other  parts  of  America. 
Those  who  refused  to  sign,  or  having  signed,  disobeyed,  their  requisitions, 
were  held  enemies  to  their  country,  and  as  such,  were  not  only  denounced 
by  the  county  and  township  committees,  but  were  fined  and  imprisoned,  as 
well  by  the  order  of  such  committees,  as  by  that  of  the  provincial  Conven- 
tions and  committees  of  safety.  Notwithstanding  these  measures,  counter 
associations  were  attempted,  resolving  to  pay  no  tax  levied  !>\  order  of  the 
provincial  Congress,  nor  to  purchase  any  goods  distrained  for  such  taxes,  or 
for  non-attendance  at  militia  musters.  These,  and  like  demonstrations  of 
hostility,  induced  the  committee  of  safety  of  the  province,  on  the  fifteenth  of 
January,  177(i,  earnestly  to  recommend  to  the  se\rral  eonuty  and  to\\  n  com- 
mittees, the  execution  of  the  resolve  of  the  continental  Congress,  of  the 

*  For  violation  of  those  orders  some  soldiers  were  condemned  and  executed. 


HISTORY  OK  NI«:\V  JKKS.KY.  195 

second  of  that  month,  recommending  due  moderation  and  prudence,  and  re- 
nuesting  .-ill  officers  oi'  militia  to  lend  I  In  -ir  assistance,  Under  this  resolu- 
tion several  persons,  from  different  parts  of  the  state,  \\-cre  brought  before  the 
committee  of  safely,  ami  llie  provincial  f 'ongress,  which  sal  from  flic  thirty- 
lirsl  of  January  to  the  second  of  .March,  \'ili\.  Most  of  the  prisoners  con- 
fessed their  limits,  craved  pardon,  and  \\ere  either  dismissed  unscathed,  or 
.subjected  to  a  .small  pecuniary  mulct,  and  to  give  security,  in  various  sums, 
for  future  good  conduct.  Hut  with  the  progress  toward  independence,  the 
number  of  the  disaflected,  increasing  rapidK,  gave  much  employment  to  the 
provincial  ( 'ongress,  which  assembled  on  the  tenth  of  June ;  and  which 
framed  the  state  constitution;  and  their  proceedings  assumed  a  greater  de- 
gree of  severity.  Memorials,  from  several  comities,  complaining  of  the  hos- 
lile  intentions  and  proceedings  of  the  disafKvied,  particidarly,  in  Monnmuth, 
Ilunterdon,  llergen,  and  Susse\,  called  forth  a  reiteration  of  previous  in- 
structions to  the  county  committees,  and  formal  summons  to  the  inculpated, 
to  appear  before  the  ('(invention.  On  the  fweiitx  -sixth  of  June,  that,  body 
having  intelligence,  that  there  were  several  insurgents  in  the  county  of  Moii- 
inouth,  who  took  every  measure  in  their  power  to  contravene  tin"  regulations 
of  Congress,  and  to  oppose  the  cause  of  American  freedom,  and  that  it  was 
highly  necessary,  that  an  immediate  check  should  he  given  to  so  daring  a 
spirit  of  disalleetion,  resolved,  that  Colonel  Charles  Head  should  take  to  his 
aid,  two  companies  of  the  militia  of  the  county  of  Burlington,  and  proceed, 
without  delay,  to  the  county  of  Monmouth,  1<>  apprehend  such  insurgents  as 
were  designated  to  him  by  the  president  of  the  Convention.  Authentic. 
information  was,  at  the  same  time,  received,  that  other  disaffected  persons 
in  the  county  of  I  lunterdon  had  confederated  for  tin1  purpose  of  opposing  t  he 
measures  of  ( 'oiigress,  and  had  even  proceeded  to  acts  of  open  and  daring 
Violence;  having  plundered  the  house  of  a  Captain  Jones,  beaten,  wounded, 
and  otherwise  abused  the  friends  of  freedom  in  the  county,  and  publicly  de- 
clared, that  they  would  take  up  arms  in  behalf  of  the  King  of  (Ire;  it  Hritaiu. 
In  order,  effectually,  to  check  a  combination  so  hostile  and  dangerous,  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Abraham  Ten  Kick  and  Major  P>err\  were  directed,  with  the 
militia  of  the  counties  of  Ilunterdon  and  Somerset,  to  apprehend  these  insur- 
gents. On  the  first  of  July  the  provincial  Congress  resolved,  that  the  sex-e- 
ra I  colonels  of  the  counties,  should,  without  delay,  proceed  to  disarm  all  per- 
sons within  their  district,  who,  from  religious  principles,  or  other  causes,  re- 
fused to  bear  arms.  Two  days  alter  the  last,  an  additional  order  was  given 
t«>  Colonel  Charles  Read,  Lieutenant-colonel  Samuel  I'Wman,  and  Major 
Joseph  llaighl,  with  two  hundred  militia  of  I 'iirlingloii,  and  two  hundred 
of  Monmouth  county,  to  proceed,  without  delav,  to  (piell  an  insurrection 
in  Monmouth,  and  to  disarm  and  lake  prisoners,  whomsoever  they  should 
find  assembled,  with  intent  to  oppose  the  friends  of  American  freedom;  and 
to  take  such  measures  as  they  should  think  necessary  lor  this  service.  On 
Jin-  fourth  of  Jul\,  Congress  resolved,  that  as  divers  persons,  in  the  county 
of  Monmouth,  who  had  embodied  themselves,  in  opposition  to  its  mea- 
sures, bad  expressed  their  willingness  to  return  to  their  duty,  upon  as- 
surances of  pardon,  alleging,  that  they  have  been  seduced  and  misled,  by 
the  lidse  and  malicious  reports  of  others;  such  persons  as  should,  without 
delay,  return  peaceably  to  their  homes,  and  conform  to  the  orders  of  Con- 
gress, should  be  treated  with  lenity  and  indulgence,  and  upon  their  good 
behaviour,  be  restored  to  the  favour  of  their  country:  providing,  that  such 
as  appeared  to  have  been  the  leaders  and  principals  in  these  disorders,  and 
who,  to  their  other  guilt,  bad  added  that  of  seducing  the  weak  and  the  un- 
wary, should  yet  be  treated,  according  to  their  demerits. 

Under  these  and  like  resolutions  many  persons,  among  whom  were  seve- 


196  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

ral  of  large  property  and  great  respectability,  were  brought  before  Congress. 
Some  were  imprisoned,  some  fined,  and  others  suffered  to  go  at  large  upon 
their  parole ;  others  were  compelled  to  enter  into  recognizance  with  security, 
conditioned  for  their  good  behaviour;  and  others  were  relegated  to  such 
places  within  the  province,  as  the  Congress  supposed  could  give  them  the 
least  opportunity  of  evil.* 

When  the  state  government  was  organized,  under  the  constitution,  the 
Legislature  enacted  a  law  of  like  tenor,  with  the  ordinance  of  the  convention, 
against  treason; — and  further  declared,  that  any  one  owing  allegiance  to  the 
state,  who  should  by  speech,  writing,  or  open  deed,  maintain  the  authority  of 
the  King,  and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  should  be  subject,  by  the  first  of- 
fence, to  fine,  not  exceeding  three  hundred  pounds,  and  imprisonment,  not 
exceeding  one  year;  and  for  the  second,  to  the  pillory,  and  the  like  im- 
prisonment ; — that  reviling,  or  speaking  contemptuously  of  the  government 
of  the  state,  of  the  Congress,  or  United  States  of  America,  or  of  the 
measures  adopted  by  the  Congress,  or  by  the  Legislature  of  the  state,  or 
maliciously  doing  any  thing  whatever,  which  would  encourage  disaffection, 
or  manifestly  tend  to  raise  tumults  and  disorders  in  the  state ;  or  spreading 
such  false  rumours,  concerning  the  American  forces,  or  the  forces  of  the 
enemy,  as  would  tend  to  alienate  the  affections  of  the  people  from  the  govern- 
ment, or  to  terrify  or  discourage  the  good  subjects  of  this  state,  or  to  dispose 
them  to  favour  the  pretensions  of  the  enemy,  should,  also,  be  punishable  in 
the  same  manner.  By  the  same  act,  two  justices  of  the  peace  were  empow- 
ered to  convene  by  summons  or  warrant,  any  person,  whom  they  should 
suspect  to  be  dangerous  or  disaffected  to  the  government ;  and  compel  him 
to  take  the  oath  of  abjuration,  and  of  allegiance,  under  penalty  of  being 
bound  with  sufficient  sureties  to  his  good  behaviour,  or  imprisoned  until  the 
meeting  of  the  Quarter  Sessions ;  when,  upon  refusal,  he  might  be  fined  or 
imprisoned,  at  discretion  of  the  court.  This  act  drew  the  cords  around  the 
discontented  much  more  closely,  than  they  had  hitherto  been.  But  it  became 
necessary  to  strain  them  still  tighter. 

An  act  of  June  5th,  1777,  declaring,  that  divers  of  the  subjects  of  the 
state,  having,  by  the  arts  of  subtile  emissaries  from  the  enemy,  been  seduced 
from  their  allegiance,  and  prevailed  upon  by  delusive  promises,  to  leave  their 
families  and  friends,  and  join  the  army  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  had 
since  become  sensible  of  their  error,  and  desirous  of  returning  to  their  duty ; 
that  many  of  such  fugitives  and  others,  who  had  been  guilty  of  treasonable 
practices  against  the  state,  secreted  themselves  to  escape  the  punishment  of 
their  crimes — and  that,  in  compassion  to  their  unhappy  situation,  the  Legis- 

*  We  could  give  a  very  long  list  of  names  of  disaffected  persons;  but  we  refrain 
for  very  obvious  reasons.  Persons  who  are  curious  to  revive  the  remembrance  of 
these  scenes,  may  have  recourse  to  the  journals  of  the  convention,  and  the  columns 
of  the  newspapers  of  the  period,  where  they  may  find  many  a  name  which  has  since 
been  distinguished  for  good  service  to  the  state.  We  may,  however,  make  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  Congress. — "  The  petition  from  sundry  ladies, 
from  Perth  Amboy,  was  read  the  second  time,  and  ordered,  that  a  copy  of  the  follow- 
ing letter,  addressed  to  Mrs.  Franklin,  one  of  the  subscribers,  be  signed  by  the  presi- 
dent and  secretary — l  Madam :  I  am  ordered,  by  Congress,  to  acquaint  you,  and 
through  you,  the  other  ladies  of  Amboy,  that  their  petition,  in  favour  of  Dr.  John 

L ,  has  been  received  and  considered.     Could  any  application  have  promised  a 

greater  indulgence  to  Dr.  L ,  you  may  be  assured  yours  could  not  have  failed  of 

success.  But,  unhappily,  madam,  we  are  placed  in  such  a  situation,  that,  motives  of 
commiseration  to  individuals,  must  give  place  to  the  safety  of  the  public.  As  Dr. 

L ,  therefore,  has  fallen  under  the  suspicion  of  our  generals,  we  are  under  the 

necessity  of  abiding  by  the  steps  which  we  have  taken;'  &c.  The  doctor  was  trans- 
ferred to  Morristown,  on  his  parole,  not  to  depart  thence,  more  than  six  miles,  without 
leave  of  Congress." 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  197 

lature  was  desirous  that  no  means  should  be  left  unemployed,  to  prevent  the 
effusion  of  blood,  and  to  give  those  an  opportunity  of  returning  to  their  alle- 
giance, who  should  testify  their  desire  to  be  restored  to  the  inestimable  rights 
of  freemen.  To  this  end  the  act  provided,  That,  such  offender,  on  or  before  the 
first  of  August,  then  next  ensuing,  might  appear  before  a  judge  or  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  take  the  oaths  to  the  state;  and  should,  thereupon,  be  pardoned 
his  offence,  and  restored  to  the  privileges  of  a  citizen ;  That,  if  he  were  so  far 
lost  to  every  sense  of  duty  to  his  country,  his  family,  and  his  posterity,  as  to 
decline  the  clemency  so  proffered,  his  personal  estate  should  be  forfeited  to 
the  state ;  and  all  alienations  thereof,  and  of  his  real  estate,  subsequent  to 
the  act,  were  declared  void ;  That  commissioners  should  be  appointed  in  the 
respective  counties,  to  make  inventories  of  such  personal  estate,  to  dispose  of 
perishable  parts,  or  where  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
of  the  whole ;  to  keep  the  proceeds  for  the  owner  claiming  the  benefit  of  the 
act,  but  paying  the  same  to  the  treasurer  for  the  use  of  the  state,  in  case  of 
the  non-claim  of  the  proprietor  within  the  prescribed  time. 

This  act  was  followed  by  another  of  18th  April,  1778,  directing  the  com- 
missioners of  the  several  counties  to  make  return  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  of 
the  name  and  late  place  of  abode  of  each  person  whose  personal  estate  they 
should  seize,  and  to  obtain  from  the  justice  a  precept  for  summoning  a 
jury  of  freeholders,  to  inquire  whether  he  had,  since  the  date  of  the  act 
against  treason,  (4th  October,  1776,)  and  before  the  5th  June,  1777,  joined 
the  army  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  or  otherwise  offended  against  his  al- 
legiance to  the  state.  The  jury  finding  against  the  accused,  their  inqui- 
sition was  returned  by  the  justice,  to  the  next  court  of  Common  Pleas ;  where 
it  might  be  traversed,  either  at  the  return,  or  the  succeeding,  term,  by  the 
party,  on  entering  into  recognisance,  to  prosecute  with  effect.  But  in  de- 
fault, judgment  of  forfeitures  was  rendered,  and  the  commissioners  empower- 
ed to  sell  all  the  personal  estate  of  the  fugitive,  and  to  take  possession  of  all 
his  books  of  account,  bonds,  mortgages,  &c.,  in  whose  hands  soever  they 
might  be;  and  to  collect  all  debts  due  to  him.  Similar  provisions  were  made, 
relative  to  persons  committing  like  offences,  subsequent  to  the  act  of  pardon, 
of  the  5th  of  June,  1777.  The  commissioners  were,  also,  empowered  to  take 
into  their  possession  and  management,  all  the  real  estate  of  the  offender,  and 
lease  the  same  for  a  term  not  exceeding  a  year,  and  to  hold  possession  of 
such  estate,  before  inquisition  found,  when  it  had  been  abandoned  by  the 
owner.  Tenants  in  possession,  were  required  to  attorn  to  the  commissioners. 
All  sales  of  real  or  personal  estate,  by  any  person,  against  whom  inquisition 
was  found,  made  after  the  offence  committed,  were  declared  void. 

This  severity  was  carried  still  further  by  the  act  of  December  llth,  1778, 
directing,  that  all  the  real  estate  of  offenders  at  the  time  of  the  offence,  or 
thereafter,  acquired,  in  fee  or  otherwise,  against  whom  inquisition  and  judg- 
ment had  been,  or  should  be,  rendered,  should  be  forfeited  to  the  state; 
and  that,  every  person,  whether  an  inhabitant  of  this  state,  or  of  any  other 
of  the  United  States,  seized  or  possessed  of  real  or  personal  estate,  who 
had,  since  the  19th  day  of  April,  1775,  (the  day  of  the  battle  of  Lexington) 
and  before  the  ktli  day  of  October,  1776,  aided  and  assisted  the  enemies  of 
the  state,  or  of  the  United  States,  by  joining  their  armies  within  the  state,  or 
elsewhere,  or  had  voluntarily  gone  to,  taken  refuge  or  continued  with,  or  en- 
deavoured to  continue  with,  the  enemy,  and  aid  them  by  council  or  otherwise, 
and  who  had  not  since  returned  and  become  a  subject  in  allegiance  to  the 
present  government,  by  taking  the  prescribed  oaths  or  affirmations  when  re- 
quired, to  be  guilty  of  high  treason,  and  on  inquisition  and  judgment,  his 
whole  estate,  real  and  personal,  was  forfeited  to  the  state ;  but  such  proceed- 


198  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

ings  affected  the  estate  only,  not  the  person  of  the  offender.  The  real  estates 
so  forfeited  were  sold,  and  title  made  therefor,  by  the  commissioners,  and 
no  error  in  the  proceedings  affected  the  purchaser,  nor  did  pardon  relieve  the 
forfeiture.  The  forfeited  estates  were  held  liable  for  the  debts  of  the  offender, 
and  some  efforts,  unsuccessful  we  believe,  were  made,  to  render  them  respon- 
sible for  such  damages  as  the  former  owners  might  commit  in  their  predatory 
excursions. 

The  same  act  declared,  every  inhabitant  of  the  state  who  had  joined  the 
enemy  by  taking  refuge  among  them,  or  affording  them  aid  by  counsel  or 
otherwise,  and  who  should  be  convicted  of  high  treason,  or  otherwise  forfeit 
his  estate,  pursuant  to  the  act,  or  should  be  duly  convicted  of  treason,  felony, 
or  misdemeanour,  for  going  to,  taking  refuge  with,  or  affording  any  aid  and 
assistance  to  the  enemy,  incapable  of  holding  any  office  of  trust  or  profit,  or 
of  exercising  the  elective  franchise,  and  deprived  all  persons  within  the  state 
who  had  suffered  fine  or  imprisonment  for  refusing  to  testify  their  allegiance, 
by  taking  the  oaths,  of  the  capacity  to  exercise  any  military  office. 

Under  these  acts,  a  large  mass  of  property  was  brought  into  the  market 
and  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  state,  and  also  of  many  of  the  commissioners. 
In  1781,  the  market  was  probably  glutted,  and  property  was  very  greatly 
sacrificed;  when  the  act  of  June  26th,  declaring,  that  the  continuance  of 
the  sales  might  prove  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the  state,  directed  their 
suspension  until  further  order,  and  the  authority  of  the  commissioners  to 
cease.  Another  act  of  1781,  (20th  December,)  substituted  a  single  agent,  in 
the  respective  counties,  for  the  commissioners;  and  the  act  of  December  16th, 
1783,  directed  such  agents  to  proceed  in  the  sale  of  such  estates,  and  to  re- 
ceive in  payment  any  obligation  of  the  state.  Subsequently,  various  provi- 
sions were  made  for  satisfying  the  claims  of  the  creditors  of  the  offenders. 

During  the  greater  part  of  the  war,  the  tory  refugees  from  New  Jersey 
were  embodied  on  Staten,  Long,  and  York  islands ;  and  when  the  British 
were  in  force  in  the  state,  they  collected  on  the  eastern  and  south-eastern 
border,  and  occasionally  appeared  in  other  districts.  Their  hostility  was 
more  malignant  than  that  of  the  British  soldiery,  and  being  commonly 
directed  by  revenge,  was  more  brutally  practised,  and  more  keenly  felt. 
Intimately  acquainted  with  the  country,  they  could  more  suddenly  enter  it, 
.strike  a  barbarous  stroke  and  retreat.  This  spirit  was  encountered  by  one 
almost  as  fierce  and  ruthless,  in  which,  however,  there  was  the  redeeming 
-quality  of  patriotism.  Many  a  tale  of  the  romantic  daring  of  the  invaders, 
and  of  the  fearless  devotion  of  the  defenders,  is  yet  told,  along  the  eastern 
shores,  and  amid  the  cedar  swamps,  and  pine  forests  of  the  state. 

The  enterprise  of  the  refugee  royalists  was  frequently  directed  against  the 
persons  of  the  distinguished  patriots  of  the  state.  Among  their  first  success- 
ful attempts,  was  that  on  Mr.  Richard  Stockton.  On  the  entrance  of  the 
British  army  into  New  Jersey,  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Washington,  that 
gentleman  withdrew  from  Congress  in  order  to  protect  his  family  and  pro- 
perty, at  his  seat  near  Princeton.  He  removed  his  wife  and  younger  children 
into  the  county  of  Monmouth,  about  thirty  miles  from  the  supposed  route  of 
the  British  army.  On  the  30th  of  November,  he  was,  together  with  his  friend 
and  compatriot  John  Covenhoven,  at  whose  house  he  resided,  dragged  from  his 
bed  by  night,  stripped  and  plundered,  and  carried  by  the  way  of  Amboy  to  ' 
New  York.  At  Amboy  he  was  exposed  to  severe  cold  weather  in  the  common 
jail,  which,  together  with  subsequent  barbarity  in  New  York,  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  disease,  that  terminated  his  existence  in  1781.  His  release  was 
probably  procured  by  the  interference  of  Congress,  in  January. 

We  cannot  more  fully,  nor  more  truly  justify  the  measures  of  severity 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  199 

adopted  against  the  disaffected,  than  by  the  following  extract  from  the  speech 
of  Governor  Livingston,  to  the  Assembly,  on  the  29th  of  May,  1778. 

"I  have  further  to  lay  before  you,  gentlemen,  a  resolution  of  Congress  of 
the  23d  of  April,  recommending  it  to  the  Legislatures  of  the  several  states, 
to  pass  laws,  or  to  the  executive  authority  of  each  state,  if  invested  with  suffi- 
cient power,  to  issue  proclamations  offering  pardon,  with  such  exceptions  and 
under  such  limitations  and  restrictions  as  they  shall  think  expedient,  to  such 
of  their  inhabitants  or  subjects  as  have  levied  war  against  any  of  these  states, 
or  adhered  to,  aided  or  abetted  the  enemy,  and  shall  surrender  themselves 
to  any  civil  or  military  officer  of  any  of  these  states,  and  shall  return  to  the 
state  to  which  they  may  belong,  before  the  tenth  day  of  June,  next ;  and 
recommending  it  to  the  good  and  faithful  citizens  of  these  states,  to  receive 
such  returning  penitents  with  compassion  and  mercy,  and  forgive  and  bury 
in  oblivion  their  past  failings  and  transgressions. 

"  Though  I  think  it  my  duty  to  submit  this  resolution  to  your  serious  con- 
sideration, because  it  is  recommended  by  Congress,  I  do  not  think  it  my 
duty  to  recommend  it  to  your  approbation,  because  it  appears  to  me  both 
unequal  and  impolitic.  It  may,  consistently,  with  the  profoundest  veneration 
for  that  august  Assembly,  be  presumed,  that  they  are  less  acquainted  with 
the  particular  circumstances  and  internal  police  of  some  of  the  states,  than 
those  who  have  had  more  favourable  opportunities  for  that  purpose.  There 
seems,  it  is  true,  something  so  noble  and  magnanimous  in  proclaiming  an 
unmerited  amnesty  to  a  number  of  disappointed  criminals,  submitting  them- 
selves to  the  mercy  of  their  country;  and  there  is  in  reality  something  so 
divine  and  Christian  in  the  forgiveness  of  injuries,  that  it  may  appear  rather 
invidious  to  offer  any  thing  in  obstruction  of  the  intended  clemency.  But  as 
to  the  benevolent  religion  to  which  we  are  under  the  highest  obligations  to 
conform  our  conduct,  though  it  forbids  at  all  times  and  in  all  cases  the  indul- 
gence of  personal  hatred  and  malevolence,  it  prohibits  not  any  treatment  of 
national  enemies  or  municipal  offenders,  necessary  to  self  preservation,  and 
the  general  weal  of  society.  And  as  to  humanity,  I  could  never  persuade 
myself  that  ir,  consisted  in  such  lenity  towards  our  adversaries,  either  British 
or  domestic,  as  was  evidently  productive  of  tenfold  barbarity  on  their  part, 
when  such  barbarity  would  probably  have  been  prevented  by  our  retaliating 
upon  them  the  first  perpetration ;  and  consequently  our  apparent  inhumanity 
in  particular  instances,  has  certainly  been  humane  in  the  final  result.  Alas, 
how  many  lives  had  been  saved,  and  what  a  scene  of  inexpressible  misery 
prevented,  had  we  from  the  beginning  treated  our  bosom  traitors  with  proper 
severity,  and  inflicted  the  law  of  retaliation  upon  an  enemy,  too  savao-e  to 
be  humanized  by  any  other  argument.  As  both  political  pardon  and  punish- 
ment ought  to  be  regulated  by  political  considerations,  and  must  derive  their 
expedience  or  impropriety  from  their  salutary  or  pernicious  influence  upon 
the  community,  I  cannot  conceive  what  advantages  are  proposed  by  inviting 
to  the  embraces  of  their  country,  a  set  of  beings  from  which  any  country, 1 
should  imagine,  would  esteem  it  a  capital  part  of  its  felicity  to  remain  for- 
ever at  the  remotest  distance.  It  is  not  probable  that  those  who  deserted  us 
to  aid  the  most  matchless  connoisseurs  in  the  refinements  of  cruelty,  (who 
have  exhausted  human  ingenuity  in  their  engines  of  torture,)  in  introducing 
arbitrary  power,  and  all  the  horrors  of  slavery;  and  will  only  return  from 
disappointment,  not  from  remorse,  will  ever  make  good  subjects  to  a  state 
founded  in  liberty,  and  inflexibly  determined  against  every  inroad  of  lawless 
dominion.  The  thirty-one  criminals  lately  convicted  of  the  most  flagrant 
treason,  and  who,  by  the  gracious  interposition  of  government,  were  upon 
very  hopeful  signs  of  penitence,  generously  pardoned,  and  then  with  hypo- 
critical cheerfulness  enlisted  in  our  service,  have  all  to  a  man  deserted  to  the 


200  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

enemy,  and  are  again  in  arms  against  their  native  country,  with  the  accu- 
mulated guilt  of  its  being  now  not  only  the  country  that  first  gave  them  life, 
but  which  hath,  after  they  had  most  notoriously  forfeited  it,  mercifully  res- 
cued them  from  death.  Whence  it  is  probable,  that  a  real  tory  is  by  any 
human  means  absolutely  inconvertible,  having  so  entirely  extinguished  all 
the  primitive  virtue  and  patriotism  natural  to  man,  as  not  to  leave  a  single 
spark  to  rekindle  the  original  flame.  It  is  indeed,  against  all  probability,  that 
men  arrived  at  the  highest  possible  pitch  of  degeneracy,  the  preferring  of 
tyranny  to  a  free  government,  should,  except  by  a  miracle  of  omnipotence, 
be  ever  capable^of  one  single  virtuous  impression.  They  have,  by  a  kind  of 
gigantic  effort  of  villany,  astonished  the  whole  world,  even  that  of  transcend- 
ing in  the  enormities  of  desolation  and  bloodshed,  a  race  of  murderers  before 
unequalled,  and  without  competitor.  Were  it  not  for  these  miscreants,  we 
should  have  thought,  that  for  cool  deliberate  cruelty  and  unavailing  undeci- 
sive havoc,  the  sons  of  Britain  were  without  parallel.  But  considering  the 
education  of  the  latter,  which  has  familiarised  them  to  the  shedding  of  inno- 
cent blood  from  the  mere  thirst  of  lucre,  they  have  been  excelled  in  their  own 
peculiar  and  distinguished  excellence  by  this  monstrous  birth  and  offscouring 
of  America,  who,  in  defiance  of  nature  and  of  nurture,  have  not  only  by  a 
reversed  ambition  chosen  bondage  before  freedom,  but  waged  an  infernal  war 
against  their  dearest  connexions  for  not  making  the  like  abhorred  and  abo- 
minable election.  By  them,  have  numbers  of  our  most  useful  and  meritorious 
citizens  been  ambushed,  hunted  down,  pillaged,  unhoused,  stolen,  or  butcher- 
ed; by  them  has  the  present  contest  on  the  part  of  Britain  been  encouraged, 
aided  and  protracted.  They  are  therefore  responsible  for  all  the  additional 
blood  that  has  been  spilt  by  the  addition  of  their  weight  in  the  scale  of  the 
enemy.  Multitudes  of  them  have  superadded  perjury  to  treason.  At  the 
commencement  of  our  opposition,  they  appeared  more  sanguine  than  others, 
and  like  the  crackling  of  thorns  under  a  pot,  exceeded  in  blaze  and  noise,  the 
calm  and  durable  flame  of  the  steady  and  persevering.  They  have  associ- 
ated, subscribed,  and  sworn  to  assist  in  repelling  the  hostile  attempts  of  our 
bowelless  oppressors;  they  have,  with  awful  solemnity,  plighted  their  faith 
and  honour,  to  stand  with  their  lives  and  fortunes  by  the  Congress,  and  their 
general,  in  support  of  that  very  liberty,  which,  upon  the  first  opportunity, 
they  perfidiously  armed  to  oppose,  and  have  since  sacrilegiously  sworn,  utter- 
ly to  exterminate.  This  worthy  citizen  has  lost  a  venerable  father ;  that 
one  a  beloved  brother;  and  a  third,  a  darling  son,  either  immediately  by  their 
hands  or  by  their  betraying  him  to  the  enemy,  who,  from  a  momentary  unin- 
tentional relapse  into  humanity,  were  sometimes  inclined  to  spare,  when  these 
pitiless  wretches  insisted  upon  slaughter,  or  threatened  to  complain  of  a  re- 
lenting officer,  merely  because  he  was  not  diabolically  cruel." 

X.  From  the  actual  assumption  of  political  independence,  to  that  of  a  formal 
declaration,  the  interval  could  not  be  long.  On  the  very  clay  that  Congress 
adopted  the  resolution  recommending  to  the  colonies  a  change  in  their  form  of 
government ;  the  convention  in  Virginia  resolved  unanimously,  that  their 
delegates  in  Congress  should  propose  to  that  body,  to  declare  the  United  Colo- 
nies free  and  independent  states,  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to,  or  dependence 
on  the  King  and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain.  The  public  mind  was  now 
fully  prepared  for  this  measure.  The  Assemblies  of  Maryland,  Pennsylvania, 
and  New  York,  which  had  displayed  the  greatest  reluctance  and  forborne  the 
longest,  at  length  assented  to  it.  The  proposition  was  made  in  Congress,  on 
the  7th  of  June,  1776,  by  Richard  Henry  Lee  of  Virginia,  and  seconded  by 
Mr.  John  Adams  of  Massachusetts,  "that  the  United  Colonies  are,  and  of 
right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  states,  and  that  all  political  con- 
nexion between  them  and  the  state  of  Great  Britain,  is,  and  ought  to  be, 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  201 

totally  dissolved"  This  resolution  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  the  whole 
Congress,  where  it  was  daily  debated.  In  favour  of  the  resolution,  Messrs. 
Lee  and  Adams  were  the  most  distinguished  speakers.  The  latter  has  been 
characterized  as  "  the  ablest  advocate"  of  independence.  Its  most  formida- 
ble opponent  was  Mr.  John  Dickenson,  whose  "Farmer's  Letters,"  had  sig- 
nally served  to  awaken  the  resistance  of  the  people  to  British  oppression. 
Mr.  Dickenson's  views  were  those  of  a  sincere,  but  timid  patriot.  He  lived 
to  discover  that  his  fears  were  groundless,  and  to  give  his  aid  in  maturing  and 
perfecting  the  institutions  of  independent  America.  In  resisting  the  declara- 
tion of  independence,  he  was  actuated  by  no  ignoble  personal  fears ;  his  appre- 
hension was  for  his  country.  For  at  this  period,  no  man  could  be  more  ob- 
noxious to  British  statesmen,  than  the  author  of  the  Farmer's  Letters,  who 
now,  bore  a  colonel's  commission,  and  was,  in  the  month  of  July,  1776,  upon 
the  lines  of  New  Jersey,  and  New  York.  The  considerations  which  weighed 
upon  his  mind  affected  the  minds  of  others;  among  whom  were  Wilson  of  Penn- 
sylvania, R.  R.  Livingston,  of  New  York,  E.  Rutledge,  and  R.  Laurens,  of 
South  Carolina,  and  William  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey;  who,  if  they  did 
not  doubt  of  the  absolute  inexpediency  of  the  measure,  believed  it  premature. 

On  the  first  day  of  July,  the  resolution  declaratory  of  independence,  was 
approved  in  committee  of  the  whole,  by  all  the  colonies,  except  Pennsylvania 
and  Delaware.  Seven  of  the  delegates  from  the  former  were  present,  four 
of  whom  voted  against  it.  Mr.  Rodney,  one  of  the  delegates  from  the  latter, 
was  absent,  and  the  other  two,  Thomas  M'Kean  and  Gorge  Read,  were  di- 
vided in  opinion ;  M'Kean  voting  for,  and  Read  against,  the  resolution.  On 
the  report  of  the  committee  to  the  House,  the  further  consideration  of  the 
subject  was  postponed  until  the  next  day,  when  the  resolution  was  finally 
adopted,  and  entered  on  the  journals.*  Pending  this  memorable  discussion,  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Jefferson,  John  Adams,  Franklin,  Sherman, 
and  R.  R.  Livingston,  was  appointed  to  prepare  the  delaration  of  inde- 
pendence. Messrs.  Jefferson  and  Adams  were  named  a  sub-committee, 
charged  especially  with  that  duty ;  and  the  original  draught  of  that  eloquent 
manifesto  was  made  by  the  former.  It  was  adopted  by  the  chief  committee 
without  amendment,  and  reported  to  Congress  on  the  twenty -eighth  of  June. 
On  the  fourth  of  July,  having  received  some  slight  alterations,  it  was  sanc- 
tioned by  the  vote  of  every  colony.f 

The  delegation  in  Congress,  from  New  Jersey,  during  part  of  the  time, 
employed  in  the  consideration  of  the  question  of  independence,  had  been 
elected  by  the  Convention,  on  the  fourteenth  of  February,  1776.  It  con- 
sisted of  Messrs.  Livingston,  De  Hart,  Richard  Smith,  John  Cooper,  and 
Jonathan  Dickenson  Sergeant.  After  the  proposition  of  the  fifteenth  of  May 
for  organizing  provincial  governments,  it  would  seem  that  nearly  all  these 
gentlemen  were  reluctant  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  measures  which  led, 
eventually,  to  independence.  Richard  Smith,  alleging  indisposition,  re- 
signed his  seat  on  the  twelfth,  John  De  Hart  on  the  thirteenth,  and  Mr.  Ser- 
geant on  the  twenty-first  of  June.  Mr.  Cooper  appears  to  have  taken  no 
part  in  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress.  His  name,  with  that  of  Mr.  Ser- 
geant, is  regularly  on  the  minutes  of  the  State  convention,  from  the  10th  of 
June,  to  the  4th  of  July.  Mr.  Livingston  was  withdrawn,  on  the  5th  of 
June,  to  assume  the  duty  of  brigadier-general  of  the  New  Jersey  militia. 
Messrs.  Richard  Stockton,  Abraham  Clarke,  John  Hart,  Francis  Hopkinson, 
and  Dr.  John  Witherspoon,  were  substituted  for  the  previous  delegation,  on 
the  21st  of  June;  and  were,  probably,  all  present  at  the  time  of  the  final  votes 
upon  the  resolution,  and  the  declaration  of  independence.  It  is  certain,  that 

*  Journals  of  Congress.  t  Ibid. 

2C 


202  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

on  the  28th  of  June,  Mr.  Hopkinson  appeared  in  the  continental  Congress, 
and  presented  instructions  empowering  him  and  his  colleagues  to  join  in 
declaring  the  united  colonies  independent  of  Great  Britain,  entering  into 
a  confederation  for  union  and  common  defence,  making  treaties  with  foreign 
nations,  for  commerce  and  assistance,  and  to  take  such  other  measures  as 
might  appear  necessary  for  these  great  ends."* 

On  the  17th  of  July,  the  provincial  Congress  resolved,  that,  "  Whereas, 
the  honourable,  the  continental  Congress  have  declared  the  United  Colonies 
free  and  independent  States,  We,  the  deputies  of  New  Jersey,  in  provincial 
Congress  assembled,  do  resolve  and  declare,  That  we  will  support  the  freedom 
and  independence  of  the  said  States,  with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  and  with 
the  whole  force  of  New  Jersey."  And  on  the  succeeding  day  they  changed 
the  style  and  title  of  the  "  provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey,"  to  that  of  the 
"  Convention  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey." 

*  Journals  of  Congress,  vol.  ii.  p.  230. 

We  are  careful  in  noting  these  circumstances,  as  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  in  a  letter, 
dated  15th  July,  1776,  to  Richard  Henry  Lee.  observes,  "  We  were  more  fortunate 
than  we  expected,  in  having  twelve  of  the  thirteen  colonies  in  favour  of  the  all-impor- 
tant question.  The  delegates  of  New  Jersey  were  not  empowered  to  give  their  voice 
on  either  side.  Their  convention  has  since  acceded  to  the  declaration,  and  published 
it,  even  before  they  received  it  from  Congress." — Mem.  of  Richard  Henry  Lee,  vol.  i. 
p.  183.  This  error  has  been  further  promulged  by  the  following  note,  in  Mr.  Sedg- 
wick's  Life  of  Livingston,  page  194. — "This  delegation,  consisting  of  Witherspoon, 
Stockton,  and  others,  arrived  after  the  declaration  had  been  signed,  but  were  allowed 
to  fix  their  names  to  it."  We  do  not  find  on  the  Journal  of  Congress,  the  name  of  any 
other  of  the  delegates,  than  Mr.  Hopkinson,  between  the  21st  of  June,  and  4th  of 
July.  But  the  following  statement  given  in  the  life  of  R.  H.  Lee,  vol.  i.  176,  upon,  we 
know  not  what  authority,  shows,  if  correct,  that  another  of  the  Jersey  delegates  was 
present,  at  the  adoption  of  the  declaration.  "  In  the  clause  of  the  original  draught, 
that  upbraids  George  III.,  with  the  hiring  and  sending  foreign  mercenary  troops  to  in- 
vade America,  among  those  mentioned,  the  Scotch  are  specified.  It  was  said  that  Dr. 
Witherspoon,  the  learned  president  of  Nassau  Hall  College,  who  was  a  Scotchman  by 
birth,  moved  to  strike  out  the  word,  '  Scotch,'  which  was  accordingly  done." 

The  following  extract  from  the  life  of  Mr.  Stockton,  in  the  Biography  of  the  Signers 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  proves,  that  he,  also,  was  present. — "  Mr.  Stock- 
ton immediately  took  his  seat  in  the  continental  Congress,  and  was  present  at  the 
debates  which  preceded  the  promulgation  of  that  memorable  charter  of  national  inde- 
pendence, to  which  his  name  is  affixed.  It  has  been  remarked  by  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  same  Congress,  that  Mr.  Stockton  was  silent  during  the 
first  stages  of  this  momentous  discussion,  listening  with  thoughtful  and  respectful  at- 
tention to  the  arguments  that  were  offered  by  the  supporters  and  opponents  of  the 
important  measure  then  under  consideration.  Although,  it  is  believed,  that,  in  the 
commencement  of  the  debate,  he  entertained  some  doubts  as  to  the  policy  of  an  imme- 
diate declaration  of  independence,  yet  in  the  progress  of  the  discussion,  his  objections 
were  entirely  removed,  particularly  by  the  irresistible  and  conclusive  arguments  of 
the  honourable  John  Adams,  and  he  fully  concurred  in  the  final  vote,  in  favour  of  that 
bold  and  decisive  measure.  This  concurrence  he  expressed  in  a  short  and  energetic 
address,  which  he  delivered  in  Congress,  towards  the  close  of  the  debate."  It  may  be 
true,  but  is  not  probable,  that  Mr.  Stockton  doubted,  in  Congress,  upon  this  measure. 
It  is  certain,  that  he  was  instructed  by  the  convention,  which  appointed  him,  to 
support  it,  and  in  so  doing,  performed  a  delegated  trust,  which  he  was  too  honest  to 
betray.  This  State  had  decided  the  question  before  she  sent  him  to  announce  her 
consent. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  203 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

I.  Military  Proceedings  in  Canada. — II.  Measures  adopted  in  Great  Britain.— III.  Ob- 
jects proposed  for  the  Campaign  of  177G. — IV.  Operations  against  New  York, 
and  the  surrounding  Country. — V.  Proposals  for  accommodation,  by  the  British 
Commissioners. — VI.  Condition  of  the  American  Forces,  at  New  York — Landinor 
of  Lord  Howe,  on  Long  Island.— VII.  Battle  of  Brooklyn.— VIII.  Retreat  of 
the  American  Army  from  Long  Island.— IX.  Unhappy  Effect  of  the  Defeat  of 
the  American  Army. — X.  Lord  Howe  renews  his  Attempts  for  accommodation 
of  the  Quarrel — Proceedings  of  Congress. — XI.  Military  Movement  of  the  Ar- 
mies, after  the  Battle  of  Brooklyn. — XII.  American  Army,  by  advice  of  General 
Lee,  quit  York  Island.— XIII.  Battle  of  White  Plains.— XIV.  Capture  of  Fort 
Washington. — XV.  Abandonment  of  Fort  Lee,  and  retreat  of  the  American 
Army — Its  condition — Inhabitants  join  the  British. — XVI.  Washington  crosses 
the  Delaware — The  enemy  possess  themselves  of  the  left  bank.— XVII.  Cap- 
ture of  General  Lee.— X VIII.  New  efforts  of  the  Comrnander-in-Chief— The 
enemy  retire  into  Winter  Quarters. — XIX.  Battle  of  Trenton.— XX.  The  Bri- 
tish re-open  the  Campaign. — XXI.  The  American  Army  re-enters  Jersey. — 
XXII.  Battle  of  Princeton.— XXIII.  The  American  Army  retreat  to  Morris- 
town — Beneficial  results  of  the  late  actions. — XXIV.  Firmness  of  Congress. — 
XXV.  Condition  of  New  Jersey. — XXVI.  The  American  Army  innoculated 
for  the  Small  Pox.— XXVII.  Measures  for  reclaiming  the  disaffected  of  New 
Jersey. — XXVIII.  License  of  American  Troops — restrained. 

I.  The  early  successes  of  General  Montgomery,  had  induced  Congress  to 
reinforce  the  army  under  his  command;  and  on  the  intelligence  transmitted 
previous  to  the  assault  on  Quebec,  they  resolved,  that  nine  battalions  should 
be  maintained  in  Canada.*  Nor  did  the  repulse  extinguish  this  ardour. 
The  council  of  war,  of  the  army  before  Boston,  resolved,  that  as  no  troops 
could  be  spared  from  Cambridge*  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
and  New  Hampshire,  should  forward  their  regiments  to  Canada;  and  Con- 
gress, in  addition  to  the  reinforcements  previously  ordered,  directed  four  bat- 
talions from  New  York.  The  indispensable  articles,  blankets,  were  pro- 
cured by  contributions  of  householders,  from  their  family  stocks,  and  specie, 
by  the  enthusiasm  of  patriots,  who  readily  exchanged,  at  par,  their  Mexican 
dollars,  for  the  paper  bills  of  Congress.  It  was  resolved,  also,  to  raise  a  corps 
of  artillery  for  this  service,  and  to  take  into  pay  one  thousand  Canadians,  in 
addition  to  Colonel  Livingston's  regiment,  and  to  place  them  under  the  com- 
mand of  Moses  Hazen,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who  had  resided  many 
years  in  Canada.  A  stimulating  address  to  the  inhabitants,  was  published 
by  Congress ;  and  a  printing  press,  and  a  priest,  were  despatched,  that  the 
cause  might  have  the  powerful  aid  of  letters  and  religion.  Dr.  Franklin, 
and  Mr.  Chase,  members  of  Congress,  and  Mr.  Carrol,  who  was  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  persuasion,  proceeded  to  Canada,  with  the  design  of  gaining 
over  the  people ;  having  authority  to  promise  them  admission  to  the  union  of 
the  colonies,  upon  equal  terms,  with  the  full  enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  and 
ecclesiastical  property.  Such  was  the  diligence  exerted,  that,  in  despite  of 
the  season,  the  first  reinforcements  reached  the  American  army,  before 
Quebec,  on  the  eleventh  of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seven- 
ty-six. 

Notwithstanding  these  exertions  of  the  United  States,  their  interest  in 
Canada  had  daily  declined,  from  the  fall  of  Montgomery.  The  unsuccessful 

*  January  8th,  1776. 


204  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

assault  on  Quebec,  had  dispirited  the  friendly  Canadians,  and  Indians.  The 
small  pox,  which  had  been  communicated  to  the  army  by  a  woman  who  had 
been  sent,  voluntarily  or  compulsorily,  from  the  city,  so  disabled  the  troops, 
that,  of  three  thousand  men,  nine  hundred  only  were  fit  for  duty.  The  af- 
fections of  the  people  were  aliened  by  the  misconduct  of  the  continental 
soldiery,  which,  in  many  instances,  officered  by  men  from  obscure  life, 
without  education,  or  morals,  abandoned  themselves  to  plunder,  and  other 
crimes,  not  more  disgraceful  to  themselves  than  injurious  to  the  cause  they 
were  sent  to  support.  And,  finally,  the  early  opening  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  the  arrival  of  the  British  succours,  compelled  the  Americans  to  com- 
mence their  retreat,  very  early  in  the  month  of  May,*  with  so  much  precipi- 
tation, as  to  leave  their  artillery,  military  stores,  and  some  of  their  sick, 
behind.  To  the  last,  as  well  as  to  such  stragglers  as  were  apprehended,  or 
came  in,  the  humanity  of  General  Carlton  was  exemplary;  and  more  adapted 
to  injure  the  American  cause,  than  the  cruelty  of  other  British  commanders. 
He  dismissed  his  prisoners,  after  liberally  supplying  their  wants,  with  the 
recommendation,  "  to  go  home,  mind  their  farms,  and  keep  themselves  and 
their  neighbours  from  all  participation  in  the  unhappy  war." 

A  disastrous  retreat  was  pursued,  during  which,  General  Thomas,  the 
chief  in  command,  fell  a  victim  to  the  small  pox.  On  his  death,  the  direc- 
tion of  the  army  devolved,  first  on  General  Arnold,  and  afterwards  on  Gene- 
ral Sullivan.  Brigadier-general  Thompson  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt 
on  the  British  post  at  Trois  Rivieres,  in  which  he  was  made  prisoner, 
though  little  other  loss  was  sustained.  On  the  first  of  July,  the  whole  army 
reached  Crown  Point,  where  the  first  stand  was  made.  The  retreat  was 
rendered  more  painful,  by  the  reproaches  of  those  Canadians,  who  had  united 
with  the  invaders,  and  who  were  ab'out  to  be  abandoned  to  the  penalties  of 
unsuccessful  insurrection,  and  by  the  plunder  of  the  merchants  of  Montreal, 
by  the  avaricious  and  profligate  Arnold. 

II.  Notwithstanding  the  universal  resistance,  in  America,  to  the  measures 
of  the  ministry,  the  Parliament  and  people  of  Great  Britain,  could  not  be 
made  to  believe,  that  it  would  be  maintained  against  a  determined  spirit  on 
the  part  of  the  government,  and  a  few  thousand  troops  to  aid  the  established 
authorities.  This  erroneous  opinion  was  confirmed  by  the  royal  officers, 
who  were,  probably,  themselves  deceived  by  their  wishes.  The  military 
operations,  therefore,  of  the  year  1775,  were  adopted,  more  to  strengthen 
the  civil  authority,  than  to  support  a  contest  for  empire.  But  the  battles  of 
Lexington,  Breed's  Hill,  and  the  measures  subsequently  adopted  by  Con- 
gress, awakened  the  nation  from  this  delusive  dream,  and  produced  an  ear- 
nest resolution,  at  all  hazards,  to  establish  its  supremacy  over  the  colonies. 

The  speech  from  the  throne,  on  the  opening  of  the  Parliament,  twenty- 
fourth  October,  1775,  declared,  that  his  Majesty's  subjects,  in  America, 
"  meant,  only,  to  amuse,  by  vague  expressions  of  attachment  to  the  parent 
state,  while  they  were  preparing  for  a  general  revolt ;"  "  that  the  rebel- 
lious war,  now  levied  by  them,  was  become  more  general,  and,  manifestly, 
carried  on  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  an  independent  empire ;  and  that  it 
was  become  the  part  of  wisdom,  and  in  its  effects,  of  clemency,  to  put  a 
speedy  end  to  these  disorders,  by  the  most  decisive  exertions."  The  senti- 
ments of  the  speech  were  echoed  in  the  addresses  of  both  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment, but  not  without  a  spirited  protest  in  the  Lords.  Nineteen  dissenting 
members  declared  the  approaching  war  to  be  "  unjust  and  impolitic  in  its 
principles,  and  fatal  in  its  consequences,"  and  that  they  could  not  approve  an 
address  "  which  might  deceive  his  Majesty  and  the  public,  into  a  belief  of 

*  On  the  4th. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  205 

their  confidence  in  the  present  ministers,  who  had  disgraced  Parliament,  de- 
ceived the  nation,  lost  the  colonies,  and  involved  them  in  a  civil  war,  against 
their  dearest  interests,  and  on  the  most  unjustifiable  grounds,  v/antonly  spilling 
the  blood  of  thousands  of  their  fellow  subjects." 

With  the  sanction  of  Parliament,  estimates  for  the  public  service  were 
made  on  the  basis  of  operations  against  a  foreign  armed  power.  Twenty- 
eight  thousand  seamen  and  fifty-five  thousand  land  forces  were  immediately 
voted ;  authority  was  soon  afterwards  given  to  employ  foreign  mercenaries ; 
and  to  give  full  efficacy  to  these  measures,  an  act  of  parliament*  interdicted 
all  trade  with  the  Americans;  authorized  the  capture  of  their  property, 
whether  of  ships  or  goods,  upon  the  high  seas ;  and  directed,  "  that  the  mas- 
ters, crews,  and  other  persons  found  on  board  captured  American  vessels, 
should  be  entered  on  board  his  Majesty's  vessels  of  war,  and  there  considered 
to  be  in  his  Majesty's  service,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  if  they  had  en- 
tered of  their  own  accord.  And  this,  worse  than  Mahommedan  slavery, 
was  insolently  represented,  as  a  merciful  substitution  of  an  act  of  grace  and 
favour,  for  the  death  which  was  due  to  rebellion.  This  bill,  also,  authorized 
the  crown  to  appoint  commissioners,  with  power  to  grant  pardon  to  indivi- 
duals, to  inquire  into  general  and  particular  grievances,  and  to  determine 
whether  any  colony  or  part  of  a  colony  was  returned  to  that  state  of  obe- 
dience, which  might  entitle  it  to  be  received  within  the  King's  peace  and 
protection ;  in  which  case  the  restrictions  of  the  law  were  to  cease.  In  the 
debate  on  the  bill,  Lord  Mansfield,  whose  ability  and  legal  knowledge  were 
known  and  admired  in  America,  declared,  "  that  the  questions  of  original 
right  and  wrong  were  no  longer  to  be  considered — that  they  were  engaged 
in  a  war,  and  must  use  their  utmost  efforts  to  obtain  the  ends  proposed  by 
it — that  they  must  either  fight  or  be  pursued — and  that  the  justice  of  the 
cause  must  give  way  to  their  present  situation."  This  declaration,  justified 
by  circumstances,  from  the  mouth  of  a  ministerial  partisan,  excited  the  asto- 
nishment, and  aided  to  cement  the  union,  of  the  colonists ;  and  the  act  was, 
justly,  characterized  by  a  member  of  the  opposition,  as  "  a  bill  for  carrying 
more  effectually,  into  execution,  the  resolves  of  Congress."  By  treaties,  ap- 
proved by  Parliament,  with  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse  Cassel,  the  Duke  of 
Brunswick  and  the  hereditary  prince  of  Hesse  Cassel,f  sixteeen  thousand  of 
their  subjects  were  engaged  to  reduce  the  rebellious  colonies  to  submission. 

In  the  selection  of  a  general  for  the  royal  forces,  the  command,  as  a  matter 
of  right,  was  offered  to  General  Oglethorpe,  the  first  on  the  list  of  general 
officers.  To  the  surprise  of  the  minister,  the  gallant  veteran  readily  accepted 
the  proffer,  on  condition,  that  he  should  be  properly  supported.  A  nume- 
rous and  well  appointed  army  and  fleet  were  promised  him.  "  I  will  assume 
the  charge,"  replied  he,  "  without  a  man  or  vessel  of  war,  provided,  I  am 
authorized,  to  proclaim  to  the  colonists,  that  you  will  do  them  justice."  "  I 
know  the  people  of  America  well,"  he  added,  "  and  am  satisfied  that  his 
Majesty  has  not,  in  any  part  of  his  dominions,  more  obedient  and  loyal  sub- 
jects. You  may  secure  their  obedience  by  doing  them  justice,  but  you  will 
never  subdue  them  by  force  of  arms."  A  commander-in-chief,  with  such 
opinions,  was  unacceptable  to  the  ministry,  and  the  command  was  given  to 
Sir  William  Howe. 

III.  It  was  resolved,  to  open  the  campaign  with  a  force  that  would  look 
down  opposition,  and  produce  submission  without  bloodshed ;  and  to  direct  it 
to  three  objects :  1 .  The  relief  of  Quebec ;  the  recovery  of  Canada ;  and 
the  invasion  of  the  adjacent  provinces:  2.  The  chastisement  of  the  southern 
colonies ;  and — 3.  To  seize  New  York  with  a  force  sufficient  to  keep  pos- 

*  20th  Nov.  1775.  i  Feb.  29th,  1766. 


206  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

session  of  the  Hudson  river,  to  maintain  the  communication  with  Canada,  or 
to  overrun  the  adjacent  country.  The  partial  success  of  the  first  we  have 
already  noticed.  The  execution  of  the  second,  was  committed  to  General 
Clinton  and  Sir  Peter  Parker,  and  eventuated  in  their  repulse,  from  Charles- 
ton, by  the  vigorous  efforts  of  the  colonists,  at  Fort  Moultrie ;  and  the  exer- 
tions of  General  Lee,  who  had  charge  of  the  southern  department.  The 
third,  which  involves  the  operations  in  New  Jersey,  asks  from  us  particular 
detail. 

IV.  The  command  of  the  force,  consisting  of  about  three  thousand  men, 
destined  against  New  York,  was  given  to  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  and  his 
brother,  Sir  William,  officers,  high  in  the  confidence  of  the  British  nation ; 
who  were,  also,  appointed  commissioners  for  restoring  peace  to  the  colonies. 
On  evacuating  Boston,  General  Howe,  as  we  have  seen,  retired  to  Halifax, 
designing,  there,  to  await  reinforcements  from  England.  But  his  situation 
proving  uncomfortable,  and  the  arrival  of  succours  being  delayed,  he  at 
length^  June  10th,  1776)  resolved  to  sail  for  New  York.  On  the  fourth  of 
July  his  whole  force  was  established  on  Staten  Island,  where  he  resolved  to 
await  the  arrival  of  the  troops  from  Europe.  The  inhabitants  received  him 
with  great  demonstrations  of  joy,  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the"  crown, 
and  embodied  themselves  under  the  command  of  the  late  Governor  Tryon. 
He  received,  also,  strong  assurances  from  Long  Island,  and  the  neighbouring 
parts  of  New  Jersey,  of  the  favourable  disposition  of  the  greater  proportion 
of  the  people  to  the  royal  cause.  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  after  touching  at 
Halifax,  arrived,  with  the  fleet  and  auxiliary  forces,  on  the  twelfth  of  the 
same  month. 

It  had  early  been  conceived  by  General  Washington,  that  the  British 
would  endeavour  to  possess  New  York.  Its  central  position,  contiguity  to 
the  ocean,  and  capacity  of  defence,  made  it  highly  desirable  to  both  parties. 
While  the  English  were  yet  in  Boston,  General  Lee  had  been  detached  from 
Cambridge,  to  put  the  city  and  Long  Island  in  a  posture  of  defence.  As 
the  departure  of  General  Howe  from  Boston  became  certain,  the  probability 
of  his  going  to  New  York,  increased  the  necessity  of  collecting  a  force  for 
its  defence.  By  a  resolution  of  a  council  of  war,  (March  13th,  1766)  five 
regiments,  with  a  rifle  battalion,  were  marched  upon  it,  and  the  states  of  New 
York  and  New  Jersey,  were  requested  to  furnish — the  former  two  thousand, 
and  the  latter  one  thousand  men,  for  its  immediate  defence.  General  Wash- 
ington soon  afterwards  followed,  and  early  in  April,  fixed  his  head  quarters 
in  that  city. 

The  experience  which  the  American  commander  already  had  of  the  mate- 
rial that  must  necessarily  compose  his  army,  determined  him  to  pursue  the 
Fabian  mode  of  war,  a  war  of  posts;  to  hazard  nothing,  but  to  hover  round 
the  enemy,  watching  his  motions,  cutting  off  his  supplies,  and  perpetually 
harassing  him  with  small  detachments,  until  his  own  army  had  became  accus- 
tomed to  military  fatigue  and  danger.  With  this  view,  works  were  erected, 
in  and  about  New  York,  on  Long  Island,  and  the  heights  of  Haerlem.  Con- 
gress on  the  opening  of  the  campaign,  had  a  force  far  inadequate  to  its  objects. 
And  though  feeling  the  inconvenience  of  the  temporary  armies  formed  of  the 
militia,  on  short  tours  of  service,  they,  or  the  country,  probably  both,  were 
not  prepared  to  enlist  men  for  periods  that  would  render  them  efficient  sol- 
diers, and  therefore  they  adopted  middle  expedients.  They  instituted  a  flying 
camp,  composed  of  one  thousand  men  from  the  states  of  Pennsylvania,  Dela- 
ware, and  Maryland,  engaged  until  the  first  day  of  the  ensuing  December, 
and  at  the  same  time,  called  out  13,800  of  the  ordinary  militia.  The  ranks 
of  the  first  were  chiefly  filled,  but  great  deficiencies  occurred  in  those  of  the 
second.  The  difficulty  of  providing  the  troops  with  arms  which  had  hitherto 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  207 

been  distressingly  great,  was  now  much  increased.  By  the  returns  of  April, 
the  garrison  at  Fort  Montgomery  in  the  Highlands,  composed  of  two  hundred 
and  eight  privates,  had  only  forty-one  guns  fit  for  use ;  and  that  at  Fort  Con- 
stitution of  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  men,  had  only  sixty-eight  guns. 
Flints  were  scarce,  and  the  lead  for  musket  balls  was  obtained,  by  strip- 
ping the  dwellings. 

V.  Notwithstanding  independence  had  been  declared,  the  British  com- 
manders and  commissioners  resolved  before  commencing  military  operations, 
to  try  the  influence  of  their  powers  for  pacification.  On  the  14th  of  July, 
Lord  Howe  sent  on  shore,  by  a  flag,  a  circular  letter,  addressed  severally, 
to  the  late  governors  under  the  crown,  enclosing  a  declaration  which  he  re- 
requested  them  to  publish,  announcing  to  the  people  his  authority  to  grant 
pardon  to  all,  who  having  departed  from  their  allegiance,  would,  by  speedy 
return  to  duty,  merit  the  royal  favour;  to  declare  any  colony,  town,  port,  or 
place,  in  the  peace,  and  under  the  protection  of  the  crown,  and  excepted  from 
the  penal  provisions  of  the  act  of  Parliament,  prohibiting  trade  and  intercourse 
with  the  colonies ;  and  to  give  assurances,  that  the  services  of  all  persons 
aiding  in  the  restoration  of  public  tranquillity,  should  be  duly  considered. 
These  papers  were  transmitted  to  Congress,  who  caused  them  to  "  be  pub- 
lished in  the  several  gazettes,  that  the  good  people  of  the  United  States  might 
be  informed  of  what  nature  were  the  powers  of  the  commissioners,  and  what 
the  terms,"  offered  by  them.  About  the  same  time,  his  lordship  addressed  a 
letter  to  "  George  Washington,  Esq.,"  which  the  general  refused  to  receive,  be- 
cause his  public  character  was  not,  thereby,  recognised,  and  in  no  other,  could 
he  have  intercourse  with  the  writer.  This  reason,  unquestionably  sound,  was 
approved  by  the  Congress.  The  commissioners,  earnest  in  their  purpose, 
sent  Colonel  Patterson,  adjutant-general  of  their  army,  to  the  American  com- 
mander, with  another  letter,  directed  to  "  George  Washington,  &c.  &c.  &c." 
When  introduced  to  the  general,  he  addressed  him  by  the  title  of  "Excellen- 
cy ;"  and  presented  the  regrets  of  General  Howe,  for  the  difficulty  which  had 
arisen  with  respect  to  the  direction  of  the  letter ;  observing,  that  the  mode 
adopted  was  deemed  consistent  with  propriety,  and  was  founded  on  prece- 
dent in  cases  of  diplomates,  when  disputes  had  been  made  about  rank;  that 
General  Washington  had,  in  the  preceding  summer,  addressed  a  letter  to  "  the 
honourable  William  Howe;"  that  the  commissioners  did  not  mean  to  dero- 
gate from  his  rank,  or  the  respect,  due  to  him,  and  that  they  held  his  person 
and  character  in  the  highest  esteem ;  but  that,  the  direction,  with  the  addition 
of  &c.  &c.  &c.  implied  every  thing  which  ought  to  follow.  The  colonel, 
then,  produced  a  letter,  which  he  said  was  the  same  that  had  been  before 
sent,  and  which  he  laid  upon  the  table.  But  the  general  declined  to  receive 
it.  He  still  urged,  that,  the  address  of  a  letter  to  one  in  a  public  character, 
should  indicate  such  character,  and  remarked,  that  though  the  et  ceteras  im- 
plied every  thing,  they  also  implied  any  thing :  That,  his  letter  to  General 
Howe  was  an  answer  to  one  he  had  received  from  him  under  a  like  address, 
and  that  he  would  decline  any  letter  relating  to  his  official  station,  directed 
to  him  as  a  private  person.  During  the  subsequent  conference,  which  the 
adjutant-general  wished  to  be  considered  as  a  first  advance  towards  concilia- 
tion, he  remarked,  that  "the  commissioners  were  clothed  with  great  powers, 
and  would  be  very  happy  in  effecting  an  accommodation."  But  he  received 
for  answer,  that  "  from  appearances,  they  had  power  only  to  pardon  those, 
who  having  never  transgressed,  sought  no  forgiveness."  Soon  after  this 
interview,  a  letter  from  General  Howe  respecting  prisoners,  properly  address- 
ed to  General  Washington,  was  duly  received. 

These  seductive  efforts  of  the  British  agents  v/ere  repaid  by  Congress  in 
kind.  A  resolution  of  the  1 4th  of  August,  offered  to  all  foreigners  who  should 


208  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

leave  the  armies  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  in  America,  and  become  members 
of  any  of  the  states,  protection  in  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  the  en- 
joyment of  the  privileges  of  natives,  together  with  fifty  acres  of  land. 

VI.  The  amount  of  the  American  force  rendered  the  British  comman- 
ders cautious  in  commencing  their  operations  by  land.     Their  fleet,  how- 
ever, gave  them  great  advantages,  and  soon  demonstrated  the  total  ineffi- 
ciency of  the  American   obstructions  to  the  passage  of  the  North  river. 
Frigates  and  smaller  vessels  passed  the  batteries  of  New  York,  Paules  Hook, 
Red  Bank,  and  Governor's  Island,  almost  with  impunity.     The  American 
army  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  on  the  8th  of  August,  consisted  of  not 
more  than  seventeen  thousand  men,  mostly  new  recruits,  distributed  in  small 
and  unconnected  posts,  some  of  which  were  fifteen  miles  distant  from  others. 
It  was  soon  after  increased  by  Small  wood's  regiment  from  Maryland,  two 
regiments  from  Pennsylvania,  and  a  body  of  New  England  and  New  York 
militia,  to  twenty-seven  thousand ;  of  whom,  however,  one-fourth  were  un- 
fitted for  duty  by  sickness.     A  part  of  this  force  was  stationed  on  Long 
Island,  where  Major-general  Greene  had  originally  commanded,  but  becom- 
ing extremely  ill,  had  been  succeeded  by  Major-general  Sullivan. 

As  the  defence  of  Long  Island  was  intimately  connected  with  that  of  New 
York,  a  brigade  had  been  stationed  there,  whilst  the  army  was  assembling  ; 
and  had  taken  a  strong  post  at  Brooklyn,  where  an  extensive  camp  had  been 
marked  out  and  fortified.  The  village  is  on  a  small  peninsula,  formed  by 
the  East  river,  the  Bay,  and  Gowan's  Cove,  into  which  a  creek  empties  itself. 
This  encampment  fronted  the  main  land  of  the  island,  and  the  works  stretch- 
ed quite  across  the  peninsula,  from  Waaleboght  Bay  in  the  East  river,  on 
the  left,  to  a  deep  marsh  on  the  creek  emptying  into  Gowan's  Cove  on  the 
right.  The  rear  was  covered  by  the  batteries  on  Red  Hook,  Governor's 
Island,  and  on  the  East  river.  In  front  of  the  camp  was  a  range  of  hills, 
crowned  with  thick  woods,  which  extended  from  east  to  west,  near  the 
length  of  the  island ;  and  though  steep,  they  were  every  where  passable  by 
infantry. 

The  whole  of  the  English  force  having  at  length  arrived,  General  Howe 
indicated  his  intention  to  remove  to  Long  Island — a  battle  for  its  possession 
became  inevitable.  To  this  selection  he  was  induced  by  its  abundant  pro- 
duct of  the  supplies  which  his  forces  required.  He  landed  on  the  22d  of 
August,  between  the  small  towns,  Utrecht  and  Gravesend,  without  opposi- 
tion; Colonel  Hand,  with  a  Pennsylvania  regiment,  retiring  before  him  to 
the  woody  heights  commanding  the  pass  leading  through  Flatbush  to  the 
works  at  Brooklyn.  Lord  Cornwallis  immediately  marched  to  seize  this 
pass,  but  finding  it  occupied,  took  post  in  the  village. 

VII.  On  the  25th  of  August,  Major-general  Putnam  took  command  at 
Brooklyn,  with  a  reinforcement  of  six  regiments.     On  the  same  day,  Gene- 
ral de  Heister  landed  with  two  brigades  of  Hessians ;  and  on  the  next,  took 
post  at  Flatbush.     In  the  evening,  Lord  Cornwallis  drew  off  to  Flatland. 
General  Washington  passed  the  day  at  Brooklyn,  making  arrangements  for 
the  approaching  action,  and  returned  at  night  to  New  York. 

The  Hessians,  under  de  Heister,  composed  the  centre  of  the  British  army 
at  Flatbush;  Major-general  Grant  commanded  the  left  wing  extending  to 
the  coast ;  and  the  greater  part  of  the  forces,  under  General  Clinton,  Earl 
Percy,  and  Lord  Cornwallis,  turning  to  the  right,  approached  the  opposite 
shore  at  Flatland. 

The  armies  were  now  separated  by  the  range  of  hills  already  mentioned. 
The  British  centre  was  scarce  four  miles  from  the  American  lines,  at  Brook- 
lyn. A  direct  road,  from  the  one  to  the  other,  led  across  the  heights. 
Another,  but  more  circuitous  road  ran  from  Flatbush,  by  the  way  of  Bedford, 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  209 

a  small  village  on  the  Brooklyn  side  of  the  hills.  The  right  and  left  wings 
of  the  British  were  nearly  equidistant,  five  or  six  miles  from  the  American 
works.  The  road  from  the  Narrows,  along  the  coast,  and  by  Gowan's  Cove, 
was  the  most  direct  route  to  their  left ;  and  their  right  might  either  return  by 
the  way  of  Flatbush,  and  unite  with  the  centre,  or  take  a  more  circuitous 
course,  and  enter  a  road  leading  from  Jamaica  to  Bedford.  These  roads 
united  between  Bedford  and  Brooklyn,  a  small  distance  in  front  of  the 
American  lines. 

In  the  hills,  on  the  direct  road  from  Flatbush  to  Brooklyn,  near  the  for- 
mer, the  Americans  had  reared  a  fortress,  which  had  a  body  of  troops  with 
several  pieces  of  artillery,  for  its  defence.  The  coast  and  Bedford  roads 
were  guarded  by  detachments,  posted  on  the  hills,  within  view  of  the  English 
camp,  which  were  relieved  daily,  and  were  engaged  in  obstructing  the  ways 
by  which  the  enemy  might  advance.  General  Woodhull,  with  the  militia 
of  Long  Island,  was  ordered  to  take  post  on  the  high  grounds,  as  near  the 
enemy  as  possible;  but  he  remained  at  Jamaica,  scarcely  recognising  the 
authority  of  the  officer  commanding  on  the  island.  Light  parties  of  volun- 
teers patrolled  the  road  from  Jamaica  to  Bedford;  about  two  miles  from 
which,  near  Flatbush,  Colonel  Miles,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  stationed  with  a 
regiment  of  riflemen. 

On  the  26th,  Colonel  Lutz,  of  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  commanded  on  the 
coast  road ;  and  Colonel  Williams,  from  New  England,  on  the  road  leading 
from  Flatbush  to  Bedford.  Colonel  Miles,  with  his  regiment,  remained 
where  he  had  been,  originally,  placed.  About  nine  at  night,  General  Clin- 
ton, silently  drew  the  van  of  the  army  from  Flatland,  in  order  to  seize  a  pass 
in  the  heights,  about  three  miles  east  of  Bedford,  on  the  Jamaica  road.  In 
the  morning  of  the  27th,  about  two  hours  before  day,  within  a  half  mile  of 
the  pass,  he  captured  an  American  party,  which  had  been  stationed  on  the 
road,  to  give  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  He  possessed  himself  of 
the  unoccupied  pass,  and  with  the  morning  light,  the  whole  column  passed 
the  heights,  and  advanced  into  the  level  country  between  them  and  Brooklyn. 
They  were  immediately  followed  by  another  column,  under  Lord  Percy. 
Before  Clinton  had  secured  the  pass,  General  Grant  proceeded  along  the 
coast,  wilh  the  left  wing,  and  ten  pieces  of  cannon.  As  his  first  object  was 
to  draw  the  attention  of  the  Americans  from  their  left,  he  moved  slowly, 
skirmishing  with  the  light  parties  in  his  front. 

As  it  had  been  determined  to  deiend  the  .passes  through  the  hills,  General 
Putnam,  apprized  of  these  movements,  reinforced  his  advance  parties,  and 
as  the  enemy  gained  ground,  employed  stronger  detachments  on  this  service. 
About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Brigadier-general  Lord  Stirling,  with 
the  two  nearest  regiments,  was  directed  to  meet  the  enemy,  on  the  road  lead- 
ing from  the  Narrows.  Major-general  Sullivan,  who  commanded  all  the 
troops  without  the  lines,  proceeded  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  body  of 
New  Englandmen,  on  the  road  leading  directly  to  Flatbush,  while  another 
detachment  occupied  the  heights  between  that  place  and  Bedford. 

About  break  of  day,  Lord  Stirling  reached  the  summit  of  the  hills,  where 
he  was  joined  by  the  troops  which  had  been  already  engaged,  and  were  re- 
tiring slowly  before  the  enemy,  who  almost  immediately  appeared  in  sight. 
Having  posted  his  men  advantageously,  a  warm  cannonade  commenced  on 
both  sides,  which  continued  several  hours;  and  some  sharp,  but  not  very 
close  skirmishing  took  place  between  the  infantry.  Lord  Stirling  being 
anxious,  only,  to  defend  the  pass,  could  not  descend  in  force  from  the  heights  ; 
and  General  Grant  did  not  wish  to  drive  him  thence,  until  the  part  of  the 
plan  intrusted  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  should  be  executed. 
2D 


210  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

In  the  centre,  De  Heister,  soon  after  daylight,  began  to  cannonade  the 
troops  under  Sullivan ;  but  did  not  remove  from  Flatbush,  until  the  British 
right  had  approached  the  left  and  rear  of  the  American  line.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  more  effectually  to  draw  attention  from  the  point  where  the  grand 
attack  was  intended,  the  fleet  was  put  in  motion,  and  a  heavy  cannonade 
commenced  on  the  battery  at  Red  Hook. 

About  half  past  eight  o'clock,  the  British  right  having  then  reached  Bed- 
ford, in  the  rear  of  Sullivan's  left,  De  Heister  ordered  Colonel  Donop's  corps 
to  advance  to  the  attack  of  the  hill,  following  himself  with  the  centre.  The 
approach  of  Clinton  was  now  discovered  by  the  American  left,  which  imme- 
diately endeavoured  to  regain  the  camp  at  Brooklyn.  They  were  retiring 
from  the  woods  by  regiments,  with  their  cannon,  when  they  encountered  the 
front  of  the  British,  consisting  of  the  light  infantry  and  light  dragoons,  who 
were  soon  supported  by  the  guards.  About  the  same  time,  the  Hessians 
advanced  from  Flatbush,  against  that  part  of  the  detachment  which  occupied 
the  direct  road  to  Brooklyn.*  Here  General  Sullivan  commanded  in  per- 
son; but  he  found  it  difficult  to  make  his  troops  sustain  the  first  attack. 
The  firing  towards  Bedford  had  disclosed  to  them  the  alarming  fact,  that  the 
British  had  turned  their  left  flank,  and  were  getting  into  their  rear.  Per- 
ceiving, at  once,  their  danger,  they  sought  to  escape,  by  regaining  the  camp 
with  the  utmost  celerity.  The  sudden  route  of  tnis  party  enabled  De  Heister 
to  detach  a  part  of  his  force  against  that  engaged  near  Bedford.  In  that 
quarter,  too,  the  Americans  were  broken  and  driven  back  into  the  woods, 
and  the  front  of  the  column  led  by  General  Clinton,  continuing  to  move  for- 
ward, intercepted  and  engaged  those  who  were  retreating  along  the  direct 
road  from  Flatbush.  Thus  attacked  in  front  and  rear,  and  alternately  driven 
by  the  British  on  the  Hessians,  and  by  the  Hessians  on  the  British,  a  succes- 
sion of  skirmishes  took  place  in  the  woods,  in  the  course  of  which,  some 
parts  of  corps  forced  their  way  through  the  enemy,  and  regained  the  lines  of 
Brooklyn,  and  several  individuals  saved  themselves  under  cover  of  the 
forest ;  but  a  greater  proportion  of  the  detachment  was  killed  or  taken.  The 
fugitives  were  pursued  to  the  American  works,  and  such  was  the  ardour  of 
the  British  soldiery,  that  their  cautious  commander  could  scarce  prevent  an 
immediate  assault. 

The  fire  towards  Brooklyn  gave  the  first  intimation  to  the  American  right, 
that  the  enemy  had  gained  their  rear.  Lord  Stirling  perceived  that  he 
could  escape  only  by  instantly  retreating  across  the  creek,  near  the  Yellow 
Mills,  not  far  from  the  cove.  Orders  to  this  effect  were  immediately  given, 
and  the  more  effectually  to  secure  the  retreat  of  the  main  body  of  the  de- 
tachment, he  determined  to  attack,  in  person,  a  corps  of  the  British,  under 
Lord  Cornwallis,  stationed  at  a  house  somewhat  above  the  place  at  which  he 
proposed  crossing  the  creek.  About  four  hundred  of  Smallwood's  regiment 
were  drawn  out  for  this  purpose,  and  the  assault  was  made  with  great  spirit. 
This  small  corps  was  brought  several  times  to  the  charge,  and  Lord  Stirling 
was  on  the  point  of  dislodging  Lord  Cornwallis,  when  the  force  in  his  front 
increasing,  and  General  Grant  also  advancing  on  his  rear,  he  could  no  lon- 
ger oppose  the  superior  numbers  which  assailed  him,  on  every  quarter;  and 
the  survivors  of  this  brave  party,  with  their  general,  became  prisoners  of 
war.  This  bold  and  well  judged  attempt,  though  unsuccessful,  was  not 
without  its  advantages ;  giving  an  opportunity  to  a  large  part  of  the  detach- 
ment, to  save  themselves  by  crossing  the  creek. 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  American  army  on  this  occasion  was  conside- 
rable, but  could  not  be  accurately  ascertained.  Numbers  were  supposed  to 

*  General  Howe's  Letter. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  211 

have  been  drowned  in  the  creek,  or  suffocated  in  the  marsh ;  and  exact  ac- 
counts from  the  militia  could  not  be  procured.  General  Washington  did  not 
admit  it  to  exceed  a  thousand  men,  but  in  this  estimate  he  could  only  have 
included  the  regular  troops.  General  Howe  states  the  prisoners  to  have 
amounted  to  one  thousand  and  ninety-seven,  among  whom  were  Major-gene- 
ral Sullivan,  and  Brigadiers  Lord  Stirling,  and  Woodhull,  by  him  named 
Udell.  He  computes  the  loss  of  the  Americans  at  three  thousand  three  hun- 
dred, but  this  computation  is,  probably,  excessive.  He  supposes  too,  that  the 
troops  engaged  on  the  heights,  amounted  to  ten  thousand ;  but  it  is  impossi- 
ble they  could  have  much  exceeded  half  that  number.  His  own  loss,  he 
states  at  twenty-one  officers,  and  three  hundred  and  forty-six  privates  killed, 
wounded,  and  taken. 

As  the  action  became  warm,  General  Washington  passed  over  to  the  camp 
at  Brooklyn,  where  he  saw  with  inexpressible  anguish,  the  destruction  in 
which  his  best  troops  were  involved,  and  from  which  it  was  impossible  to  ex- 
tricate them.  He  could  direct  his  efforts  only  to  the  preservation  of  those 
which  remained. 

Believing  the  Americans  to  be  much  stronger  than  they  were  in  reality, 
and  unwilling  to  commit  any  thing  to  hazard,  General  Howe  made  no  imme- 
diate attempt  to  force  their  lines.  He  encamped  in  front,  and  on  the  twenty- 
eighth,  at  night,  broke  ground  in  form,  within  six  hundred  yards  of  a  redoubt 
on  the  left. 

VIII.  Successful  resistance  to  the  victorious  enemy  being  now  hopeless, 
and  the  American  troops,  lying  in  the  lines  without  shelter  from  the  heavy 
rains,  becoming  daily  more  dispirited,  the  resolution  was  taken  to  withdraw 
the  army  from  Long  Island.     This  difficult,  movement  was  effected  on  the 
night  of  the  28th,  with  such  silence  and  despatch,  that  all  the  troops  and 
military  stores,  with  a  greater  part  of  the  provisions,  and  all  the  artillery  ex- 
cept some  heavy  pieces,  which,  in  the  state  of  the  roads,  could  not  be  drawn, 
were  carried  over  in  safety.     Early  the  next  morning,  the  British  outposts 
perceived  the  rear-guard  crossing  the  East  river,  out  of  reach  of  their  fire. 
If  the  attempt  to  defend  Long  Island,  so  disastrous  in  its  issue,  impeach  the 
judgment  of  the  commander-in-chief,  his  masterly  retreat,  justly,  added  to  his 
reputation  among  military  men. 

IX.  But  the  effect  of  this  defeat  was  most  injurious  to  the  American 
cause.     It  took  from  the  troops  the  confidence  which  preceding  events  had 
created,  and  planted  in  its  place,  a  dread  of  the  enemy,  to  whom  the  perfec- 
tion of  military  skill  was  now  ascribed. 

In  a  letter  from  General  Washington  to  Congress,  the  state  of  the  army, 
after  this  event,  was  thus  feelingly  described.  "  Our  situation  is  truly  dis- 
tressing. The  check  our  detachment  sustained  on  the  27th  ultimo,  has 
dispirited  too  great  a  proportion  of  our  troops,  and  filled  their  minds  with 
apprehension  and  despair.  The  militia,  instead  of  calling  forth  their  utmost 
efforts  to  a  brave  and  manly  opposition,  in  order  to  repair  our  losses,  are 
dismayed,  intractable,  and  impatient  to  return.  Great  numbers  of  them 
have  gone  off,  in  some  instances,  almost  by  whole  regiments,  in  many,  by 
half  ones,  and  by  companies  at  a  time.  This  circumstance  of  itself,  inde- 
pendent of  others,  when  fronted  by  a  well  appointed  enemy,  superior  in  num- 
ber to  our  whole  collected  force,  would  be  sufficiently  disagreeable:  but 
when  it  is  added,  that  their  example  has  infected  another  party  of  the  army ; 
that  their  want  of  discipline,  and  refusal  of  almost  every  kind  of  restraint 
and  government,  have  rendered  a  like  conduct  but  too  common  in  the  whole  ; 
and  have  produced  an  entire  disregard  of  that  order  and  subordination  neces- 
sary for  the  well  doing  of  an  army,  and  which  had  been  before  inculcated  as 
well  as  the  nature  of  our  military  establishment  would  admit ;  our  condition 


212  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

is  still  more  alarming,  and  with  the  deepest  concern  I  am  obliged  to  confess 
my  want  of  confidence  in  the  generality  of  the  troops. 

"  All  these  circumstances  fully  confirm  the  opinion  I  ever  entertained,  and 
which  I,  more  than  once,  in  my  letters,  took  the  liberty  of  mentioning  to 
Congress ;  that  no  dependance  could  be  put  in  a  militia,  or  other  troops  than 
those  enlisted  and  embodied  for  a  longer  period  than  our  regulations  have 
hitherto  prescribed.  I  am  persuaded,  and  am  as  fully  convinced  as  of  any 
one  fact  that  has  happened,  that  our  liberties  must,  of  necessity,  be  greatly 
hazarded,  if  not  entirely  lost,  if  their  defence  be  left  to  any  but  a  permanent 
army. 

"  Nor  would  the  expense  incident  to  the  support  of  such  a  body  of  troops, 
as  would  be  competent  to  every  exigency,  far  exceed  that  which  is  incurred 
by  calling  in  daily  succours,  and  new  enlistments,  which  when  effected,  are 
not  attended  with  any  good  consequences.  Men  who  have  been  free,  and 
subject  to  no  control,  cannot  be  reduced  to  order  in  an  instant;  and  the  pri- 
vileges and  exemptions  they  claim,  and  will  have,  influence  the  conduct  of 
others  in  such  a  manner,  that  the  aid  derived  from  them  is  nearly  counter- 
balanced by  the  disorder,  irregularity,  and  confusion  they  occasion." 

The  frequent  remonstrances  of  the  commander-in-chief,  the  opinions  of 
all  military  men,  and  the  severe  correcting  hand  of  experience,  at  length, 
produced  their  effect  on  -the  government  of  the  union;  and  soon  after  the 
defeat  on  Long  Island,  it  had  been  referred  to  the  committee  composing 
the  board  of  war,  to  prepare  a  plan  of  operations  for  the  next  succeeding 
campaign.  Their  report,  which  was  adopted,  proposed  a  permanent  army 
to  be  enlisted  for  the  war,  and  to  be  composed  of  eighty-eight  battalions,  to 
be  raised  by  the  several  states  in  proportion  to  their  ability.*  As  induce- 
ments to  enlist,  a  bounty  of  twenty  dollars  was  allowed  to  each  recruit,  and 
small  portions  of  vacant  lands  promised  to  every  officer  and  soldier."f 

X.  Lord  Howe,  in  his  character  of  commissioner,  sought,  immediately,  to 
avail  himself  of  the  impression,  which  he  supposed  the  victory  of  the  twenty- 
seventh  might  have  made  on  Congress.  For  this  purpose,  General  Sullivan 
was  sent  on  parole,  to  Philadelphia,  with  a  verbal  message,  purporting,  that 
though  his  lordship  could  not,  at  present,  treat  with  Congress  as  a  political 
body,  yet  he  was  desirous  to  confer  with  some  of  its  members,  as  private 
gentlemen,  and  to  meet  them  at  such  place  as  they  would  appoint :  That, 
with  General  Howe,  he  had  full  powers  to  compromise  the  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  and  America ;  the  obtaining  of  which  had  delayed  him  near 
two  months  in  England,  and  prevented  his  arrival  at  New  York  before  the 
declaration  of  independence :  That  he  wished  a  compact  to  be  settled,  at 
this  time,  when  no  decisive  blow  was  struck,  and  neither  party  could  feel 
compulsion  to  enter  into  an  agreement :  That,  if  Congress  were  disposed  to 
treat,  many  things  which  they  had  not  yet  asked,  might,  and  ought  to  be, 
granted;  and  that  if,  upon  conference,  there  should  be  a  probability  of 
accommodation,  the  authority  of  Congress  would  be  recognised,  as  indispen- 
sable to  the  completion  of  the  compact. 

This  proposition  was  embarrassing.  Absolute  rejection  might  give  colour 
to  the  opinion,  that,  if  independence  were  waved,  restoration  of  the  ancient 
connexion,  on  principles,  formerly  deemed  constitutional,  was  practicable; 

*  New  Hampshire  3,  Massachusetts  15,  Rhode  Island  2,  Connecticut  8,  New  York 
4,  New  Jersey  4,  Pennsylvania  12,  Delaware  1,  Maryland  3,  Virginia  15,  North  Caro- 
lina 0,  South  Carolina  6,  Georgia  1. — 88. 

t  To  a  colonel  500  acres,  lieutenant-colonel  450,  major  400,  captain  300,  lieutenant 
200,  ensign  150,  and  a  non-commissioned  officer  or  private  100  acres. 

The  resolution  was  afterwards  changed  so  as  to  give  the  option  to  enlist  for  three 
years,  or  during  the  war.  Those  enlisting  for  three  years  not  to  be  entitled  to  land. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  213 

whilst  to  enter  upon  negotiation  under  existing  circumstances  might  impair 
confidence,  in  the  determination  of  Congress,  to  maintain  the  independence 
they  had  declared.  The  difficulty  was,  in  a  measure,  surmounted  by  the 
reply,  "  that  Congress,  being  the  representatives  of  the  free  and  independent 
states  of  America,  could  not,  with  propriety,  send  any  of  its  members  to  con- 
fer with  his  lordship  in  their  private  characters ;  but,  that  ever  desirous  of 
establishing  peace  upon  reasonable  terms,  they  would  send  a  committee  of 
their  body,  to  know  whether  he  had  authority  to  treat  with  persons  autho- 
rized by  Congress  for  that  purpose,  on  behalf  of  America ;  and  what  that 
authority  is ;  and  to  hear  such  propositions  as  he  shall  think  proper  to  make 
respecting  the  same."  General  Washington  was,  at  the  same  time,  instruct- 
ed, that  no  proposition  for  peace  ought  to  be  regarded,  unless  made  in 
writing,  and  addressed  to  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  in  Con- 
gress, or  to  persons  authorized  by  them ;  and  that  if  application  were  made 
to  him,  on  the  subject,  by  any  of  the  British  commanders,  he  should  inform 
them,  that  the  United  States  having  entered  into  the  war,  only,  for  the  de- 
fence of  their  lives  and  liberties,  would  cheerfully  agree  to  peace  on  reasona- 
ble terms,  whenever  it  should  be  so  proposed  to  them.  These  resolutions 
had  the  appearance  of  maintaining  independence,  without  making  it  the  con- 
dition of  peace. 

Dr.  Franklin,  John  Adams,  and  Edward  Rutledge,  the  committee  of  Con- 
gress, met  Lord  Howe  on  Staten  Island.  The  conference  was  fruitless.  The 
committee,  in  their  report,  gave  a  summary  of  its  matter,  saying,  "  It  did 
not  appear,  that  his  lordship's  commission  contained  any  other  authority 
than  that  expressed  in  the  act  of  Parliament ;  namely,  that  of  granting  par- 
dons, with  such  exceptions  as  the  commissioners  should  think  proper  to  make ; 
and  of  declaring  America,  or  any  part  of  it,  to  be  in  the  King's  peace  on 
submission:  for  as  to  the  power  of  inquiring  into  the  state  of  America,  which 
his  lordship  mentioned  to  us,  and  of  conferring  and  consulting  with  any  per- 
sons the  commissioners  might  think  proper,  and  representing  the  result  of 
conversation  to  the  ministry,  who,  provided  the  colonists  would  subject  them- 
selves, might,  after  all,  or  might  not,  at  their  pleasure,  make  any  alterations 
in  the  former  instructions  to  governors,  or  propose,  in  Parliament,  any 
amendment  of  the  acts  complained  of;  we  apprehended  any  expectation  from 
the  effect  of  such  a  power,  would  have  been  too  uncertain  and  precarious  to 
be  relied  on  by  America,  had  she  still  continued  in  her  state  of  dependence." 

XI.  A  council  of  war,  convoked  by  Washington,  resolved  to  act  on  the 
defensive,  and  not  to  risk  the  army  for  the  state  of  New  York ;  but  a  middle 
line  between  abandonment  and  defence,  was,  for  a  short  time,  adopted. 
The  public  stores  were  removed  to  Dobb's  Ferry,  about  twenty-six  miles 
from  New  York.  Twelve  thousand  men  were  ordered  to  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  York  Island,  and  four  thousand  five  hundred  returned  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  city :  the  remainder  occupied  the  intermediate  space,  with  direc- 
tions to  support  the  city  or  the  camp,  at  King's  Bridge,  as  exigencies  might 
require.  As  it  was  impossible  to  determine  where  the  British  would  attempt 
to  land,  it  was  necessary,  pursuant  to  the  system  of  procrastination,  and  the 
determination  to  gain  time  to  raise  works  for  defence  at  various  points.  At 
length,  (September  12th)  another  council  of  war  directed  the  abandonment 
of  the  city.  General  Mercer,  who  commanded  the  flying  camp  on  the  Jersey 
shore,  also,  moved  up  the  North  river,  to  a  post  opposite  Fort  Washington. 

On  the  fifteenth  General  Howe  commenced  to  land  his  forces,  under  cover 
of  some  ships  of  war,  on  the  East  river,  between  Kipp's  and  Turtle  Bays. 
The  works,  at  this  point,  were  capable  of  defence  for  some  time ;  but  the 
troops,  stationed  in  them,  terrified  at  the  fire  from  the  ships,  abandoned  them 
without  waiting  an  attack,  and  fled  with  precipitation.  When  the  cannonade 


214  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

had  commenced,  the  brigades  of  Generals  Parsons  and  Fellows  were  put  in 
motion,  and  marched  to  the  support  of  the  lines,  and  General  Washington, 
himself,  rode  towards  the  scene  of  action.  The  panic  of  the  fugitives,  from 
the  works,  was  communicated  to  the  advancing  troops,  and  the  commander- 
in-chief,  had  the  extreme  mortification  to  meet  the  whole  retreating  in  the 
utmost  disorder,  despite  the  great  efforts  of  their  generals  to  check  the  dis- 
graceful flight ;  and  whilst  he,  himself,  attempted  to  rally  them,  a  small  corps 
of  the  enemy  coming  in  sight,  they  again  broke  and  fled  in  the  utmost  con- 
fusion. The  usually  firm  and  equable  mind  of  this  admirable  man,  seems, 
on  this  occasion,  to  have  been  swayed  by  a  gust  of  natural  passion ;  and  for 
the  first,  and  perhaps,  the  only  time,  he  despaired  of  the  cause  in  which  he 
had  embarked  his  fortune,  his  life,  and  his  fame.  In  the  rear  of  his  das- 
tardly troops,  with  his  face  to  the  enemy,  he  appeared  willing  to  bury  the 
pangs  of  the  present,  and  the  dreaded  infamy  of  the  future,  in  an  honourable 
grave.  His  aids  and  friends,  who  surrounded  his  person,  by  indirect  vio- 
lence, compelled  him  to  retire,  and  preserved  a  life,  perhaps,  indispensable 
to  the  independence  of  his  country.* 

The  only  part  remaining  to  be  taken  after  this  dereliction,  was  to  withdraw 
the  few  remaining  troops  from  New  York,  and  to  secure  the  posts  on  the 
heights.  For  the  latter  purpose,  the  lines  were  instantly  manned,  but  no 
attempt  was  made  on  them.  The  retreat  from  New  York  was  effected  with 
an  inconsiderable  loss  of  men,  in  a  skirmish  at  Bloomingdale ;  but  all  the 
heavy  artillery,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  baggage,  provisions,  and  military 
stores,  were  unavoidably  abandoned.  No  part  of  this  loss  was  more  severely 
felt,  than  that  of  the  tents.  In  this  shameful  day,  one  colonel,  one  captain, 
three  subalterns,  and  ten  privates,  were  certainly  killed;  one  lieutenant- 
colonel,  one  captain,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  privates  were  missing. 
The  conduct  of  the  troops  on  this  occasion,  calls  for  remarks  which  are  alike 
applicable  to  the  prior  and  subsequent  armies  of  the  United  States.  They 
had  not  the  experience  which  teaches  the  veteran  to  do  his  duty,  wherever 
he  may  be  placed ;  in  the  assurance,  that  others  will  likewise  do  theirs ;  and 
to  rely,  that  those  who  direct  the  whole  will  not  expose  him  to  useless  hazard 
nor  neglect  those  precautions  which  the  safety  of  the  whole  may  require.f 

Unfortunately,  there  existed  in  many  parts  of  the  army,  other  causes  beside 
the  shortness  of  the  terms  of  enlistment,  and  the  inefficiency  of  the  militia, 
which  prevented  the  acquisition  of  these  military  sentiments.  In  New  Eng- 
land, whence  the  war  had  been  principally  supported,  the  zeal  excited  by  the 
revolution  had  taken  such  a  direction,  as  in  a  great  measure  to  abolish  those 
distinctions  between  the  platoon  officers  and  the  soldiers,  which  are  indispen- 
sable to  the  formation  of  an  efficient  army.  Many  of  these  officers,  here,  as 
in  other  parts  of  the  union,  were  elected  by  the  men,  and  were,  consequently, 
disposed  to  associate  with  them  on  the  footing  of  equality.  In  some  instances, 
those  were  chosen  who  had  agreed  to  put  their  pay  in  common  stock  with 
that  of  the  soldiers,  and  to  divide  equally  with  them.  It  is  not  cause  of 
wonder,  that  among  such  officers,  the  most  disgraceful  and  unmilitary  prac- 
tices should  sometimes  prevail ;  nor  that  privates  should  fail  in  respect,  sub- 

*  Ramsay's  American  Revolution,  vol.  i.  p.  392.  Mr.  Marshall  does  not  notice,  to 
affirm  or  deny,  this  statement  of  Mr.  Ramsay.  If  the  suppression  have  been  made 
for  the  purpose  of  aggrandizing  the  hero  of  the  hiographer,  it  is  reprehensible. — 
The  office  of  apotheosis  belongs  to  the  poet  or  the  slave.  It  is  above  or  below  the 
historian.  And  no  human  character  can  suffer  less,  from  full  disclosure,  than  that 
of  General  Washington.  Such  shades,  as  this,  are  but  the  foil  of  the  brilliant,  serv- 
ing to  perfect  its  lustre.  Such  instances  of  weakness,  improve  the  exemplar  which 
his  life  affords.  Were  it  marked  by  unvarying  wisdom,  it  would  be  rejected  in 
despair,  as  unattainable. 

t  Marshall's  Washington,  vol.  ii.  434. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

ordination,  and  obedience.  Orders  of  this  period  show,  that  several  officers 
of  inferior  grade  were  not  themselves  exempt  from  the  general  spirit  of  pil- 
lage, which  then  disgraced  the  American  troops.* 

Having  possessed  himself  of  the  city,  (15th  September,  1776,)  the  British 
general  stationed  a  few  troops  in  the  town,  and  with  the  main  body  of  the 
army  encamped  near  the  American  lines.  His  right  was  at  Horen's  Hook, 
on  the  East  river,  and  his  left  reached  the  North  river,  near  Bloomingdale, 
so  that  his  encampment  extended  quite  across  the  island,  here,  about  two 
miles  wide,  and  his  flanks  were  both  covered  by  his  ships.  The  strongest 
point  of  the  American  lines  was  at  King's  Bridge,  preserving  their  commu- 
nication with  the  continent.  They  also  occupied  in  considerable  force, 
M'Gowan's  Pass,  and  Morris'  Heights,  which  were  fortified  and  rendered 
capable  of  defence  against  superior  numbers.  On  the  heights  of  Haerlem, 
still  nearer  the  British  lines,  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  them,  a  strong  de- 
tachment was  posted  in  an  intrenched  camp. 

The  present  position  of  the  armies  favoured  the  wishes  of  the  American 
commander,  to  habituate  his  soldiers  by  a  series  of  successful  skirmishes,  to 
meet  the  enemy  in  the  field.  Opportunities  for  this  purpose  were  not  long 
wanting.  The  day  after  the  retreat  from  New  York,  the  British  appeared 
in  considerable  force  in  the  plains  between  the  camps.  Washington  ordered 
Colonel  Knowlton  of  the  volunteer  corps  of  New  England  rangers,  and 
Major  Leitch  with  three  companies  of  the  third  Virginia  regiment,  which 
had  joined  the  army  only  the  preceding  day,  to  endeavour  to  get  into  their 
rear,  whilst  he  amused  them  with  demonstrations  of  an  attack  in  front.  The 
plan  was  successful ;  the  British  advanced  eagerly  to  an  advantageous  posi- 
tion in  front,  and  a  firing  commenced,  but  at  too  great  a  distance  for  execu- 
tion. In  the  mean  time,  Colonel  Knowlton,  unacquainted  with  their  new 
position,  made  his  attack  rather  on  their  flank,  than  their  rear.  Very  soon, 
Major  Leitch,  who  had  gallantly  led  the  detachment,  was  brought  off  the 
ground  mortally  wounded,  and  not  long  afterwards,  Colonel  Knowlton  also 
fell,  bravely  fighting  at  the  head  of  his  troops.  Not  discouraged  by  the  loss 
of  their  field  officers,  the  captains  maintained  their  ground,  and  continued 
the  action  with  great  animation.  The  British  were  reinforced,  and  General 
Washington  ordered  on  detachments  from  the  adjacent  regiments  of  New 
England  and  Maryland.  The  Americans  thus  strengthened,  charged  the 
enemy,  drove  them  from  the  woods  into  the  plains,  and  were  pressing  them 
still  further,  when  the  general  apprehending  the  approach  of  a  large  body  ol 
the  foe,  recalled  his  troops  to  their  entrenchments.  In  this  sharp  conflict, 
many  who  had  so  disgracefully  fled  on  the  preceding  day,  now,  with  much 
inferior  force,  had  engaged  a  battalion  of  light  infantry,  another  of  Highland- 
ers, and  three  companies  of  Hessian  riflemen,  sustaining  a  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  of  not  more  than  fifty  men,  whilst  the  British  lost  more  than  double 
that  number.  The  effect  of  this  first  success  of  the  campaign,  was  visible 
upon  the  spirits  of  the  men,  restoring  them  in  some  measure  to  their  own 
esteem. 

The  armies  did  not  long  retain  their  position.  General  Howe,  sensible  ol 
the  strength  of  the  American  camp,  had  no  inclination  to  force  it.  His  plan 
was,  to  compel  General  Washington  either  to  abandon  it,  or  to  fight,  in  a 
position,  where  defeat  would  result  in  a  total  destruction  of  his  army.  With 
this  view,  after  throwing  up  intrenchments  on  M'Gowan's  Hill,  for  the  pro- 
tection of  New  York,  he  proposed  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  American  camp, 
and  to  possess  himself  of  the  North  river,  above  King's  Bridge.  To  ascer- 
tain the  practicability  of  the  latter,  three  frigates  passed  up,  under  the  fire  of 

*  Marshall's  Life  of  Washington,  vol.  ii.  434. 


216  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Forts  Washington  and  Lee,  without  injury  from  the  batteries,  or  impediment 
from  the  chevaux-de-frise,  which  had  been  sunk  in  the  channel,  between 
those  forts.  This  point  being  attained,  the  greater  part  of  his  army  passed 
through  Hellgate,  into  the  Sound,  and  landed  on  Frog's  Neck,  in  West  Ches- 
ter county,  about  nine  miles  from  the  camp,  on  the  heights  of  Haerlem.* 
He  continued  here  some  days,  quietly  waiting  for  his  artillery,  military 
stores,  and  reinforcements,  from  Staten  Island,  which  were  detained  by  un- 
favourable winds. 

XII.  In  the  mean  time,  General  Lee  arrived, f  from  his  late  successful 
command,  to  the  southward;  and  finding  a  disposition  prevalent  among  the 
officers  of  the  American  army,  to  continue  on  York  Island,  he  induced  the 
call  of  a  council  of  war,  to  consult  on  its  propriety.     He  urged  its  entire  re- 
linquishment — dwelling  upon  the  impracticability  of  stopping  the  ascent  of 
the  enemy's  ships,  upon  the  river,  the  possession  of  Frog's  Neck,  on  the 
Sound,  by  the  British,  the  absolute  impossibility  of  preserving  the  communi- 
cation with  the  country,  and  the  imminent  danger  that  the  army  must  fight 
under  disadvantages,  or  become  prisoners  of  war.     His  views,  so  far  as  they 
regarded  the  army,  Avere  adopted ;  but  unfortunately,  the  representations  of 
General  Greene  prevailed,  in  relation  to  Fort  Washington,  the  occupation  of 
which,  he  contended,  would  divert  a  large  portion  of  the  enemy's  force  from 
the  main  body,  and  in  conjunction  with  Fort  Lee,  would  cover  the  trans- 
portation of  supplies,  up  the  river,  for  the  service  of  the  American  troops. 
He  further  represented,  that  the  garrison  could  be  brought  off,  at  any  time, 
by  boats  from  the  Jersey  shore. 

XIII.  On  the  18th  of  October,  General  Howe  moved  forward  his  whole 
army,  except  four  regiments  destined  for  New  York,  towards  New  Rochelle. 
Some  skirmishing  took  place,  near  East  Chester,  with  part  of  Glover's  bri- 
gade, in  which  the  conduct  of  the  Americans  was  courageous.     As  Howe 
took  post  at  New  Rochelle,  Washington  occupied  the  heights  between  it  and 
the  North  river.     The  British  general  received  here,  the  second  division  of 
Germans,  under  General  Knyphausen,  and  an  incomplete  regiment  of  caval- 
ry, from  Ireland.     Both  armies  now  moved  towards  the  White  Plains,  a 
strong  piece  of  ground,  where  a  large  camp  had  been  marked  out,  and  occu- 
pied by  a  detachment  of  militia,  sent  to  guard  some  magazines  there  collect- 
ed.    The  main  body  of  the  Americans  formed  a  long  line  of  entrenched 
camps,  extending  from  twelve  to  thirteen  miles,  on  the  heights  from  Valen- 
tine's Hill,  near  King's  Bridge,  to  the  White  Plains ;  fronting  the  British  line 
of  march,  and  the  Brunx,  which  lay  between  them,  so  as  to  collect  in  full 
force  at  any  point,  as  circumstances  might  require.     While  the  British  army 
lay  about  New  Rochelle,  Major  Rodgers,  with  his  regiment  (of  tories),  was 
advanced  eastward  towards  Mamoraneck,  on  the  Sound,  where  he  was  be- 
lieved to  be  covered  by  the  position  of  the  other  troops.     An  attempt  was 
made  to  surprise  him  in  the  night ;  but  it  was  not  wholly  successful.     About 
sixty  of  his  corps  were  killed  or  taken,  with  a  loss  to  the  Americans  of  two 
killed,  and  eight  or  ten  wounded ;  among  the  latter,  was  Major  Green,  of 
Virginia,  a  brave  officer,  who  led  the  advance,  and  who  received  a  ball 
through  his  body.     Not  long  after,  a  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  riflemen, 
under  Colonel  Hand,  fell  in  with  and  engaged  an  equal  number  of  Hessian 
chasseurs,  over  whom  they  obtained  some  advantage. 

The  caution  of  the  English  general  was  increased  by  these  evidences  of 
enterprise  in  his  adversary.  His  object  seems  to  have  been  to  avoid  skir- 
mishing, and  to  bring  on  a  general  action,  if  that  could  be  effected  under 
favourable  circumstances;  if  not,  he  knew  too  well,  the  approaching  dissolu- 

*  October  12th,  1776.  I  October  14th. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  317 

tion  of  the  American  army,  and  calculated,  not  without  reason,  on  deriving 
from  that  event  nearly  all  the  advantages  of  a  victory.  He  proceeded  there- 
fore slowly.  His  marches  were  in  close  order,  his  encampments  compact, 
and  well  guarded  with  artillery ;  and  the  utmost  circumspection  was  used 
not  to  expose  any  part  which  might  be  vulnerable.* 

As  the  sick  and  baggage  reached  a  place  of  safety,  General  Washington 
gradually  drew  in  his  out-posts,  and  took  possession  of  the  heights  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Brunx  fronting  the  head  of  the  British  columns.  He  was 
there  joined  by  General  Lee,  who,  after  securing  the  sick  and  the  baggage, 
had,  with  considerable  address,  brought  up  the  rear  division  of  the  army. 

General  Washington  was  encamped  on  high,  broken  grounds,  with  his 
right  flank  covered  by  the  Brunx,  which  also  covered  the  front  of  his  right 
wing,  extending  along  the  road  on  the  east  side  of  that  river,  towards  New 
Rochelle,  as  far  as  the  brow  of  the  hill  where  his  centre  was  posted.  His 
left,  forming  almost  a  right  angle  with  his  centre,  and  nearly  parallel  to  his 
right,  extended  along  the  hills  northwardly,  so  as  to  keep  possession  of  the 
commanding  ground,  and  secure  a  retreat  should  it  be  necessary,  from  the 
present  position,  to  one  still  more  advantageous  in  his  rear. 

On  the  right  of  the  army,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Brunx,  about  one 
mile  from  the  camp,  on  the  road  leading  from  the  North  river,  was  a  hill,  of 
which  General  M'Dougal  took  possession,  for  the  purpose  of  covering  the 
right  flank.  His  detachment  consisted  of  about  sixteen  hundred  men,  prin- 
cipally militia;  and  his  communication  with  the  main  army  was  perfectly 
open;  that  part  of  the  river  being  every  where  passable,  without  difficulty. 
Hasty  intrenchments  were  thrown  up  to  strengthen  every  part  of  the  lines, 
and  to  make  them  as  defensible  as  possible. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  General  Howe,  who  had  advanced  from  New 
Rochelle  and  Mamaroneck,  prepared  to  attack  General  Washington  in  his 
camp.  Early  in  the  morning,  the  British  approached  in  two  columns,  the 
right  commanded  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  the  left  by  General  Knyphau- 
sen,  accompanied  by  General  Howe,  in  person.  Their  advanced  parties 
having  encountered,  and  driven  in  the  patroles,  their  van  appeared,  about 
ten  o'clock,  in  full  view  of  the  American  lines ;  a  cannonade  commenced, 
without  much  execution,  on  either  side.  The  British  right  formed  behind  a 
rising  ground,  about  a  mile  in  front  of  the  American  camp,  and  extended 
from  the  road  leading  from  Mamaroneck,  towards  the  Brunx ;  so  that  it  was 
opposed  to  the  centre  of  the  American  army. 

On  viewing  General  Washington's  situation,  Howe  determined  to  possess 
himself  of  the  hill  occupied  by  M'Dougal.  He  directed  Colonel  Rawle,  with 
his  corps  of  Hessians,  to  cross  the  Brunx,  and  by  a  circuit,  to  gain  a  posi- 
tion from  which  he  might  annoy  the  right  flank  of  M'Dougal,  while  Briga- 
dier-general Leslie,  with  the  second  brigade  of  British  troops,  the  Hessian 
grenadiers  under  Colonel  Donop,  and  a  Hessian  battalion,  should  attack  him 
in  front.  When  Rawle  had  gained  the  designated  position,  the  detachment 
under  Leslie  also  crossed  the  Brunx,  and  commenced  a  vigorous  attack  on 
the  Americans-!  The  militia  immediately  fled ;  but  the  regulars  behaved 
with  great  gallantry.  Colonel  Smallwood's  regiment  of  Maryland,  and 
Colonel  Reitzi mar's  of  New  York,  advanced  boldly  towards  the  foot  of  the 
hill  to  meet  Leslie ;  but  after  a  sharp  encounter,  were  overpowered  by  num- 
bers, and  compelled  to  retreat.  Leslie  then  attacked  the  remaining  part  of 
M'Dougal's  forces,  consisting  of  his  own  brigade,  the  Delaware  battalion, 
and  a  small  regiment  of  Connecticut  militia.  They  were  soon  driven  from 

*  Annual  Register.  t  General  Howe's  letter. 

2E 


218  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

the  hill,  but  kept  up,  for  some  time,  an  irregular  fire  from  the  stone  walls, 
and  other  enclosures  about  the  scene  of  action.  General  Putnam,  with 
Beal's  brigade,  was  ordered  to  support  them;  but  not  arriving  while  they 
were  in  possession  of  the  hill,  he  deemed  it  improper  to  attempt  to  regain  it, 
and  the  troops  retreated  to  the  main  army. 

In  this  engagement,  which,  during  its  continuance,  was  very  animated  on 
both  sides,  the  loss  was  supposed  to  have  been  about  equal.  That  of  the 
Americans  was  between  three  and  four  hundred  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
taken.  Colonel  Smallwood  was  among  the  wounded. 

General  Washington  continued  in  his  lines,  expecting  to  be  attacked.  His 
sick  and  baggage  were  removed  into  his  rear.  But  a  considerable  part  of 
the  day  having  been  spent  in  gaining  the  hill,  which  had  been  occupied  by 
M'Dougal,  all  attempts  on  his  intrenchments  were  postponed  until  the  next 
morning ;  and  the  whole  British  army  lay  on  their  arms  the  following  night, 
in  order  of  battle,  and  on  the  ground  they  had  taken  during  the  day. ' 

This  interval  was  employed  by  General  Washington  in  strengthening  his 
works,  removing  his  sick  and  baggage,  and  preparing,  by  changing  the  ar- 
rangement of  his  troops,  for  the  "expected  attack.  His  left  maintained  its 
position,  but  his  right  was  drawn  back  to  stronger  ground.  Perceiving  this, 
and  unwilling  to  leave  any  thing  to  hazard,  Howe  resolved  to  postpone  fur- 
ther offensive  operations,  until  Lord  Percy  should  arrive  with  four  battalions 
from  New  York,  and  two  from  the  post  at  Mamaroneck.  This  reinforce- 
ment was  received  on  the  evening  of  the  30th,  and  preparations  were  then 
made  to  attack  the  American  intrenchments  the  next  morning.  In  the  night 
and  during  the  early  part  of  the  succeeding  day,  a  violent  rain  fell,  which 
induced  a  further  postponement  of  the  assault.*  The  provisions  and  heavy 
baggage  being  now  removed,  and  apprehensions  being  entertained,  that  the 
British  general,  whose  left  wing  extended  along  the  height  taken  from 
M'Dougal,  to  his  rear,  might  turn  his  camp,  and  occupy  the  post  to  which 
he  designed  to  retreat,  if  an  attempt  on  his  lines  should  terminate  unfortu- 
nately, General  Washington  changed  his  position  in  the  night,  and  withdrew 
to  the  heights  of  North  Castle,  about  five  miles  from  White  Plains.  At  the 
same  time  he  detached  Beal's  brigade  to  take  possession  of  the  bridge  on 
Croton  river,  a  few  miles  in  his  rear,  and  over  which  is  the  road  leading  up 
the  Hudson. 

This  position  was  so  strong,  that  an  attempt  to  force  it  was  deemed  im- 
prudent. General  Howe,  therefore,  gave  a  new  direction  to  his  efforts.! 

XIV.  The  anxiety  to  preserve,  if  possible,  the  navigation  of  the  Hudson, 
above  King's  Bridge,  had  induced  the  American  general  to  maintain  the  posts 
of  Forts  Washington  and  Lee,  on  either  side  of  that  river.  They  essentially 
checked  the  movements  of  General  Howe,  who  justly  deemed  the  complete 
possession  of  York  Island  an  object  of  too  much  importance  to  be  longer 
neglected.  He,  therefore,  directed  General  Knyphausen  to  cross  the  coun- 
try from  New  Rochelle,  and  to  take  possession  of  King's  Bridge,  where  a 
small  party  of  Americans  were  stationed  in  Fort  Independence.  This  was 
effected  without  opposition ; — the  Americans  retiring  to  Fort  Washington, 
and  Knyphausen  encamping  between  that  place  and  King's  Bridge. 

In  the  mean  time,  Howe  broke  up  his  camp  at  White  Plains,  and  marched 
to  Dobbs'  Ferry,  whence  he  retired  slowly  down  the  North  river,  towards 
King's  Bridge.  The  American  general  was  immediately  aware  of  the  de- 
sign against  Fort  Washington,  and  the  Jerseys ;  but,  apprehending  that  his 
adversary  might  return  suddenly,  and  endeavour  by  a  rapid  movement,  to 
execute  the  original  plan  of  getting  in  his  rear,  he  observed  great  caution, 

*  General  Howe's  letter.  t  Ibid. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  219 

and  maintained  his  position,  until  assured  that  the  movement  towards  King's 
Bridge,  was  not  a  feint. 

On  the  movement  of  the  British  army  towards  New  York,  General  Wash- 
ington perceived  the  neccessity  of  throwing  a  part  of  his  troops  into  New 
Jersey,  should  Howe  design  to  change  the  scene  of  action.  A  council  of 
war,  therefore,  was  immediately  called,  (November  6th,)  which  determined, 
unanimously,  should  Howre  continue  his  march,  that  all  the  troops  raised  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  should  cross  that  river,  to  be  afterwards  follow- 
ed, if  necessary,  by  those  raised  on  the  eastern  part  of  the  continent ;  and 
that,  for  the  preservation  of  the  highlands,  about  the  North  river,  three 
thousand  men  should  be  stationed  at  Peck's-kill,  and  in  the  passes  of  the 
mountains. 

General  Washington  addressed  a  letter  to  Governor  Livingston,  advising 
him  of  the  movement  then  making,  and  expressing  a  decided  opinion  that 
General  Howe  would  not  content  himself  with  investing  Fort  Washington, 
but  would  invade  the  Jerseys.  He  urged  the  governor  to  put  the  militia  in 
condition  to  reinforce  the  continental  army,  and  to  take  the  place  of  the  new 
levies,  a  term  designating  a  body  of  men  between  militia  and  regulars, 
raised  to  serve  until  the  first  of  December,  who  could  not  be  depended  on  to 
continue  with  the  army  one  day  longer  than  the  time  for  which  they  were 
engaged.  He  also  pressed,  very  earnestly,  the  removal  of  all  the  stock,  and 
other  provisions,  of  which  the  enemy  might  avail  himself,  from  the  sea-coast, 
and  the  neighbourhood  of  New  York. 

Immediate  intelligence  of  this  movement  was  likewise  given  to  General 
Greene,  who  commanded  in  the  Jerseys;  and  his  attention  was  particularly 
pointed  to  Fort  Washington.  He  was  advised  to  increase  his  magazines 
about  Princeton,  and  to  diminish  those  near  New  York ;  as  experience  had 
demonstrated  the  difficulty  of  removing  them  on  the  advance  of  the  enemy. 
Some  apprehension  was  also  entertained,  that  Howe  would  attempt  to  cross 
at  Dobbs'  Ferry,  and  envelop  the  troops  about  Fort  Lee,  as  well  as  those  in 
Fort  Washington.  Of  this,  too,  General  Greene  was  advised,  and  thereupon 
drew  in  his  parties  from  about  Amboy,  and  posted  a  body  of  troops  on  the 
heights  to  defend  the  passage  at  Dobbs'  Ferry. 

On  the  13th  of  November,  General  Washington  crossed  the  North  river, 
with  the  selected  portion  of  the  army,  leaving  the  eastern  regiments  under 
the  command  of  General  Lee,  with  orders,  also,  to  cross  the  river,  should 
General  Howe  effect  it ;  but  in  the  mean  time,  to  assume  the  strong  grounds, 
behind  the  Croton,  at  Pine  Bridge. 

Discretionary  orders  had  been  given  to  General  Greene,  to  abandon  Fort 
Washington,  but  which,  for  the  reasons  already  stated,  he  delayed  to  exe- 
cute. This  fort  was  on  a  high  piece  of  ground,  near  the  North  river,  very 
difficult  of  ascent,  especially,  on  the  northern  side.  It  was  capable  of  con- 
taining about  a  thousand  men ;  but  the  lines  and  out- works,  chiefly  on  the 
southern  side,  were  drawn  quite  across  the  island.  The  position  was  natu- 
rally strong,  the  approaches  difficult,  and  the  fortifications,  though  not  suffi- 
cient to  resist  heavy  artillery,  were  believed  capable  of  sustaining  any  at- 
tempt at  storm.  The  garrison  containing  some  of  the  best  troops  of  the 
American  army,  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Magaw,  a  brave  and  intelli- 
gent officer. 

General  Howe,  who  had  retired  slowly  from  the  White  Plains,  encamped 
at  a  small  distance  from  King's  Bridge,  on  the  heights  of  Fordham,  with  his 
right  towards  the  North  river,  and  his  left  on  the  Brunx.  Detachments 
from  his  army  having  previously  taken  possession  of  the  ground  about  West 
Chester,  works  were  erected  at  Haerlem  creek,  to  play  on  the  opposite 
works  of  the  Americans,  and  every  preparation  being  made  for  an  assault, 


220  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

the  garrison  was  summoned  (on  the  15th  of  November,)  to  surrender  on 
pain  of  being  put  to  the  sword.  Colonel  Magaw  replied,  that  he  should  de- 
fend the  place  to  the  last  extremity.  The  summons  was  immediately  com- 
municated to  General  Greene,  at  Fort  Lee,  and  by  him  to  the  commander- 
in-chief,  then  at  Hackensack.  He  immediately  rode  to  Fort  Lee,  and  though 
late  in  the  night,  was  proceeding  to  Fort  Washington,  where  he  expected  to 
find  Generals  Putnam  and  Greene,  when,  in  crossing  the  river,  he  met  those 
officers,  returning  from  visiting  that  post.  They  reported  that  the  garrison 
was  in  high  spirits,  and  would  make  a  good  defence;  on  which,  he  returned 
with  them  to  Fort  Lee. 

Early  next  morning,  Colonel  Magaw  posted  his  troops  partly  in  the  outer- 
most lines,  partly  between  those  lines,  on  the  woody  and  rocky  heights, 
fronting  Haerlem  river,  where  the  ground  being  extremely  difficult  of  ascent, 
the  works  were  not  closed ;  and  partly  on  a  commanding  hill,  lying  north  of 
the  fort.  Colonel  Cadwalader,  of  Pennsylvania,  commanded  in  the  lines, 
Colonel  Rawlings,  of  Maryland,  on  the  hill  towards  King's  Bridge,  where 
his  regiment  of  riflemen  was  posted  among  trees,  and  Colonel  Magaw,  him- 
self, in  the  fort. 

The  strength  of  the  place  did  not  deter  the  British  general  from  attempting 
to  carry  it  by  storm.  A  desire  to  save  time,  at  this  late  season  of  the  year, 
was  the  principal  inducement  to  this  determination.  About  ten  o'clock,  the 
assailants  appeared  before  the  works,  and  moved  on  to  the  assault  in  four 
quarters.  Their  first  division,  consisting  of  two  columns  of  Hessians  and 
Waldeckers,  amounted  to  about  five  thousand  men,  under  the  command  of 
General  Knyphausen,  advanced  on  the  north  side  of  the  fort  against  the  hill 
where  Colonel  Rawlings  commanded,  who  received  them  with  great  gal- 
lantry. The  second,  on  the  east,  consisting  of  the  first  and  second  battalions 
of  British  light  infantry,  and  two  battalions  of  guards,  was  led  on  by  Briga- 
dier-general Mathews,  supported  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  at  the  head  of  the 
first  and  second  battalions  of  grenadiers,  and  the  thirty-third  regiment. 
These  troops  crossed  Haerlem  river,  in  boats,  under  cover  of  the  artillery 
planted  in  works  which  had  been  erected  for  the  purpose,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  and  landed  within  the  third  line  of  defence,  which  crossed 
the  island.  The  third  division  was  conducted  by  Lieutenant-colonel  Stirling, 
who  passed  the  river  higher  up ;  and  the  fourth,  by  Lord  Percy,  accompa- 
nied by  General  Howe,  in  person.  This  division  was  to  attack  the  lines  in 
front,  on  the  south  side.* 

The  attacks  on  the  north,  and  south,  by  General  Knyphausen,  and  Lord 
Percy,  were  made  about  the  same  instant  on  Colonels  Rawlings  and  Cad- 
walader, who  maintained  their  ground  for  a  considerable  time ;  but  while 
Colonel  Cadwalader  was  engaged  in  the  first  line  against  Lord  Percy,  on 
the  south,  the  second  and  third  divisions,  which  had  crossed  Haerlem  river, 
made  good  their  landing,  and  soon  dispersed  the  troops  fronting  that  river, 
as  well  as  a  detachment  sent  by  Colonel  Cadwalader,  to  support  them. 
These  being  overpowered,  he  deemed  it  necessary  to  abandon  the  lines,  and 
a  retreat  was  commenced  towards  the  fort,  which,  being  conducted  with  con- 
fusion, a  part  of  his  men  were  intercepted  by  the  division  under  Colonel 
Stirling,  and  made  prisoners.  The  resistance  on  the  north,  was  conducted 
with  more  courage,  and  was  of  longer  duration.  Rawlings  maintained  his 
ground  with  firmness,  and  his  riflemen  did  vast  execution.  A  three  gun 
battery,  north  of  the  fort,  also  played  on  Knyphausen,  with  much  effect. 
The  Germans  were  repulsed  several  times  with  great  loss ;  and,  had  every 
other  part  of  the  action  been  equally  well  maintained,  the  assailants,  if  ulti- 

*  General  Howe's  letter. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  221 

mately  successful,  would  have  had  much  reason  to  deplore  their  victory.  At 
length,  by  dint  of  perseverance  and  numbers,  the  Hessian  columns  gained  the 
summit  of  the  hill ;  after  which,  Colonel  Raw  lings,  perceiving  the  danger 
which  threatened  his  rear,  retreated  under  the  guns  of  the  fort. 

Having  carried  the  lines,  and  all  the  strong  ground  adjoining  them,  the 
British  general  again  summoned  Colonel  Magaw  to  surrender.  While  the 
capitulation  was  progressing,  General  Washington  sent  him  a  billet,  request- 
ing him  to  hold  out  until  the  evening,  when  he  would  endeavour  to  bring  off 
the  garrison;  but  Magaw  had  already  proceeded  too  far  to  retract;  and  it  is 
probable  the  place  could  not  have  resisted  an  assault  from  so  formidable  a 
force  as  threatened  it  on  every  side.  The  most  essential  difficulties  had  been 
overcome:  the  fort  was  too  small  to  contain  all  the  men;  and  their  ammuni- 
tion was  nearly  exhausted.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  garrison  sur- 
rendered prisoners  of  war. 

The  loss  on  this  occasion  was  the  greatest  the  Americans  had  sustained. 
The  garrison  was  stated  by  General  Washington,  at  about  two  thousand 
men ;  yet,  in  a  report  published  as  from  General  Howe,  the  number  of  pri- 
soners is  stated  at  two  thousand  six  hundred,  exclusive  of  officers.  Either 
General  Howe  must  have  included  in  his  report,  persons  who  were  not  sol- 
diers, or  General  Washington,  in  his  letter,  must  have  comprised  only  the 
regulars.  The  last  conjecture  is  most  probably  correct.  The  loss  of  the 
assailants  is  variously  stated,  at  from  eight  to  eleven  hundred  men.  It  fell 
heaviest  on  the  Germans. 

XV.  The  surrender  of  Fort  Washington,  induced  a  determination  to 
evacuate  Fort  Lee;  and  a  removal  of  the  stores  to  the  interior  of  Jersey, 
immediately,  commenced.  But  on  the  19th  of  November,  before  this  could 
be  completed,  a  detachment  of  the  enemy,  commanded  by  Lord  Cornwallis, 
amounting  to  about  six  thousand  men,  crossed  the  North  river,  below  Dobbs' 
Ferry,  and  endeavoured  by  a  rapid  march,  to  enclose  the  garrison  between 
the  Hudson  and  the  Hackensack  rivers.  The  safety  of  the  garrison  required 
its  instant  withdrawal  from  the  narrow  neck  of  land,  which  was  with  great 
difficulty  effected,  by  a  bridge  over  the  latter  river.  With  Fort  Lee,  all  the 
heavy  cannon,  except  two  twelve  pounders,  together  with  a  large  quantity  of 
provisions  and  military  stores,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  want 
of  wagons  rendered  this  loss  inevitable. 

After  crossing  the  Hackensack,  General  Washington  posted  his  troops 
along  the  western  bank ;  but  he  could  not  defend  it  with  an  army  of  only 
three  thousand  effectives,  exposed,  without  tents,  to  the  inclement  season 
which  already  prevailed,  in  a  level  country  without  an  entrenching  tool,  and 
among  people  no  wise  zealous  for  the  American  cause;  and  being  still  en- 
closed by  two  rivers,  the  Hackensack  and  Passaic,  his  position  was,  thereby, 
rendered  more  dangerous.  This  gloomy  condition  was  not  cheered  by  the 
prospect  of  the  future.  No  reliance  could  be  placed  on  reinforcements  from 
any  quarter.  The  general  made  every  exertion  to  collect  an  army,  and  in 
the  mean  time  to  impede,  as  much  as  possible,  the  progress  of  the  enemy. 
General  Carleton  having  retired  from  before  Ticonderoga,  he  directed  Ge- 
neral Schuyler  to  hasten  to  his  assistance,  the  troops  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey.  But  the  march  was  long,  their  term  of  service  nearly  expired, 
and  they  refused  to  re-enlist.  General  Lee  was  directed  to  cross  the  North 
river,  and  hold  himself  in  readiness,  if  the  enemy  should  continue  the  cam- 
paign, to  join  the  commander-in-chief;  but  his  army,  too,  from  the  same 
fatal  cause,  was  melting  away,  and  would  soon  be  totally  dissolved.  Gene- 
ral Mercer,  who  commanded  part  of  the  flying  camp  stationed  about  Bergen, 
was  called  in,  but  these  troops  had  engaged  to  serve,  only,  until  the  first  of 
December,  and  like  other  six  months'  men,  had  abandoned  the  army  in  great 


222  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

numbers.     No  hope  existed  of  retaining  the  remnant,  after  they  should 
possess  a  legal  right  to  depart. 

Under  these  circumstances,  no  serious  design  could  be  entertained  of  de- 
fending the  Hackensack.  A  show  of  resistance  was  momentarily  preserved, 
with  a  view  of  covering  the  few  stores  which  could  be  removed.  General 
Washington,  with  Beal's,  Heard's,  and  part  of  Irvine's  brigades,  crossed  at 
Acquackanonck  Bridge,  and  took  post  at  Newark,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Passaic.  Soon  after  he  had  marched,  Major-general  Vaughan,  at  the  head 
of  the  British  dragoons,  grenadiers,  and  light  infantry,  appeared  before  the 
new  bridge  over  Hackensack,  and  the  American  detachment  in  the  rear  being 
wholly  unable  to  defend  it,  could  only  break  it  down,  and  retire  before  him 
over  the  Passaic. 

General  Washington  having  entered  the  open  country,  halted  for  a  few 
days,  to  endeavour  to  collect  such  a  force,  as  might  preserve  the  semblance 
of  an  army.  The  better  to  effect  this,  he  despatched  General  Mifflin  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  possessed  great  influence,  and  Colonel  Joseph  Reed,  his 
adjutant-general,  long  known  and  highly  valued  in  New  Jersey,  to  Governor 
Livingston,  to  press  upon  him  the  absolute  and  immediate  necessity  of 
making  further  exertions  to  prevent  the  whole  state  from  being  overrun. 

In  this  perilous  state  of  things,  he  found  it  necessary  to  detach  Colonel 
Forman  of  the  New  Jersey  militia,  to  suppress  an  insurrection  which  threat- 
ened to  break  out  in  the  county  of  Monmouth,  where  great  numbers  were 
well  disposed  to  the  royal  cause.  Nor  was  this  the  only  place  from  which 
there  was  reason  to  expect  the  enemy  might  derive  aid.  Such  an  indisposi- 
tion to  further  resistance  began  to  be  manifested  throughout  the  state,  as  to 
excite  serious  fears  respecting  the  conduct  which  might  be  observed  when 
Lord  Cornwallis  should  penetrate  further  into  the  country.* 

Unable  to  make  effective  resistance,  as  the  British  crossed  the  Passaic, 
General  Washington  abandoned  his  position  behind  it ;  and  on  the  28th  of 
November,  as  Lord  Cornwallis  entered  Newark,  he  retreated  thence  to 
Brunswick.  The  time  had  now  come,  (December  1,)  when  the  Maryland 
and  Jersey  levies  in  the  flying  camp,  became  entitled  to  their  discharge,  and 
he  had  the  extreme  mortification  to  behold  his  small  army,  still  more  en- 
feebled by  the  abandonment  of  these  troops  almost  in  sight  of  an  advancing 
«nemy.  The  Pennsylvania  militia  of  the  same  class  had  engaged  to  serve 
until  the  first  of  January;  but  so  many  of  them  deserted,  that  it  became  ne- 
cessary to  place  guards  on  the  roads  and  ferries  over  the  Delaware  to  appre- 
hend the  fugitives. 

From  New  Brunswick,  the  commander-in-chief,  again,  urged  upon  Gover- 
nor Livingston,  that  the  intention  of  the  enemy  was,  to  pass  through  New 
Jersey  to  Philadelphia,  and  that  some  efficacious  measures  should  be  adopted 
to  call  out  the  strength  of  the  state  to  his  support,  and  its  own  defence.  But 
it  was  not  in  the  power  of  the  governor  to  furnish  the  aid  required.  The 
Legislature,  which  had  removed  from  Princeton  to«Trenton,  and  from  Tren- 
ton to  Burlington,  had  now  adjourned,  and  the  members  had  returned  to  their 
homes  to  protect  their  own  more  peculiar  interests.  The  well  affected  part 
of  the  middle  counties  was  overawed  by  the  British  army.  The  lower  coun- 
ties were  haunted  by  tories,  or  paralyzed  by  their  non-combatting  Quaker 
population,  and  the  militia  of  Morris  and  Sussex  turned  out  slowly  and  re- 
luctantly, f  Washington,  also,  again  urged  General  Lee  to  hasten  to  his 
assistance. 

The  troops  were  continued  in  motion  for  the  purpose  of  concealing  their 
weakness,  and  of  retarding  the  advance  of  Cornwallis,  by  creating  an  opinion 

*  Marshall,  Wash.  Lett.  t  Ibid. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  223 

that  the  Americans  meditated  to  attack  him ;  but  as  the  British  van  came  in 
view,  and  approached  the  opposite  side  of  the  bridge,  he  was  compelled  to 
quit  New  Brunswick.  Leaving  Lord  Stirling  in  Princeton  with  two  brigades 
from  Virginia  and  Delaware,  amounting  to  twelve  hundred  men,  to  watch  the 
enemy,  he  continued  his  march  with  the  residue  of  the  army  to  Trenton. 
Directions  had  already  been  given  to  collect  and  place  under  sufficient  guard, 
all  the  boats  on  the  Delaware,  from  Philadelphia  upwards,  for  seventy  miles, 
so  that  a  hope  might  be  reasonably  entertained  that  the  progress  of  the  ene- 
my would  be  stopped  at  this  river ;  and  that  in  the  mean  time,  reinforcements 
might  arrive,  which  would  enable  him  to  dispute  its  passage.  Having,  with 
great  labour,  transported  the  few  remaining  military  stores  and  baggage  over 
the  Delaware,  he  determined  to  remain  as  long  as  possible  with  the  small 
force  which  still  adhered  to  him  on  the  northern  banks  of  that  river.* 

This  retreat  into,  and  through  New  Jersey,  was  attended  with  almost  every 
circumstance  that  could  embarrass  and  depress  the  spirits.  It  commenced 
immediately  after  the  heavy  loss  at  Fort  Washington.  In  fourteen  days 
after  that  event,  the  whole  flying  camp  claimed  its  discharge,  and  other  troops 
also,  whose  engagements  terminated  about  the  same  time,  daily  departed. 
The  two  Jersey  regiments  which  had  been  forwarded  by  General  Gates, 
under  General  St.  Clair,  went  off  to  a  man,  the  moment  they  entered  their 
own  state.  A  few  officers  without  a  single  private,  were  all  of  these  regi- 
ments which  St.  Clair  brought  to  the  commander-in-chief.  The  troops  who 
were  with  Washington,  mostly  of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Lee,  were  without 
tents,  blankets,  shoes,  and  the  necessary  utensils  to  dress  their  provisions. 
In  this  situation,  the  general  had  the  address  to  prolong  a  march  of  ninety 
miles,  to  the  space  of  nineteen  days.  During  his  retreat,  scarce  an  inhabit- 
ant joined  him,  whilst  numbers  daily  flocked  to  the  royal  army,  to  make 
their  peace,  and  beg  protection.  On  the  one  side,  was  a  well  appointed  full 
clad  army,  dazzling  by  its  brilliance,  and  imposing  by  its  success ;  on  the 
other,  a  few  poor  fellows  whose  tattered  raiment  but  too  well  justified  the 
soubriquet  of  "  ragamuffins,"  with  which  the  sneering  tories  reproached  them, 
fleeing  for  their  safety.  The  British  commissioners  issued  a  proclamation 
commanding  all  persons  assembled  in  arms  against  his  Majesty's  government, 
to  disband  and  return  to  their  homes ;  and  all  civil  officers  to  desist  from  their 
treasonable  practices,  and  to  relinquish  their  usurped  authority.  A  full  par- 
don was  offered  to  all,  who  within  sixty  days  would  appear  before  an  officer 
of  the  crown,  claim  the  benefit  of  the  proclamation,  and  subscribe  a  declara- 
tion of  his  submission  to  the  royal  authority.  Seduced  by  this  proclamation,  not 
only  the  ordinary  people  shrunk  from  the  apparent  fate  of  the  country  in  this 
its  murkiest  hour,  but  the  vapouring  patriots  who  sought  office  and  distinction 
at  the  hands  of  their  countrymen,  when  danger  in  their  service  was  distant, 
now  crawled  into  the  British  lines,  humbly  craving  the  mercy  of  their  con- 
querors; and  whined  out,  as  justification,  that  though  they  had  united  with 
others,  in  seeking  a  constitutional  redress  of  grievances,  they  approved  not 
the  measures  lately  adopted,  and  were  at  all  times  opposed  to  independence.f 

General  Washington  having  secured  his  baggage  and  stores,  and  finding 
Cornwallis  pause  at  Brunswick,  he,  on  the  6th  of  December,  detached  twelve 
hundred  men  to  Princeton,  in  hope,  that  by  appearing  to  advance,  he  might 
not  only  delay  the  progress  of  the  British,  but  in  some  degree,  cover  the 
country  and  re-animate  the  people  of  New  Jersey. 

XVI.  The  exertions  of  General  Mifflin,  though  making  little  impression 

*  Marshall. 

t  Dr.  Ramsay  has  given  to  political  infamy,  the  names  of  Galloway  and  Allen,  of 
Pennsylvania,  he  might  have  added  those  of  Tucker,  and  others,  of  New  Jersey. 


224  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

on  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  at  large,  were  highly  successful  in  Philadelphia. 
A  large  proportion  of  that  city,  capable  of  bearing  arms,  had  associated  for 
the  defence  of  the  country;  and  fifteen  hundred  now  marched  to  Trenton.  A 
German  battalion  was  also  ordered  by  Congress  to  the  same  place.  On  re- 
ceiving this  reinforcement,  Washington  commenced  his  march  to  Princeton ; 
but  before  he  could  reach  it,  he  received  intelligence  that  Lord  Cornwallis, 
also,  strongly  reinforced,  was  rapidly  advancing  from  Brunswick  by  different 
routes  to  get  into  his  rear.  Thus  a  retreat  even  across  the  Delaware,  became 
indispensable. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  having  secured  the  boats,  and  broken  down  the 
bridges  on  the  roads  leading  along  the  Jersey  shore,  he  posted  his  army  on 
the  western  bank  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  observe  the  fords  by  which  the 
enemy  must  pass.  As  the  American  rear  guard  crossed  the  river,  the  British 
army  came  in  sight.  The  main  body  halted  at  Trenton,  whence  detach- 
ments were  thrown  out  above  and  below,  so  as  to  render  uncertain  where 
they  might  attempt  to  pass.  Small  parties,  unimpeded  by  the  people  of  the 
country,  reconnoitred  the  river  for  a  considerable  distance.  If  the  British 
general  as  reported,  had  brought  boats  with  him,  it  would  have  been  impos- 
sible for  Washington,  with  his  small  force,  to  prevent  the  passage.  From 
Bordentown,  four  miles  below  Trenton,  the  Delaware  turns  westward,  and 
forms  an  acute  angle  with  its  upper  course,  so  that  Cornwallis  might  cross 
high  up  and  be  as  near  Philadelphia  as  the  American  army.  For  this  reason, 
Washington  advised,  that  lines  of  defence  should  be  drawn  from  the  Schuyl- 
kill  about  the  heights  of  Springetsbury,  eastward  to  the  Delaware,  and  Gen- 
eral Putnam  was  ordered  to  superintend  them.  General  Mifflin,  who  had 
just  returned  to  camp,  was  again  despatched  to  the  city  to  take  charge  of  the 
numerous  stores  it  contained. 

Cornwallis  made  some  unsuccessful  attempts  to  seize  a  number  of  boats, 
guarded  by  Lord  Stirling,  about  CoryelPs  Ferry ;  and  having  repaired  the 
bridges  below  Trenton,  advanced  a  strong  detachment  to  Bordentown,  de- 
monstrating the  design  of  crossing  the  river  at  points  above  and  below 
Trenton,  and  to  march  in  two  columns,  directly,  to  Philadelphia ;  or  com- 
pletely to  envelope  the  American  army. 

To  counteract  this  plan,  some  galleys  were  stationed,  so  as  to  communi- 
cate the  earliest  intelligence  of  movements  below,  and  to  afford  aid  in  repel- 
ling an  attempt  to  cross  the  river,  whilst  the  commander-in-chief  made  other 
dispositions  to  prevent  the  passage  above,  which,  he  believed,  the  real  object 
of  the  enemy.  Four  brigades  under  Generals  Lord  Stirling,  Mercer,  Ste- 
phens, and  De  Fermoy,  were  posted  from  Yardley's  to  Coryell's  Ferry,  in 
such  manner  as  to  guard  every  suspicious  point  of  the  river,  and  to  assist  each 
other  in  case  of  attack.  General  Irvine,  with  the  Pennsylvania  remnant  of 
the  flying  camp,  and  some  Jersey  militia  under  General  Dickenson,  were 
posted  from  Yardley's  down  to  the  ferry  opposite  Bordentown.  Colonel 
Cadwalader,  brother  of  him  taken  at  Fort  Washington,  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania militia,  occupied  the  ground  on  either  side  of  the  Neshaminy  as  far  as 
Dunk's  Ferry,  where  Colonel  Nixon  was  posted  with  the  third  Philadelphia 
battalion.  Precise  orders  were  given  to  the  commanding  officer  of  each  de- 
tachment for  his  conduct,  directing  his  route  in  case  he  should  be  driven 
from  his  post,  and  the  passes  he  should  endeavour  to  defend,  on  his  way  to 
the  high  grounds  of  Germantown,  where  the  army  was  to  rendezvous  if 
forced  from  the  river. 

In  the  mean  time,  General  Washington  continued  his  exertions  to  aug- 
ment his  army.  Expresses  were  sent  through  the  counties  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  to  the  governments  of  Delaware  and  Maryland,  urging  them  to  forward 
their  militia  without  delay.  General  Mifflin,  whose  popular  eloquence  had 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  225 

been  most  serviceable,  was  again  directed  to  repair  immediately  to  the  neigh- 
bouring counties,  and  Congress  declared  it  of  the  highest  importance,  that  he 
should  make  a  progress  through  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  to  rouse  its  free- 
men to  the  immediate  defence  of  the  city  and  country ;  naming  a  committee 
to  assist  him  in  the  good  and  necessary  work.  General  Armstrong  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was,  at  the  same  time,  despatched  by  General  Washington,  into 
that  part  of  the  state,  where  he  possessed  most  influence.  In  the  hope  of 
thus  obtaining  adequate  force,  even  for  offensive  operations,  General  Heath 
was  called  from  Peck's-kill,  and  General  Gates  ordered  on  with  regulars  of 
the  northern  army. 

XVII.  Although  General  Lee  had  been  frequently  directed  to  join  the 
commander-in-chief,  he  tardily  obeyed,  manifesting  a  strong  disposition  to 
retain  his   separate  command,  and  rather  to  hang   on,  and  threaten  the 
rear  of  the  British  army,  than  to  strengthen  that  in  their  front.     With  this 
viewj  in  opposition  to  the  judgment  of  Washington,  he  proposed  to  establish 
himself  at  Morristown.     Again  urged  to  march,  still  declaring  his  opinion  in 
favour  of  his  own  proposition,  he  proceeded,  reluctantly,  towards  the  Dela- 
ware.    Whilst  passing  through  Morris  county,  near  Baskingridge,  at  the 
distance  of  about  twenty  miles  from  the  British  encampment,  he,  very  indis- 
creetly, quartered,  under  a  slight  guard,  in  a  house  about  three  miles  from  his 
troops.     Information  of  this  circumstance  was  given,  by  a  countryman,  to 
Colonel  Harcourt,  then,  with  a  body  of  cavalry,  watching  his  movements, 
who,  immediately,  formed  and  executed  the  design  of  seizing  him.     Early  in 
the  morning  of  the  twelfth  of  December,  by  a  rapid  march,  his  corps  reached 
Lee's  quarters.     The  general,  receiving  no  intimation  of  his  approach,  until 
the  house  was  surrounded,  became  a  prisoner,  and  was  borne  off  in  triumph 
to  the  British  army ;  where,  for  some  time,  he  was  treated,  not  as  a  prisoner 
of  war,  but  as  a  deserter  from  the  British  service. 

This  misfortune  made  a  painful  impression  throughout  America.  The 
confidence,  originally  placed  in  General  Lee,  alike  due  to  his  experience  and 
talents,  had  been  increased  by  his  success,  whilst  commanding  the  southern 
department,  and  by  the  conviction,  that  his  advice,  to  which  was  ascribed  the 
operations  in  New  York,  which  defeated  the  plans  of  General  Howe,  would, 
if  more  closely  followed,  have  prevented  the  losses  at  Fort  Washington  and 
Fort  Lee,  No  officer,  save  the  commmander-in-chief,  had  so  large  a  share 
of  the  confidence  of  the  army  and  country,  and  his  capture  was  universally 
bewailed,  as  the  greatest  calamity  which  had  befallen  the  American  arms. 

XVIII.  General  Sullivan,  on  whom  the  command  devolved  after  the  loss 
of  Lee,  promptly  obeying  the  orders  which  had  been  given  to  that  officer, 
joined  Washington,  by  the  way  of  Phillipsburg,  on  the  twentieth  of  Decem- 
ber.    On  the  same  day,  General  Gates  arrived  with  some  northern  troops. 
By  these  and  other  reinforcements,  the  American  army  was  augmented  to 
about  seven  thousand  effective  men. 

Having  failed  to  obtain  boats  for  crossing  the  Delaware,  the  British  gene- 
ral determined  to  close  the  campaign,  and  retire  into  winter  quarters.  About 
four  thousand  men  were  cantoned,  on  the  Delaware  at  Trenton  and  Borden- 
town,  at  the  White  Horse  and  Mount  Holly;  and  the  remainder  of  the  army 
was  distributed  from  that  river  to  the  Hackensack.  Still,  Washington  be- 
lieved, that  an  attempt  to  gain  Philadelphia  would  be  made,  should  the  ice 
become  sufficiently  firm  to  bear  the  army.  He  supposed,  also,  that  one  of 
the  objects  of  General  Howe,  in  covering  so  large  a  portion  of  New  Jersey, 
was  to  impede  the  recruiting  service.  To  counteract  this,  three  regiments 
marching  from  Peck's-kill,  were  halted  at  Morristown,  and  united  with  about 
eight  hundred  Jersey  militia,  who  had  collected  at  the  same  place,  under 
Colonel  Ford,  the  whole  being  placed  under  the  command  of  General  Max- 
2  F 


226  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

well  of  New  Jersey.  He  had  orders  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy,  to 
harass  their  marches,  give  intelligence  of  their  movements,  especially,  of 
such  as  might  be  made  from  Brunswick  towards  Princeton  or  Trenton,  to 
keep  up  the  spirits  of  the  militia,  and  to  prevent  the  inhabitants  from  going 
within  the  British  lines,  from  making  their  submission,  and  taking  protec- 
tions. 

Whilst  these  measures  were  in  progress,  the  commander-in-chief  laboured 
to  impress  upon  Congress,  the  necessity  of  still  further  exertions  to  form  a 
permanent  army,  particularly,  to  increase  the  cavalry,  artillery,  and  engi- 
neers, and,  also,  to  enlarge  his  own  powers,  which  were  incompetent  to 
many  cases  that  daily  occurred.  The  moment  was  certainly  one  of  fearful 
interest.  The  existing  army,  except  a  few  regiments  from  Virginia,  Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland,  and  New  York,  affording  an  effective  force  of  about 
fifteen  hundred  men,  would  dissolve  in  a  few  days.  New  Jersey  had,  in  a 
great  measure,  submitted,  and  the  militia  of  Pennsylvania  had  not  displayed 
the  alacrity  which  had  been  expected ;  and  should  the  frost  bridge  the  Dela- 
ware, it  was  to  be  dreaded,  that  General  Howe  would  seize  Philadelphia, 
and  that  its  capture  might  induce  the  belief,  that  the  contest  had  become 
desperate. 

XIX.  But  even  this  deepest  gloom  had  its  ray  of  hope, — the  first  beam  of 
a  rising  sun  of  unparalleled  brightness.  In  the  dispersed  situation  of  the 
British  army,  General  Washington  perceived  the  opportunity  of  striking  a 
blow  which  might  retrieve  the  holy  cause,  in  the  public  opinion,  and  recover 
the  ground  he  had  lost.  He  formed  the  daring  plan  of  attacking,  at  the  same 
instant,  all  the  British  posts  on  the  Delaware.  If  successful  in  whole  or  in 
part,  he  would  erase  the  impression  made  by  his  losses  and  retreat,  would 
compel  his  adversary  to  compress  himself  so,  as  no  longer  to  cover  New 
Jersey,  and  would  remove  from  Philadelphia  the  imminent  danger  which 
threatened  it.  The  merit  of  having  originally  suggested  this  attack,  may, 
according  to  Dr.  Gordon,  be  claimed  for  General  Joseph  Reed.* 

Washington  proposed  to  cross  the  river,  in  the  night,  at  M'Konky's  Ferry, 
about  nine  miles  above  Trenton,  with  four  thousand  troops,  under  his  own 
immediate  command,  assisted  by  Generals  Sullivan  and  Greene,  and  Colonel 
Knox,  of  the  artillery ;  to  march  down  in  two  divisions,  one  by  the  river,  and 
the  other  by  the  Pennington  road,  both  leading  to  the  town, — and  that  they 
might  reach  their  destination  by  five  o'clock  of  the  next  day,  to  pass  them 
over  the  river  by  twelve  o'clock.  General  Irvine  was  directed  to  cross  at 
the  Trenton  Ferry,  and  to  secure  the  bridge  below  the  town,  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  any  part  of  the  enemy  by  that  road ;  and  General  Cadwalader  to 
pass  at  Dunks'  Ferry,  and  carry  the  post  at  Mount  Holly.  It  had  been  de- 
signed to  unite  the  troops  engaged  in  fortifying  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  with 
those  of  Bristol,  and  to  place  them  under  the  command  of  General  Putnam ; 
but  there  were  such  indications,  in  that  city,  of  an  insurrection  in  favour  of 
the  royal  cause,  that  it  was  deemed  unsafe  to  withdraw  them. 

The  weather,  on  the  night  of  the  twenty-fifth  of  December,  was  very 
severe ;  mingled  snow,  hail,  and  rain,  fell  in  great  quantities,  and  so  much 
ice  was  made  in  the  river,  that,  the  division  passing  at  M'Konky's  Ferry 
could  not  be  gotten  over,  before  three  o'clock,  and  it  was  near  four,  before 
the  line  of  march  could  be  taken  up.  As  the  distance  by  either  road  to 
Trenton  was  the  same,  it  was  supposed  that  each  column  would  arrive  there 
about  the  same  time.  Orders  were,  therefore,  given  to  attack  at  the  instant 
of  arrival,  and  after  driving  in  the  out-guards,  to  press  rapidly  after  them  into 
the  town,  so  as  to  prevent  the  main  body  from  forming. 

*  Gordon's  American  Revolution,  vol.  ii.  p.  391. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  227 

General  Washington  accompanied  the  upper  column ;  and  arrived  at  the 
out-post  on  that  road  precisely  at  eight  o'clock.  He  immediately  drove  it  in, 
and  in  three  minutes  heard  the  discharge  from  the  column  on  the  river  road. 
The  picket  guard  kept  up  a  fire  from  behind  houses  as  they  retreated,  but  the 
Americans  followed  with  such  ardour  and  rapidity,  that  they  could  make  no 
stand.  Colonel  Rawle,*  a  gallant  officer  who  commanded  in  Trenton,  pa- 
raded his  men,  in  order  to  meet  the  assailants.  In  the  commencement  of  the 
action  he  was  mortally  wounded ;  upon  which  his  troops  attempted  to  file  off 
from  the  right,  and  gain  the  road  to  Princeton.  Washington  threw  a  de- 
tachment in  their  front,  and  at  the  same  time  advanced  rapidly  on  them  in 
person.  Being  surrounded,  and  their  artillery  already  seized,  they  laid 
down  their  arms,  and  surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war. 

Unfortunately,  the  quantity  of  ice  rendered  it  impracticable  for  General 
Irvine  to  execute  the  part  of  the  plan  allotted  to  him.  He  was  unable  to 
cross  the  river;  and  of  consequence  the  lower  road  towards  Bordentown 
remained  open.  About  five  hundred  men,  among  whom  was  a  troop  of 
cavalry,  stationed  at  the  lower  end  of  Trenton,  availed  themselves  of  this 
circumstance,  and  crossing  the  bridge  in  the  commencement  of  the  action, 
escaped.  The  same  cause  prevented  General  Cadwalader  from  attacking 
the  post  at  Mount  Holly.  With  infinite  difficulty,  he  got  over  a  part  of  his 
infantry ;  but  it  being  impracticable  to  transport  the  artillery,  the  infantry 
returned.f 

Although  in  consequence  of  the  extreme  severity  of  the  night,  the  plan 
failed  in  many  of  its  parts,  the  success  attending  that  assumed  by  General 
Washington  in  person  was  complete.  One  thousand  of  the  enemy  were 
made  prisoners,  and  as  many  stands  of  arms,  with  six  field  pieces,  were  se- 
cured. About  twenty  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  including  officers.  On  the 
part  of  the  Americans,  two  privates  were  killed,  two  frozen  to  death,  and 
one  officer,  and  three  or  four  privates,  were  wounded. 

Had  the  divisions  of  General  Irvine  and1  Cadwalader  crossed  the  river,  the 
British  would,  probably,  have  been  swept  from  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,^ 
and  Washington  would  have  taken  a  position  in  the  Jerseys.  But  it  was 
now  deemed  unadvisable  to  hazard  the  loss  of  the  advantage  already  gained, 
and  the  general  crossed  the  river  with  the  prisoners  and  stores  he  had  taken. 

XX.  The  British  commander  was  greatly  astonished  by  this  unexpected 
display  of  vigour  on  the  part  of  the  American  General.  Knowing  the  en- 
feebled condition  of  his  army,  and  the  expectation  of  its  immediate  dissolu- 
tion, he  had  supposed  the  war  almost  at  an  end ;  and,  probably,  looked  for- 
ward to  a  triumph  at  Philadelphia,  so  soon  as  the  river  Delaware  should  be 
rendered  passable  by  frost,  when  this  energetic  apparition,  as  if  from  the 
dead,  awakened  him  from  a  delightful  dream.  He  determined,  though  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  to  recommence  active  operations;  and  Lord  Cornwallis, 
who  had  retired  to  New  York,  for  the  purpose  of  embarking  for  Europe, 
suspended  his  departure  arid  returned,  to  the  Jerseys,  in  great  force,  for  the 
purpose  of  regaining  the  ground  which  had  been  lost. 

Meanwhile,  Count   Donop,   who   commanded   the   troops   posted   below 

*  Quere?  Rahl. 

t  Marshall.     Wash.  Lett. 

t  How  practicable  this  would  have  been,  appears  from  the  following  fact.  Colonel 
Reed,  who  was  with  the  division  of  Cadwalader,  passed  the  ferry  with  the  van  of  the 
infantry.  He  immediately  despatched  some  trusty  persons  to  examine  the  situation  of 
the  troops  at  Mount  Holly.  The  report  made  by  his  messengers  was,  that  they  had 
looked  into  several  houses  in  which  the  soldiers  were  quartered,  and  had  found  them, 
generally,  fast  asleep,  under  the  influence,  as  was  conceived,  of  the  spirituous  liquors 
they  had  drank  the  preceding  day,  which  was  Christmas.  That  there  appeared  to  be 
no  apprehension  of  danger,  nor  precautions  against  it. 


228  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Trenton,  learning  the  disaster  which  had  befallen  Colonel  Ravvle,  imme- 
diately commenced  his  retreat  by  the  road  leading  to  Amboy,  and  joined 
General  Leslie  at  Princeton.  The  next  day  General  Cadwalader  took  post 
on  the  Jersey  shore,  with  orders  to  harass  Ihe  enemy  if  he  could  do  so  safely, 
but  to  put  nothing  to  hazard  until  he  should  be  joined  by  the  continental  bat- 
talions. General  Mifflin  now  joined  General  Irvine  with  a  detachment  of 
Pennsylvania  militia,  amounting  to  about  fifteen  hundred  men,  who  were  also 
ordered  to  cross  the  Delaware. 

XXV.  Once  more  at  the  head  of  a  force  with  which  he  might  attempt 
something,  the  general-in-chief  resolved  not  to  remain  inactive.  Inferior  as 
he  was  to  the  enemy,  he  yet  determined  to  employ  the  winter  in  endeavour- 
ing to  recover  the  whole,  or  the  greater  part  of  Jersey. 

With  this  view,  he  ordered  General  Heath,  at  Peck's-kill,  on  the  North 
river,  to  leave  a  small  detachment  of  troops  at  that  place,  and,  with  the  main 
body  of  the  New  England  militia,  to  move  into  Jersey,  and  approach  the 
British  cantonments.  General  Maxwell  was  directed  to  collect  the  militia, 
to  harass  their  flank  and  rear,  and  to  attack  their  out-posts.  Having  made 
these  dispositions,  Washington  again  crossed  the  Delaware,  with  his  conti- 
nental regiments,  and  took  post  at  Trenton.  Here  he  exerted  all  his  influ- 
ence to  prevail  on  the  troops  from  New  England,  whose  terms  of  service  ex- 
pired on  the  last  day  of  December,  to  continue  during  the  present  exigency, 
and,  with  infinite  difficulty,  and  a  bounty  of  ten  dollars,  many  were  induced 
to  re-engage  for  six  weeks. 

The  British  were  now  (January,  1777)  collected  in  force  at  Princeton, 
under  Lord  Cornwallis,  where  some  works  were  thrown  up ;  and,  as  they 
advanced  a  strong  corps  towards  Trenton,  and  knew  that  the  troops  from 
New  England  were  entitled  to  be  discharged,  it  was  justly  expected  they 
would  attack  the  American  army. 

Generals  Mifflin  and  Cadwalader,  who  lay  at  Bordentown  and  Cross- 
wicks,  with  three  thousand  six  hundred  militia,  on  the  night  of  the  first  of 
January,  joined  the  commander-in-chief,  whose  whole  effective  force,  with  this 
addition,  did  not  exceed  five  thousand  men. 

Lord  Cornwallis  advanced  the  next  morning.  About  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  after  some  slight  skirmishing  with  a  small  party  detached  to 
Maidenhead  to  harass  and  delay  his  march,  his  van  reached  Trenton,  while 
the  rear  was  at  Maidenhead,  about  half  way  between  Princeton  and  Trenton. 
On  his  approach,  General  Washington  retired  across  the  Assunpink,  a 
creek  which  runs  through  the  town,  behind  which  he  drew  up  his  army. 
The  British  attempted  to  cross  at  several  places,  but  the  fords  being  guarded, 
they  halted  and  kindled  their  fires.  The  American  troops  kindled  their  fires 
likewise,  and  a  cannonade  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  until  dark. 

The  situation  of  General  Wsshington  was,  now,  again  extremely  critical. 
If  he  maintained  his  present  position,  it  was  certain  that  he  would  be  attack- 
ed, next  morning,  by  a  force,  in  all  respects,  superior  to  his  own ;  and  the 
result  would,  most  probably,  be  the  destruction  of  his  little  army.  If  he  at- 
tempted to  retreat  over  the  Delaware,  now  covered  with  ice,  which,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  few  mild  and  foggy  days,  was  not  firm  enough  to  march  upon, 
a  considerable  loss,  perhaps  a  total  defeat,  would  be  sustained.  In  any  event, 
the  Jerseys  would  once  more  be  entirely  in  possession  of  the  enemy;  the 
public  mind  would  again  be  depressed,  recruiting  be  discouraged  by  his  ap- 
parent inferiority ;  and  Philadelphia  would  a  second  time  be  in  the  grasp  of 
General  Howe.  It  was  obvious,  that  the  one  event  or  the  other  would  deduct 
greatly  from  the  advantages  promised  by  his  late  success ;  and,  if  it  should 
not  render  the  American  cause,  absolutely,  desperate,  would  very  essentially 
injure  it. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  229 

XXII.  In  this  state  of  things,  he  formed  the  bold  and  judicious  design 
of  abandoning  the  Delaware,  and  marching  silently  in  the  night  by  a  circui- 
tuous  route,  along  the  left  flank  of  the  British  army,  into  their  rear  at  Prince- 
ton, where  he  knew  they  could  not  be  very  strong.  After  beating  them 
there,  he  proposed  to  make  a  rapid  movement  to  Brunswick,  where  their 
baggage  and  principal  magazines  lay,  under  a  weak  guard. 

A  council  of  war  having  approved  this  plan,  preparations  were  imme- 
diately made  for  its  execution.  As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  the  baggage  was 
removed  silently  to  Burlington ;  and  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
third,  after  renewing  their  fires,  and  leaving  their  guards  at  the  bridge  and 
other  passes  over  the  creek,  the  army  decamped  with  perfect  secrecy,  taking 
the  Quaker  road  to  Princeton.  Here,  three  British  regiments  had  encamped 
the  preceding  night,  two  of  which  commenced  their  march  early  in  the  morn- 
ing to  join  the  rear  of  their  army  at  Maidenhead.  About  sunrise,*  when 
they  had  proceeded  about  two  miles,  they  saw  the  Americans  advancing  on 
the  left,  in  a  direction  which  would  enter  the  road  in  their  rear.  They  im- 
mediately faced  about,  and,  repassing  Stonybrook,  moved  under  cover  of  a 
copse  of  woods  towards  the  Americans,  whose  van  was  conducted  by  Gene- 
ral Mercer.  A  sharp  action  ensued,  which,  however,  was  not  of  long  dura- 
tion. The  militia,  of  which  the  advanced  party  was  principally  composed, 
soon  gave  way,  and  the  few  regulars  attached  to  them  were  not  strong 
enough  to  maintain  their  ground.  While  gallantly  exerting  himself  to  rally 
his  broken  troops,  General  Mercer  was  mortally  wounded,  and  the  van  was 
entirely  routed.  But  the  fortune  of  the  day  was  soon  changed.  The  main 
body  of  the  army,  led  by  General  Washington  in  person,  followed  close  in 
the  rear,  and  attacked  the  enemy  with  great  spirit.  Persuaded  that  defeat 
would  irretrievably  ruin  the  affairs  of  America,  he  advanced  in  the  very 
front  of  the  battle,  and  exposed  himself  to  the  hottest  fire  of  the  enemy.  He 
was  so  well  supported  by  the  same  troops  who,  a  few  days  before,  had  served 
at  Trenton,  that  the  British,  in  turn,  were  compelled  to  give  way.  Their 
line  was  broken,  and  the  two  regiments  separated  from  each  other.  Colonel 
Mawhood,  who  commanded  that  in  front,  and  who,  being,  therefore,  on  the 
right,  was  nearest  the  rear  division  of  the  army  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  re- 
tired'to  the  main  road  and  continued  his  route  to  Maidenhead.  The  fifty- 
fifth  regiment,  which  was  on  the  British  left,  being  hard  pressed,  fled,  in  con- 
fusion, across  the  fields  and  great  road,  into  a  back  road  leading  between 
Hillsborough  and  Kingston  towards  Brunswick.f  The  vicinity  of  the  British 
forces  at  Maidenhead,  secured  Colonel  Mawhood  from  pursuit,  and  General 
Washington  pressed  forward  to  Princeton.  The  regiment  remaining  in  that 
place  took  post  in  the  college,  and  made  some  show  of  resistance ;  but  the 
artillery  being  brought  up,  it  was  abandoned,  and  the  greater  part  of  them 
were  made  prisoners.  A  few  saved  themselves  by  a  precipitate  retreat  to 
Brunswick. 

In  this  action,  upwards  of  one  hundred  of  the  British  were  killed,  and 
near  three  hundred  were  taken  prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  in 
killed  was  somewhat  less,  but  in  this  number  was  included  General  Mercer, 

*  "  The  march  of  the  army  had  been  rendered  much  more  expeditious,  than  it  could 
otherwise  have  been,  by  a  fortunate  change  of  weather.  On  the  evening  of  the 
second,  it  became  excessively  cold,  and  the  roads  which  had  become  soft,  were  ren- 
dered as  hard  as  pavement." 

t  "  This  account  of  the  battle  of  Princeton  varies,  in  some  of  its  circumstances, 
especially  in  the  manner  of  meeting  the  enemy,  from  that  originally  given.  The. 
papers  in  possession  of  the  author  do  not  state  the  relative  situation  of  the  armies 
when  the  action  commenced.  He  is  indebted  for  that  information  to  a  very  intelli- 
gent friend,  to  whom  he  feels  great  obligation,  which  it  gives  him  much  gratification 
to  acknowledge."— Marshall. 


230  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

a  very  valuable  officer  from  Virginia,  who  had  served  with  the  commander- 
in-chief  in  the  war  against  the  French  and  Indians,  which  terminated  in 
1763,  and  was  greatly  esteemed  by  him.  Colonels  Haslett  and  Potter, 
brave  and  excellent  officers  from  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania;  Captain 
Neal  of  the  artillery,  Captain  Fleming,  who  on  that  day  commanded  the 
seventh  Virginia  regiment,  and  five  other  valuable  officers,  were  also  among 
the  slain. 

On  the  appearance  of  daylight,*  Lord  Cornwallis  discovered  that  the 
American  army  had  moved  off  in  the  night,  and  immediately  conceived  the 
plan  of  Washington.  He  was  under  extreme  apprehension  for  Brunswick, 
where  were  magazines  of  great  value,  with  the  military  chest  containing 
about  seventy  thousand  pounds.  Breaking  up  his  camp,  he  commenced  a 
rapid  march  to  that  place,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  it  protection ;  and  was 
close  in  the  rear  of  the  American  army  before  it  could  leave  Princeton. 

XXIII.  General  Washington  was  again  in  a  very  perilous  situation.  His 
small  army  was  exhausted  with  extreme  fatigue.  His  troops  had  been 
without  sleep,  all  of  them  one  night,  and  some  of  them  two.  They  were 
without  blankets ;  many  of  them  barefooted,  and  otherwise  thinly  clad ;  and 
he  was  eighteen  miles  from  his  point  of  destination.  He  was  closely  pursued 
by  an  enemy,  much  superior  in  point  of  numbers,  well  clothed  and  fresh, 
and  who  must  necessarily  come  up  with  him  before  he  could  accomplish 
his  designs  on  Brunswick,  if  any  opposition  should  there  be  made  to  him. 
He,  therefore,  wisely,  determined  to  abandon  the  remaining  part  of  his  plan  ;f 
and  breaking  down  the  bridges  over  Millstone  Creek,  between  Princeton  and 
Brunswick,  he  took  the  road  leading  up  the  country  to  Pluckemin,  where 
his  troops  were  permitted  to  refresh  themselves,  and  to  take  that  rest  which 
they  so  greatly  required.  Lord  Cornwallis  continued  his  march  to  Bruns- 
wick, which  he  reached  in  the  course  of  that  night.  General  Matthews,  who 
commanded  at  that  place,  had  been  greatly  alarmed;  and  while  he  took 
measures  to  defend  himself,  the  utmost  industry  was  used  to  remove  the 
military  stores  to  a  place  of  greater  safety. 

The  sufferings  of  the  American  army  had  been  so  great,  from  the  seve- 
rity of  the  season,  and  the  active  service  in  which  they  had  been  engaged ; 

*  "  The  time  when  this  movement  of  the  American  army  was  discovered  by  Lord 
Cornwallis,  is  taken  from  the  British  accounts.  In  the  United  States  it  was  under- 
stood that  the  firing  towards  Princeton  gave  him  the  first  intimation  of  the  skilful 
manoeuvre  of  the  preceding  night.  It  was  also  generally  said  at  the  time,  that  in  the 
preceding  evening,  when  the  British  army  reached  Trenton,  Sir  William  Erskine 
urged  an  immediate  attack,  but  Lord  Cornwallis  was  disposed  to  defer  it  until  the 
next  morning,  as  his  troops  were  fatigued  by  their  day's  march  from  Princeton,  and 
the  Americans  were  so  hemmed  in  by  the  Delaware,  filled  with  ice,  on  one  side,  and 
Crosswick's  Creek,  which  is  navigable  for  sloops,  in  their  rear,  that  a  retreat  was 
impossible,  and  he  could  make  sure  work  in  the  morning.  To  this  observation,  Sir 
William  is  said  to  have  replied,  "  If  Washington  is  the  general  I  take  him  to  be,  his 
army  will  not  be  found  on  its  present  ground  in  the  morning."  The  author  has  lately 
received  this  anecdote  in  a  manner  which  induces  him  to  think  it  worthy  of  more 
credit,  than  he  had  supposed  it  to  be  entitled  to,  while  he  received  it  merely  as  the 
report  of  the  day." — Marshall. 

"  It  is  also  an  additional  proof  of  the  secrecy  with  which  this  manoeuvre  was  exe- 
cuted, that  some  militia  field  officers  who  had  retired  into  the  rear,  to  get  a  good  night's 
sleep,  were,  next  morning,  absolutely  unable  to  say,  what  had  become  of  the  American 
army." — Ibid. 

t  "  A  council  was  held  on  horseback,  and  some  gentlemen  advised  that  he  should 
file  off  to  the  southward.  On  crossing  the  Millstone  river  at  Kingston,  the  guides 
were  directed  to  take  the  road  leading  to  the  northward,  through  Hillsborough,  but 
before  they  reached  Somerset  court-house,  many  of  the  infantry,  worn  out  with  fa- 
tigue, fasting  and  want  of  rest,  lay  down  and  fell  asleep  by  the  way.  But  the  object 
of  Lord  Cornwallis  being  to  save  Brunswick,  he  did  not  turn  aside  to  molest  the  Ame- 
rican army."— Ibid. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  231 

their  complaints,  especially  on  the  part  of  the  militia,  were  so  loud,  their 
numbers  were  reducing  so  fast,  by  returning  home,  and  by  sickness,  that 
General  Washington  found  it  impracticable,  further  to  prosecute  offensive 
operations.  It  was,  therefore,  deemed  absolutely  necessary  to  retire  to  Mor- 
ristown,  in  order  to  put  his  men  under  cover,  and  to  give  them  some  repose. 

The  affairs  of  Trenton  and  Princeton  were  represented,  and  considered 
as  great  victories.  They  were  believed,  by  the  body  of  the  people,  to  evi- 
dence the  superiority  of  their  army,  and  of  their  general.  The  opinion  that 
they  were  engaged  in  a  hopeless  contest,  yielded  to  a  confidence  that  proper 
exertions  on  their  part,  would  be  crowned  with  ultimate  success. 

This  change  of  opinion  relative  to  the  issue  of  the  war,  was  accompanied 
with  an  essential  change  in  conduct;  and  although  the  regiments  required 
by  Congress  were  not  completed,  they  were  made  much  stronger  than,  before 
this  happy  revolution  in  the  aspect  of  public  affairs,  was  believed  to  have 
been  possible. 

XXIV.  The  firmness  manifested  by  Congress  throughout  the  gloomy  and 
trying  period  which  intervened  between  the  loss  of  Fort  Washington,  and 
the  battle  of  Princeton,  gives  the  members  of  that  period  a  just  claim  to  the 
admiration  of  the  world,  and  to  the  gratitude  of  their  fellow  citizens.  Un- 
awed  by  the  dangers  which  threatened  them,  and  regardless  of  personal 
safety,  they  did  not  for  an  instant  admit  the  idea,  that  the  independence  they 
had  declared  was  to  be  surrendered,  and  peace  to  be  purchased  by  return- 
ing to  their  ancient  colonial  situation.  As  the  British  army  advanced  through 
Jersey,  and  the  consequent  insecurity  of  Philadelphia  rendered  an  adjourn- 
ment of  Congress  from  that  place  to  one  further  removed  from  the  seat  of 
war,  a  necessary  measure  of  precaution,  their  exertions  seemed  to  increase 
with  their  difficulties.  They  sought  to  remove  the  despondence  which  was 
seizing  and  paralyzing  the  public  mind,  by  an  address  to  the  states,  in  which 
every  argument  was  suggested  which  could  rouse  them  to  vigorous  action. 
They  made  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to  animate  the  militia,  and  impel  them 
to  the  field,  by  the  agency  of  those  whose  popular  eloquence  best  fitted  them 
for  such  a  service. 

When  reassembled  at  Baltimore,  their  resolutions  exhibited  no  evidences 
of  confusion  or  dismay ;  and  the  most  judicious  efforts  were  made,  by  col- 
lecting, as  soon  as  possible,  a  respectable  military  force,  to  repair  the  mis- 
chief produced  by  past  errors. 

Declaring,  that  in  the  present  situation  of  things,  the  very  existence  of 
civil  liberty  depended  on  the  right  execution  of  military  powers,  to  a  vigorous 
direction  of  which,  distant,  numerous,  and  deliberative  bodies  were  entirely 
unequal,  they  authorized  General  Washington  to  raise  sixteen  additional 
regiments,  and  conferred  upon  him,  for  six  months,  powers  for  the  conduct 
of  the  war,  which  werq  almost  unlimited.* 

}£XV.  And  that  no  doubt  might  be  entertained  among  foreign  nations, 
and,  particularly,  in  France,  whose  aid  they  were  soliciting,  Congress  de- 
clared their  determination,  to  listen  to  no  terms  founded  on  their  resumption 
of  the  character  of  British  subjects:  but  trusting  the  event  to  Providence,  and 
risking  all  consequences,  they  resolved  to  adhere  to  the  independence  they 
had  declared,  and  to  the  freedom  of  trade  they  had  proposed  to  all  nations. 
Copies  of  these  resolutions  were  sent  to  the  principal  courts  in  Europe,  and 
proper  persons  appointed  to  solicit  their  friendship  to  the  new  formed  states. 
These  despatches  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  by  them  were  pub- 
lished ;  a  circumstance,  by  no  means,  unacceptable  to  the  Congress,  who 
were  persuaded,  that  an  apprehension  of  an  accommodation  with  Great 

*  Marshall. 


232  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Britain,  was  a  principal  objection  to  the  interference  of  foreign  courts,  in 
what  was  represented  to  be  no  more  than  a  domestic  quarrel.  A  resolution, 
adopted  in  the  worst  fortune,  that  Congress  would  listen  to  no  terms  of  re- 
union with  the  parent  state,  would,  it  was  believed,  convince  those  who 
wished  for  the  dismemberment  of  the  British  empire,  that  it  was  sound  policy 
to  prevent  the  conquest  of  the  United  States. 

XXVI.  The  favourable  change  in  the  affairs  of  the  Americans,  was  in  no 
place  so  sensibly  felt  as  in  New  Jersey,  where  the  people  suffered  all  the 
horrors  which  could  flow  from  a  licentious  and  almost  unrestrained  soldiery. 
When  the  royal  army  entered  Jersey,  the  inhabitants,  pretty  generally, 
remained  in  their  houses,  and  many  thousands  received  printed  protections, 
signed  by  order  of  the  British  commander-in-chief.  This  event,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Governor  Livingston,  "  enabled  the  patriots  more  effectually  to 
distinguish  their  friends  from  their  enemies.  It  winnowed  the  chaff  from  the 
grain.  It  discriminated  the  temporizing  politician,  who,  on  the  first  appear- 
ance of  danger,  determined  to  secure  his  idol — property,  at  the  hazard  of  the 
general  weal,  from  the  persevering  patriot,  who,  having  embarked  his  all  in 
the  common  cause,  chose  rather,  to  risk,  rather,  to  lose  that  all  for  the  pre- 
servation of  the  more  inestimable  treasure  Liberty,  than  to  possess  it  upon  the 
ignominious  terms  of  tamely  resigning  his  country  and  posterity  to  perpetual 
servitude."  But  it  did  more,  "It  opened  the  eyes  of  those  who  were  made  to 
believe  that  their  impious  merit  in  abetting  the  persecutors,  would  exempt  them 
from  being  involved  in  the  common  calamity."*  Neither  the  proclamation 
of  the  commissioners,  nor  protections,  saved  the  people  from  plunder,  or  in- 
sult. Their  property  was  taken  and  destroyed  without  distinction  of  persons. 
They  exhibited  their  protections,  but  the  Hessians  could  not  read  and  would 
not  understand  them,  and  the  British  soldiers  deemed  it  foul  disgrace  that  the 
Hessians  should  be  the  only  plunderers.  Discontents  and  murmurs  increased 
every  hour  with  the  ravages  of  both,  which  were  almost  sanctioned  by  ge- 
neral orders,!  and  which  spared  neither  friend  nor  foe.  Neither  age  nor  sex 
protected  from  outrage.  Infants,  children,  old  men,  and  women,  were  left 
naked  arid  exposed,  without  a  blanket  to  cover  them  from  the  inclemency  of 
winter.  Furniture  which  could  not  be  carried  away,  was  wantonly  destroyed ; 
dwellings  and  out-houses  burned,  or  rendered  uninhabitable;  churches,  and 
other  public  buildings  consumed;  and  the  rape  of  women,  and  even  very 
young  girls  filled  the  measure  of  woe.  Such  miseries  are  the  usual  fate  of 
the  conquered,  nor  were  they  inflicted  with  less  reserve,  that  the  patients 
were  rebellious  subjects.  But  even  the  worm  will  turn  upon  the  oppressor. 
Had  every  citizen  been  secured  in  his  rights,  protected  in  his  property,  and 
paid  for  his  supplies,  the  consequence  might  have  been  fatal  to  the  cause  of 
independence.  What  the  earnest  commendations  of  Congress,  the  zealous 
exertions  of  Governor  Livingston,  and  the  state  authorities,  and  the  ardent 
supplications  of  Washington  could  not  effect,  was  produced  by  the  rapine  and 
devastations  of  the  royal  forces. 

The  whole  country  became  instantly  hostile  to  the  invaders.  Sufferers 
of  all  parties  rose  as  one  man  to  revenge  their  personal  injuries.  Those  who 
from  age  and  infirmities  were  incapable  of  military  service,  kept  a  strict 
watch  upon  the  movements  of  the  royal  army,  and  from  time  to  time,  com- 

*  Livingston's  Address  to  the  Assembly,  28th  February,  1777. 

t  The  orders  of  General  Howe  to  Count  Donop,  directed  that  "  all  salted  and  meal 
provisions,  which  may  be  judged  to  exceed  the  quantity  necessary  for  the  subsistence 
of  an  ordinary  family,  shall  be  considered  a  magazine  of  the  enemy,  and  seized  for  the 
King,  and  given  to  the  troops  as  a  saving  for  the  public."  Under  such  an  order,  the 
pickling  tubs,  and  garners  of  every  Jersey  farmer  became  lawful  prize ;  the  captor 
being  judge  of  the  necessary  quantity  for  the  family  subsistence. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  233 

mimicated  information  to  their  countrymen  in  arms.  Those  who  lately  de- 
clined all  opposition  though  called  on  by  the  sacred  tie  of  honour,  pledged  to 
each  other  in  the  declaration  of  independence,  cheerfully  embodied,  when 
they  found  submission  to  be  unavailing  for  the  security  of  their  estates.  This 
is  not  to  be  attributed  wholly  to  the  victories  of  Trenton  and  Princeton.  In 
the  very  moment  of  these  actions,  or  before  the  results  were  known,  indi- 
viduals, ignorant  of  Washington's  movements,  concerted  insurrections  to  re- 
venge their  peculiar  injuries.  The  contest  had  its  source  in  the  unrighteous 
claim  of  the  British  statesmen,  to  appropriate  the  property  of  the  colonists 
against  their  consent.  It  was  reanimated  by  a  new  and  direct  application  of 
the  principle  by  the  British  army.  Men  who  could  not  apprehend  the  con- 
sequences of  British  taxation,  nor  of  American  independence,  could  feel  the 
injuries  inflicted  by  insolent,  and  cruel,  and  brutal  soldiers.  The  militia  of 
New  Jersey,  who  had  hitherto  behaved  shamefully,  from  this  time  forward, 
generally,  acquired  high  reputation ;  and  throughout  a  long  and  tedious  war, 
conducted  themselves  with  spirit  and  discipline  scarce  surpassed  by  the  regu- 
lar troops.*  In  small  parties  they  now  scoured  the  country  in  every  direc- 
tion, seized  on  stragglers,  in  several  slight  skirmishes  behaved  unexceptionably 
well,  and  collected  in  such  numbers  as  to  threaten  the  weaker  British  posts, 
with  the  fate  which  those  at  Trenton  and  Princeton  had  already  experienced. 
In  a  few  days,  indeed,  the  Americans  had  overrun  the  Jerseys.  The  enemy 
was  forced  from  Woodbridge ;  General  Maxwell  surprised  Elizabethtown, 
and  took  near  one  hundred  prisoners  with  a  quantity  of  baggage;  Newark 
was  abandoned,  and  the  royal-  troops  were  confined  to  New  Brunswick  and 
Amboy,  judiciously  selected  for  the  double  purpose  of  again  penetrating  the 
country,  and  of  keeping  up  a  safe  communication  with  New  York.  Within 
four  days  after  the  affair  at  Princeton,  between  forty  and  fifty  Waldeckers 
were  killed,  wounded,  or  taken,  at  Springfield,  by  an  equal  number  of  the 
same  Jersey  militia,  which  but  a  month  before,  had  abandoned  all  opposition. 
This  enterprise  was  conducted  by  Colonel  Spencer,  whose  gallantry  was  re- 
warded with  the  command  of  a  regiment.  On  the  20th  of  January,  General 
Dickenson,  with  about  four  hundred  militia,  and  fifty  of  the  Pennsylvania 
riflemen,  defeated  near  Somerset  court-house,  on  the  Millstone  river,  a  forag- 
ing party  of  the  enemy  of  about  equal  number,  and  took  forty  wagons, 
upwards  of  one  hundred  horses,  and  many  cattle  arid  sheep,  which  they  had 
collected.  They  retreated  so  precipitately,  that  he  made  but  nine  prisoners, 
but  many  dead  and  wounded  were  carried  off  in  light  wagons.  The  general 
received  much  praise  for  his  courage  and  conduct ;  for  though  his  troops 
were  raw,  he  led  them  through  the  river  middle  deep,  and  charged  with  so 
much  impetuosity,  that  the  enemy,  notwithstanding  he  had  three  field  pieces, 
gave  way  and  left  the  convoy.  About  a  month  after  this  affair,  Colonel 
Neilson  of  New  Brunswick,  with  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
militia,  surprised  and  captured  Major  Stockton,  (one  of  the  numerous  family 
of  that  name,  who,  from  his  treachery,  was  called  "  double  Dick,")  at  the 
head  of  fifty-nine  privates,  refugees,  in  British  pay. 

The  three  months  which  followed  the  battle  of  Trenton,  passed  away 
without  any  important  military  enterprise,  other  than  we  have  described. 
Major-general  Putnam  took  post  at  Princeton,  in  order  to  cover  the  country 
in  the  vicinity.  He  had  only  a  few  hundred  troops,  though  he  was  no  more 
than  eighteen  miles  distant  from  the  strong  garrison  of  the  British  at  Bruns- 
wick. At  one  period,  he  had  fewer  men  for  duty,  than  miles  of  frontier  to 
guard.  The  situation  of  General  Washington  at  Morristown,  was  not  more 
eligible.  His  force  was  inconsiderable,  compared  with  that  of  the  British ; 

*  Ramsay. 
2G 


234  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

but  the  enemy  and  his  own  countrymen  believed  the  contrary.  Their  de- 
ception was  cherished  and  artfully  continued  by  the  specious  parade  of  a 
numerous  army.  The  officers,  in  positions  difficult  of  access,  by  a  constant 
communication  with  each  other,  secured  themselves  from  insult  and  surprise. 

XXVI.  While  the  enemy  was  thus  surrounded,  and  harassed  by  an  al- 
most imaginary  army,  whose  parts  disappeared  at  the  approach  of  any  con- 
siderable force,  but  instantly  presented  themselves  when  that  force  retreated, 
General  Washington  came  to  the  hazardous,  but  judicious,  resolution,  of  de- 
livering himself  and  his  future  force  from  the  dread  of  a  calamity,  which  he 
could  not  elude,  and  which  had  been  more  fatal  in  his  camp,  than  the  sword 
of  the  enemy. 

The  small -pox,  of  all  the  agents  of  death,  was  the  most  painful  and  hideous. 
Inoculation  had  not  yet  in  America,  stripped  it  of  its  terrors ;  nor  vaccina- 
tion rendered  it  impotent.  In  despite  of  the  utmost  vigilance,  it  had  pene- 
trated to  the  northern  and  middle  armies,  and  impaired  the  strength  of  both. 
In  the  northern,  especially,  its  havoc  had  been  so  great,  that  the  delay,  re- 
quisite to  obtain  the  command  of  Lake  Champlain,  alone,  prevented  the  Bri- 
tish army  from  reaching  the  Hudson.  To  neutralize  the  virulence  of  the 
pest,  inoculation  was  now  resorted  to.  With  all  possible  secrecy,  prepara- 
tions were  made  to  give  the  infection  to  the  troops  in  camp,  at  Philadelphia, 
and  other  places ;  and  thus  an  army  was  procured  exempt  from  a  calamity, 
the  very  fear  of  which  endangered  the  most  important  operations. 

XXVII.  The  hostile  spirit  which  now  displayed  itself  in  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  was  encouraged  by  a  politic  and  humane  proclamation,  issued  by  the 
commander-in-chief,  about  the  last  of  January,  directed  to  those  who  had 
submitted  to,  and  taken  protection  from,  the  enemy ;  discharging  the  obliga- 
tions created  by  their  oaths  of  allegiance  to  the  king,  and  requiring  them  to 
repair  to  head  quarters,  or  to  the  quarters  of  the  nearest  general  officer,  and 
to  swear  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  as  the  condition  of  a  full  pardon. 
An  act  of  Assembly,  conceived   in   the  same  spirit,   was   passed   a  few 
months  after.     The  beneficial  effects  of  these  measures  were  soon  visible. 
The  people  flocked  in  from  every  quarter,  to  take  the  oaths ;  but  the  Legis- 
lature could  not,  yet,  be  induced  to  pass  an  act,  to  bring  the  militia  certainly 
into  the  field. 

XXVIII.  Amid  these  testimonies  of  reviving  patriotism,  it  is  painful  to 
record  the  crimes  which  were  committed  by  American  soldiers,  and  which 
were  but  too  much  encouraged  by  the  heterogeneous  organization  of  the 
army ;  for  the  correction  of  which,  General  Washington  found  it  necessary, 
by  proclamation,  to  prohibit,  "  both  in  the  militia  and  continental  troops,  in 
the  most  positive  terms,  the  infamous  practices  of  plundering  the  inhabitants, 
under  the  specious  pretence  of  their  being  tories.     It  is  our  duty,"  continued 
the  proclamation,  "  to  give  protection  and  support  to  the  poor,  distressed 
inhabitants,  not  to  multiply  their  calamities.     After  this  order,  any  officer 
found  plundering  the  inhabitants,  under  the  pretence  of  their  being  tories, 
may  expect  to  be  punished  in  the  severest  manner." 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  235 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

I.  Organization  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Government — II.  First  Address  of  the 
Governor — Other  principal  Officers. — III.  Condition  of  the  State  at  this  period. 
IV.  State  of  the  Northern  Department— Operations  on  the  Lakes. — V.  The  Bri- 
tish seize  Rhode  Island. — VI.  Demonstration  of  General  Heath,  on  Long  Island. 
— Condition  of  the  American  Army,  in  New  Jersey — Skirmishing. — VII.  Early 
efforts  of  Sir  William  Howe,  to  destroy  the  American  Magazines — Stores  burned 
at  Peck's-kill — at  Danbury. — VIII.  Successful  enterprise  of  Colonel  Meigs, 
against  Sagg  Harbour. — IX.  Movements  of  General  Washington,  on  opening  the 
Campaign — Removal  of  the  Army  to  Middlebrook — Disposition  of  the  Troops. 
X.  Operations  of  the  Army  under  General  Howe — Feint  to  cross  the  Delaware — 
Retreat  from  New  Jersey — Returns,  and  attacks  the  American  Army. — XI.  Per- 
plexity of  Washington,  caused  by  the  Movements  of  the  British  Forces.— XII.  Cap- 
ture of  Major-general  Prescott,  by  Major  Barton. — XIII.  General  Howe  embarks 
for  the  southward — Measures  of  Washington  thereon. — XIV.  Attempt  of  General 
Sullivan,  with  Colonel  Ogden,  upon  the  Tories  on  Staten  Island. — XV.  Arrival  of 
the  British  Army  at  Elk  River— its  Progress— Operations  of  the  American  Army — 
Battle  of  Brandy  wine. — XVI.  Subsequent  movement  of  the  Armies. — XVII.  Se- 
cond encounter  of  the  hostile  Armies — they  are  separated  by  rain. — XVIII.  Af- 
fairs of  Paoli.— XIX.  The  British  enter  Philadelphia.— XX.  Congress  remove  to 
Lancaster,  thence  to  York.— XXI.  Attack  and  defence  of  the  Fortifications  on  the 
Delaware — XXII.  Battle  of  Germantown. — -XXIII.  Operations  in  New  Jersey. — 
XXIV.  Further  proceedings  on  the  Delaware. — XXV.  Repulse  of  Count  Donop, 
from  Fort  Mercer.— XXVI.  General  Greene  despatched  to  New  Jersey. — 
XXVII.  Capture  of  Fort  Mifflin,  and  abandonment  of  Fort  Mercer.— XX  VIII.  At- 
tempt of  General  Dickenson  on  Staten  Island. — XXIX.  American  Army  rein- 
forced.—XXX.  Attacked  at  White  Marsh,  by  the  British.— XXXI.  The  Ameri- 
can Army  retires  into  Winter  Quarters. — XXXII.  English  plans  for  the  North- 
ern Campaign. — XXXIII.  Condition  of  the  American  Northern  Department. — 
XXXIV.  Burgoyne  captures  the  Forts  on  the  Lakes,  and  disperses  the  American 
Army. — XXXV.  Recuperative  measures  of  General  Schuyler. — XXXVI.  Re- 
pulse of  St.  Leger,  from  Fort  Schuyler.— XXXVII.  Defeat  of  Colonel  Baum, 
at  Bennington.— XXXVIII.  Beneficial  result  of  these  fortunate  Events  — 
XXXIX.  Battles  on  the  Hudson,  and  Capture  of  Burgoyne. — XL.  Movements 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  the  Highlands.— XLI.  Effect  of  the  Capture  of  Bur- 
goyne— at  home  and  abroad. — XLII.  Congress  refuse  to  execute  the  Articles  of 
Capitulation — their  reasons. 

I.  The  first  Legislature  of  independent  New  Jersey,  convened  at  Prince- 
ton, on  the  27th  of  August,  1776.  John  Stephens  was  elected  vice-president 
of  the  Council,  and  John  Hart,  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives ; 
and  on  the  31st  of  the  month,  William  Livingston,  Esq.,  was  chosen  in  joint 
ballot,  governor  of  the  new  State.  This  appointment  removed  him  from  a 
military  command,  at  Elizabethtown,  alike  incompatible  with  his  years,  his 
habits,  and  his  previous  studies,  to  one,  for  which  the  employments  of  his  life 
had  admirably  prepared  him.  On  the  first  ballot,  the  votes  were  equally 
divided,  between  him  and  Richard  Stockton;  but  on  the  second,  on  the  suc- 
ceeding day,  he  had  a  majority,  of  how  many  does  not  appear.*  His  rival, 

*  Dr.  Gordon,  (Hist.  Revolution,  vol.  ii.  p.  300,)  says— "  There  was  an  equal  num- 
ber of  votes  for  him  and  Mr.  Stockton;  but  the  latter  having,  just  at  the  moment, 
refused  to  furnish  his  team  of  horses,  for  the  service  of  the  public,  and  the  Legislature 
coming  to  the  knowledge,  the  choice  of  Mr.  Livingston  took  place  immediately." — 
Mr.  Sedgwick,  in  his  life  of  Governor  Livingston,  very  properly  repudiates  this  rea- 
son, and  observes—"  I  am  told  by  a  person  formerly  intimate  with  John  Cleve  Symmes, 
at  this  time  a  member  of  council,  that  he  had  often  said  between  jest  and  earnest, 
'  that  he  had  made  Mr.  Livingston  governor.'  Whether  by  this,  is  meant,  that,  on  the 


236  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

who,  previous  to  the  revolution,  held  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  was  named  chief-justice,  but  he  refused  the  office.  Governor 
Livingston  continued  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  the  executive,  from  this  period 
until  his  death,  a  space  of  fourteen  years,  being  annually  re-elected,  either, 
unanimously,  or  by  large  majorities. 

II.  His  first  address  to  the  Assembly,  displays  that  deep  devotion  to  liber- 
ty, that  religious  confidence  in  final  success,  that  inextinguishable  hatred  of 
British  oppression,  with  that  attention  to  affairs,  which  made  him  one  of  the 
most  efficient  agents  of  American  deliverance.     "Let  us,  gentlemen,"  so 
closes  this  earnest  call  for  their  warmest  sympathy,  and  most  vigorous  exer- 
tions, in  the  American  cause,  "  both  by  precept  and  practice,  encourage  a 
spirit  of  economy,  industry  and  patriotism,  and  that  public  integrity  and 
righteousness,  which  cannot  fail  to  exalt  a  nation ;  setting  our  faces,  at  the 
same  time,  like  a  flint,  against  that  dissoluteness  of  manners  and  political 
corruption,  which  will  ever  be  the  reproach  of  any  people.     May  the  founda- 
tion of  our  infant  State,  be  laid  in  virtue  and  the  fear  of  God — and  the  super- 
structure will  rise  glorious,  and  endure  for  ages.     Then  may  we  humbly 
expect  the  blessing  of  the  Most  High,  who  divides  to  the  nations  their  inhe- 
ritance, and  separates  the-  sons  of  Adam.*     In  fine,  gentlemen,  whilst  we 
are  applauded  by  the  whole  world,  for  demolishing  the  old  fabric,  rotten  and 
ruinous  as  it  is,  let  us  unitedly  strive  to  approve  ourselves  master  builders, 
by  giving  beauty,  strength  and  stability  to  the  new.""j" 

The  other  principal  officers  chosen  for  the  organization  of  the  govern- 
ment were,  John  De  Hart,  chief  justice,  Samuel  Tucker,  second,  and  Francis 
Hopkinson,  third  justices,  and  Jonathan  D.  Sergeant,  clerk  of  the  Supreme 
Court ;  Charles  Petit  secretary  of  state,  and  Richard  Smith  treasurer.  Mr. 
De  Hart  refusing  the  office  of  chief  justice,  Mr.  Robert  Morris  was  appointed ; 
the  place  of  Mr.  Tucker  upon  his  declination,  was  given  to  Isaac  Smith,  and 
that  of  Mr.  Hopkinson,  on  his  acceptance  of  the  admiralty  in  Philadelphia, 
was  filled  by  John  Cleves  Symmes;  Mr.  Sergeant  refusing  to  act  as  clerk, 
Bowes  Reed  was  appointed. 

III.  The  officers  however,  were  continually  changing,  both  military  and 
civil ;  and  for  the  services  of  the  latter,  there  was  at  this  period,  but  too  little 
occasion.     The  campaign  of  1776,  was  the  most  trying  period  of  the  war, 
and  drew  largely  upon  the  ability  and  fortitude  of  the  governor  and  other 
constituted  authorities  of  the  state.     On  the  15th  September,  the  city  of  New 
York  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.     Two  months  were  consumed  by  the 
hostile  armies  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson.     But  when,  on  the  10th  of 
November,  the  fall  of  Fort  Washington  was  followed  by  the  passage  of  the 
North  river,  by  the  British  forces  under  Cornwallis,  by  the  abandonment  of 
Fort  Lee,  and  the  rapid  retreat  of  the  American  army,  the  scene  of  action 
was  immediately  transferred  to  the  heart  of  New  Jersey. 

Governor  Livingston  made  the  most  strenuous  exertions  with  the  Assem- 
bly and  with  the  people,  to  have  the  militia  in  the  field  to  oppose  the  invading 
force.  But  it  was  not  practicable  to  control  the  panic  which  had  seized  upon 
the  mass  of  the  population.  The  barefooted,  and  almost  naked  continental 

final  vote,  Governor  Livingston  had  only  a  bare  majority,  or  that  Mr.  Symmes  in- 
duced the  adherents  of  Mr.  Stockton  to  join  those  who  were  in  favour  of  his  rival,  I 
doubt  whether  there  are  now  any  means  of  ascertaining." — p.  206.  n. 

*  Deut.  xxxii.  8. 

t  Votes  of  Assembly.  From  an  expression  in  this  paragraph,  and  his  inflexible  dis- 
position, the  governor  was,  for  some  time  after  this,  known  by  the  name  of  Dr.  Flint; 
and  an  anecdote  is  told  of  Mr.  Ames,  who,  in  some  momentary  confusion  of  ideas,  at 
a  dinner  in  New  York,  where  he  met  Governor  Livingston,  asked  Dr.  Flint,  whether 
the  town  of  Trenton  was  well  or  ill  disposed  to  the  new  constitution. — Sedgwich's 
Livingston,  207. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  237 

army,  retreating  before  the  well  appointed  battalions  of  the  enemy,  impaired 
the  confidence  of  the  people,  not  less  in  the  commander-in-chief,  than  in  their, 
own  resources.  The  defenceless  Legislature,  with  the  governor  at  their 
head,  removed  from  Princeton  to  Burlington,  where  they  adjourned  on  the 
2d  of  December,  each  man  retiring  to  his  home,  to  take  charge  of  his  pecu- 
liar interests.  There  scarcely  remained  a  vestige  of  the  lately  constituted 
government,  or  any  who  owed  it  allegiance;  and  until  the -battle  of  Trenton, 
(25th  December)  New  Jersey  might  have  been  considered  a  conquered 
country.* 

IV.  Although  the  Americans  had  been  driven  from  Canada,  and  the  hope 
of  its  conquest,  was,  for  the  present  abandoned,  the  defence  of  the  northern 
department  of  the  United  States  was  of  the  greatest  importance.  The  pos- 
session of  lakes  Champlain  and  George,  by  the  enemy,  might  induce  that  of 
Albany  and  all  the  upper  parts  of  the  Hudson,  and  opening  a  free  communi- 
cation between  the  northern  British  army,  and  that  in  New  York,  sever  the 
eastern  from  the  middle  and  southern  states,  and  encourage  the  royalists  of 
the  middle  and  upper  country,  who  were  numerous,  to  show  themselves  in 
force.  Under  these  impressions,  such  detachments  were  made  from  the  ar- 
my under  Washington,  on  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1776,  as  to  expose 
him  to  the  greatest  hazards. 

The  northern  department  had  been  entrusted  to  General  Schuyler,  who, 
with  high  talents,  possessed  great  influence  in  the  country.  General  Gates 
had  been  named  to  the  army  in  Canada,  and  though  that  army  was  now  in 
the  department  of  Schuyler,  his  senior  officer,  he  still  claimed  the  command. 
But  Congress  removed  this  difficulty  by  declaring,  it  was  not  their  intention 
to  place  the  former  over  the  latter,  and  recommending  them  to  co-operate 
harmoniously. 

When  expelled  from  Canada,  the  Americans  had  retired  to  the  strong  post 
of  Crown  Point,  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  Champlain,  whither  General 
Carleton,  for  want  of  vessels,  was  unable  immediately  to  follow  them.  But 
this  obstacle  was  removed  by  the  incredible  exertions,  with  which  a  consider- 
able fleet  was  built  and  equipped.  General  Schuyler,  on  his  part,  strenuously 
endeavoured  to  strengthen  his  little  fleet,  and  to  preserve  the  command  of  the 
lakes ;  but  it  was  impracticable  to  obtain  artillery,  materials  for  ship  building, 
or  workmen,  and  his  force  was  consequently  much  inferior  to  that  of  the 
enemy.  Its  command  was  given  to  the  intrepid  Arnold,  from  whom  every 
thing  was  expected  which  courage  could  perform. 

The  small  pox,  which  had  made  such  ravages  in  the  preceding  campaign, 
still  infected  the  army,  and  communicating  itself  to  the  reinforcements,  ren- 
dered it  necessary  to  stop  many  on  their  march :  and  mortality  from  this  and 
other  causes,  induced  the  general  officers  in  council,  in  the  month  of  July,  to 
resolve  on  evacuating  Crown  Point,  and  to  concentrate  their  forces  about  Ti- 
conderoga,  a  strong  post,  twelve  miles  from  the  former.  This  measure,  ap- 
parently unavoidable,  gave  great  chagrin  to  Congress,  who  entertained  hopes 
of  extending  their  operations  to  lakes  Erie,  and  Ontario. 

The  British,  by  the  first  of  October,  had  upon  the  lake,  a  fleet  carrying 
more  than  an  hundred  guns,  navigated  by  seven  hundred  prime  sailors,  and 
conducted  by  Captain  Pringle ;  on  board  of  which  was  General  Carleton  him- 
self. On  the  llth  it  proceeded  to  attack  Arnold,  then  very  advantageously 

*  The  case  of  Samuel  Tucker  strongly  illustrates  the  panic  which  prevailed  among 
some  of  the  \vhigs,  on  the  invasion  of  the  British.  President  of  the  convention  which 
formed  the  constitution  of  the  State — Chairman  of  the  committee  of  safety,  treasurer, 
aud  subsequently,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  he  took  a  protection  of  the  British, 
and  thus  renounced  allegiance  to  the  state,  and  vacated  his  offices.  Journal  of  Assem- 
bly, 17th  December,  1777,  and  votes  passim.  Sedgicick's  Livingston,  209,  &c. 


238  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

posted  with  a  much  inferior  force,  in  the  passage  between  the  island  of  Vali- 
,cour,  and  the  western  main.  The  wind  favouring  him,  he  was  enabled  to 
keep  up  the  engagement  for  several  hours,  during  which,  his  best  schooner 
was  burnt,  and  another  vessel  was  sunk ;  but  the  enemy  did  not  suffer  less. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  renew  the  action  with  hopes  of  success,  Arnold  made 
his  escape  during  the  night,  and  was  the  next  morning  out  of  view  of  his  pur- 
suers, hastening  to  obtain  shelter  under  the  guns  of  the  fort  at  Ticonde- 
roga.  But  the  enemy  came  up  with  him  at  noon,  and  he  was  compelled,  after 
a  spirited  resistance  of  two  hours,  and  the  loss  of  another  of  his  ships,  with  the 
second  in  command  on  board,  to  run  the  greater  part  of  his  vessels  on  shore, 
a  few  leagues  from  Crown  Point,  where  he  landed  their  crews  in  safety.  A 
portion  of  his  squadron  passed  Crown  Point,  and  escaped  to  Ticonderoga. 
Those  run  on  shore  he  burned,  to  prevent  their  capture  by  the  conquerors. 
Crown  Point  was  seized  by  General  Carleton,  who  advanced  part  of  his 
fleet  into  Lake  George,  within  view  of  Ticonderoga,  and  his  army  approached 
that  place  as  if  to  lay  siege  to  it.  But  after  reconnoitering  the  works,  and 
observing  the  steady  countenance  of  the  garrison,  which  consisted  of  be- 
tween eight  and  nine  thousand  men,  he  concluded  that  it  was  too  late  in  the 
season  to  invest  the  fortress,  and  returned  to  Canada,  placing  his  troops  in 
winter  quarters,  and  making  the  Isle  aux  Noix  his  most  advanced  post. 
This  retreat  relieved  the  apprehensions  of  the  Americans,  and  enabled  Gene- 
ral Gates,  as  we  have  seen,  to  march  with  a  detachment  of  the  northern 
army,  to  aid  the  commander-in-chief  on  the  Delaware. 

V.  With  the  view  of  making  his  power  more  extensively  felt,  and  of  im- 
peding the  march  of  the  troops  about  to  be  raised  in  New  England,  for  the 
reinforcement  of  the  army  of  General  Washington,  General  Howe  despatch- 
ed an  expedition  consisting  of  a  land  force  of  three  thousand  men,  under  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  and  a  fleet  commanded  by  Sir  Peter  Parker,  to  take  posses- 
sion of  Rhode  Island,  which  was  accomplished  about  the  last  of  November, 
without  material  opposition.    This  diversion  was  effective  in  its  main  object ; 
and  the  English  derived  permanent  advantage,  and  the  Americans  sustained 
lasting  inconvenience,  from  their  possession  of  this  post.    The  last  were  de- 
prived of  a  harbour,  admirably  adapted  to  serve  their  maritime  expeditions. 

VI.  With  these  concise  notices  of  events  in  the  northern  and  eastern  sec- 
tions of  the  country,  we  proceed  to  a  more  particular  detail  of  those  in  New 
Jersey  and  the  neighbouring  states.     Whilst  Philadelphia  was  supposed  to 
be  in  imminent  danger,  the  militia  of  New  England,  in  considerable  num- 
bers, had  been  ordered  to  the  Delaware ;  and  although  many  were  detained 
by  the  invasion  of  Rhode  Island,  a  few  regiments  reached  the  camp  of  Gene- 
ral Heath,  upon  the  North  river,  where  they  were  arrested  by  the  order  of 
the  commander-in-chief,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  diversion  on  the  side 
of  New  York.     The  army  in  New  Jersey,  with  the  detachment  to  Rhode 
Island,  it  was  supposed,  had  greatly  reduced  the  British  force  in  the  city. 
About  two  thousand  men  were  in  the  neighbourhood  of  King's  Bridge,  and  all 
the  other  troops  on  the  island  were  not  estimated  at  a  greater  number.     On 
Long  Island,  it  was  said,  there  w'as  only  Delancy's  brigade  of  American 
loyalists,  amounting  to  less  than  one  thousand  men.     Under  these  circum- 
stances, it  was  presumed,  that  the  New  York  and  New  Jersey  militia  might 
form  a  respectable  army,  with  which  General  Heath  might  alarm,  and,  per- 
haps, more  than  alarm  that  important  post.     He  was  directed  to  approach 
King's  Bridge,  to  carry  off  the  forage  and  provisions  with  which  the  enemy 
might  be  supplied,  and  if  circumstances  should  justify,  to  attack  the  forts 
which  guarded  the  entrance  into  the  island.  In  such  event,  it  was  anticipated, 
that  fears  for  New  York  would  induce  General  Howe,  either  to  abandon  the 
Jerseys  entirely,  when  his  troops  would  suffer  extremely  through  the  winter, 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  239 

for  fuel,  forage  and  provisions,  or  so  to  weaken  his  posts  at  Brunswick  and 
Amboy,  as  to  permit  General  Washington  to  attack  them  with  advantage. 
Should  neither  of  these  results  be  produced,  some  advantages  might  be  gained 
on  York  or  Long  Island. 

Pursuant  to  these  views,  General  Heath  marched*  towards  West  Chester, 
and  summoned  Fort  Independence ;  but  the  garrison  refusing  to  surrender, 
he  did  not  venture  an  assault  with  militia.  Receiving  intelligence  that  the 
British  army  had  embarked  from  Rhode  Island,  and  might,  by  entering  the 
Sound,  land  in  his  rear,  he  was  compelled  to  withdraw  into  the  Highlands ; 
not  however,  without  the  acquisition  of  considerable  quantities  of  forage  and 
cattle. 

VII.  In  the  mean  time,  repeated  skirmishes  on  the  lines  increased  the 
distress  of  the  enemy,  and  the  confidence  of  the  Americans  in  themselves. 
The  British  found  it  totally  unsafe  to  forage  but  with  large  covering  parties, 
which  were  often  attacked  with  advantage,  and  their  horses  frequently  taken. 
Their  miserable  appearance  evinced  the  scarcity  which  prevailed  in  the  camp. 
In  these  skirmishes,  prisoners  were  often  made ;  and  frequent  small  successes, 
the  details  of  which  filled  the  papers  throughout  America,  served  to  animate 
the  people  at  large,  who  even  supposed  that  the  British  would  be  driven  to 
their  ships  for  protection,  so  soon  as  the  season  would  permit  the  armies  to 
take  the  field.  Yet  the  real  situation  of  General  Washington,  happily 
concealed,  both  from  the  enemy  and  from  his  own  countrymen,  was  ex- 
tremely critical.  He  was  often  abandoned  by  bodies  of  the  militia,  before 
their  places  were  filled  by  others;  and,  thus,  left  in  a  state  of  dangerous  weak- 
ness, with  all  his  positions  exposed  to  imminent  hazard.  This  was  not  the 
only  inconvenience  resulting  from  this  fluctuating  army.  The  soldiers  car- 
ried off  arms  and  blankets  which  had  been  unavoidably  delivered  to  them,  to 
be  used  while  in  camp,  and  thus  wasted  in  advance,  the  military  stores  col- 
lected for  the  ensuing  campaign.^ 

While  exposed  to  these  embarrassing  inconveniences,  the  general  received 
intelligence,  that  reinforcements  were  arriving  from  Rhode  Island,  and 
that  the  movement  of  General  Heath  had  not  produced  the  effects  he  had 
expected.  His  fears  for  Philadelphia  revived ;  and  the  New  England  troops, 
except  so  many  as  might  be  deemed  necessary  to  guard  the  Highlands,  were 
ordered  immediately  to  join  him.  Heavy  requisitions  were  also  made  on 
the  neighbouring  militia,  especially  of  New  Jersey. 

The  movement  so  much  apprehended,  was  not  made;  and  the  war  of 
skirmishes  on  the  side  of  Jersey,  continued  throughout  the  winter.  In  the 
course  of  it,  the  British  loss  was  supposed  to  be  more  considerable  than  they 
had  sustained  at  Trenton  and  Princeton ;  and  hopes  were  entertained  that, 
from  the  scarcity  of  forage,  neither  their  cavalry,  nor  draught  horses  would 
be  in  a  condition  to  take  the  field,  when  the  campaign  should  open. 

This  light  war  was  far  short  of  the  hopes  of  the  American  General,  who 
submitted,  with  infinite  reluctance,  to  the  inactivity  his  weakness  imposed  on 
him.  He  had  flattered  himself  that  the  reviving  courage  of  his  countrymen 
would  have  placed  at  his  disposal  a  force  which  would  enable  him  to  beat 
the  enemy  in  detail,  during  the  winter,  and  to  repel  the  great  exertions  which 
would  be  made  for  the  conquest  of  America  in  the  ensuing  summer. 

All  the  intelligence  from  Europe  concurred  in  demonstrating  the  fallacy 
of  the  hope,  still  cherished  by  many,  that  the  war  would  be  abandoned. 
Never  had  the  administration  been  supported  by  greater  majorities  in  Parlia- 
ment ;  and  the  body  of  the  nation  appeared  well  disposed  to  employ  all  its 
means  to  reannex  to  the  empire  its  revolted  colonies.  The  importance  of 

*  June,  1776.  t  Marshall's  Washington. 


240  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

destroying,  or  maiming  the  present  army  before  it  could  be  reinforced  was, 
consequently,  felt  in  its  full  extent;  and  the  commander-in-chief  made  the 
most  strenuous  endeavours  to  promote  the  recruiting  service,  and  to  collect 
the  recruits  in  such  numbers,  as  would  enable  him  successfully  to  attack  the 
British  posts,  either  in  Rhode  Island,  New  York,  or  New  Jersey.  The  state 
sovereignties,  where  the  real  energies  of  government  resided,  were,  incessant- 
ly, urged  to  take  effectual  measures  to  fill  their  regiments,  and  to  bring  their 
respective  quotas  early  into  the  field.  They  were  pressed  to  march  their 
recruits,  so  soon  as  they  could  be  cleansed  from  the  small-pox,  by  compa- 
nies, and  even  by  parts  of  companies,  to  the  several  stations  assigned  them ; 
and  those  general  officers,  who  were  supposed  to  possess  most  influence, 
were  detached  to  their  respective  states,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  and 
superintending  the  recruiting  service. 

At  the  instance  of  the  commander-in -chief,  Congress  passed  such  resolu- 
tions as  were  calculated  to  second  his  views.  They  authorized  him  to  draw 
the  eastern  troops  from  Peck's-kill,  who  were  to  be  replaced  by  New  York 
militia;  and  required  the  executive  of  New  Jersey,  to  order  out  the  whole 
militia  of  that  state,  and  the  executive  of  Pennsylvania,  such  part  of  their 
militia  as  was  contiguous  to  New  Jersey,  properly  armed  and  equipped,  to  the 
aid  of  the  general.  . 

When  the  season  for  active  operations  approached,  General  Howe  direct- 
ed his  first  attention  to  the  destruction  of  the  scanty  resources  prepared  by 
the  Americans  for  the  ensuing  campaign.  Magazines  had  been  collected  at 
Peck's-kill,  in  the  Highlands,  where  mills  had  been  erected,  and  the  head- 
quarters of  the  general  commanding,  had  been  established.  On  the  recall 
of  General  Heath,  to  Boston,  the  command  had  devolved  on  General  M'Dou- 
gal.  The  strength  of  this  post,  like  others  depending  tipon  militia,  was  sub- 
ject to  great  fluctuation ;  consisting,  at  times,  of  several  thousand  men,  at 
others,  reduced  to  as  many  hundred.  The  stores  collected  here,  were  at 
this  time  inconsiderable;  but  the  British  general  supposing  them  of  great 
value,  and  slightly  defended,  on  the  23d  of  March,  1777,  despatched  Colonel 
Bird,  against  the  post,  with  five  hundred  men,  under  convoy  of  a  frigate, 
and  some  smaller  armed  vessels.  General  M'Dougal,  whose  force  did  not 
exceed  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  exerted  himself  to  remove  the  magazines 
into  the  strong  country,  in  his  rear ;  but  before  this  could  be  effected,  the 
enemy  approached,  and  compelled  him  to  retire,  having  first  set  fire  to  the 
store-houses  and  barracks.  Colonel  Bird  completed  the  destruction,  and  re- 
turned to  New  York. 

Danbury,  on  the  western  frontier  of  Connecticut,  contained  a  valuable 
deposit  of  military  stores,  and  though  not  more  than 'twenty  miles  from  the 
Sound,  its  safety  was  supposed  to  be  assured  by  the  nature  of  the  country, 
the  zeal  of  the  militia,  and  by  a  portion  of  the  Connecticut  draughts,  assem- 
bled there.  But  on  the  25th  of  April,  Governor  Tryon,  major-general  of  the 
provincials,  in  the  British  service,  with  Brigadiers  Agnew,  and  Sir  William 
Erskine,  entered  and  fired  the  town,  with  all  the  stores  it  contained.  Upon 
his  retreat,  he  was  assailed  by  about  thirteen  hundred  militia,  in  several  de- 
tachments, commanded  by  Generals  Arnold,  Silliman,  and  Wooster.  In  one 
of  the  several  skirmishes,  the  last  was  killed.  The  enemy  spent  the  night 
of  the  27th  at  Ridgefield,  and  in  the  following  morning  resumed  his  retreat, 
and  was  again  met  by  Arnold,  with  a  force  of  one  thousand,  among  whom 
were  some  continental  artillery  and  infantry ;  but  he  attained  his  shipping, 
with  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  men,  killed,  wounded  and  taken 
prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  nearly  the  same,  but  it  included 
several  officers  of  rank,  besides  General  Wooster.  General  M'Dougal  had 
learned  the  intention  of  Tryon,  and  endeavoured  to  intercept  his  retreat  by  a 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  241 

rapid  march,  with  twelve  hundred  men,  to  which  number  his  forces  had 
increased ;  but  he  could  not  arrive  before  the  enemy  had  retired ;  and  there- 
fore hastily  returned  to  his  post  at  Peck's-kill. 

VIII.  This  enterprise  was  soon  after  retaliated  by  an  expedition,  under 
Lieutenant-colonel  Meigs,  who,  on  the  23d  of  May,  with  two  hundred  and 
thirty  men,  carried  and  destroyed  a  large  depot  of  provisions  and  forage,  at 
Sagg  Harbour,  on  Long  Island ;  eluding  the  numerous  cruizers  of  the  enemy, 
and  making  near  a  hundred  prisoners,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man. 
Such  was  the  celerity  of  Colonel  Meigs's  movements,  that  he  transported 
his  men,  between  Guilford  and  Sagg  Harbour,  ninety  miles,  by  land  and 
water,  in  twenty-five  hours. 

IX.  In  the  mean  time,  the  American  commander-in-chief,  had  formed  his 
plan  for  the  disposition  of  the  army,  when  it  should  take  the  field.     He  was 
convinced,  that  while  General  Burgoyne,  now  in  command  of  the  British 
northern  army,  would  either  endeavour  to  take  Ticonderoga,  and  penetrate 
to  the  Hudson,  or  join  the  grand  army  by  sea,  General  Howe  would  en- 
deavour, by  moving  up  the  North  river,  to  possess  himself  of  the  forts  and 
high  grounds,  at  present  occupied  by  the  Americans,  or  would  attempt  Phila- 
delphia.    Yet  uncertain  as  to  which  of  those  courses  would  be  adopted,  he 
determined  to  keep  the  high  grounds  of  New  Jersey,  somewhat  north  of  the 
road  leading  from  Brunswick  to  Trenton.     Encamped  here,  the  army  would 
cover  New  Jersey,  and  be  at  a  convenient  point  to  move,  either  for  the  pro- 
tection of  Philadelphia,  on  the  west,  or  the  Highlands,  on  the  east.     In  the 
uncertainty  with  which  the  first  movements  of  the  enemy  were  enveloped, 
and  the  equal  necessity  of  defending  the  three  great  points,  Ticonderoga,  the 
Highlands  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  against  two  powerful  armies, 
superior  to  him,  in  arms,  numbers  and  discipline,  it  was  necessary  so  to  ar- 
range his  force,  as  to  enable  the  parts  reciprocally  to  aid  each  other.     To 
effect  these  purposes,  the  northern  troops,  including  those  of  New  York, 
were  divided  between  Ticonderoga  and  Peck's-kill,  while  those  from  Jersey 
to  the  south,  including  North  Carolina,  were  directed  to  assemble  in  New 
Jersey.     If  the  army  of  Canada  should  join  that  of  New  York,  by  sea,  the 
troops  at  Peck's-kill,  and  those  in  Jersey,  could  readily  be  united,  either  for 
defence  of  the  Highlands,  or  of  Philadelphia.     If  Burgoyne  should  attempt 
Ticonderoga,  by  way  of  the  lakes,  the  force  at  Peck's-kill  would  afford  aid 
to  the  army  opposed  to  him. 

Upon  these  arrangements  being  made,  the  camp  at  Morristown  was  broken 
up,  and  the  army  removed  to  Middlebrook,  behind  a  ridge  of  strong  and 
commanding  heights,  not  far  from  the  Raritan,  about  ten  miles  from  Bruns- 
wick; where  General  Washington  repaired,  in  person,  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1777.  The  heights,  in  front  of  the  camp,  commanded  the  course  of  the 
Raritan,  the  road  to  Philadelphia,  the  hills  about  Brunswick,  and  a  consi- 
derable part  of  the  country  between  that  place  and  Amboy ;  affording  a  full 
view  of  the  most  interesting  movements  of  the  enemy.  . 

The  force  brought  into  the  field  by  America,  required  all  the  aid  of  strong 
positions,  and  the  most  unremitting  vigilance.  On  the  21st  of  May,  the  total 
of  the  army  in  Jersey,  exclusive  of  the  cavalry  and  artillery,  amounted, 
only,  to  eight  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-eight  men,  of  whom,  up- 
wards of  two  thousand  were  sick.  The  effective  rank  and  file  were  only  five 
thousand  seven  hundred  arid  thirty-eight.  In  this  return,  the  troops  of  North 
Carolina  were  not  included,  as  they  had  not  then  joined  the  army ;  and  the 
militia  of  New  Jersey,  amounting  to  about  five  hundred  men,  were  also 
omitted.  Had  this  army  been  composed  of  the  best  disciplined  troops,  its  in- 
feriority in  numbers  must  have  limited  its  operations  to  defensive  war ;  and 

2H 


242  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

have  rendered  it  incompetent  to  protect  any  place,  which  could  be  defended 
only  by  battle  in  the  open  field.  But  more  than  half  the  troops*  were  unac- 
quainted with  military  duty,  and  had  never  looked  an  enemy  in  the  face. 

A  large  proportion,  especially  from  the  middle  states,  were  foreign- 
ers ;  many  of  them  servants,  on  whose  attachment  to  the  American  cause 
it  was  not  safe  to  rely.  To  avail  himself  of  this  unfavourable  circum- 
stance, General  Howe  had  offered  a  large  reward  to  every  soldier  who 
would  desert,  and  additional  compensation  to  those  who  would  bring  their 
arms.  The  effect  of  these  promises  had  been  seriously  felt ;  and  their  future 
operation,  was  greatly  dreaded.  To  diminish  this,  and  to  allure,  from  the 
service  of  the  enemy,  those  misguided  Americans  who  had  engaged  with 
them,  but  might  now  wish  to  be  again  received  into  the  bosom  of  their  coun- 
try, General  Washington  had  urged  on  Congress  the  policy  of  allowing  all 
the  advantages  of  freemen  to  the  servants  who  had  enlisted;  and  of  giving 
full  pardon  to  all  Americans,  who  would  quit  the  British  service.  These 
recommendations,  like  almost  every  other  proceeding  from  the  same  source, 
received  the  ready  attention  of  Congress,  and  resolutions  were  passed  in  con- 
formity with  them. 

As  a  movement  of  the  enemy  by  land  towards  Philadelphia  was  probable, 
it  was  an  important  part  of  the  plan  of  the  campaign,  to  constitute  on  the 
western  bank  of  the  Delaware,  an  army  of  militia,  strengthened  by  a  few 
continental  troops,  under  an  experienced  officer,  to  defend,  in  front,  the  pas- 
sage of  that  river.  To  Arnold,  then  in  Philadelphia,  employed  in  the  settle- 
ment of  his  accounts,  this  service  was  intrusted. 

General  Sullivan  lay  at  Princeton  with  a  body  of  continental  troops, 
increasing  in  number  by  recruits  from  the  southward,  and  some  Jersey 
militia.  He  was  directed  to  hold  himself  in  perpetual  expectation  of  attack, 
to  send  his  baggage  and  provisions  to  places  less  exposed,  and  to  be  in 
readiness  to  move  at  any  instant  to  a  place  of  greater  security,  where  his 
left  could  not  be  so  readily  turned,  and  whence  he  might  harass  the  flanks 
of  the  enemy  on  a  march,  and  preserve  a  communication  with  the  army  at 
Middlebrook — by  no  means  to  risk  a  general  action,  but  to  act  entirely  as  a 
partisan  corps ;  and  on  the  first  movement  of  the  British  army  to  place  his 
main  body  in  security,  and  to  harass  them  with  parties  detached  for  that  pur- 
pose. Measures  were  also  taken  to  put  the  militia  of  Jersey  in  readiness  to 
take  the  field  so  soon  as  offensive  operations  should  commence.  It  was  in- 
tended, not  that  they  should  remain  embodied  for  the  purpose  of  strengthen- 
ing and  acting  with  the  continental  army ;  but  that,  ranging  the  country  in 
small  parties,  they  should  hang  upon,  and  harass  the  flanks  of  the  enemy. 

X.  The  first  and  great  object  of  the  campaign,  on  the  part  of  General  Howe, 
was  the  acquisition  of  Philadelphia,  which  he  originally  designed  to  attain, 
by  marching  through  New  Jersey,  and  crossing  the  Delaware  by  a  portable 
bridge,  constructed  during  the  winter.  But  the  delay  in  the  arrival  of  the 
tents  and  camp  equipage,  from  Europe,  and  the  early  organization,  and  fa- 
vourable position  of  the  American  army,  caused  him  to  devise  another  plan 
of  operations,  in  case  he  could  not  draw  the  American  general  from  his 
present  advantageous  position.  This  was  to  attempt  Philadelphia  by  the 
Delaware  or  Chesapeake  Bay.  A  demonstration  was  acordingly  made,  of 
proceeding  to  Philadelphia,  by  land.  General  Washington  summoned  to  his 
assistance  the  continental  troops,  at  Peck's-kill,  with  the  exception  of  one 
thousand  effectives,  and  in  the  mean  time  formed  a  select  corps  of  riflemen, 

*  The  extreme  severity  of  the  service,  aided  perhaps  by  the  state  of  the  hospitals, 
had  carried  to  the  grave,  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  soldiers,  who  had  served  the  pre- 
ceding campaign  and  been  engaged  for  more  than  one  year. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  243 

under  Colonel  Morgan,  which  was  posted  at  VanvechtenVbridge,  on  the 
Raritan,  just  above  its  confluence  with  the  Millstone  river,  with  orders  to 
watch  the  left  flank  of  the  British  army.  On  any  movement  of  the  enemy, 
he  was  instructed  to  seize  every  opportunity  to  fall  on  their  flank,  to  gall 
them  as  much  as  possible,  but  to  take  especial  care  not  to  permit  himself  to 
be  surrounded,  or  to  have  his  retreat  to  the  army  cut  off.  General  Sullivan 
was  directed  to  change  his  position,  and  to  occupy  the  high  grounds  of 
Rocky  Hill,  as  a  place  of  greater  security. 

With  the  view  of  inducing  General  Washington  to  quit  his  fortified  camp, 
and  to  approach  the  Delaware,  where  he  might  bring  on  a  general  engage- 
ment, on  ground  more  advantageous  to  himself,  General  Howe,  leaving  two 
thousand  men  at  Brunswick,  under  the  command  of  General  Matthews,  ad- 
vanced, on  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  June,  in  two  columns,  towards  that 
river.  The  front  of  the  first,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  reached  Somerset 
Court  House,  by  the  break  of  day ;  and  about  the  same  time,  the  second, 
under  General  de  Heister,  arrived  at  Middlebush,  between  Brunswick  and 
Somerville,  on  a  road  east  of  that  taken  by  Cornwallis.  The  feint  was  un- 
successful. On  the  first  intelligence  that  the  enemy  was  approaching, 
Washington  posted  his  whole  army,  with  great  advantage,  in  order  of  battle, 
on  the  heights  in  front  of  his  camp.  This  position  he  maintained  during  the 
day,  and  at  night  the  troops  slept  on  the  ground  to  be  defended.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  militia  of  New  Jersey,  with  an  alacrity,  heretofore  unexam- 
pled in  the  state,  took  the  field  in  great  numbers ;  principally  joining  Gene- 
ral Sullivan,  who  had  retired  behind  the  Sourland  hills,  towards  Fleming- 
ton,  where  a  considerable  army  was  forming. 

Finding  that  the  American  army  could  not  be  drawn  from  its  position, 
and,  probably,  influenced  in  some  degree,  by  the  temper  now  manifested  by 
the  militia,  General  Howe  determined  to  waste  no  more  time  in  threatening 
Philadelphia  by  land,  but  to  withdraw  his  army  from  Jersey;  and,  pursuing 
the  principal  object  of  the  campaign,  to  embark  them,  for  the  Chesapeak  or 
the  Delaware.  On  the  19th,  in  the  night,  he  returned  to  Brunswick,  and  on 
the  22d,  to  Amboy ;  where  he  threw  over  the  channel  which  separates  the  con- 
tinent from  Staten  Island,  the  bridge  designed  for  the  Delaware,  and  passed 
over  the  heavy  baggage  and  a  few  of  his  troops  to  that  island,  whence  the 
embarkation  of  his  army  was  to  be  made.  This  retreat  was  conducted  with 
some  marks  of  precipitation,  and  many  of  the  farm  houses  on  the  route  are 
said  to  have  been  burned. 

General  Washington,  expecting  the  movement  from  Brunswick,  had 
made  dispositions  to  derive  some  advantages  from  it.  He  detached  General 
Greene,  with  three  brigades,  for  the  purpose  of  falling  on,  and  annoying  the 
British  rear.  General  Sullivan  was  directed  to  move  with  his  division,  in 
order  to  co-operate  with  Greene,  and  Maxwell  to  fall  on  the  flank  of  the 
enemy.  In  the  mean  time,  the  main  army  paraded  on  the  heights  of  Mid- 
dlebrook,  ready  to  act  as  circumstances  might  require. 

About  sunrise,  Colonel  Morgan  attacked  and  drove  in  a  picquet  guard ;  the 
enemy  throwing  themselves  into  some  redoubts,  which,  on  the  approach  of 
Wayne  and  Morgan  they  evacuated;  immediately  after,  they  commenced 
their  march  to  Amboy.  Some  sharp  skirmishing  took  place  between  them 
and  Morgan's  regiment,  in  which  the  latter  acted  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  their  general ;  but  the  hope  of  gaining  any  important  advantage  was 
entirely  disappointed.  From  his  distance,  and  the  late  hour  at  which  he  re- 
ceived his  orders,  Sullivan  was  unable  to  come  up  in  time ;  the  express  sent 
to  General  Maxwell  either  deserted  to  the  enemy,  or  was  taken ;  and  the  rear 
division  of  the  British  being  stronger  than  \vas  expected,  the  force  on  the 


244  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

lines  could  make  no  impression  on  it.     From  these  causes,  the  retreat  to 
Amboy  was  effected  without  any  considerable  loss. 

In  order  to  cover  his  light  parties,  which  still  hung  on  the  British  flank 
and  rear,  and  to  injure  the  enemy,  General  Washington  advanced  six  or 
seven  miles  from  his  strong  camp  at  Middlebrook,  to  Quibbleto\vn,  on  the 
road  to  Amboy.  Lord  Stirling's  division  proceeded  a  few  miles  still  nearer, 
to  the  neighbourhood  of  Matouchin  meeting-house,  in  order  to  act  with 
the  parties  which  were  on  the  lines,  should  an  opportunity  offer  for  attack. 

In  this  state  of  things,  it  appeared  practicable  to  General  Howe  to  bring 
on  an  engagement.  With  this  view,  and  probably  in  the  hope  of  turning  the 
left  of  the  American  army,  and  gaining  the  heights  behind  them,  on  the 
night  of  the  25th,  he  recalled  the  troops  which  had  passed  over  to  Staten 
Island ;  and  early  next  morning,  made  a  rapid  movement  in  two  columns 
towards  Westfield.  The  right,  under  the  command  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  took 
the  route  by  Woodbridge  to  the  Scotch  Plains ;  and  the  left,  accompanied  by 
Sir  William  Howe  in  person,  marched  by  Matouchin  meeting-house,  to  fall 
into  the  rear  of  the  right  column.  It  was  intended  that  the  left  should  take 
a  separate  route,  about  two  miles  after  their  junction  with  the  other  column, 
in  order  to  attack  the  left  flank  of  the  American  army  at  Quibbletown ;  while 
Lord  Cornwallis  should  gain  the  heights  on  the  left  of  the  camp  at  Middle- 
brook.  Four  battalions,  with  six  pieces  of  cannon,  were  detached  to  take 
post  at  Bonhamtown.* 

About  Woodbridge,  the  right  column  of  the  British  fell  in  with  one  of  the 
light  parties  detached  to  watch  their  motions ;  and  notice  being  thus  received 
of  this  movement,  General  Washington  immediately  penetrated  its  object,  and 
discerned  his  danger.  The  whole  army  was  instantly  put  in  motion.  It  re- 
gained with  the  utmost  celerity  the  camp  at  Middlebrook,  and  took  possession 
of  the  heights  on  the  left,  which  it  was  supposed  the  enemy  had  designed  to 
seize.  Lord  Cornwallis,  on  his  route  encountered  Lord  Stirling,  and  a 
smart  skirmish  ensued,  in  which  the  latter  was  driven  from  his  ground  with 
the  loss  of  three  field  pieces  and  a  few  men.  He  retreated  to  the  hills  about 
the  Scotch  Plains,  and  was  pursued  as  far  as  Westfield.  Here  Lord  Corn- 
wallis halted.  Perceiving  the  passes  in  the  mountains  on  the  left  of  the 
American  camp  to'be  guarded,  and,  of  consequence,  that  the  object  for  which 
this  skilful  manoeuvre  had  been  made  was  unattainable,  he  returned  through 
Rahway  to  Amboy ;  and,  on  the  30th  of  June,  the  whole  army  crossed  over 
to  Staten  Island. 

While  retiring  from  Westfield,  the  British  army  was  watched  by  the  bri- 
gades of  Scott  and  Con  way;  the  former  entered  Arnboy  immediately  after 
that  place  had  been  evacuated;  but  no  opportunity  was  given,  during  the 
retreat,  of  attacking  it  to  advantage. 

XI.  About  this  time,  news  was  received  of  the  advance  of  General 
Burgoyne,  towards  Ticonderoga,  which,  with  the  delay  in  the  embarka- 
tion of  Sir  William  Howe's  forces,  kept  the  American  commander-in-chief 
in  great  uncertainty  as  to  the  designs  of  the  enemy ;  and  occasioned  him  to 
give  orders  for  the  return  of  two  brigades  to  Peck's-kill,  which  had  proceed- 
ed to  Pompton  Plains,  to  join  him,  and  to  despatch  Parson's  and  Varnum's 
brigades  to  that  post.  Still  he  could  not  divest  himself  of  the  opinion,  that 
the  attempt  to  cross  the  Delaware  would  be  renewed ;  and  for  some  days 
he  remained  in  his  camp,  at  Middlebrook.  A  change  of  position  from 
Prince's  Bay,  to  the  watering  place,  and  a  movement  of  the  army  to  the  lat- 
ter, with  the  military  stores  and  baggage  from  the  coast  opposite  Amboy,  at 

*  General  Howe's  letter. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  245 

length,  relieved  him  from  apprehensions  of  a  sudden  march  on  Philadelphia, 
and  determined  him  to  change  his  own  position.  He  removed  the  main 
body  of  the  army  to  Morristown,  and  advanced  General  Sullivan  with  his 
division,  on  the  way  to  Peck's-kill,  as  far  as  Pompton  Plains. 

The  preparations  for  embarkation  of  the  British  general,  indicated  the  in- 
ception of  a  much  longer  voyage  than  that  up  the  North  river ;  and  notice  of 
these  appearances  were  given  to  the  eastern  states ;  but  the  advance  of  Bur- 
goyne,  with  a  powerful  army,  against  Ticonderoga,  still  induced  the  opinion, 
that  the  main  object  of  Howe,  must  be  to  effect  a  junction  with  him,  on  the 
North  river.  Under  this  impression,  Sullivan  was  ordered  to  Peck's-kill, 
and  Washington,  himself,  proceeded  to  Pompton  Plains,  and  on  the  16th  of 
July,  to  the  Clove ;  where  he  determined  to  remain  until  the  views  of  the 
enemy  should  be  completely  disclosed. 

In  this  position,  he,  at  first,  commanded,  that  the  North  Carolina  troops 
which  had  stopped  at  Philadelphia,  should  join  him;  but  on  receiving  informa- 
tion that  a  great  part  of  the  British  fleet  had  fallen  down  to  the  Hook,  these 
forces  were  stopped  at  Trenton,  and  General  Sullivan  was  directed  not  to  cross 
the  North  river.  General  Putnam,  who  now  commanded  at  Peck's-kill,  was 
cautioned  to  guard  against  any  sudden  attack  from  New  York ;  success  in 
which,  would  be  the  more  deeply  felt,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of  Ticonde- 
roga, and  Mount  Independence,  which  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  Burgoyne. 
The  information,  that  part  of  the  fleet  had  dropped  down  to  the  Hook,  was 
soon  followed  by  intelligence,  that  the  shipping  were  moving  from  the  water- 
ing place  to  New  York,  and  that  several  transports,  convoyed  by  a  ship  of 
war,  had  proceeded  as  high  as  Dobbs'  ferry.  The  passes  in  the  Highlands 
were  now  supposed  to  be  certainly  their  object,  and  Sullivan,  who  had  been 
advanced  as  far  as  New  Windsor,  was  ordered  immediately  to  cross  the 
Hudson,  and  to  take  post  in  the  rear  of  Peck's-kill,  on  the  east  side  of  that 
river.  Lord  Stirling  was  also  commanded  to  cross  the  river  and  join  Ge- 
neral Putnam. 

XII.  The  perplexities  of  this  moment  were  cheered  by  the  intelligence 
of  the  capture  of  Major-general   Prescott,  the  commander  of  the  British 
troops  on  Rhode  Island.     Believing  himself  perfectly  secure,  guarded  by 
his  cruizers  and  at  the  head  of  an  army  greatly  superior  to  any  force  col- 
lected in  the  eastern  department,  he  indulged  in  convenient  quarters,  distant 
from,  camp,  and  with  few  guards  about  his  person.     Information  of  this  ne- 
gligence being  communicated  to  the  main,  Colonel  Barton,  of  the  Rhode  Island 
militia,  planned  with  success,  the  capture  of  the  general,  in  his  quarters.     On 
the  night  of  the  10th  of  July,  with  a  party  of  about  forty  persons,  including 
captains  Adams  and  Phillips,  in  four  whale  boats,  he  crossed  the  water,  a 
distance  of  ten  miles,  deceived  the  vigilance  of  the  guard  boats,  landed, 
marched  a  mile  to  the  general's  quarters,  seized  the  sentinel  at  the  door,  and 
one  of  the  aid-de-camps,  took  the  general  from  his  bed,  and  without  allowing 
him  time  to  dress,  carried  him  with  secrecy  and  despatch  to  a  place  of  safety. 
This  clever  exploit  was  the  more  highly  appreciated,  as  it  gave  the  Ameri- 
cans an  officer  of  equal  rank  to  exchange  for  General  Lee.     Congress  pre- 
sented Colonel  Barton  with  a  sword,  as  a  mark  of  their  approbation. 

XIII.  At  length,  the  British  fleet  put  to  sea ;  having  on  board  General 
Howe,  and  thirty-six  British  and  Hessian  battalions,  including  light  infantry 
and  grenadiers,  with  a  powerful  artillery,  a  New  York  corps,  called  the 
Queen's  Rangers,  and  a  regiment  of  light  horse.     The  residue  of  the  army 
was  divided  between  New  York  and  Rhode  Island.     On  the  receipt  of  the 
intelligence,  the  American  army  commenced  its  march,  (July,  1777,)  for  the 
Delaware,  under  the  conviction,  that  the  fleet  was  destined  for  Philadelphia. 
But  whilst  preparing  to  meet  Sir  William  Howe  on  a  new  theatre,  the  com- 


246  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

mander-in-chief  took  measures,  also,  to  check  the  progress  of  Burgoyne ;  who, 
having  obtained  possession,  by  a  greatly  superior  force,  of  Ticonderoga,  and 
the  lakes,  was  advancing  southward  towards  New  York.  Letters  were  ad- 
dressed to  the  governments  of  the  eastern  states,  urging  them  to  reinforce 
with  their  militia,  the  retreating  northern  army.  Major-generals  Arnold 
and  Lincoln,  both  influential  with  the  eastern  militia,  were  directed  to  join 
it;  and  three  brigades  of  New  England  continental  troops  from  Peck's-kill, 
Morgan's  rifle  regiment,  and  two  regiments  from  New  York,  were  ordered 
upon  the  same  service. 

On  the  30th  July,  the  enemy's  fleet  appeared  off  the  capes  of  the  Dela- 
ware, and  orders  were  given  by  Washington  for  concentrating  his  forces  at 
Philadelphia.  They  were  scarce  issued,  when  a  new  disposition  was  occa- 
sioned, by  tidings,  that  the  fleet  had  departed  from  the  Delaware  Bay,  and 
was  proceeding  eastwardly.  No  further  intelligence  of  it  was  received,  until 
the  7th  of  August,  when  it  was  seen  a  few  leagues  southward  of  the  Delaware 
capes ;  after  which  it  disappeared,  and  was  not  again  heard  of,  until  late  in 
that  month.  Meanwhile,  the  most  perplexing  uncertainty  concerning  its  des- 
tination, was  universal.  On  entering  the  capes  of  the  Delaware,  the  general 
was  deterred  by  the  difficulties  of  that  river  from  ascending  it,  and  resolved 
to  proceed  to  the  Chesapeake ;  but  was  prevented  by  contrary  winds,  from 
reaching  the  mouth  of  the  latter  bay,  until  the  16th  of  August. 

Washington  employed  this  interval  in  examining  the  country  about  Phila- 
delphia, and  the  works  below  the  city ;  and  he  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  the 
defence  of  the  river  should  be  confined  to  the  fort  on  Mud  Island,  and  to  Red 
Bank,  a  piece  of  high  ground  on  the  Jersey  shore,  opposite  to  the  island. 
This  opinion  he  communicated  to  Congress,  with  his  intention  to  march  to 
Coryell's  ferry,  (New  Hope,)  sufficiently  near  Philadelphia,  whence  he  might 
readily  regain  the  North  river,  should  it  be  necessary.  Upon  the  protracted 
absence  of  the  British  fleet,  he  determined  to  march  thither,  but  on  the  very 
day  of  this  determination,  learned  the  arrival  of  the  whole  fleet  in  the  Chesa- 
peake. 

XIV.  The  different  divisions  of  the  army  were  immediately  ordered  to 
unite,  with  the  utmost  expedition,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Philadelphia,  and 
the  militia  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Delaware,  and  the  northern  counties 
of  Virginia  to  take  the  field.  These  orders  were  received  by  General  Sulli- 
van, who  had  been  encamped  in  Jersey  about  Hanover,  just  on  his  return 
from  an  expedition  to  Staten  Island.  The  British  force  there  amounted  to 
between  two  and  three  thousand  men ;  of  whom  nearly  one  thousand  were 
provincials,  stationed  at  different  places  on  the  coast  opposite  the  Jersey 
shore.  The  European  troops,  amounting  to  sixteen  hundred  men,  were 
in  a  fortified  camp  near  the  watering  place.  General  Sullivan  thought 
it  practicable  to  surprise  and  bring  off  the  provincials  before  they  could  be 
supported  by  the  Europeans ;  and  he  was  the  more  stimulated  to  the  attempt, 
by  their  occasional  incursions  into  Jersey.  They  had  lately  penetrated 
as  far  as  Woodbridge,  and  had  carried  off  twelve  individuals,  noted  for 
their  attachment  to  the  American  cause.*  This  expedition  was  undertaken 
by  Sullivan  with  the  select  troops  of  his  division,  aided  by  a  few  Jersey 
militia,  under  Colonel  Frelinghuysen.  They  had  to  march  about  twenty 
miles  to  the  place  of  embarkation ;  where,  only,  six  boats  had  been  procured. 
Three  of  these  were  allotted  to  Colonel  Ogden,  who  commanded  one  detach- 

*  Mr.  Stockton,  member  of  Congress,  and  Mr.  Fell,  member  of  council,  had  previous- 
ly been  made  prisoners,  and  the  person,  nay,  the  life  of  Governor  Livingston  was 
daily  threatened.  Two  thousand  guineas  are  said  to  have  been  offered  by  the  enemy 
for  his  capture. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

merit  intended  to  attack  Colonel  Lawrence,  lying  near  the  old  Blazing  Star 
ferry,  and  Colonels  Dungan,  and  Allen,  who  lay  about  two  miles  from  each 
other,  towards  Amboy.  The  other  three  were  taken  by  General  Deborre, 
accompanied  by  General  Sullivan  in  person.  He  was  to  attack  Colonel 
Barton  near  the  new  Blazing  Star  ferry,  and,  after  securing  that  party,  to 
assist  Ogden.  General  Small  wood,  with  his  brigade  was  to  cross  at  Halsey 
point,  and  attack  Buskirk's  regiment  near  Decker's  ferry.  All  the  troops 
crossed  before  day,  unperceived  by  the  enemy.  But,  misconducted  by  his 
guides,  Smallwood  began  his  attack  on  a  different  point  from  that  which  was 
intended,  in  consequence  of  which,  Buskirk's  regiment  made  its  escape ;  but 
Ogden  and  Deborre,  were  more  successful.  Lawrence  and  Barton  were  sur- 
prised, and,  with  several  of  their  officers  and  men,  were  taken.  The  alarm 
being  given,  it  became  necessary  for  Sullivan  precipitately  to  withdraw  his 
forces  from  the  island.  It  had  been  impracticable  to  obtain  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  boats  to  embark  all  the  troops  at  the  same  time ;  and  some  confusion 
appears  to  have  prevailed  in  this  part  of  the  business.  General  Campbell, 
with  a  considerable  force  advanced  upon  them ;  and  the  rear  guard,  after 
defending  themselves  for  some  time  with  great  gallantry,  were  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  surrendering  prisoners  of  war. 

In  his  letters  to  the  commander-in-chief,  and  to  Congress,  General  Sullivan 
reported,  that  he  had  brought  off  eleven  officers,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty 
privates ;  and  that  a  considerable  number  must  have  been  killed  in  the  differ- 
ent skirmishes.  He  stated  his  own  loss  to  have  been  one  major,  one  captain, 
one  lieutenant,  and  ten  privates  killed,  and  fifteen  wounded;  and  nine  of- 
ficers, among  whom  were  Majors  Stewart,  Tillard,  and  Woodson,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  privates,  prisoners. 

In  the  account  given  by  General  Campbell,  he  claims  to  have  made  two 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  prisoners,  among  whom  were  one  lieutenant-colonel, 
three  majors,  two  captains,  and  fifteen  inferior  officers. 

XV.  The  British  fleet  ascended  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  the  Elk  river ;  and 
on  the  25th  of  August,  landed  the  army  at  the  ferry,  without  a  show  of  opposi- 
tion. Their  whole  force  was  computed  at  eighteen  thousand  men,  in  good  health 
and  spirits,  trained  to  the  service,  abundantly  supplied  with  the  materiel  of 
war,  and  led  by  a  general  of  experience  and  military  talent.  If  it  were  defi- 
cient in  aught,  it  was  in  horses,  which  had  suffered  much  during  the  preceding 
winter,  and  in  the  long  voyage  from  New  York  to  the  Elk  river. 

Great  effort  was  made  to  increase  the  American  army.  The  militia  res- 
ponded to  the  call  of  their  country  in  greater  numbers  than  could  be  armed. 
The  whole  force  was  estimated  at  fifteen  thousand,  but  the  effectives,  at  not 
more  than  eleven  thousand.  Morgan's  regiment  of  riflemen  having  been  sent 
to  the  northern  army,  a  light  corps  was  formed  by  detachments  from  each 
brigade,  and  put  under  the  command  of  General  Maxwell ;  who,  during  the 
preceding  winter,  had  acquired  reputation  as  a  partisan  officer.  This  corps 
was  thrown  in  advance  of  the  American  army,  but  was  driven  in  by  a  co- 
lumn under  Lord  Cornwallis  with  considerable  loss.  The  conduct  of  Gene- 
ral Maxwell  was  much  condemned  by  his  officers,  but  he  was  acquitted  of 
blame  by  a  court-martial.  Washington  felt  and  deplored  the  absence  of  Mor- 
gan and  his  rifle  corps.  On  the  3d  of  September,  the  British  were  encamped 
with  their  right  about  Pencader,  with  their  left  extending  across  Christiana 
creek,  towards  Newark.  On  the  5th,  the  whole  American  army,  except  the 
light  infantry,  took  position  behind  Red  Clay  creek,  having  its  left  at  New- 
port, on  the  Christiana,  and  on  the  road  leading  directly  from  the  camp  of 
Sir  William  Howe  to  Philadelphia.  On  the  8th,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy 
advanced  by  Newark  upon  the  right  of  the  American  encampment,  and  took 
post  within  four  miles  of  that  place ;  whilst  a  strong  column  made  a  show  of 


248  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

attacking  in  front,  and  after  manoeuvring  for  some  time,  halted  at  Milton, 
within  two  miles  of  the  centre.  General  Washington  perceived  that  the 
column  in  front  was  designed  only  to  amuse,  whilst  the  left  should  endeavour 
to  turn  his  right,  and,  suddenly  crossing  the  Brandywine,  seize  the  heights 
on  the  north  of  that  river,  and  cut  off  his  communication  with  Philadelphia. 
To  prevent  this,  he  moved  during  the  night  over  the  Brandywine,  and  took 
post  next  morning  behind  the  river,  at  Chad's  Ford.  The  light  corps  under 
General  Maxwell,  was  advanced  in  front,  and  the  Pennsylvania  militia  under 
General  Armstrong,  were  placed  at  a  ford  two  miles  below  Chad's ;  the  right 
extended  some  miles  above  that  place,  with  a  view  to  other  passes  deemed 
less  practicable.  In  this  position,  the  general  awaited  the  movement  of  his 
adversary. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth,  the  whole  British  army  advanced  on  the  road 
leading  over  Chad's  Ford,  and  the  Americans  prepared  to  defend  the  passage 
of  the  river.  Some  sharp  skirmishing  between  the  advanced  column  under 
Knyphausen,  and  the  light  corps  of  Maxwell,  took  place  on  either  side,  below 
the  ford,  with  little  damage  to  either  party.  About  1 1  o'clock,  Washington, 
instructed  that  a  division  of  the  enemy  had  marched  up  the  country,  on  the 
south  of  the  Brandywine,  formed  the  bold  design  of  detaching  Sullivan  and 
Stirling  to  fall  on  its  left,  while  he  should  cross  the  ford,  and  with  the  centre 
and  left  wing  attack  Knyphausen.  At  the  critical  moment,  unhappily,  erro- 
neous intelligence  was  received  that  the  movement  of  the  British  on  the  left, 
was  a  feint  only ;  and  about  two  o'clock,  it  was  ascertained  that  a  column, 
led  by  Cornwallis,  having  taken  a  circuit  of  seventeen  miles,  had  passed  the 
river  above  its  forks,  and  was  advancing  in  great  force.  The  divisions  of 
Sullivan,  Stirling,  and  Stephens,  marched  to  meet  it ;  and  that  lately  com- 
manded by  Lincoln,  now  by  Wayne,  remained  at  Chad's  Ford,  with  Max- 
well's corps,  to  check  Knyphausen;  whilst  Green's  division,  and  General 
Washington  in  person,  formed  a  reserve  and  took  a  central  position. 

The  divisions  detached  against  Cornwallis,  had  scarcely  formed  on  ad- 
vantageous ground,  above  Birmingham  meeting-house,  when  the  attack  com- 
menced, at  about  half  past  four  o'clock,  and  was  for  a  season  firmly  sustained. 
The  American  right  first  gave  way,  exposing  the  flank  of  the  remaining  di- 
visions to  a  galling  fire ;  and  in  a  short  time,  the  whole  line  was  routed. 
General  Washington  pressed  forward  to  support  this  wing,  but  arrived  only 
in  time  to  check  the  pursuit.  This  service  was  efficiently  rendered  by  a 
Pennsylvania  regiment  under  Colonel  Stewart,  and  a  Virginia  regiment  under 
Colonel  Stephens.  Whilst  the  right  was  thus  engaged,  Knyphausen  forced 
the  ford.  The  whole  American  army  retreated  that  night  to  Chester,  and 
the  next  day  to  Philadelphia.  Its  loss  was  estimated  at  three  hundred  killed 
and  six  hundred  wounded,  and  three  or  four  hundred,  principally  of  the 
wounded,  made  prisoners.  That  sustained  by  the  enemy  was  reported  at  one 
hundred  killed,  and  four  hundred  wounded.  Among  the  wounded  of  the 
Americans,  were  Brigadier-general  Woodford,  and  the  Marquis  de  La 
Fayette. 

XVI.  The  disposition  to  risk  another  battle  was  general,  on  the  part  of 
Congress,  and  the  army.  An  opinion  prevailed,  which  was  carefully  che- 
rished, that  the  British  had  gained,  only,  the  ground.  Fifteen  hundred  conti- 
nental troops  were  ordered  from  Peck's-kill,  and  directions  given  to  the  mi- 
litia of  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  remaining  adjacent  country,  to 
march  to  the  aid  of  the  army,  whilst  due  measures  were  taken  to  complete 
the  defences  of  the  Delaware  river. 

Sir  William  Howe,  lay  on  the  night  of  the  llth,  on  the  field  of  battle.  On 
the  succeeding  day,  Major-general  Grant,  with  two  brigades,  took  post  at 
Concord  meeting-house.  On  the  13th,  Lord  Cornwallis  having  united  with 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  249 

Grant,  marched  towards  Chester.     Another  detachment  seized  Wilmington, 
whither  the  wounded  were  escorted. 

XVII.  On  the  15th,  the  American  army  was  again  collected,  and  intend- 
ing to  gain  the  left  of  the  British,  had  reached  the  Warren  tavern,  on  the 
Lancaster  road,  when  intelligence  was  received  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy. 
Washington  hastened  to  meet,  and  attack  him  in  front.     Both  armies,  eager 
for  battle,  had  scarce  engaged,  when  they  were  separated  by  a  tremendous 
storm  of  rain,  which  rendered  the  retreat  of  the  Americans  indispensable. 
The  wretched  condition  of  their  arms,  produced,  at  all  times,  an  inequality  be- 
tween them  and  the  British ;  and,  on  this  occasion,  caused  them  the  most  im- 
minent peril.    Such  was  the  effect  of  the  rain  upon  the  muskets  and  cartridge 
boxes,  that  of  the  former,  scarce  one  hi  a  regiment  could  be  fired ;  and  in 
the  latter,  of  forty  rounds  per  man,  scarce  one  was  fit  for  use.     The  retreat 
was  continued  all  the  day,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  night,  through  a  cold 
and  most  distressing  rain,  and  very  deep  roads,  to  the  Yellow  Springs ;  and 
subsequently,  to  Warwick  Furnace,  on  French  Creek. 

The  weather,  which  compelled  the  flight  of  the  American,  arrested  the 
progress  of  the  British,  army;  and,  until  the  18th,  it  made  no  other  move- 
ment, than  to  unite  the  columns.  It  then  took  post  at  Trydriffin,  whence  a 
party  was  detached  to  destroy  a  magazine  of  flour  and  other  stores,  at  the 
Valley  Forge.  The  American  commander,  as  soon  as  circumstances  would 
permit,  ordered  General  Wayne  to.  join  General  Smallwood,  in  the  rear  of 
the  enemy ;  and,  carefully  concealing  himself  and  his  movements,  to  seize 
any  occasion  which  might  offer,  to  engage  them  with  advantage.  Mean- 
while, he  himself  crossed  the  Schuylkill  at  Parker's  ferry,  and  encamped  on 
both  sides  of  Perkiomen  Creek ;  posting  detachments  at  the  several  fords,  by 
which  it  was  presumed  the  enemy  would  attempt  a  passage. 

XVIII.  Wayne  had  taken  a  position  near  the  Paoli  tavern,  about  three  miles 
in  the  rear  of  the  left  wing  of  the  British.    Notwithstanding  his  precautions  he 
was  betrayed  by  some  of  the  disaffected  inhabitants ;  and  about  eleven  o'clock 
of  the  night  of  the  twentieth,  was  surprised  by  a  party  of  the  enemy  under 
Major-general  Gray.     His  pickets  were  driven  in,  and  gave  the  first  intima- 
tion of  Gray's  approach.     Wayne,  instantly,  formed  his  division;  and  whilst 
his  right  was  fiercely  assailed,  directed  a  retreat  by  the  left,  under  cover  of  a 
few  regiments,  who,  for  a  short  time,  withstood  the  shock.     The  British, 
aided  by  the  light  of  the  American  fires,  put  to  death  three  hundred  of  his 
troops,  by  the  free  and  exclusive  use  of  the  bayonet;  sustaining  a  loss, 
themselves,  of  eight  men,  only.     In  consequence  of  animadversions  on  his 
conduct,  Wayne  demanded  a  court-martial,  which  unanimously  acquitted 
him  with  honour. 

XIX.  Sir  William  Howe  marched  from  his  position,  along  the  valley  road 
to  the  Schuylkill,  and  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  his  line  extending 
to  French  Creek,  along  the  front  of  the  American  army.     This  arrange- 
ment seeming  to  threaten  Reading,  which  contained  a  large  depot  of  stores, 
Washington  changed  his  position  and  marched  towards  Pottsgrove,  with 
his  left  above,  but  near,  the  British  right.     This  movement  left  the  roads 
to  Philadelphia  open  to  the  enemy,  and  the  capture  of  the  city  could  be 
prevented,  only,  by  an  engagement.     Though  urged  to  this,  by  public  opi- 
nion, Washington  prudently  declined  it.     His  forces  were  not  concentrated. 
Wayne  and  Smallwood  had  not  joined  him,  nor  had  he  received  the  Jersey 
militia  he  expected  under  General  Dickenson.     Of  the  actual  state  of  his 
army,  it  may  be  enough  to  say,  that  more  than  a  thousand  of  his  troops 
were  barefooted,  and  had  performed  the  latp  evolutions  in  that  condition. 
The  want  of  necessaries  was  such,  that  Colonel  Hamilton,  one  of  the  gene- 
ral's aids,  had  been  authorized  and  employed  to  take  forcible  possession  of 

21 


250  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

such  linen,  woollens,  shoes,  spirits,  and  other  stores,  as  might  be  found  in 
Philadelphia,  giving  certificates  of  quantity  and  value  to  the  owners.  "Your 
own  prudence,"  said  the  general  to  him,  "  will  point  out  the  least  exceptiona- 
ble means  to  be  pursued ;  but  remember,  delicacy  and  a  strict  adherence  to 
the  ordinary  mode  of  application  must  give  place  to  our  necessities."  But 
no  effort  could  obtain  a  supply  for  the  pressing  and  growing  wants  of  the 
army.  The  duty  of  securing  the  public  stores,  was,  also,  assigned  to  Colonel 
Hamilton,  which  he  executed  by  transporting  them  up  the  Delaware*  On 
the  twenty-sixth  of  September,  Lord  Cornwallis,  at  the  head  of  the  British 
and  Hessian  grenadiers,  entered  Philadelphia,  and  the  main  body  of  the 
British  army  encamped  at  Germantown. 

XX.  On  the  loss  of  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine,  Congress  resolved  to 
remove  to  Lancaster.     At  this  town  they  assembled  on  the  twenty-seventh 
of  the  month,  and  soon  after  adjourned  to  Yorktown. 

XXI.  To  the  secure  possession  of  the  city  and  the  comfort  of  his  army, 
General  Howe  found  the  free  navigation  of  the  Delaware  indispensable.  But 
of  this,  he  was  wholly  debarred  by  the  fortifications,  of  Fort  Mifflin,  on  Mud 
Island,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Schuylkill  and  the  Delaware,  and  of  Red 
Bank  on  the  eastern  shore;  and  by  the  chevaux  defrise  sunk  in  the  chan- 
nel, between  these  batteries,  and  at  a  point  three  miles  below,  opposite  to 
Byllingsport,  where  some  imperfect  works  had  been  erected  for  their  pro- 
tection.     Whilst  these  defences  were  maintained,  Howe  could  not  communi- 
cate with  his  fleet ;  and  the  American  vessels  in  the  river,  above  the  forts, 
would  prevent  him  from  foraging  and  obtaining  provisions  in  New  Jersey ; 
whilst  the  army  of  Washington  might  cut  off  his  supplies  from  Pennsylvania. 
The  disadvantages  resulting  from  the  /vessels,  however,  were  soon  diminished 
by  the  capture  of  the  Delaware  frigate,  the  largest  of  them. 

Some  British  ships  of  war  were  already  in  the  Delaware,  and  Captain 
Hammond,  who  commanded  one  of  them,  represented,  that  the  possession  of 
the  fort  at  Byllingsport,  which  was  feebly  garrisoned,  would  enable  him  to 
raise  the  lower  line  of  obstructions,  and  admit  the  fleet  to  Fort  Mifflin.  On 
the  twenty-ninth  of  September,  Colonel  Stirling,  with  two  regiments,  cap- 
tured it,  without  opposition;  the  garrison,  on  his  approach,  having  spiked  the 
artillery,  and  fired  the  barracks,  withdrew  without  discharging  a  gun.  This 
service  performed,  the  detachment  returned  to  Chester.  On  the  third  of 
October,  another  regiment  was  called  from  Germantown  to  Philadelphia, 
with  orders  to  unite,  on  the  next  day,  with  Colonel  Stirling. 

Washington  had  now  received  all  the  reinforcements  he  expected ;  con- 
sisting of  nine  hundred  continental  troops  from  Peck's-kill,  under  General 
M'Dougal ;  about  six  hundred  militia  from  Jersey,  under  Brigadier-general 
Forman,  (General  Dickenson  having  been  detained  by  the  apprehension  of  a 
second  invasion  from  New  York)  and  about  eleven  hundred  from  Maryland, 
under  General  Smallwood.  His  effective  strength,  rank  and  file,  amounted  to 
eight  thousand  continental  troops  and  three  thousand  militia.  With  this 
force,  he,  on  the  thirtieth  of  September,  took  a  position  on  the  Skippack  road, 
twelve  miles  from  the  enemy's  camp,  sixteen  from  Germantown,  and  twenty 
from  Philadelphia.  The  line  of  encampment  of  the  British  army  crossed 
Germantown  at  right  angles  with  the  main  street,  somewhat  south  of  its 
centre,  the  left  wing  extending  to  the  Schuylkill.  Lord  Cornwallis  continued 
at  Philadelphia. 

Washington  observing  this  division  of  the  British  force,  formed  the  design 
of  surprising  the  camp  at  Germantown,  and  thus  giving  a  blow,  which  might 
decide  the  fate  of  the  war*  He  proposed  a  simultaneous  attack  upon  the 
wings,  front  and  rear,  which  should  be  suddenly  and  vigorously  made,  and 
from  which,  the  troops  might  expeditiously  retreat,  if  it  were  unsuccessful. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  251 

Pursuant  to  his  plan,  the  divisions  of  Sullivan  and  Wayne,  flanked  by  Con- 
way's  brigade,  were  ordered  to  enter  Germantown,  by  the  way  of  Chesnut 
Hill,  while  General  Armstrong,  with  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  should  fall 
down  the  Manatawny  or  Ridge  road,  and  gain  the  British  left,  and  by  Van- 
deering's  or  Robinson's  Mill,  attack  its  rear :  the  divisions  of  Greene  and 
Stephens,  flanked  by  M'DougaPs  brigade,  to  take  a  circuit  by  way  of  the 
Limekiln  road,  and  entering  the  town  at  the  market  house,  attack  the  right 
wing:  the  militia  of  Maryland  and  Jersey,  under  Generals  Smallwood  and 
Forman,  to  march  by  the  Old  York  road,  and  turning  the  right,  to  fall  on 
its  rear :  the  division  of  Lord  Stirling,  and  the  brigades  of  Nash  and  Max- 
well to  form  a  corps  de  reserve :  and  parties  of  cavalry  silently  to  scour  the 
roads  to  prevent  observation,  and  to  keep  up  the  communication  between  the 
heads  of  the  columns. 

XXII.  With  these  dispositions  the  army  moved  on  the  third  of  October, 
about  seven  in  the  afternoon.  About  sunrise  the  next  morning,  the  advance 
of  the  column  led  by  Sullivan,  encountered  and  drove  in  a  picket  placed  at 
Mount  Airy,  or  Mr.  Allen's  house. 

The  main  body  followed  close,  driving  before  it  the  fortieth  regiment, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Musgrave,  until  that  officer  threw  himself,  with  six 
companies,  into  the  large  stone  house  of  Mr.  Chew,  from  which  they  galled 
the  Americans,  with  a  heavy  and  constant  fire  of  musketry.  Some  attempts 
to  storm  this  house,  and  an  effort  to  bring  a  field  piece  to  bear  upon  it,  broke 
the  line  of  the  right  wing,  and  with  the  darkness  caused  by  an  extraordinary 
fog,  threw  it  into  great  confusion.  The  column  led  by  Greene,  arrived  on 
its  ground,  and  commenced  an  attack  on  the  light  infantry,  in  front  of  the 
British  right  wing.  It  was  at  first  successful,  and  after  driving  in  the  pickets, 
forced  the  battalion  of  light  infantry  to  give  way. 

The  country  through  which  the  army  was  advancing,  abounded  with 
many  small  and  strong  enclosures,  which  broke  the  line,  in  every  direction ; 
the  fog  obscured  surrounding  objects,  and  the  commarider-in-chief,  could 
neither  observe  nor  correct  the  confusion  that  commenced.  The  causes 
which  separated  the  regiments,  prevented  them  from  discerning  the  situation 
of  the  enemy,  and  from  improving  the  first  impression,  and  directing  their 
after  efforts  to  advantage.  The  attacks  on  the  flanks  and  rear  were  not 
made.  The  Pennsylvania  militia  came  in  v-iew  of  the  chasseurs,  who  flanked 
the  left  of  the  British  line,  but  did  not  engage  them,  closely.  The  Maryland 
and  Jersey  militia  just  showed  themselves,  on  the  right  flank,  about  the  time 
Greene's  column  was  commencing  a  retreat. 

These  embarrassments  gave  the  British  time  to  recover  from  the  conster- 
nation into  which  they  had  been  thrown.  Knyphausen,  who  commanded 
their  left,  detached  one  battalion  to  support  the  chasseurs ;  and  part  of  the 
third  and  fourth  brigades,  under  Generals  Gray  and  Agnew,  to  attack  the 
front  of  the  column  led  by  Sullivan,  which  had  penetrated  far  into  the  village. 
Scott's  and  Muhlenberg's  brigades  were  surrounded  and  made  prisoners. 
The  broken  parts  mistook  each  other  for  the  enemy,  and,  whilst  warmly 
engaged  and  sanguine  of  success,  the  main  body  of  the  army  began  to 
retreat.  Washington  was  compelled  to  relinquish  a  victory  he  thought  within 
his  grasp,  and  to  endeavour  to  secure  his  army.  His  retreat  was,  however, 
made  without  loss;  the  enemy  being  unable  to  pursue.  In  the  battle,  about 
two  hundred  were  killed  and  six  hundred  wounded.  The  principal  damage 
was  sustained  from  Chew's  house,  and  in  Germantown.  About  four  hun- 
dred were  made  prisoners.  Among  the  killed  was  General  Nash  of  North 
Carolina ;  and  among  the  prisoners,  Colonel  Matthews  of  Virginia.  The 
British  loss,  as  stated  by  General  Howe,  was  one  hundred  killed  and  four 
hundred  wounded.  Among  the  former  were  Brigadier-general  Agnew  and 


252  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Colonel  Bird.  The  grenadiers  in  Philadelphia,  under  Cornwallis,  hastened 
to  the  field  of  battle  on  the  first  alarm,  running  the  whole  distance,  and 
reaching  it,  as  the  action  terminated. 

The  American  army  retreated,  the  same  day,  about  twenty  miles,  to  the 
Perkiomen  Creek ;  but  soon  after,  resumed  its  former  encampment  on  the 
Skippack. 

XXIII.  Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  New  Jersey  was  re- 
quired to  furnish  the  army  with  reinforcements  of  militia,  and  General  Put- 
nam to  detach  fifteen  hundred  continental  troops ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  to 
cover  the  Jerseys  with  an  equal  number.     The  militia  of  Connecticut  were 
relied  upon  to  supply  the  vacuum  in  the  posts  on  the  North  river,  occa- 
sioned by  these  heavy  draughts.     These  troops  were,  however,  detained 
by  the  demonstrations  made  from   New  York.     Sir  Henry  Clinton  who 
commanded  there,  supposed,  that,  an  alarm  might  serve  both  Howe  and 
Burgoyne,  by  diverting,  for  a  time,  the  aids  which  were  designed  for  Wash- 
ington and  Gates.     With  this  view,  he  entered  East  Jersey,  at  the  head  of 
three  thousand  men,  by  the  way  of  Elizabethtown  Point  and  Fort  Lee ;  the 
columns  uniting  at  the  New  Bridge,  above  Hackensack,  on  the  twelfth  of 
September.     They  encountered  little  opposition,  and  collected,  on  their  way, 
large  quantities  of  fresh  provisions.     About  the  fifteenth,  observing  that 
the  continental  troops  under  M'Dougal  were  approaching,  and  that,  Gene- 
ral Dickenson,  with  great  exertion,  was  assembling  the  Jersey  militia,  he 
returned  to  New  York  and  Staten  Island,  having  lost  in  the  excursion,  only 
eight  men  killed  and  sixteen  wounded.     The  supply  of  militia,  for  the  conti- 
nental army,  collected  very  slowly,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  Governor 
Livingston  and  General  .Dickenson.     Accustomed  to  judge  for  themselves, 
they  declared,  that  the  danger  of  another  invasion,  rendered  their  services 
essential  on  the  eastern  frontier.     Five  or  six  hundred,  however,  crossed 
the  Delaware  at  Philadelphia,  about  the  time  Sir  William  Howe  passed  the 
Schuylkill,  and  were  employed  in  the  removal  of  stores.     As  the  enemy  ap- 
proached the  city  they  retired  from  it,  by  the  Frankford  road ;  but  the  com- 
manding officer  having  separated  himself  from  his  corps,  was  captured  by  a 
small  party  of  the  British  light  horse ;  on  which  the  regiment  dispersed  and 
made  its  way,  by  different  roads,  to  New  Jersey.     With  much  labour  Ge- 
neral Dickenson  had  collected  two  other  corps,  amounting  to  nine  hundred 
men,  with  whom  he  was  about  to  cross  the  Delaware,  when  he  received 
intelligence  of  the  arrival  from  Europe,  of  an   additional  force  at  New 
York.     He  returned,  himself,  with  part  of  his  levies,  from  Trenton  toward 
Elizabethtown,  whilst  the  remainder  proceeded  to  Pennsylvania,  under  Ge- 
neral Forman ;  but  they,  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Germantown,  were 
discharged. 

XXIV.  The  attention  of  both  commanders  was,  now,  almost  wholly  given 
to  the  Delaware ; — the  one  to  remove,  the  other  to  sustain,  the  impediments 
to  its  navigation.     Lord  Howe  had  early  brought  round  the  ships  of  war  and 
transports  from  the  Chesapeake,  and  they  were  stretched  along  the  Delaware 
shore  from  Reedy  Island  to  Newcastle.     But,  although,  with  great  difficulty, 
the  chevaux  defrise  had  been  raised  from  the  channel  opposite  to  Byllings- 
port,  so  as  to  admit  the  passage  of  vessels  of  force,  it  was  impracticable  to 
proceed  above  the  line  from  Fort  Mifflin  to  Fort  Mercer,  or  Red  Bank.  Every 
effort  was  consequently  made  for  the  destruction  of  these  forts.     Batteries 
were  erected  on  the  Pennsylvania  shore,  to  play  upon  Mud  Island,  whilst  a 
fierce  attack  was  directed  against  the  redoubts  on  the  Jersey  shore. 

XXV.  On  the  twenty-first  of  October,  Colonel  Count  Donop,  a  distin- 
guished German  officer  crossed  the  Delaware  at  Cooper's  Ferry,  at  the  head 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  253 

of  a  detachment  of  Hessians,  amounting  to  about  twelve  hundred  men,  in 
order  to  proceed  the  next  day  to  the  attack  of  Red  Bank. 

It  was  part  of  the  plan,  that,  so  soon  as  the  assault  should  commence,  a 
heavy  cannonade  on  Fort  Mifflin  should  be  made  from  the  batteries  on  the 
Pennsylvania  shore ;  and  that  the  Vigilant  ship  of  war,  should  pass  through 
a  narrow  channel  between  Hog  Island,  next  below  Mud  Island,  and  the 
Maine,  so  as  to  attack  the  fort  in  the  rear.  Meanwhile,  to  divert  the  atten- 
tion of  the  garrison  and  marine  force,  from  the  Vigilant,  and  other  serious 
attacks,  the  advanced  frigates,  with  the  Isis  and  Augusta,  were  to  approach 
Fort  Mifflin  in  front,  by  the  main  channel,  as  far  as  the  impediments  would 
admit,  and  to  batter  the  works. 

The  fortifications  at  Red  Bank  consisted  of  extensive  outer  works,  within 
which,  was  an  intrenchment  eight  or  nine  feet  high,  boarded  and  fraized,  on 
which  Colonel  Greene  of  Rhode  Island,  the  commander,  had  bestowed  great 
labour.  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  22d,  Count  Donop  attacked  it  with  great 
intrepidity ;  it  was  defended  with  equal  resolution.  The  outer  works  being 
too  extensive  to  be  manned  by  the  garrison,  which  did  not  exceed  five  hun- 
dred men,  were  only  used  to  gall  the  assailants ;  and  on  their  near  approach, 
were  abandoned  by  the  Americans,  who  retired  within  the  inner  intrench- 
ment, whence  they  poured  upon  the  Hessians,  pressing  on  with  great  gal- 
lantry, a  most  destructive  fire.  Colonel  Donop,  leading  his  troops,  received 
a  mortal  wound,  and  Lieutenant-colonel  Mingerode,  second  in  command,  fell 
about  the  same  time.  Lieutenant-colonel  Linsing  drew  off  the  detachment ; 
and  being  favoured  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  collected  many  of  the 
wounded.  He  marched  about  five  miles  that  night,  and  returned  next  day 
to  Philadelphia.  The  loss  of  the  assailants  was  estimated  at  four  hundred 
men.  The  garrison,  reinforced  from  Fort  Mifflin,  and  aided  by  the  gallies, 
which  flanked  the  Hessians  both  advancing  and  retreating,  fought  under 
cover,  and  lost  only  thirty-two,  killed  and  wounded.  It  would  appear 
from  the  statement  given  by  General  Howe  of  this  enterprise,  that  the  inner 
works  could  not  be  carried  without  scaling  ladders,  which  had  not  been  fur- 
nished. 

In  performance  of  the  part  of  the  plan  allotted  to  the  navy,  the  Augusta,  a 
sixty-four  gun  ship,  the  Merlin  sloop  of  war,  and  four  smaller  vessels,  strove 
to  get  within  cannon  shot  of  Fort  Mifflin.  But  the  two  first  got  aground,  and 
were,  on  the  next  day,  set  on  fire  and  abandoned.  The  Augusta  blew  up. 
The  repulse  of  the  Hessians  from  Fort  Mercer,  and  the  able  defence  of  Co- 
lonel Smith,  at  Fort  Mifflin,  inspired  Congress  with  hopes,  that  these  posts 
might  be  permanently  maintained ;  and  that  body  voted  a  sword  to  each  of 
these  officers,  and  one  to  Commodore  Hazlewood,  who  commanded  the  gal- 
lies,  as  a  testimony  of  the  national  gratitude. 

XXVI.  On  the  march  of  Donop  to  Jersey,  Washington  presumed,  that  his 
design  was  not  to  carry  Fort  Mercer  by  storm,  but  regularly  to  invest  it. 
Immediate  efforts  were,  therefore,  made  to  get  out  the  Jersey  militia ;  but 
owing  to  the  perpetual  calls  for  service,  on  the  eastern  frontier,  and  there 
being,  at  the  moment,  no  governor  in  the  state,  the  gubernatorial  term  having 
expired  before  the  re-election,  a  very  inefficient  force  was  gotten  into  the  field ; 
and  had  not  General  Dickenson  ventured  to  give  orders  by  his  own  authority, 
none  would  have  been  put  in  motion.     Unable  to  obtain  a  sufficient  aid  from 
Jersey,  Washington,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  October,  sent  over  some  Penn- 
sylvania militia;   and  a  few  days  after,  General  Varnum,  with  his  bri- 
gade, were  posted  about  Woodbury,  having  orders  to  relieve  and  reinforce 
both  forts,  as  his  strength  would  permit.     General  Forman,  with  such  militia 
as  could  be  brought  into  the  field,  was  directed  to  join  him. 

XXVII.  The  operations  of  the  enemy  against  Fort  Mifflin,  were  uninter- 


254  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

rupted.  They  had  command  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  of  Province  and  Car- 
penter's islands,  at  its  mouth.  On  both,  batteries  had  been  constructed,  to 
play  on  the  fort,  from  which  they  were  separated  by  a  narrow  passage,  be- 
tween four  and  five  hundred  yards  wide,  in  which  were  floating  batteries. 
They  had  driven  thence  the  American  moveable  water  force,  originally  re- 
lied on,  for  security  in  that  quarter.  Its  chief  employment,  now,  was  to  de- 
feat preparations  making  at  Philadelphia  against  the  fort,  by  descending  the 
river.  The  garrison  consisted  of  three  hundred  continental  troops,  only;  a 
number  insufficient  to  place  a  single  line  around  the  works. 

On  the  10th  November,  a  new  and  large  battery  was  opened  from  Pro- 
vince Island,  which  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  throughout  that  day,  and  seve- 
ral successive  days.  The  block-houses  of  the  fort  were  reduced  to  a  heap 
of  ruins,  the  palisades  were  beaten  down,  and  most  of  the  guns  dismounted, 
or  otherwise  disabled.  The  barracks  were  battered  in  every  part,  so  that  the 
troops  could  not  continue  in  them.  The  night  was  spent  in  repairing  the 
damages  of  the  day,  and  guarding  against  storm,  of  which  they  were  in  per- 
petual apprehension.  If  in  the  day  a  few  moments  were  allowed  for  repose, 
it  was  taken  on  the  wet  earth,  rendered,  by  the  heavy  rains,  a  soft  mud. 
The  garrison  was  relieved  by  General  Varnum  every  forty-eight  hours,  and 
one-half  of  his  brigade  was  constantly  on  duty.  Colonel  Smith,  with  the 
concurrence  of  General  Varnum,  believed  the  garrison  ought  to  be  with- 
drawn. But  the  commander-in-chief  cherished  the  hope  that  it  might  be 
maintained,  until  he,  reinforced  by  the  northern  army,  could  make  a  success- 
ful effort  for  its  protection ;  and  therefore  he  directed  that  it  should  be  defended 
to  the  last  extremity.  Never  were  orders  better  obeyed.  On  the  llth, 
Colonel  Smith  was  wounded,  and  was  obliged  to  yield  the  command,  which 
was  taken  first  by  Colonel  Russell,  and  afterwards  by  Major  Thayer.  On 
the  15th,  the  enemy  brought  up  their  ships  so  far  as  the  obstructions  would 
permit,  and  having  discovered  that  the  channel  between  Mud  and  Province 
Islands  would  admit  of  large  vessels,  introduced  a  frigate  and  sloop  of  war, 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  works.  They  not  only  kept  up  a  most  de- 
structive cannonade,  but  threw  hand  grenades  into  them;  and  the  musketry 
from  the  round-top  of  the  frigate,  killed  every  man  that  appeared  on  the 
platform.  Orders  were  given  to  Commodore  Hazlewood,  to  attempt  the  re- 
moval of  these  vessels,  but  he  deemed  it  impracticable.  The  place  was  con- 
sequently no  longer  tenable,  and  at  11  o'clock  of  the  night  of  the  16th>  the 
garrison  was  withdrawn. 

From  the  position  of  Fort  Mercer,  its  safety  depended,  almost  wholly, 
upon  the  possession  of  Fort  Mifflin.  Still  it  was  resolved  to  defend  it.  On 
the  17th,  Cornwallis  marched  against  it  by  the  way  of  Chester ;  and,  notwith- 
standing General  Washington  was  apprized  of  his  intention,  no  effort  which 
he  could  make  could  bring  together,  in  season,  a  sufficient  force  to  protect  it, 
and  the  fort  was  evacuated.  A  few  of  the  smaller  American  galleys  escaped 
up  the  river,  the  rest  were  captured  or  burned.  The  passage  of  the  Dela- 
ware was  thus  opened. 

Lord  Cornwallis,  with  a  force  of  about  five  thousand  men,  availed  himself 
of  this  incursion,  to  collect  large  quantities  of  fresh  provisions  for  the  relief 
of  the  British  army,  and  had  taken  post  on  Gloucester  Point,  which  was  en- 
tirely under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  ships.  General  Greene  commanded  an 
almost  equal  body  of  troops  in  New  Jersey,  a  part  of  which  was  militia,  and 
awaited  the  arrival  of  Glover's  brigade  from  the  north,  in  order  to  take  of- 
fensive measures  against  Cornwallis.  But  an  attack  upon  the  British,  in 
their  present  advantageous  position,  would  have  been  unwarrantable.  Yet,  a 
small,  but  brilliant  affair  was  performed,  by  a  detachment  of  about  one  hun- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  255 

dred  and  fifty  men  from  Morgan's  rifle  corps,  under  Lieutenant-colonel  But- 
ler, and  a  like  number  of  militia,  under  the  Marquis  La  Fayette,  who  served 
as  a  volunteer.  They  attacked  a  picket  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  about 
three  hundred  men,  and  drove  them,  with  the  loss  of  twenty  or  thirty  killed, 
and  a  great  number  wounded,  quite  into  their  camp;  retiring  themselves 
without  pursuit.  "I  found  the  riflemen,"  said  La  Fayette,  in  a  letter  to 
Washington,  "even  above  their  reputation,  and  the  militia  above  all  ex- 
pectation I  could  have  formed  of  them."  Cornwallis,  soon  after,  returned 
to  Philadelphia,  and  Greene  joined  the  main  army  under  the  commander- 
in-chief. 

XXVIII.  During  these  transactions  on  the  Delaware,  General  Dickenson, 
whose  perfect  knowledge  of  the  country  gave  every  hope  of  success,  made 
another  attempt  to  cut  off  Skinner's  brigade  of  loyalists,  stationed  on  Staten 
Island.     He  collected  about  two  thousand  men,  and  requested  from  General 
Putnam,  commanding  the  continental  troops,  a  diversion  on  the  side  of  King's 
Bridge,  in  order  to  prevent  a  sudden  reinforcement  from  New  York.    As  his 
success  depended  upon  secrecy,  he  concealed  his  object  even  from  his  field 
officers,  until  eight  o'clock  of  the  night  oh  which  it  was  to  be  executed ;  yet, 
by  three  next  morning,  Skinner  was  apprized  of  his  intention,  and  saved  his 
brigade  by  retiring  into  works  too  strong  to  be  carried  by  assault.    -In  the 
flight,  a  few  prisoners  were  made  and  a  few  men  killed.    General  Dickenson 
returned  with  the  loss  of  three  killed  and  ten  slightly  wounded. 

XXIX.  By  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  and  his  army,  part  of  the  force  of  the 
northern  department  might  be  called  to  Philadelphia.     But  neither  General 
Gates  nor  General  Putnam  were  disposed  to  part,  readily,  with  their  troops. 
A  considerable  portion  of  them,  however,  after  some  delay,  reached  the 
camp  under  General  Washington,  whose  army,  thus  reinforced,  amounted  to 
twelve  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  continental  troops,  and  three 
thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-one  militia.     The  force  of  the  enemy,  with 
some  detachments  lately  received  from  New  York,  has  been  stated,  various- 
ly, at  from  twelve  to  fourteen  thousand  men.     This  equality  induced  many 
persons  to  urge  upon  the  commandcr-in-chief,  an  attack  upon  Howe  in  Phi- 
ladelphia, notwithstanding  that  position  was  covered  by  the  Delaware  on 
the  right,  by  the  Schuylkill  on  the  left,  by  the  junction  of  these  rivers  oh  the 
rear,  and  by  a  line  of  fourteen  redoubts  on  the  front,  extending  from  river 
to  river,  connected  by  abbatis  and  circular  works.     Happily,  the  prudence 
of  the  general,  sustained  by  the  advice  of  his  superior  officers,  resisted  the 
effort. 

XXX.  Master  of  the  river  Delaware,  from  Philadelphia  to  the  sea,  and  of 
the  country  on  both  shores  to  the  south,  the  British  general  was  relieved  of 
the  apprehension  of  suffering  from  a  scarcity  of  provisions,  and  was  at  leisure 
to  turn  his  whole  force  upon  the  American  army,  circumscribing  him  on  the 
north  and  west ;  which  he  proposed  not  only  to  force  from  its  present  posi- 
tion, but  to  drive  beyond  the  mountains. 

On  the  fourth  of  December,  General  Washington  was  apprized  that  an 
attempt  would  be  immediately  made  upon  his  camp  at  White  Marsh  ;  and  on 
the  evening  of  the  same  day,  Sir  William  Howe  marched  from  the  city  with 
his  whole  force.  About  eleven  at  night,  Captain  Allen  M'Lane,  who  had 
been  detached  with  one  hundred  men,  selected  from  several  divisions,  fell  in 
with  and  attacked  the  British  van,  at  the  Three  Mile  Run,  on  the  German- 
town  road,  compelling  their  front  division  to  change  their  line  of  march.  At 
three  next  morning,  the  advancing  army  encamped  on  Chesnut  Hill,  in  front 
of  the  American  right,  and  distant  from  it  three  miles.  Three  days  were 
spent  in  various  manoeuvres  by  the  British  forces,  during  which  there  were 
several  skirmishes,  with  Morgan's  riflemen  and  some  militia  under  General 


256  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Irvine  of  Pennsylvania.  The  general  was  wounded,  and  with  a  small  por- 
tion of  his  detachment,  made  prisoner.  A  general  action  was  hourly  ex- 
pected, but  Howe  would  not  attack  the  American  camp,  admirably  placed ; 
nor  would  Washington  engage  in  a  position  less  advantageous.  He  desired 
to  be  attacked,  and  felt  confident  that  Sir  William  Howe,  strongly  enforced, 
would  not  march  out  with  his  whole  army,  only,  to  march  back  again.  But, 
on  the  morning  of  the  nineteenth,  he  filed  off  from  the  right  by  several  routes, 
in  full  march  for  Philadelpha.  This  movement  prevented  the  execution  of  a 
daring  design  of  the  American  general,  (formed  on  observing  the  caution  of 
Howe,)  to  surprise  and  seize  Philadelphia.* 

XXXI.  The  season  had  now  become  extremely  severe,  and  it  was  impos- 
sible, without  intense  suffering,  for  an  army  so  wretchedly  furnished  as  was 
the  American,  longer  to  keep  the  field,  in  tents.     That  it  might  still  continue 
to  cover  the  country,  it  was  resolved  to  take  a  strong  position  at  the  Valley 
Forge,  and  there  to  erect  huts  in  the  form  of  a  regular  encampment.     Thither 
the  army  was  removed  on  the  12th  of  December.     Its  course  from  White 
Marsh,  might  have  been  tracked  by  the  blood  which  flowed  from  the  bare 
feet  of  the  soldiery.     Though  somewhat  more  comfortable  in  their  huts,  their 
winter  was  one  of  great  privation  and  suffering,  the  details  of  which  are  fo- 
reign from  our  present  purpose. 

In  order  to  have  a  full  view  of  the  campaign  of  1777,  it  will  be  necessary 
that  we,  successively,  narrate  the  progress  of  General  Burgoyne,  and  the 
circumstances  which  produced  the  important  event  of  his  capture. 

XXXII.  When  General  Carleton  had  retired  into  winter  quarters,  General 
Burgoyne,  who  had  served  under  him,  returned  to  England,  to  communicate 
fully  to  the  administration,  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the  northern  depart- 
ment, and  to  make  arrangements  for  the  ensuing  campaign.     With  the  ca- 
binet, he  digested  a  plan  for  penetrating  to  the  Hudson,  from  Canada,  by  way 
of  the  lakes.     A  formidable  army  was  to  be  put  under  his  command,  to  pro- 
ceed against  Ticonderoga  as  soon  as  the  season  would  permit;  whilst  a 
smaller  force,  under  Col.  St.  Leger,  composed  of  Canadians,  American  re- 
fugees, a  few  Europeans,  and  many  Indians,  should  march  from  Oswego,  by 
way  of  the  Mohawk,  and  unite  with  the  grand  army  on  the  North  river. 

*  Mr.  Marshall  says,  vol.  iii.  p.  289,  Life  of  Washington,  "  Captain  Allen  M'Lane 
discovered,  that  an  attempt  was  about  to  be  made  to  surprise  the  camp  at  White 
Marsh,"  &c.  Another  version  is  given  of  this  matter,  by  the  American  Quar- 
terly Review,  vol.  i.  p.  32,  1827.  Possibly  the  officer  to  whom  information  was  given 
was  M'Lane  instead  of  Craig.  Both  accounts,  however,  may  be  true.  By  the  last 
it  seems,  that  some  British  officers  occasionally  met  for  conference,  at  the  house  of 
William  and  Lydia  Darrach,  Quakers,  resident  in  the  city.  On  the  second  of  De- 
cember, they  requested  that  the  family  would  retire  early  in  the  evening,  as  they 
would  be  at  their  room,  and  remain  late;  and  added,  that,  when  about  to  depart,  they 
would  call  the  wife  to  let  them  out.  Curiosity,  the  first  tempter,  induced  Lydia  to 
approach  the  door  of  the  conference  chamber,  shod  in  felt,  only,  and  to  put  her  ear  to 
the  key  hole,  where  she  heard,  in  detail,  the  plan  of  attack  for  the  fourth.  Under 
pretence  of  procuring  flour  from  Frankford,  she  obtained  a  pass  from  Sir  William 
Howe.  Leaving  her  bag  at  the  mill,  she  hastened  towards  the  American  lines,  and 
encountered  on  the  way,  the  American  Colonel  Craig,  of  the  light  horse;  to  whom 
she  communicated  the  important  information.  The  necessary  preparations  were,  of 
course,  made.  Lydia  returned  home  with  her  flour;  and  anxiously  awaited  news  of 
the  event;  but  when  the  British  returned,  did  not  dare  to  ask  a  question.  On  the 
next  evening,  one  of  the  officers  who  frequented  the  house,  requested  her  to  come  to 
his  room,  that  he  might  submit  some  questions  to  her.  He  inquired,  earnestly, 
whether  any  of  her  family  were  up,  the  last  night  he  was  there.  She  told  him,  that 
all  had  retired  at  8  o'clock.  He  observed,  "  I  know  you  were  asleep,  for  I  knocked 
at  your  chamber  door,  three  times,  before  you  heard  me.  I  am  entirely  at  a  loss,  to 
imagine  who  gave  General  Washington  information  of  our  intended  attack.  When 
we  arrived  near  White  Marsh,  we  found  all  their  cannon  mounted,  and  the  troops 
prepared  to  receive  us,  and  we  have  marched  back  like  a  parcel  of  fools." 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  257 

The  invading  force,  immediately  under  the  commander-in-chief,  amounted 
to  about  9000  men.  He  was  supported  by  Major-general  Phillips,  of  the 
artillery,  Major-general  Reidesel,  and  Brigadier-general  Sprecht,  of  the  Ger- 
man troops,  together  with  the  British  Generals,  Frazer,  Powell,  and  Hamil- 
ton ;  all  officers  of  distinguished  merit.  The  detachment  under  St.  Leger, 
consisted  of  about  1800  men;  one-half  of  whom  were  Indians,  and  the  greater 
proportion  of  the  other  half,  American  loyalists,  under  the  command  of  Sir 
John  Johnstone.  A  considerable  force  was  left  in  Canada,  under  Sir  Guy 
Carleton,  whose  military  command  was  restricted  to  the  province.  This  able 
and  humane  officer,  though  indignant  at  having  been  suspended,  displayed 
the  greatness  of  his  mind,  by  his  ready  and  effective  assistance,  in  promoting 
the  objects  of  the  campaign. 

XXXIII.  The  northern  American  army,  which  had  been  formed  only  for 
the  year,  dissolved  with  that  term.     So  far  from  being  in  condition  for  of- 
fensive operations,  scarce  a  show  of  defence  could  be  preserved  in  the  forts. 
The  charge  of  this  frontier  was  assigned  to  troops  to  be  furnished  by  Massa- 
chusetts, New  Hampshire,  and  the  north-western  parts  of  New  York ;  but 
the  recruiting  proceeded  so  slowly,  that  it  became  necessary  to  call  in  the  aid 
of  the  northern  militia.     General  Gates,  having  joined  General  Washington, 
this  department  was  solely  under  the  command  of  General  Schuyler,  who 
failed  in  no  effort  to  fulfil  its  duties.     His  plans  for  the  ensuing  campaign  re- 
quired 15,000  men;  a  very  small  portion  of  which  could  be  supplied  to  him 
in  season.     The  services  of  this  officer  had  been  more  solid  than  brilliant, 
and  were  not,  generally,  nor  duly,  appreciated.     Dissatisfied  with  their  ac- 
ceptation, his  resignation  was  delayed,  only,  by  patriotic  motives.     When 
the  fear  of  a  winter  attack  upon  Ticonderoga  had  been  removed,  by  the 
open  state  of  Lake  Champlain,  he  repaired  to  Congress  to  have  his  compli- 
cated accounts  adjusted,  his  conduct  inquired  of,  and  his  plans  of  future  ac- 
tion approved  and  sustained.    When  his  many  and  arduous  services  had,  thus, 
became  fully  known,  Congress  deemed  it  essential  to  the  public  interests,  to 
prevail  on  him  to  retain  his  commission.     Repealing  the  resolution  of  the  6th 
March,  1776,  which  fixed  his  head-quarters  at  Albany,  they  directed  him  on 
22d  May,  1777,  to  assume  the  command  of  the  whole  northern  department, 
consisting  of  Albany,  Ticonderoga,  Fort  Stanwix,  and  their  dependencies. 

XXXIV.  Sensible   of  the   dangers   which    surrounded   him,    he   made 
every  exertion  to  meet  them ;  visiting  in  person  the  several  posts,  and  ob- 
taining supplies  of  provisions.     He  was  at  Albany,  for  these  services,  and 
for  hastening  the  march  of  reinforcements,  when  he  received  intelligence, 
from  General  St.  Ciair,  commanding  at  Ticonderoga,  that  General  Burgoyne 
had  appeared  before  that  fortress.* 

The  royal  army  approached  by  the  unimpeded  route  of  the  lake ;  and 
advanced  from  Crown  Point,  with  equal  caution  and  order,  on  both  sides 
of  the  strait,  through  which  their  naval  force  proceeded.  In  a  few  days 
they  surrounded  three-fourths  of  the  American  works  at  Ticonderoga  and 
Mount  Independence,  and  erected  a  battery  on  Sugar  Hill,  commanding 
both  positions.  The  defence  of  the  lines  required  ten  thousand  men ;  the 
actual  force  within  them,  was  twenty-five  hundred  and  forty-six  continentals, 
and  nine  hundred  militia,  badly  equipped,  worse  armed,  and  with  provisions 
for  twenty  days,  only.  Had  it  been  practicable  to  obtain  an  accurate  know- 
ledge of  the  strength  of  the  besieging  army,  in  due  season,  prudence  would 
have  required  the  abandonment  of  the  post  and  removal  of  the  stores,  before 
its  close  approximation.  Under  existing  circumstances,  speedy  retreat  of  the 
garrison  was  indispensable  to  the  safety  of  the  troops ;  and  though  General 

*  July  1st,  1777. 
2K 


258  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

St.  Clair  knew,  that  the  whole  country  relied,  confidently,  on  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  post,  he  wisely  and  heroically  resolved,  with  the  unanimous 
consent  of  his  officers,  to  abandon  it,  and  to  preserve  his  army,  if  possible, 
for  a  future  service.  The  execution  of  this  resolution  astounded  and  dis- 
gusted the  nation;  but  its  propriety  became  evident,  so  soon  as  circum- 
stances permitted  inquiry.  A  few  days  before  the  place  was  invested, 
General  Schuyler,  from  the  inspection  of  the  muster  rolls,  and  other  reports 
alike  erroneous,  had  stated  the  strength  of  the  garrison  at  five  thousand  men, 
and  its  provisions  abundant;  and  the  invading  force  was,  generally,  sup- 
posed to  be  inferior.  When,  therefore,  it  was  known,  that  the  fortifications, 
on  which  much  money  and  labour  had  been  expended,  and  which  were 
deemed  the  key  of  the  whole  western  country,  had  been  abandoned  without 
an  effort  to  sustain  them — that  an  immense  train  of  artillery,  consisting  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  pieces,  and  all  the  baggage,  military  stores, 
and  provisions,  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy — that  the  army  on 
its  retreat,  had  been  attacked,  defeated  and  dispersed,  astonishment  pervaded 
all  ranks  of  men,  and  the  conduct  of  the  officers  was  universally  condemned. 
Congress  directed  a  recall  of  all  the  generals  of  the  department,  and  an  in- 
quiry into  their  conduct.  Through  New  England,  especially,  the  most 
malignant  aspersions  were  cast  on  them ;  and  General  Schuyler,  who,  from 
some  unknown  cause,  had  never  been  viewed  with  favour  in  that  part  of  the 
continent,  was  involved  in  the  common  charge  of  treason,  to  which  this 
accumulation  of  unlocked  for  calamity  was  generally  attributed,  by  the  mass 
of  the  people.  On  the  representation  of  Washington,  the  recall  of  the  officers 
was  suspended,  until  he  should  be  of  the  opinion,  that  the  state  of  things 
would  admit  such  a  measure.  Gates,  however,  was  directed  to  take  the 
place  of  Schuyler.  This  substitution  was  warranted  by  policy ;  since  it  put 
at  the  head  of  the  department,  a  general  who  enjoyed  the  public  confidence, 
in  the  place  of  one  who  had  lost  it. 

On  abandoning  the  fort,  St.  Clair  retreated  rapidly  to  Castletown,  thirty 
miles  from  Ticonderoga.  In  the  pursuit,  the  enemy,  with  eight  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  under  General  Frazer,  came  up  with  his  rear  guard,  under 
Colonel  Warner,  which,  amounting  to  about  one  thousand  men,  had  halted 
six  miles  short  of  that  place.  A  sharp  action  ensued,  terminating  in 
the  dispersion  of  the  Americans,  with  great  loss,  by  the  aid  of  General 
Reidesel,  who  arrived  with  his  division  of  Germans,  during  the  heat  of  the 
contest.  About  the  same  time,  Colonel  Long  was  driven,  with  his  de- 
tachment, from  Skeenesborough,  and  the  stores  there  collected,  comprising 
nearly  all  that  had  been  saved  from  the  garrison,  were  destroyed.  Long 
retired  to  Fort  Anne,  and  soon  afterwards  to  Fort  Edward,  the  head-quarters 
of  General  Schuyler;  whither  St.  Clair,  after  collecting  the  scattered  remains 
of  his  army,  also,  retreated. 

XXXV.  Burgoyne  remained  some  days  at  Skeenesborough,  to  collect  and 
refresh  his  men ;  whilst  Schuyler  employed  himself  in  removing  the  stores 
from  Fort  Edward,  sweeping  the  country  of  every  thing  which  could  sus- 
tain an  enemy,  and  throwing  obstructions  into  the  streams  and  roads,  to 
check  his  course.  Nor  did  he  cease  his  endeavours  to  arouse  the  surround- 
ing country  to  activity.  Great  exertion  was  also  made  by  General  Wash- 
ington, to  re-establish  the  northern  army.  Troops,  artillery  and  ammunition, 
were  despatched  from  Massachusetts  and  Peck's-kill.  Generals  Lincoln 
and  Arnold,  popular  officers,  especially,  with  their  countrymen,  and  the  not 
less  popular  Colonel  Morgan,  with  his  indefatigable  rifle  corps,  were  ordered 
to  repair  to  it.  In  the  very  success  of  Burgoyne,  this  able  and  prudent  man 
saw  the  source  of  his  defeat,  and  foretold  "  that  the  confidence  derived  from 
success,"  would  hurry  him  into  measures  that  would  effect  his  ruin. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  259 

In  dispersing  the  American  army,  the  British  general  had  not  completed 
half  that  was  necessary,  to  enable  him  to  reach  the  Hudson.  The  country 
through  which  he  was  to  pass  was  in  a  great  measure,  in  a  primitive  condi- 
tion. Its  roads  bad,  at  the  best,  were  obstructed  by  hundreds  of  trees,  which 
had  been  felled  across  them.  The  bridges  were  broken  down,  and  his  pro- 
visions, batteaux,  and  artillery,  were  to  be  transported  over  this  almost  im- 
passable route.  Checked  by  these  impediments,  he  did  not  reach  that  river, 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Fort  Edward,  until  the  30th  of  July.  Schuyler,  who 
had  been  daily  gathering  strength,  but  not  yet  strong  enough  to  meet  him, 
on  his  approach,  retired  over  the  Hudson  to  Saratoga,  a  few  miles  below  that 
place,  and  soon  after,  to  Stillwater,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk ;  where 
he  fortified  a  camp,  in  hopes  that  he  should  soon  be  in  condition  to  defend  it. 
But  he  did  not  confine  himself  wholly  to  defensive  operations.  The  ad- 
vance of  Burgoyne  left  the  posts  in  his  rear  uncovered,  and  General  Lincoln 
was  ordered,  instead  of -immediately  joining  Schuyler,  to  attempt,  with  about 
two  thousand  men,  to  cut  off  the  communication  of  the  British  with  the  Jakes ; 
whilst  Arnold  was  despatched  with  three  continental  regiments  to  raise  the 
siege  of  Fort  Schuyler,  which  had  been  commenced  by  St.  Leger,  and  to 
prevent  the  junction  of  the  two  portions  of  Burgoyne's  army. 

XXXVI.  On  the  3d  of  August,  St.  Leger  invested  Fort  Schuyler,  formerly 
Fort  Stanwix.  It  was  garrisoned  by  six  hundred  continental  troops,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Gansevoort.  On  his  approach,  General  Herkimer 
assembled  the  militia  of  Tryon  county,  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  the  gar- 
rison. Gansevoort,  apprized  of  this  intention,  resolved  on  a  vigorous  sortie, 
to  second  it.  Unhappily,  St.  Leger  had  learned  the  movement  of  the  former, 
and  formed  an  ambuscade,  into  which  Herkimer  fell.  His  party  was  de- 
feated with  great  slaughter ;  and  the  general  and  many  officers  were  wounded. 
Its  entire  destruction  was  prevented  by  the  timely  sortie,  under  lieutenant- 
colonel  Willet,  who  fell  upon  the  feebly  guarded  camp  of  the  besiegers,  drove 
the  soldiery  into  the  woods,  and  brought  off  considerable  plunder,  several 
Indian  weapons,  and  other  articles  much  valued.  His  party  killed  several 
of  the  enemy,  of  whom  were  some  Indian  chiefs. 

But  a  change  was  about  to  come  over  the  fortune  of  Burgoyne.  His  star 
had  reached  its  culminating  point,  and  its  decline  was  as  rapid  as  its  ascen- 
sion. Fort  Schuyler  was  well  fortified,  and  held  out.  The  Indians  of  St. 
Leger,  always  fickle,  never  persevering  in  continuous  labour,  became  dis- 
gusted with  the  service,  and  impatient  of  the  losses  which  they  had  sustained 
in  the  late  skirmishes.  At  length,  learning  that  Arnold  was  advancing,  and  a 
report  prevailing,  that  Burgoyne  had  been  routed,  part  of  them  slunk  away, 
and  the  remainder  threatened  to  follow.  The  siege  was  raised  with  great  pre- 
cipitation; the  tents  left  standing,  and  the  artillery,  with  great  part  of  the 
baggage,  ammunition,  and  provisions,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans. 
The  retreating  army  was  pursued  by  a  detachment  from  the  garrison ;  and 
the  Indians  plundered  the  remaining  baggage  of  the  officers,  and  massacred 
such  soldiers  as  could  not  keep  up  with  the  line  of  march.  St.  Leger  re- 
turned to  Montreal,  whence  he  proceeded  to  Ticonderoga,  with  intention  to 
join  Burgoyne  by  that  route. 

XXXVII.  To  prevent  relief  to  the  garrison  of  Fort  Schuyler,  an  attack  on 
the  American  army  was  suggested  by  St.  Leger;  and  Burgoyne  was  well 
disposed  to  an  immediate  and  rapid  movement  down  the  Hudson,  in  hopes 
thereby,  to  drive  his  enemy  before  him,  and  free  the  whole  of  the  upper 
country.  But  his  supply  of  provisions  was  with  great  difficulty  kept  up,  and 
such  a  movement  would  greatly  increase  that  difficulty,  as  the  communica- 
tion with  Fort  George,  already  endangered  by  the  body  of  militia  assembling 
at  White  Creek,  must  be  preserved  by  larger  detachments  from  his  army  tnan 

i 


260  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

he  was  in  condition  to  make.  In  this  dilemma,  he  resolved  to  attempt  the 
large  magazines  of  provisions  at  Bennington.  Lieutenant-colonel  Baum,  with 
about  five  hundred  men,  was. detached  upon  this  service,  to  facilitate  which, 
Burgoyne  moved  down  the  Hudson,  and  threw  part  of  his  army  across  it  to 
Saratoga ;  and  Lieutenant-colonel  Brechman  with  his  corps,  was  ordered  to 
support  Baum.  Happily,  General  Stark,  with  the  New  Hampshire  militia, 
was  now  at  Bennington,  on  his  way  to  camp,  together  with  the  remains  of 
Colonel  Warner's  continental  regiment ;  making  in  the  whole,  a  force  of  two 
thousand  men.  Apprized  of  his  danger,  Baum  entrenched  himself  four  miles 
from  the  town,  and  despatched  an  express  for  a  reinforcement.  But  before 
Brechman  could  arrive,  Stark  carried  the  works  by  assault,  and  the  greater 
part  of  his  detachment  was  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  Brechman  came  up 
in  time  to  encounter  the  pursuing  Americans,  and  he  also,  was  compelled  to 
retreat  with  the  loss  of  many  men,  his  artillery  and  baggage.  Five  hundred 
and  sixty-four  privates  were  taken  prisoners,  but  the  number  of  killed  could 
not  be  ascertained ;  the  most  important  acquisition,  at  the  moment,  of  one 
thousand  stand  of  arms,  and  nine  hundred  swords,  was  obtained. 

XXXVIII.  These  fortunate  affairs  had  the  most  important  consequences. 
The  whole  Mohawk  country  was  liberated  from  the  foe — the  Americans  were 
at  liberty  to  unite  the  whole  of  their  forces  in  the  northern  department  against 
Burgoyne — the  militia  and  continental  troops  recovered  confidence  in  them- 
selves— the  opinion  prevailed,  that  the  enemy  was  already  beaten,  and  that 
the  assembling  of  the  great  body  of  the  militia,  only,  was  necessary  to  compel 
him  to  yield  his  arms.     The  disaffected  became  timid,  and  the  wavering 
were  no  longer  disposed  to  join  an  army  whose  capture  was  doomed.     But 
other  causes,  also,  united  to  produce  the  great  result.     Vengeance  for  the 
barbarities  of  the  savages,  fired  every  breast,  and  overcame  the  terror  they 
had  created ;  the  last  reinforcements  of  continental  troops  had  arrived — the 
harvest  which  had  detained  the  militia  was  gathered,  and  General  Gates  had 
succeeded  the  unfortunate,  unpopular,  but  meritorious  Schuyler.* 

XXXIX.  Notwithstanding  these  disasters,  Burgoyne  adhered  to  his  original 
purpose.     By  a  slow  and  toilsome  mode,  having  collected  provisions  from 
Fort  George,  sufficient  for  thirty  days,  he  crossed  the  Hudson  with  his  whole 
army  on  the  14th  September,  and  encamped  on  the  heights  and  plains  of 
Saratoga,  with  the  determination  of  deciding  in  a  general  engagement,  the 
fate  of  the  expedition. 

Gates  had  removed  his  camp  from  the  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk, 
to  the  neighbourhood  of  Still  water.  On  the  17th,  Burgoyne  encamped  within 
four  miles  of  the  American  army;  and,  the  interval  being  employed  in  the 
necessary  repair  of  bridges  between  the  two  camps,  on  the  19th,  a  general 
engagement  was  fought,  which  terminated  only  with  the  day,  and  was  in 
every  respect  favourable  to  the  Americans.  Beside  the  actual  loss  in  battle, 
the  Indians,  Canadians,  and  provincialists,  deserted  in  great  numbers.  The 
next  day,  intelligence  was  received  from  the  north,  which  gave  additional  ani- 
mation to  the  Americans.  Detachments  from  General  Lincoln's  force  had 
been  sent  against  the  forts  on  the  lakes,  and  Colonel  Brown  had  succeeded  in 
capturing  Mount  Defiance,  Mount  Hope,  the  old  French  lines,  the  landing, 
and  about  two  hundred  batteaux  at  the  north  end  of  Lake  George ;  and  with 
the  loss  of  only  three  killed,  and  five  wounded,  had  liberated  one  hundred 
American  prisoners,  and  taken  two  hundred  and  ninety -three  British.  This 
success  was  magnified  into  the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga,  and  Mount  Inde- 
pendence ;  but  the  attempt  on  these  posts  had  been  repulsed. 

The  armies  retained  their  positions  at  Stillwater,  until  the  7th  Oct. ;  Bur- 

*  August  21. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  261 

goyne,  in  hopes  of  relief,  which  had  been  promised  him  before  the  12th,  by 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  from  New  York ;  and  Gates  in  gathering  in  the  militia  of 
the  country.  At  length,  the  British  general  being  obliged  to  diminish  the 
rations  of  his  men,  resolved  on  another  trial  of  strength  with  his  adversary. 
This,  like  the  preceding  battle,  was  maintained  until  night,  and  the  advantage 
was,  again,  decisively,  with  the  Americans.  Burgoyne  was  compelled  to  change 
his  position,  in  order  to  avoid  the  renewal  of  the  action,  on  the  next  day,  with 
part  of  his  works  in  possesion  of  the  assailants.  He  subsequently  retired  to 
Saratoga,  and  endeavoured  to  open  the  road  to  Fort  Edward.  But  being 
surrounded,  and  his  provisions  reduced  to  a  three  days'  supply,  even  at  short 
allowance,  he  was  constrained  by  the  most  humiliating  necessity,  to  open  a 
negotiation  with  the  American  general,  and  finally  to  surrender  himself  and  his 
army,  prisoners  of  war,  upon  condition,  that  he  should  march  out  of  his  camp 
with  the  usual  honours,  with  permission  to  return  to  England,  but  not  to 
serve  against  the  United  States  until  exchanged.*  At  the  time  of  the  con- 
vention, the  American  force  amounted  to  9093  continental  troops,  and  4129 
militia ;  but  the  sick  exceeded  2500  men.  The  British  force  was  5752 ;  hav- 
ing been  reduced  since  it  left  Ticonderoga,  3248  men.  In  addition  to  this 
very  great  military  force,  the  British  lost,  and  the  Americans  acquired  a  fine 
train  of  artillery,  seven  thousand  stand  of  excellent  arms,  clothing  for  seven 
thousand  recruits,  with  tents,  and  other  military  stores,  to  a  very  considera- 
ble amount. 

XL.  During  these  important  events,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  endeavoured, 
not  very  judiciously,  certainly,  to  assist  Burgoyne,  by  his  operations  in  the 
south.  He  succeeded  in  capturing  the  forts  in  the  Highlands,  and  in  re- 
moving the  obstructions  to  the  passage  of  the  North  river.  But  so  much 
time  was  spent  in  burning  the  continental  villages,  and  Esopus,  and  in. de- 
vastating the  country,  that  he  was  too  late  to  save  or  serve  his  countryman. 
Upon  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  the  troops  employed  in  this  odious  service 
returned  to  New  York,  having  inflicted  much  injury  upon  the  Americans, 
and  added  new  intensity  to  their  hatred;  but,  having  done  no  good,  to  their 
own  cause. 

About  the  same  time,  the  British,  who  had  been  left  in  the  rear  of  Bur- 
goyne, destroying  their  stores,  and  abandoning  their  cannon,  retreated  to  Ca- 
nada, leaving  the  country,  so  late  the  seat  of  furious  war,  restored  to  perfect 
tranquillity. 

XLI.  The  effect  produced  by  the  capture  of  this  whole  British  army  was 
of  the  highest  importance,  in  three  points  of  view.  It  established,  incontesta- 
bly,  the  ability  of  the  United  States  to  maintain  their  independence;  and 
though  the  contest  might  be  prolonged,  its  ultimate  result  was  no  longer 
doubtful.  It  created  doubts  in  Great  Britain  of  the  success  in  the  war — and 
it  taught  foreigners  to  confide  in,  and  confiding,  to  aid,  the  exertions  of  the 
States. 

XLII.  The  captured  army  was  marched  to  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  where 
some  difficulties  in  procuring  proper  quarters  for  the  officers,  induced  a  re- 
monstrance from  the  General  to  Gates,  in  which  he  observed — "  the  public 
faith  is  broken."  This  expression  led  Congress  to  believe,  that,  if  liberated, 
the  troops  would  immediately  join  the  British  garrisons  in  America ;  and 
they  passed  a  resolution  suspending  the  embarkation,  till  a  distinct  and  ex- 
plicit ratification  of  the  convention  of  Saratoga  should  be  properly  notified  by 
the  court  of  Great  Britain.  This  event  did  not  take  place  for  many  months, 
during  which  the  troops  continued  prisoners. 

*  October  13. 


262  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Campaign  of  1778. — I.  Condition  of  the  Army  at  the  Valley  Forge  and  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Campaign. — II.  British  foraging  excursions  in  New  Jersey. 
— III.  Fortunate  escape  of  an  advance  party  under  La  Fayette. — IV.  Effect  of 
the  American  successes  abroad — Efforts  of  American  Agents. — V.  Measures  for 
Foreign  Alliances — Duplicity  of  France — Treaties  with  her. — VI.  War  between 
Great  Britain  and  France. — VII.  Opinions  in  Great  Britain — Ministerial  mea- 
sures.— VIII.  Reception  of  those  measures  in  America. — IX.  Arrival  of  a  French 
Minister  Plenipotentiary.— X.  The  British  Army  evacuates  Philadelphia— March 
through  Jersey. — XI.  Battle  of  Monmouth — British  Army  regains  New  York. — 
XII.  Arrival  of  the  French  Fleet— proceeds  to  Rhode  Island. — XIII.  Attempt  on 
Newport — Appearance  of  the  English  Fleet — French  and  English  Fleets  put  to 
Sea — dispersed  by  Storm. — XIV.  British  Incursions  in  Connecticut. — XV.  Dis- 
position of  the  American  Army. — XVI.  British  Incursions  into  New  Jersey. — 
XVII.  Movements  of  the  adverse  Fleets— Detachment  against  the  Southern 
States. — XVIII.  American  Army  retires  to  winter  quarters — Its  improved  con- 
dition.— XIX.  Indian  devastations — Massacre  at  "Wyoming. — XX.  Operations 
against  the  Indians. — XXI.  Discontent  in  the  Jersey  line. — XXII.  March  of  Ge- 
neral Sullivan  to  the  Indian  country— Events  there,— XXIII.  Expedition  under 
Colonel  Broadhead  by  the  Allegheny  River.— XXIV.  Expedition  against  the 
Cherokees  under  General  Pickens. — XXV.  Unprovoked  Slaughter  of  the  Indians 
at  Muskingum. 

I.  During  the  winter  of  1777,  1778,  the  condition  of  the  American  army 
at  the  Valley  Forge  was  one  of  great  peril  and  suffering ;  requiring  all  the 
attractive  powers  of  the  cause  and  of  the  general  in  command,  to  preserve 
that  army  from  dissolution.  Every  department  was  imperfectly  organized. 
But  the  want  of  system  and  experience  was  no  where  more  visible  than  in 
those  of  the  quartermaster  and  the  commissariat.  Stores  of  the  first  neces- 
sity, invaluable  from  their  scarcity,  were  carelessly  abandoned,  lost,  or  em- 
bezzled ;  and  in  a  plentiful  country,  the  troops  were  in  danger  of  perishing 
for  want  of  food.  Tempting  opportunities  of  annoying  the  enemy  were 
frequently  lost  from  the  absolute  impossibility  of  supplying  the  parties  de- 
tailed with  the  indispensable  provisions.  Several  times,  during  the  winter, 
the  soldiers  were  days  without  meat;  and  vegetables  and  other  articles, 
indispensable  to  health,  were,  almost  unknown  to  them.  The  subsistence 
of  an  army,  and  the  agents  engaged  in  it,  should  be  as  dependent  on, 
and  responsible  to,  the  commander-in-chief,  as  its  military  movements,  and 
the  officers  who  conduct  them ;  and  the  negligence,  fraud,  or  sluggishness  of 
the  commissary  should  be  as  promptly  and  severely  punishable  as  the  coward- 
ice or  treachery  of  the  combatant.  But  this  dependence  was  denied  by  that 
passion  for  engrossing  power,  and  the  jealousy  which  refuses  it  to  others,  in- 
herent in  popular  assemblies.  Congress  would  relinquish  no  powers  which 
it  could,  itself,  exercise.  Early  in  the  war,  the  office  of  commissary-general 
had  been  conferred  upon  Colonel  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  a  gentleman  well 
qualified  for  its  duties,  but  who,  notwithstanding,  having  to  struggle  through 
the  difficulties  of  inexperience  and  original  organization,  could  not  fulfil  them 
with  universal  satisfaction.  The  remedy  resorted  to  by  Congress  increased 
the  disease.  They  rendered  his  subordinates  independent  of  the  head,  and 
made  them  accountable  only  to  their  body.  Disgusted  with  a  system,  which 
subjected  him  to  all  the  danger  of  responsibility,  without  the  means  of  pro- 
tection and  indemnity,  Mr.  Trumbull  threw  up  his  commission.  Conse- 
quently, the  army  was  subjected  to  the  dread,  and,  not  unfrequently,  to  the 
pain,  of  famine.  Relief  was  to  be  obtained  only  by  compulsory  military  re- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  263 

quisitions,  and  the  whole  country  within  seventy  miles  of  head  quarters  was, 
by  the  resolutions  of  Congress,  placed  at  the  disposition  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  whereon  to  levy  whatever  might  be  necessary  for  his  army.  That 
patriotism  which  rises  and  expends  itself  in  sudden  ebullition,  is  of  ordinary 
growth — is  a  fever  contagious  in  crowds — whilst  that  which  endures  under 
the  deprivation  of  food  and  raiment,  amid  the  severities  of  winter,  and  the 
perils  of  disease  and  battle,  is  as  rare  as  it  is  estimable — but  it  is  not  so  rare 
as  that,  which  in  the  non-combatant,  withstands  the  forcible,  hourly,  hope- 
less, unremunerated  drain  of  the  purse.  Against  the  exactions,  therefore,  of 
the  army,  even  the  friendly  farmer  or  dealer  opposed  the  resources  of  his 
cunning;  and  though  he  did  not  furnish  supplies  to  the  enemy  who  tempted 
him  with  gold,. he  concealed  them  from  his  friends  who  could  pay  for  them, 
at  best,  in  almost  worthless  paper,  and  frequently,  only,  in  naked  promises. 
But  many,  very  many,  had  not  the  negative  merit  of  forbearing  to  supply 
the  foe ;  in  despite  of  the  unceasing  efforts  of  the  American  army,  they  car- 
ried large  quantities  of  provisions  to  British  quarters.  General  Washington 
could  obtain  relief,  only,  by  the  strenuous  exertions  of  his  best  officers.  Ge- 
neral Greene,  with  a  strong  detachment,  searched  the  surrounding  country. 
Captain  Lee  arid  Captain  M'Lane,  excellent  partisans,  were  despatched  to 
Delaware  and  Maryland,  and  Colonel  Tilghman  into  New  Jersey — at  the 
same  time  Washington  urged  upon  the  executives  of  the  several  states,  to 
exert  themselves  for  the  army  and  the  nation.  But  the  appointment  of 
General  Greene  to  the  office  of  commissary  general,  under  the  immediate  di- 
rection of  the  commander-in-chief,  in  March,  1777,  was  the  most  efficient 
remedy. 

The  sufferings  of  the  troops  for  want  of  proper  clothing,  was  not  less  than 
from  want  of  food.  Their  deplorable  condition,  in  this  respect,  disabled 
them  from  keeping  the  field.  The  returns  of  the  first  of  February,  exhibit 
the  astonishing  number  of  three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-nine  men, 
in  camp,  unfit  for  duty,  for  want  of  clothes ;  of  whom,  scare  one  had  shoes. 
Even  among  those  returned,  capable  of  duty,  very  many  were  so  badly  clad, 
that  exposure  to  the  colds  of  the  season,  must  have  destroyed  them.  Although 
the  total  of  the  army  then  exceeded  seventeen  thousand  men,  the  effective 
rank  and  file,  amounted,  only,  to  five  thousand  and  twelve.  Nakedness 
amid  frost,  unhealthy  food,  and  hunger,  filled  the  hospitals  with  patients.  In 
these  miserable  receptacles,  death  was  most  frequently  found  by  those  who 
sought  for  health.  The  provision  made  for  them,  at  all  times  inadequate  to 
their  wants,  was  misapplied.  They  were  crowded  in  small  apartments,  and 
a  violent  putrid  fever  raged  among  them,  destroying  more  than  all  the  other 
diseases  of  the  camp.  Had  the  British  army,  at  this  season,  taken  the  field, 
it  might,  though  with  great  suffering  to  itself,  have  compelled  the  American 
general,  either  to  fight  with  inferior  numbers,  and  to  stake  his  army  upon  a 
battle,  or  to  retreat  further  into  the  country;  which  could  not  have  been 
effected  without  great  loss,  with  his  naked  and  barefooted  soldiers. 

Happily,  the  real  condition  of  this  army  was  not  fully  known  to  Sir  William 
Howe.  The  present  position  had  been  assumed  for  the  purpose  of  covering 
the  country  of  Pennsylvania,  protecting  the  magazines  laid  up  in  it,  and  cut- 
ting off  the  supplies  of  the  British  army.  The  plan  extended  no  further  than 
to  guard,  with  the  militia,  the  north  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  the  east  of  the 
Delaware,  so  as  to  restrain  the  people  of  the  country  from  carrying  in  their 
provisions  to  market,  to  which  they  were  irresistibly  allured,  by  specie  pay- 
ments. These  objects  were,  in  a  great  measure,  though  not  effectually, 
gained ;  nor,  however,  without  occasionally  inflicting  personal  chastisement 
upon  delinquents. 

II.  In  the  species  of  war  which  this  state  of  things  produced,  the  advan- 


264  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

tage  was  with  the  British,  who,  being  unassailable  in  their  quarters,  and 
possessing  the  command  of  the  Delaware,  might,  at  any  time,  ravage  the 
coast  of  Jersey,  before  assistance  could  be  rendered  by  the  continental 
troops.  The  resistance  of  the  militia  was  inconsiderable,  and  scarce  ex- 
pected. Yet  the  wants  of  such  a  number  of  persons  an8  horses,  required  a 
greater  supply  of  fresh  provisions  and  forage  than  could  be  procured,  by 
light  parties  or  ordinary  means.  And  as  the  spring  opened,  with  the 
design  to  relieve  their  own  army,  and  to  distress  that  of  the  United  States, 
about  the  middle  of  March,  Colonel  Mahwood  and  Major  Simcoe  were 
detached  into  Jersey,  at  the  head  of  about  twelve  hundred  men.  They 
landed  at  Salem,  and  dispersed  the  small  bodies  of  militia  stationed  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  under  Colonels  Hand  and  Holme.  The  militia  were 
posted  at  Quinton's  Bridge,  Alloways'  Creek,  over  which  it  was  supposed 
the  British  would  endeavour  to  force  a  passage.  Their  numbers  being 
unequal  to  an  effectual  resistance,  it  was  only  intended  to  keep  the  enemy 
in  some  check,  until  they  should  be  reinforced.  A  judicious  plan  to  sur- 
prise them,  was  skilfully  executed  by  Major  Simcoe,  one  of  the  best  par- 
tisans in  the  British  service,  and  their  guard  was  cut  to  pieces.  The  loss 
of  the  militia,  in  several  skirmishes,  in  killed  and  taken,  was  between  fifty 
and  sixty. 

General  Washington  had  received  early  intelligence  of  this  expedition, 
which  he  communicated  to  Governor  Livingston,  with  a  request,  that  he  would 
immediately  order  out  the  militia  in  force,  to  join  Colonel  Shreve,  whose 
regiment  was  detached  into  Jersey  to  aid  in  protecting  the  country.  The 
governor  could  not  bring  his  militia  with  sufficient  expedition  into  the  field. 
The  Legislature  had  neglected  to  make  provision  for  paying  them ;  and  the 
repugnance  to  military  duty  which  this  circumstance  could  not  fail  to  occa- 
sion, received  no  small  addition  from  their  unwillingness  to  expose  themselves 
to  its  dangers,  until  a  continental  force  should  appear,  as  a  point  around 
which  they  might  rally.  On  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Shreve  at  Haddonfield, 
he  found,  that  the  militia  who  had  been  assembled  to  aid  him,  and  to  inter- 
cept the  communication  with  Philadelphia,  amounted  to  less  than  one  hun- 
dred men ;  and  Colonel  Ellis,  their  commanding  officer,  remarked,  in  a  letter 
to  the  governor,  that,  "  without  some  standing  force,  little  was  to  be  expected 
from  the  militia,  who  being,  alone,  not  sufficient  to  prevent  the  incursions 
of  the  enemy,  each  one  naturally  consults  his  own  safety,  by  not  being  found 
in  arms." 

Mahwood  wrote  to  Colonel  Hand,  proposing  to  re-embark  his  troops,  to 
refrain  from  further  injury  to  the  country,  and  to  pay  for  the  cattle  and 
forage  he  had  taken,  in  sterling  money,  on  condition,  that  the  militia  would 
lay  down  their  arms  and  depart  to  their  homes ;  threatening,  on  refusal,  to 
arm  the  tories,  to  attack  all  persons  he  found  in  arms,  burn  their  dwellings, 
and  reduce  their  families  to  the  utmost  distress.  And  that  his  threats  might 
not  be  supposed  in  vain,  he  subjoined  a  list  of  the  first  objects  of  his  intended 
vengeance.*  Colonel  Hand  indignantly  rejected  the  proposition,  and  Mah- 
wood, but  too  faithfully,  executed  his  threat;  and,  although  his  incursion 
continued  six  or  seven  days,  he  returned  to  Philadelphia  unmolested.  Not 
more  than  two  hundred  men  could  be  collected  to  reinforce  Colonel  Shreve, 
who,  unable  to  act  with  effect,  did  not  even  march  to  the  lower  parts  of 
Jersey,  which  were  plundered  without  restraint. 

*  These  were,  Edmund  Keasby,  Thomas  Sinnickson,  Samuel  Dick,  Whitten  Crips, 
Ebenezer  Howell,  Edward  Hall,  John  Bowen,  Thomas  Thompson,  George  Trenchard, 
Elisha  Cattle,  Andrew  Sinnickson,  Nicholas  Keen,  Jacob  Hufty,  Benjamin  Holmes, 
William  Schute,  Anthony  Sharpe,  and  Abner  Penton. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  265 

Applications  to  General  Washington  for  detachments  of  continental  troops, 
sufficient  to  cover  the  country,  were  necessarily  rejected,  as  the  enemy  could 
reinforce  with  more  facility  than  he,  and  could,  consequently,  maintain  his 
superiority  until  the  whole  war  would  be  transferred  to  Jersey.  He,  how- 
ever, permitted  Colonel  Shreve  to  remain  on  the  east  side  of  the  Delaware, 
and  reinforced  him  with  an  additional  regiment ;  but  would  not  consent  to 
add  to  the  strength  of  this  detachment,  or  to  depart  from  his  design  to  keep  on 
that  side  of  the  Delaware,  only,  such  force  as  would  break  off  the  ordinary 
intercourse  between  the  town  and  country.  A  larger  one  would  only 
direct  the  attention  of  Sir  William  Howe  towards  it,  and  induce  him  to  plan 
its  destruction.  Such  an  attempt  on  Colonel  Shreve,  was  disappointed  by  a 
'precipitate  retreat,  attended  with  some  loss. 

In  addition  to  the  vessels  which  had  been  engaged  in  defence  of  Fort  Mif- 
flin,  others  had  been  commenced  above  Philadelphia,  but  were  not  completed, 
when  the  British  obtained  possession  of  the  river.  To  protect  these  from  the 
enemy,  Washington  had  directed  them  to  be  sunk  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be 
weighed  with  difficulty.  This  order  was  disregarded.  Against  these  vessels 
and  some  stores  collected  at  Bordentown,  an  expedition  was  successfully 
sent.  General  Dickenson  was  in  the  neighbourhood,  but  his  force  was  too 
small  to  interrupt  the  enterprise ;  and  General  Maxwell,  who  had  been  de- 
tached on  the  first  intelligence,  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  up  the  Dela- 
ware, was  retarded  in  his  march  by  a  heavy  rain,  which  did  not  delay  the 
movement  of  the  British  troops,  on  board  of  vessels  in  the  river. 

III.  To  cover  the  country  effectually  on  the  north  of  the  Schuylkill,  and 
to  form  an  advance  guard,  which  might  annoy  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  should 
he  evacuate  the  city,  an  event,  deemed  daily  more  probable,  the  Marquis  de 
La  Fayette  was  detached,  with  more  than  two  thousand  choice  troops,  and  a 
few  pieces  of  cannon,  to  take  post  on  the  lines,  with  orders  to  occupy  no 
station,  permanently,  lest  the  enemy  should  successfully  concert  an  attack 
upon  him.     Having  taken  a  momentary  position  at  Barren  Hill,  ten  miles  in 
front  of  the  army,  at  the  Valley  Forge,  notice  thereof  was  given  to  General 
Howe;  who,  having  reconnoitred  his  post,  despatched  General  Grant,  on  the 
night  of  the  nineteenth  of  May,  against  him.     He  succeeded  in  getting,  un- 
discovered, into  the  rear  of  the  Marquis,  whilst  General  Gray,  with  a  strong 
detachment,  advanced  by  the  south  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  to  a  ford,  two 
or  three  miles  in  front  of  his  right  flank,  and  the  residue  of  the  army  en- 
camped on  Chesnut  Hill.     The  Marquis  discovered  the  perils  which  envi- 
roned him,  just  in  season,  by  a  dexterous  movement,  to  avoid  them.     He 
rapidly  recrossed   the  Schuylkill  by  Matson's   Ford,  and  took  a  post  so 
favourable  for  defence,  that  although  the  enemy  pursued  him  to  the  bank, 
he  did  not  dare  to  wade  the  river  to  assail  him.     From  the  apparent  impru- 
dence, which  might  be  inferred  by  his  surprise,  the  Marquis  is  exonerated, 
by  the  fact,  that  the  troops  placed  by  him  on  his  left  flank,  had,  without  his 
knowledge,  changed  their  position. 

IV.  In  the  course  of  the  winter,  the  effect,  abroad,  of  the  success  of  the 
American  arms,  began  to  develope  itself.     The  government  of  France  could 
not  observe,  without  deep  interest,  the  contest  which  was  about  to  shake, 
to  the  foundation,  the  empire  of  her  great  enemy  and   rival.     Though, 
labouring  under  financial  embarrassments  resulting  from  her  late  wars,  she 
could  not',  hastily,  involve  herself  in  new  expenses,  yet  the  ministry  and  the 
nation,  longed  for  an  opportunity  of  retaliating  the  mortifications  and  defeat 
they  had  sustained.     When  the  discontents  of  the  colonies  had  broken  into 
open  hostilities,  M.  de  Vergennes  and  other  members  of  the  French  ministry, 
declared  it  to  be  the  policy  of  France  and  Spain,  to  avoid  aggression,  for 
three  causes;  the  two  latter  of  which,  were,  doubtless,  founded  in  truth, 

2L 


260  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  are  entirely  comprehensible: — First,  for  moral  reasons,  which  were 
conformable  to  the  known  opinions  of  the  two  monarchs:  secondly,  on 
account  of  the  condition  of  the  finances,  the  necessity  of  time  for  reco- 
very of  exhaustion,  and  the  danger  of  perpetuating  their  weakness  by 
premature  exertion;  and  thirdly,  that  an  offensive  war,  on  the  part  of 
France  and  Spain,  might  reconcile  the  mother  and  her  colonies ;  giving  the 
minister  a  pretext  for  yielding,  and  the  provinces  a  motive  for  acceding 
to  his  propositions,  in  order  to  obtain  time  to  consolidate  themselves,  to 
ripen  their  plans,  and  to  increase  their  means.  They  came  to  the  con- 
clusion, therefore,  to  watch  events  in  Europe  and  America;  avoiding  every 
thing  which  might  create  an  opinion  that  they  had,  in  the  latter,  any 
authorized  agent ;  to  facilitate  to  the  colonists,  the  means  of  procuring,  by 
commerce,  the  articles,  and  even  the  money  which  they  needed,  but  without 
a  departure  from  neutrality;  to  refit  and  prepare  for  sea,  the  naval  force; 
but  to  precipitate  nothing,  unless  the  conduct  of  England  should  afford  real 
cause  to  believe,  that  she  had  determined  to  commence  hostilities.  Upon 
these  principles,  the  conduct  of  the  cabinet  of  Versailles  was,  for  a  time, 
regulated.  A  party,  however,  existed  in  that  cabinet,  at  whose  head  was 
the  Queen,  which  avowed  a  disposition  to  seize  the  present  moment  for 
revenge,  by  humbling  Great  Britain,  and  dismembering  her  empire. 

The  Americans  had  early  sought  the  countenance  of  foreign  powers,  and, 
particularly,  of  France.  The  impossibility  of  obtaining  a  supply  of  arms 
and  ammunition  by  ordinary  means,  had,  in  1775,  induced  the  appointment 
of  agents  to  procure  military  stores  abroad;  who  communed  with  a  secret 
committee  of  Congress,  empowered  to  correspond  with  their  friends  in  Great 
Britain,  Ireland,  and  other  parts  of  the  world.  In  the  spring  of  1776,  Mr. 
Silas  Deane  appeared  in  Paris,  as  a  political  and  commercial  agent,  with  in- 
structions to  ascertain  the  disposition  of  the  French  king.  That  monarch, 
was  still  reluctant  to  do  any  act  which  might  commit  him  with  his  enemies. 
The  declaration  of  independence  encouraged  the  court  of  Versailles  to  fur- 
nish, privately,  means  for  continuing  the  war ;  but  it  was  neither  willing,  nor 
prepared,  to  acknowledge  the  independence  of  the  United  States. 

V.  As  soon  as  Congress  had  resolved  on  the  declaration  of  independence, 
but  before  it  was  published,  a  project  for  treaties  with  foreign  powers  was 
prepared,  and  ministers  appointed  to  negotiate  them.  Mr.  Franklin,  Mr. 
Deane,  and  Mr.  Jefferson,  were  nominated ;  but  the  last  named,  declining 
the  appointment,  Mr.  Arthur  Lee,  then  in  London,  was  substituted.  They 
assembled  in  Paris,  early  in  the  winter,  were  favourably,  but  not  publicly,  re- 
ceived ;  and  were  assured,  that  the  ports  of  France  would  remain  open  to 
their  ships,  and  that  free  commercial  relations  should  be  cherished.  So  closely 
did  the  Count  de  Vergennes  conform  to  his  system  of  caution,  that,  though 
the  fact  was  known  to  the  American  commissioners,  that  military  stores  had 
been  exported  from  the  king's  magazines  to  America,  he  affected,  in  their 
presence,  to  be  wholly  ignorant  of  it.  In  this  state  of  the  negotiation,  the 
utmost  circumspection  was  observed  in  regard  to  Great  Britain.  Every  step 
was  taken  publicly  to  gratify  her.  The  remonstrances  of  her  ambassador 
were  scrupulously  attended  to ;  the  departure  of  ships,  having  military  stores 
was  forbidden,  although  they  were  privately  permitted  to  sail,  or  sailed  without 
permission ;  officers  having  leave  of  absence,  and  about  to  join  the  Americans, 
were  recalled ;  strict  orders  were  given,  that  American  prizes  should  not  be 
sold  in  French  ports ;  and  in  some  cases,  cruisers  were  compelled  to  give  up 
the  ships  they  had  captured,  and  to  enter  into  security  to  cruise  no  more  in 
the  European  seas.  At  the  same  time,  the  American  agents  were  privately 
informed,  that  in  despite  of  these  exactions  of  policy,  they  might  confide  in 
the  good  will  of  the  government.  Means  were  also  taken  to  facilitate  to 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  267 

them  the  negotiation  of  loans,  and  the  owners  of  privateers  were  permitted, 
privately,  to  dispose  of  their  prizes. 

This  perplexing  and  uncertain  state,  continued  from  December,  1776,  to 
December,  1777.  The  success  of  the  campaign  of  the  latter  year  placed  the 
Americans  in  a  more  favourable  light,  as  possible  instruments  for  the  grati- 
fication of  Gallic  vengeance,  and  disposed  the  ministers  to  draw  the  relations 
with  them  more  closely.  The  capture  of  Burgoyne  determined  them  to  ac- 
knowledge and  support  the  independence  of  the  United  States.  France 
frankly  avowed,  what  folly  alone  could  tempt  her  to  conceal,  that  in  this 
measure,  she  sought  her  own  interest.  Though  war  with  Great  Britain  would 
probably  be  the  consequence,  there  was  a  generosity  displayed  in  abstaining 
from  requiring  any  preference  over  other  nations,  and  in  treating  with  the 
new  states  as  if  they  had  been  long  established,  and  were  in  the  fulness  of 
strength  and  power. 

Two  treaties  were  formed.  One,  of  friendship  and  commerce,  recognised 
the  independence  of  America.  The  other,  of  alliance,  eventual  and  defensive, 
between  the  two  nations,  stipulated,  that  should  a  war  arise  between  Great 
Britain  and  France  during  the  existence  of  that  with  the  United  States,  it 
should  become  a  common  cause,  and  that  neither  of  the  contracting  parties 
should  conclude  either  truce  or  peace  with  Great  Britain,  without  the  formal 
assent  of  the  other.  They  mutually  engaged  not  to  lay  down  their  arms, 
until  the  independence  of  the  United  States  should  be  assured  by  treaty  ter- 
minating the  war.  There  were  other  provisions  in  this  contract,  which  in  their 
result  did  not  affect  the  revolution. 

VI.  Soon  after,  the  treaty  of  friendship  and  commerce  was  communicated 
by  the  representative  of  France  to  the  British  court;  which,  readily,  con- 
ceiving, that  France  had  not  taken  this  step  without  a  resolution  to  follow  it 
through  all  its  consequences,  considered  the  notification  a  declaration  of  war; 
and  immediately  published  a  memorial  for  the  justification  of  the  hostilities 
she  resolved  to  commence. 

The  French  ministry  received  private  intelligence,  that  the  English 
cabinet  contemplated  to  offer  to  the  United  States  the  acknowledgment  of 
their  independence,  on  condition  of  a  separate  peace.  They  communicated 
this  to  the  American  commissioners,  urging  them  to  lose  no  time  in  repre- 
senting, that  the  war,  though  not  declared  in  form,  had  actually  commenced, 
and  that  they,  deeming  the  treaty  of  alliance  in  full  force,  considered  neither 
party  at  liberty  to  make  a  separate  peace. 

The  despatches  containing  the  treaties  were  received  by  the  president  of 
Congress,  on  Saturday,  the  second  of  May,  after  the  House  had  adjourned. 
That  body  was  immediately  convened,  and  the  joyful  tidings  communicated. 
The  treaties  were  ratified,  on  Monday,  with  a  resolution  highly  compli- 
mentary to  the  magnanimity  and  wisdom  of  the  French  monarch.  But  the 
intoxication  of  joy  led  this  grave  assembly  into  the  error  of  publishing  both, 
the  avowed  and  concealed ;  or  it  served  as  an  excuse  for  involving  France, 
inextricably,  in  their  cause,  by  confirming  the  indignation  of  Great  Britain  at 
her  duplicity. 

VII.  The  impression  made  upon  the  British  nation,  though  different,  was 
not  less,  than  that  upon  the  French,  by  the  capture  of  Burgoyne;  and  pro- 
duced even  in  the  cabinet,  resolutions  in  favour  of  pacific  measures.     In 
February,  1778,  Lord  North  gave  notice  in  the  House  of  Commons,  of  his 
intention  to  propose  a  plan  of  conciliation.     In  conformity  with  which,  he 
moved  to  bring  in  "a  bill  for  removing  all  doubts  and  apprehensions  con- 
cerning taxation  by  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  in  any  of  the  colonies 
and  plantations  of  North  America,"  and  "a  bill  to  enable  his  Majesty  to  ap- 
point commissioners,  with  sufficient  powers  to  treat,  consult,  and  agree  upon 


268  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

the  means  of  quieting  the  disorders  now  subsisting  in  certain  of  the  colonies 
of  America. 

The  first  declared  that  Parliament  would  impose  no  duty  payable  in 
America,  except  such  as  might  be  expedient  for  the  purposes  of  commerce, 
the  net  produce  of  which,  should  be  paid  and  applied  for  the  use  of  the  colo- 
ny in  which  it  should  be  levied,  as  other  duties  collected  under  the  authority 
of  the  Legislature.  The  second,  authorized  the  appointment  of  commission- 
ers by  the  Crown,  with  power  to  treat,  either  with  the  constituted  authorities, 
or  with  individuals  in  America, — the  stipulations  which  might  be  entered 
into,  to  be  subject  to  the  approbation  of  Parliament.  They  were  also  em- 
powered to  proclaim  a  cessation  of  hostilities  in  any  of  the  colonies ;  to  sus- 
pend the  operation  of  the  non-intercourse  law,  and,  during  the  continuance 
of  the  act,  so  much  of  all  or  any  of  the  acts  of  Parliament,  which  had  passed 
since  the  10th  of  February,  1773,  relating  to  the  colonies;  to  grant  pardon 
to  any  number  or  description  of  persons;  and  to  appoint  a  governor  in  any 
colony,  in  which  his  Majesty  had,  theretofore,  made  such  appointments.  The 
duration  of  the  last  act  was  limited  to  the  first  of  June,  1779.  Both  were 
sanctioned  by  Parliament  with  little  opposition.  Their  great  defect  was,  that 
they  came  too  late.  The  spirit  upon  which  they  might  have  wrought  was 
no  more.  It  had  been  succeeded  by  one  to  which  the  demand  of  subjection, 
and  the  offer  of  pardon  were  irreparable  insults. 

Before  these  bills  could  be  gotten  through  the  customary  forms,  intelli- 
gence was  received  of  the  treaty  with  France.  Copies  were,  therefore,  hur- 
ried to  America,  to  be  laid  before  Congress,  and  the  public,  that  they  might 
counteract  the  effect  of  the  treaty. 

VIII.  Washington  was  instructed  of  the  nature  of  these  bills,  as  well  by 
letters,  from  Major-general  Tryon,  the  British  governor  of  New  York,  as  from 
other  sources..  The  communication  from  Tryon,  containing  the  extraordinary 
and  impertinent  request,  "  that  it  should  be  published  to  the  army,"  was  im- 
mediately despatched  to  Congress.  The  committee  to  whom  it  was  referred, 
reported,  That  the  bills  were  designed  to  create  division  among  the  people, 
and  to  encourage  desertion  from  the  common  cause,  and  were  the  sequel  of 
the  insidious  plan,  which,  from  the  days  of  the  stamp  act,  had  involved  the 
country  in  contention  and  blood;  and  though  circumstances  might,  now, 
cause  a  recession  from  unjustifiable  claims,  they  would  not  fail  to  be  renewed 
upon  the  first  favourable  occasion : — That,  as  the  union  of  the  Americans, 
upon  principles  of  common  interest  in  defence  of  common  rights,  was 
cemented  by  common  calamities  and  mutual  good  offices  and  affection,  so 
the  cause  for  which  they  contended,  and  in  which  all  mankind  we're  inte- 
rested, must  derive  its  success  from  the  continuance  of  such  union;  and 
that,  whoever  should  presume  to  make  any  separate  or  partial  convention, 
with  the  commissioners  under  the  crown,  ought  to  be  considered  and  treated 
as  open  and  avowed  enemies  of  the  United  States : — That,  the  United  States 
could  not,  with  propriety,  hold  conference  with  commissioners  from  Great 
Britain,  unless  as  a  preliminary,  they  should  withdraw  their  fleets  and  ar- 
mies, or  in  express  terms  acknowledge  the  independence  of  the  States :  And 
that,  as  it  appeared  to  be  the  design  of  the  enemies  of  the  States,  to  lull  them 
into  fatal  security,  the  States  should  be  called  upon  to  use  the  most  strenuous 
exertions,  to  send  their  respective  quotas  of  troops  into  the  field,  and  to  main- 
tain their  militia  in  readiness*  Fearless  of  the  effect  of  these  measures  upon 
the  public  mind,  Congress  ordered  the  report  and  resolutions  to  be  published. 
The  alliance  with  France,  which  had  been  long  expected,  was  believed  by 
every  patriot  to  assure  the  national  independence, — and  this  had  become  an 
object  too  dear  to  be  easily  abandoned. 

Subsequently  to  the  reception  of  the  copies  of  the  bills,  letters  were  re- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  269 

ceived  by  Congress,  in  the  close  of  May,  from  Lord  Howe  and  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  enclosing  the  acts  of  Parliament,  themselves.  Congress  replied — 
"  Your  lordship  may  be  assured,  that  when  the  king  of  Great  Britain  shall 
be  seriously  disposed  to  put  an  end  to  the  unprovoked  and  cruel  war  waged 
against  these  United  States,  Congress  will  readily  attend  to  such  terms  of 
peace,  as  may  consist  with  the  honour  of  independent  nations,  the  interest 
of  their  constituents,  and  the  sacred  regard  they  mean  to  pay  to  treaties." 

The  commissioners  appointed  to  give  effect  to  those  conciliatory  bills, 
consisted  of  Governor  Johnstone,  Lord  Carlisle,  and  Mr.  Eden,  to  whom  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  was  added.  The  three  first  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  while 
the  city  was  in  possession  of  the  British.  On  the  9th  of  June  they  request- 
ed, from  General  Washington,  a  passport  for  their  secretary,  Dr.  Ferguson, 
with  a  letter  from  them  to  Congress ;  but  this  was  refused.  They,  then,  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  Congress,  in  due  form,  communicating  a  copy  of  their 
commission,  and  of  the  acts  of  Parliament,  and  proposing  among  other 
things,  to  consent  to  a  cessation  of  hostilities  by  sea  and  land ;  to  restore 
free  intercourse,  to  revive  mutual  affection,  and  renew  the  common  benefits 
of  naturalization,  through  the  several  parts  of  the  empire :  To  extend  every 
freedom  to  trade,  that  the  respective  interest  of  Britain  and  America  could 
require:  To  agree  that  no  military  forces  should  be  kept  up  in  North  Ame- 
rica, without  the  consent  of  the  general  Congress,  or  particular  Assemblies : 
To  concur  in  measures  "  calculated  to  discharge  the  debts  of  America,  and 
to  raise  the  credit  and  value  of  the  paper  circulation :"  To  perpetuate  the 
union,  by  a  reciprocal  deputation  of  agent  or  agents,  who  should  have  the 
privilege  of  a  seat  and  voice  in  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  or  if  sent 
from  Britain,  in  the  Assemblies  o£the  different  colonies,  to  which  they  might 
be  deputed,  respectively.  In  short,  to  establish  the  power  of  the  respective 
Legislatures  in  each  particular  colony,  to  settle  its  revenue  in  civil  and  mili- 
tary establishment,  and  to-exercise  a  perfect  freedom  in  legislation  and  inter- 
nal government ;  so  that  the  British  colonies  in  North  America,  acting  with 
Great  Britain,  in  peace  and  in  war,  under  one  common  sovereign,  might 
have  the  irrevocable  enjoyment  of  every  privilege,  short  of  a  total  separation 
of  interests,  or  consistent  with  that  union  of  force,  on  which  the  safety  of 
their  common  religion  and  liberty  depended." 

The  letter  containing  these  propositions,  also,  contained  some  observations 
reflecting  on  the  conduct  of  France,  which  gave  so  much  offence  in  Congress, 
as  to  cause  a  suspension  of  the  proceedings  on  the  communication.  But  at 
length,  an  answer  was  agreed  upon,  signed  by  the  president,  and  trans- 
mitted to  the  commissioners,  rejecting  their  propositions,  and  assigning 
reasons  therefor. 

A  reply  from  the  commissioners  followed  the  rejection  of  Congress,  and 
the  negotiation  was  thus,  for  a  short  period,  continued,  during  which  Mr. 
Johnstone  caused  certain  propositions,  in  the  nature  of  a  bribe,  to  be  made  to 
Mr.  Joseph  Reed,  which  were  not  only  indignantly  rejected  by  that  gentle- 
man, but  which  induced  Congress  to  refuse  intercourse  with  the  proposer. 
Mr.  Johnstone,  thereupon,  retired  from  the  commission,  whilst  his  colleagues 
endeavoured  to  press  their  views  upon  the  Congress  and  the  nation.  To  the 
latter,  both  parties  appealed  through  the  press,  but  the  British  agents  were, 
.  in  every  effort,  unsuccessful. 

IX.  In  the  midst  of  these  transactions,  the  Sieur  Girard,  who  had  nego- 
tiated the  treaties  between  France  and  the  United  States,  arrived  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  the  character  of  minister  plenipotentiary  of  his  most  Christian 
Majesty.  This  event  produced  unbounded  joy  among  the  people  and  Con- 
gress, by  whom  the  minister  was  received  with  every  demonstration  of 
respect. 


270  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

X.  About  the  time  the  command  of  the  army  devolved  on  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  orders  were  received  for  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia.     The  part 
which  France  was  about  to  take  in  the  war,  with  the  naval  force  she  had 
prepared,  rendered  this  city  a  dangerous  position,  and  determined  the  admi- 
nistration, entirely,  to  abandon  the  Delaware.     Preparations  to  this  end  were 
actively  pursued,  but  it  was  some  time  uncertain,  to  what  point  the  army 
was  destined.     At  length,  the  intention  was  apparent  to  reach  New  York 
through  the  Jerseys.      Upon  this  presumption,  General  Washington  con- 
ducted his  operations. 

General  Maxwell,  with  the  Jersey  brigade,  was  ordered  to  take  post  about 
Mount  Holly,  and  to  unite  with  Major-general  Dickenson,  who  was  assem- 
bling the  militia,  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  down  the  bridges,  falling  trees 
in  the  roads,  and  otherwise  embarrassing  the  march  of  the  British  general. 
Instructions  were  given  to  these  officers,  to  guard  carefully  against  a  coup 
de  main,  and  to  keep  the  militia,  in  small  light  parties,  on  his  flanks. 

When  Washington  learned,  that  the  greater  proportion  of  the  British  army 
had  crossed  the  Delaware,*  he  convened  a  council  of  general  officers,  to 
determine  on  his  course.  The  force  of  the  armies  was  nearly  equal,  the 
numerical  advantage  being  with  the  Americans ;  the  British  having  ten,  and 
the  Americans  between  ten  and  eleven,  thousand.  Of  seventeen  general 
officers,  Wayne  and  Cadwalader,  alone,  were  decidedly  in  favour  of  attacking 
the  enemy.  Fayette  inclined  to  that  opinion  without  openly  embracing  it. 
Consequently,  it  was  resolved,  not  to  risk  a  battle. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  moved  with  great  deliberation ;  seeming  to  await  the 
approach  of  his  adversary.  He  proceeded  through  Haddonfield,f  Mount 
Holly,  Slabtown,  and  Cross  wicks,  to  Allen  town  and  Imlaytown,  which  he 
reached,  on  the  twenty-fourth.  Dickenson  and  Maxwell  retired  before  him, 
unable  to  obstruct  his  march  otherwise  than  by  destroying  the  bridges.  As 
his  route,  until  he  passed  Crosswicks,  lay  directly  up  the  Delaware,  and  at 
no  great  distance  from  it,  General  Washington  found  it  necessary  to  make 
an  extensive  circuit,  to  pass  the  river  at  Coryell's  Ferry.  Pursuant  to  the 
settled  plan  of  avoiding  an  engagement,  he  kept  the  high  grounds,  directing 
his  course  so  as  to  cover  the  important  passes  of  the  Highlands.  He  crossed 
the  river  on  the  twenty-second,  and  remained  the  twenty-third  at  Hopewell, 
in  the  elevated  country,  adjacent  to  the  river. 

General  Arnold,  whose  wounds  yet  unfitted  him  for  service,  was  directed 
to  possess  himself  of  Philadelphia,  and  to  detach  four  hundred  continental 
troops,  and  such  militia  as  could  be  collected,  to  harass  the  rear  of  the  enemy. 
This  service,  by  the  order  of  the  commander-in-chief,  was  confided  to  Gene- 
ral Cadwalader,  who  could  only  add  to  his  continental  force,  fifty  volunteers 
and  forty  militia,  commanded  by  General  Lacy.  From  Hopewell,  Morgan, 
with  .six  hundred  riflemen,  was  detached  to  annoy  his  right  flank ;  Dicken- 
son, with  about  one  thousand  Jersey  militia,  and  Maxwell's  brigade,  hung  on 
his  left. 

XI.  In  this  position  of  the  armies,  General  Washington,  who  had  rather 
acquiesced  in,  than  approved,  the  decision  of  the  late  council  of  war,  and 
was  disposed  to  seek  battle,  again  submitted  the  proposal  to  the  consideration 
of  the  general  officers,  by  whom  it  was,  again,  negatived.     By  their  advice 
a  chosen  body  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  under  Brigadier-general  Scott,  was 
added  to  the  corps  on  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy.     But  Washington  being 

*  June  18th,  1777. 

t  The  night  that  the  British  encamped  at  Haddonfield,  Captain  M'Lane,  by  orders 
from  General  Arnold,  passed  through  their  camp,  and  reported  their  situation  to  the 
general. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  271 

supported  by  the  wishes  of  some  officers  whom  he  highly  valued,  determined, 
on  his  own  responsibility,  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement.  The  enemy 
being  on  his  march  to  Monmouth  court-house,  he  resolved  to  strengthen  the 
force  on  his  lines,  by  despatching  General  Wayne  with  an  additional  corps 
of  one  thousand  men.  The  continental  troops,  now,  thrown  in  front  of  the 
army,  amounted  to  four  thousand  men,  a  force  sufficient  to  require  the  di- 
rection of  a  major-general.  The  tour  of  duty  was  General  Lee's ;  but,  he, 
having  declared,  strongly,  against  hazarding,  even  a  partial  engagement,  and 
supposing  that,  in  conformity  with  the  advice  signed  by  all  the  generals  in 
camp,  save  one,  nothing  would  be  attempted  beyond  reconnoitring  the 
enemy,  and  restraining  the  plundering  parties,  showed  no  disposition  to 
assert  his  claim ;  but  yielded  the  command  to  General  La  Fayette.  All  the 
continental  parties  on  the  lines  were  placed  under  his  direction,  with  orders 
to  take  measures,  in  concert  with  General  Dickenson,  to  impede  the  march 
of  the  British,  and  to  occasion  them  the  greatest  loss.  These  measures  de- 
monstrated the  wishes  of  the  commander-in-chief,  tending  almost  inevitably 
to  a  general  battle.  Wayne  had  earnestly  advised  it,  and  La  Fayette  in- 
clined towards  a  partial  engagement.  Colonel  Hamilton,  who  accompanied 
him,  had  the  strongest  desire  to  signalize  the  detachment,  and  to  accomplish 
all  the  wishes  of  Washington.  These  dispositions  having  been  made,  the 
main  army  was  moved  to  Cranberry,  on  the  26th,  to  support  the  advance. 
The  intense  heat  of  the  weather,  a  heavy  storm,  and  a  temporary  want  of 
provisions,  prevented  it  from  proceeding  further  next  day.  The  advanced 
corps  had  pressed  forward  and  taken  a  position  on  the  Monmouth  road,  about 
five  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  him  on 
the  next  morning.  It  was  now,  however,  too  remote,  and  too  far  on  the 
right,  to  be  supported  in  case  of  action ;  and  pursuant  to  orders,  the  Marquis 
filed  off  by  his  left,  towards  Englishtown,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th. 

General  Lee  had  declined  the  command  of  the  advance  party,  under  the 
opinion,  that  it  was  not  designed  for  effective  service ;  but  perceiving,  soon 
after  its  march,  that  much  importance  was  attached  to  it,  and  dreading  lest 
his  reputation  might  suffer,  he  earnestly  solicited  to  be  placed  at  its  head. 
To  relieve  his  feelings,  without  wounding  those  of  La  Fayette,  Washington 
detached  the  former,  with  two  other  brigades,  to  support  the  Marquis.  Lee 
would,  of  course,  have  the  direction  of  the  whole  front  division,  amount- 
ing now  to  five  thousand  men ;  but  he  stipulated,  that  if  any  enterprise  had 
been  formed  by  La  Fayette,  it  should  be  executed  as  if  the  commanding 
officer  had  not  been  changed. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  taken  a  strong  position,  on  the  high  grounds  about 
Monmouth  court-house ;  having  his  right  flank  in  the  skirt  of  a  small  wood, 
his  left  secured  by  a  thick  one,  and  a  morass  towards  his  rear.  His  whole 
front  was,  also,  covered  by  a  wood,  and,  for  a  considerable  distance  towards 
his  left,  by  a  morass,  and  he  was  within  twelve  miles  of  the  high  grounds 
about  Middletown ;  after  reaching  which,  he  would  be  perfectly  secure. 

Under  these  circumstances,  General  Washington  determined  to  attack 
their  rear,  the  moment  they  should  move  from  their  ground.  This  determi- 
nation was  communicated  to  Lee,  with  orders  to  make  his  dispositions,  and 
to  keep  his  troops  constantly  lying  on  their  arms,  that  he  might  be  in  readi- 
ness to  take  advantage  of  the  first  movement.  Corresponding  orders  were 
also  given  to  the  rear  division. 

About  five  in  the  morning  of  the  twenty-eighth,  intelligence  was  received 
from  General  Dickenson,  that  the  front  of  the  enemy  was  in  motion.  The 
troops  were  immediately  under  arms,  and  Lee  was  directed  to  move  on,  and 
attack  the  rear,  "  unless  there  should  be  powerful  reasons  to  the  contrary." 


272  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

He  was,  at  the  same  time,  informed,  that  the  main  army  would  march  to 
support  him. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  perceiving  that  the  Americans  were  in  his  neighbour- 
hood, changed  the  order  of  his  march.  The  baggage  was  placed  under  the 
care  of  General  Knyphausen,  while  the  flower  of  his  army,  unincumbered, 
formed  the  rear  division  commanded  by  Lord  Cornwallis;  who,  to  avoid 
pressing  on  Knyphausen,  remained  on  his  ground  until  about  eight,  and  then 
descending  from  the  heights  of  Freehold,  into  a  plain  of  about  three  miles  in 
extent,  took  up  his  line  of  march  in  rear  of  the  front  division.* 

General  Lee  made  the  dispositions  necessary  for  executing  his  orders  ; 
and,  soon  after  the  rear  of  the  enemy  was  in  motion,  prepared  to  attack  it. 
General  Dickenson  had  been  directed,  to  detach  some  of  his  best  troops,  to 
co-operate  with  him ;  and  Morgan  to  act  on  the  enemy's  right  flank,  but  with 
so  much  caution,  as  to  be  able  readily  to  extricate  himself,  and  to  form  a 
junction  with  the  main  body. 

Lee  appeared  on  the  heights  of  Freehold,  soon  after  the  enemy  had  left 
them,  and  following  the  British  into  the  plain,  gave  directions  to  General 
Wayne  to  attack  their  covering  party,  so  as  to  halt  them,  but  not  to  press 
them  sufficiently  to  force  them  up  to  the  main  body,  or  to  draw  reinforce- 
ments from  thence,  to  their  aid.  In  the  mean  time,  he  proposed  to  gain  their 
front  by  a  shorter  road  on  their  left,  and  entirely  intercepting  their  commu- 
nication with  the  line,  to  bear  them  off  before  they  could  be  assisted. 

While  in  the  execution  of  this  design,  a  gentleman  of  General  Washing- 
ton's suite  came  up  to  gain  intelligence,  and  to  him,  Lee  communicated  his 
present  object. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  soon  after  the  rear  division  was  in  full  march,  ob- 
served a  column  of  the  Americans  on  his  left  flank.  This  being  militia, 
was  soon  dispersed.  When  his  rear  guard  had  descended  from  the  hills, 
it  was  followed  by  a  strong  corps ;  soon  after  which,  a  cannonade  upon  it 
was  commenced  from  some  pieces  commanded  by  Colonel  Oswald,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  he  received  intelligence,  that  a  respectable  force  had 
shown  itself  on  both  his  flanks.  Believing  a  design  to  have  been  formed 
on  his  baggage,  which  in  the  denies  would  be  exposed,  he  determined,  in 
order  to  secure  it,  to  attack  the  troops  in  his  rear,  so  vigorously,  as  to 
compel  them  to  call  off  those  on  his  flanks.  This  induced  him  to  march 
back  his  whole  rear  division,  which  movement  was  making,  as  Lee  advanced 
for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitring,  to  the  front  of  the  wood,  adjoining  the 
plain.  He  soon  perceived  himself  to  have  mistaken  the  force  which  formed 
the  rear  of  the  British;  but  he  yet  proposed  to  engage  on  that  ground, 
although  his  judgment,  as  was  afterwards  stated  by  himself,  on  an  inquiry 
into  his  conduct,  disapproved  of  it;  there  being  a  morass  immediately  in  his 
rear,  which  could  not  be  passed  without  difficulty,  and  which  would  neces- 
sarily impede  the  arrival  of  reinforcements  to  his  aid,  and  embarrass  his 
retreat  should  he  be  finally  overpowered. 

This  was  about  ten  o'clock.  While  both  armies  were  preparing  for  action, 
General  Scott  (as  stated  by  General  Lee)  mistook  an  oblique  march  of  an 
American  column  for  a  retreat;  and,  in  the  apprehension  of  being  aban- 
doned, left  his  position,  and  repassed  the  ravine  in  his  rear.  Being  himself  of 
opinion,  that  the  ground  on  which  the  army  was  drawn  up,  was  by  no  means 
favourable  to  them,  Lee  did  not  correct  the  error  Scott  had  committed,  but 
directed  the  whole  detachment  to  regain  the  heights  they  had  passed.  He 
was  pressed  by  the  enemy,  and  some  slight  skirmishing  ensued,  during  this 
retrograde  movement,  in  which  not  much  loss  was  sustained  on  either  side. 

*  Letter  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  273 

When  the  first  firing  announced  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the 
rear  division  threw  off  their  packs,  and  advanced  rapidly  to  support  the  front. 
As  they  approached  the  scene  of  action,  Washington,  who  had  received  no 
intelligence  from  Lee,  notifying  his  retreat,  rode  forward ;  and  about  noon, 
after  the  army  had  marched  five  miles,  to  his  utter  astonishment  and 
mortification,  met  the  advanced  corps  retiring  before  the  enemy,  without 
having  made  a  single  effort  to  maintain  their  ground.  Those  whom  he  first 
fell  in  with,  neither  understood  the  motives  which  had  governed  General 
Lee,  nor  his  present  design;  and  could  give  no  other  information  than  that, 
by  his  orders,  they  had  fled  without  fighting. 

Washington  rode  to  the  rear  of  the  division,  which  was  closely  pressed. 
There  he  met  Lee,  to  whom  he  spoke  in  terms  of  some  warmth,  implying 
disapprobation  of  his  conduct.  He  also  gave  immediate  orders  to  the  regi- 
ments commanded  by  Colonel  Stewart  and  Lieutenant-colonel  Ramsay,  to 
form  on  a  piece  of  ground  which  he  deemed  proper  for  the  purpose  of  check- 
ing the  enemy,  who  were  advancing  rapidly  on  them.  General  Lee  was 
then  directed  to  take  proper  measures,  with  the  residue  of  his  force,  to  stop 
the  British  column  on  that  ground,  and  the  commander-in-chief  rode  back, 
himself,  to  arrange  the  rear  division  of  the  army. 

These  orders  were  executed  with  firmness.  A.  sharp  conflict  ensued,  and 
when  forced  from  the  ground  on  which  he  had  been  placed,  Lee  brought  off 
his  troops  in  good  order,  and  was,  then,  directed  to  form  in  the  rear  of  Eng- 
lishtown. 

The  check  thus  given  the  enemy,  afforded  time  to  draw  up  the  left  wing 
and  second  line  of  the  American  army,  on  an  eminence,  partly  in  a  wood, 
and  partly  in  an  open  field,  covered  by  a  morass  in  front.  Lord  Stirling, 
who  commanded  the  wing,  brought  up  a  detachment  of  artillery,  under 
Lieutenant-colonel  Carrington,  with  some  field  pieces,  which  played  with 
considerable  effect  on  the  enemy,  who  had  passed  the  morass,  and  were 
pressing  on  to  the  charge.  These  pieces,  with  the  aid  of  several  parties  of 
infantry,  detached  for  the  purpose,  effectually  put  a  stop  to  their  advance. 
The  American  artillery  were  drawn  up  in  the  open  field,  and  maintained 
their  ground  with  admirable  firmness,  under  a  heavy  and  persevering  fire 
from  the  British. 

The  right  wing  was,  for  the  day,  commanded  by  General  Greene.  To 
expedite  the  march,  and  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  turning  the  right 
flank,  he  had  been  ordered  to  file  off  by  the  new  church,  two  miles  from 
Englishtown,  and  to  fall  into  the  Monmouth  road,  a  small  distance  in  the 
rear  of  the  court-house,  while  the  residue  of  the  army  proceeded  directly  to 
that  place.  He  had  advanced  on  this  road  considerably  to  the  right  of,  and 
rather  beyond,  the  ground  on  which  the  armies  were  now  engaged,  when  he 
was  informed  of  the  retreat  of  Lee,  and  of  the  new  disposition  of  the  troops. 
He  immediately  changed  his  route,  and  took  an  advantageous  position  on  the 
right. 

Warmly  opposed  in  front,  the  enemy  attempted  to  turn  the  left  flank  of 
the  American  army,  but  were  repulsed,  and  driven  back  by  parties  of  in- 
fantry. They  then  attempted  the  right,  with  as  little  success.  General 
Greene  had  advanced  a  body  of  troops,  with  artillery,  to  a  commanding 
piece  of  ground  in  his  front,  which  not  only  marred  their  design  of  turning 
the  right,  but  severely  enfiladed  the  party  which  yet  remained  in  front  of  the 
left,  wing.  At  this  moment,  General  Wayne  advanced  with  a  body  of  in- 
fantry in  front,  who  kept  up  so  hot  and  well  directed  a  fire  of  musketry, 
that  the  British  soon  gave  way,  and  withdrew  behind  the  ravine,  to  the 
ground  on  which  the  first  halt  had  been  made. 

Here  the  British  line  was  formed  on  very  strong  ground.     Both  flanks 
2  M 


274  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

were  secured  by  thick  woods  and  morasses,  while  their  front  could  be  reached, 
only,  through  a  narrow  pass.  The  day  had  been  intensely  hot,  and  the  troops 
were  much  fatigued.  Still  Washington  resolved  to  renew  the  engagement. 
For  this  purpose,  Brigadier-general  Poor,  with  his  own  and  the  Carolina 
brigade,  gained  the  enemy's  right  flank,  while  Woodford,  with  his  brigade, 
turned  their  left,  and  the  artillery  advanced  on  them  in  front.  But  the  impedi- 
ments on  the  flanks  of  the  enemy  were  so  considerable,  that  before  they 
could  be  overcome,  and  the  troops  approach  near  enough  to  commence  the 
attack,  it  was  nearly  dark.  Under  these  circumstances,  further  operations 
were  deferred  until  morning.  The  brigades  on  the  flanks  kept  their  ground 
through  the  night,  and  the  other  troops  lay  on  their  arms  in  the  field  of 
battle,  in  order  to  be  in  perfect  readiness  to  support  them.  General  Wash- 
ington, who  had,  through  the  day,  been  extremely  active,  passed  the  night, 
in  his  cloak  in  the  midst  of  his  soldiers. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  British  were  employed  in  removing  their  wounded. 
About  midnight  they  marched  away  in  such  silence,  that  their  retreat  was 
without  the  knowledge  of  General  Poor,  who  lay  very  near  them. 

As  it  was  perfectly  certain,  that  they  would  gain  the  high  grounds  about 
Middletown,  before  they  could  be  overtaken,  where  they  could  not  be  at- 
tacked with  advantage ;  as  the  face  of  the  country  afforded  no  prospect  of 
opposing  their  embarkation ;  and  as  the  battle,  already,  fought  had  terminated 
favourably  to  the  reputation  of  the  American  arms ;  it  was  thought  advisable 
to  relinquish  the  pursuit.  Leaving  the  Jersey  brigade,  Morgan's  corps,  and 
M'Lane's  command  *  to  hover  about  them,  to  countenance  desertion,  and 
protect  the  country  from  their  depredations,  it  was  resolved  to  move  the 
main  body  of  the  army  to  the  Hudson,  and  take  a  position  which  should 
effectually  cover  the  important  passes  in  the  Highlands. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  eight  officers  and  sixty-one  privates  killed, 
and  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  wounded.  Among  the  slain  were  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Bonner  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Major  Dickenson  of  Virginia, 
both  much  regretted.  One  hundred  and  thirty  were  missing;  of  whom 
many  afterwards  rejoined  their  regiments. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  stated  his  dead  and  missing  at  four  officers,  and  one 
hundred  and  eighty -four  privates;  his  wounded,  at  sixteen  officers,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-four  privates.  This  account,  so  far  as  respects  the  dead, 
cannot  be  correct,  as  four  officers,  and  two  hundred  and  forty-five  privates 
were  buried  on  the  field,  and  some  few  were  afterwards  found  and  buried,  so 
as  to  increase  the  number  to  nearly  three  hundred.  The  uncommon  heat  of 
the  day  was  fatal  to  several  on  both  sides. 

As  usual,  when  a  battle  has  not  been  decisive,  both  parties  claimed  the 
victory.  In  the  early  part  of  the  day,  the  advantage  was  certainly  with  the 
British ;  in  the  latter  part,  it  may  be  pronounced,  with  equal  certainty,  to 
have  been  with  the  Americans.  They  maintained  their  ground,  repulsed 
the  enemy  by  whom  they  were  attacked,  were  prevented  only  by  the  night, 
and  the  retreat  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  from  renewing  the  action,  and  suffered 
in  killed  and  wounded  less  than  their  adversaries. 

Independent  of  the  loss  sustained  in  the  action,  the  British  army  was  con- 
siderably weakened  in  its  way  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York.  About  one 
hundred  prisoners  were  made,  and  near  a  thousand  soldiers,  principally 
foreigners,  many  of  whom  had  married  in  Philadelphia,  deserted  the  British 
standard  during  the  march. 

Whilst  the  armies  were  traversing  the  Jerseys,  Gates,  who  commanded 
on  the  North  river,  by  a  well  timed  and  judicious  movement  down  the  Hud- 

*  The  militia  had  returned  to  their  homes  immediately  after  the  action. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  275 

son,  threatened  New  York,  for  the  purpose  of  restraining  the  garrison  of  that 
place,  from  reinforcing  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  should  such  a  measure  be  con- 
templated. 

The  conduct  of  Lee  was  generally  disapproved.  As,  however,  he  had 
possessed  a  large  share  of  the  confidence  of  the  commander-in -chief,  it  is 
probable,  that  explanations  might  have  been  made,  which  would  have  rescued 
him  from  the  imputations  cast  on  him,  and  have  restored  him  to  the  esteem 
of  the  army,  could  his  haughty  temper  have  brooked  the  indignity  he  be- 
lieved to  have  been  offered  him  on  the  field  of  battle.  General  Washington 
had  taken  no  measures  in  consequence  of  the  events  of  that  day,  and,  pro- 
bably, would  have  come  to  no  resolution  concerning  them,  without  an  ami- 
cable explanation,  had  he  not  received  from  Lee  a  letter,  in  very  unbe- 
coming terms,  in  which  he  manifestly  assumed  the  station  of  a  superior,  and 
required  reparation  for  the  injury  sustained,  from  the  very  singular  expres- 
sions, said  to  have  been  used,  on  the  day  of  the  action,  by  the  commander-in- 
chief. 

This  letter  was  answered  by  an  assurance,  that  so  soon  as  circumstances 
would  admit  of  an  inquiry,  he  should  have  an  opportunity  of  justifying  him- 
self to  the  army,  to  America,  and  to  the  world  in  general,  or  of  convincing 
them  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  disobedience  of  orders,  and  misbehaviour 
before  the  enemy.  On  the  same  day,  on  Lee's  expressing  a  wish  for  a 
speedy  investigation  of  his  conduct,  and  for  a  court-martial,  rather  than  a 
court  of  inquiry,  he  was  arrested, 

First.  For  disobedience  of  orders  in  not  attacking  the  enemy  on  the  28th 
of  June,  agreeably  to  repeated  instructions.  Secondly.  For  misbehaviour 
before  the  enemy  on  the  same  day,  in  making  an  unnecessary,  disorderly, 
and  shameful  retreat.  Thirdly.  For  disrespect  to  the  commander-in-chief 
in  two  letters.  Before  this  correspondence  had  taken  place,  strong  and  spe- 
cific charges  of  misconduct  had  been  made  against  General  Lee,  by  several 
officers  of  his  detachment,  and  particularly,  by  Generals  Wayne  and  Scott. 
In  these  the  transactions  of  the  day,  not  being  well  understood,  were  repre- 
sented in  colours  much  more  unfavourable  to  Lee,  than  facts  would  justify. 
These  representations,  most  probably,  produced  the  strength  of  the  expres- 
sions contained  in  the  second  article  of  the  charge.  A  court-martial  was 
soon  called,  over  which  Lord  Stirling  presided;  and,  after  a  full  investiga- 
tion, Lee  was  found  guilty  of  all  the  charges  exhibited  against  him,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  suspended  for  one  year.  This  sentence  was  afterwards,  though 
with  some  hesitation,  approved,  almost  unanimously,  by  Congress.  The 
court  softened,  in  some  degree,  the  severity  of  the  second  charge,  by  finding 
him  guilty,  not  in  its  very  words,  but  of  misbehaviour  before  the  enemy,  by 
making  an  unnecessary,  and,  in  some  few  instances,  a  disorderly  retreat. 

Lee  defended  himself  with  his  accustomed  ability.  He  suggested  a  variety 
of  reasons  justifying  his  retreat,  which,  if  they  do  not  absolutely  establish 
its  propriety,  give  it  so  questionable  a  form,  as  to  render  it  probable  that  a 
public  examination  never  would  have  taken  place,  could  his  proud  spirit  have 
stooped  to  offer  explanation,  instead  of  outrage,  to  the  commander-in-chief. 

The  attention  of  General  Washington  was  now  turned,  principally,  to  the 
North  river,  towards  which  the  march  of  his  army  was  directed,  with  the 
intention  of  continuing  some  time  about  Haverstraw.  And  soon  after  he 
crossed  the  North  river  to  the  White  Plains. 

After  remaining  a  few  days  on  the  high  grounds  of  Middletown,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  proceeded  to  Sandy  Hook ;  whence  he  passed  his  army  over  to  New 
York.  This  transit  was  effected  by  means  of  the  fleet  under  Lord  Howe,  which 
had  arrived  off  the  Hook  on  the  28th  of  June. 


276  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

XII.  Upon  the  day  of  battle,  the  French  fleet,  under  Count  d'Estaing, 
having  on  board  a  respectable  body  of  land  forces,  made  the  coast,  off 
Chincoteague  inlet.     Had  it  arrived  a  few  days  earlier,  its  superior  force 
would  have  shut  Lord  Howe,  and  the  British  fleet,  in  the  Delaware ;  and  the 
capture  of  the  army,  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton  would,  probably,  have  follow- 
ed.    The  count  proceeded  to  Sandy  Hook,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the 
British  fleet  in  port;  and  should  this  be  found  impracticable,  to  make  an  at- 
tempt on  Rhode  Island.     The  first  was  defeated  by  the  shoalness  of  the  bar, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour. 

XIII.  In  the  preceding  winter,  General  Sullivan  had  been  detached  to 
command  the  troops  in  Rhode  Island,  and  he  was  now  directed  to  make  such 
requisitions  on  the  militia  of  New  England,  and  to  prepare  such  measures, 
as  would  enable  him  to  attempt  the  town  of  Newport.     General  La  Fayette 
joined  him  with  two  brigades;  and  soon  after,  General  Greene  assumed 
command  of  the  whole  force.     On  the  26th  of  July,  the  French  fleet  appear- 
ed off  Newport,  and  cast  anchor  about  five  miles  from  that  place,  without 
Brenton's  Ledge. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  apprehensive  for  the  safety  of  his  troops  at  Newport, 
had  reinforced  Major-general  Pigot,  who  commanded  on  Rhode  Island,  and 
the  garrison,  now,  amounted  to  six  thousand  effectives.  Their  main  body 
lay  at  Newport;  and  the  American  army,  under  Sullivan,  about  the  town  of 
Providence.  A  plan  for  the  reduction  of  Newport,  was  concerted  between 
D'Estaing  and  Sullivan,  in  pursuance  of  which,  the  latter  landed  a  force  of 
near  nine  thousand  men,  on  the  island.  But  having,  as  the  count  supposed, 
improperly,  taken  preference  of  the  French,  he  became  offended,  and  some 
delay  occurred  in  the  co-operation  of  the  French  forces.  In  the  mean  time, 
a  reinforcement  to  the  British  fleet  arrived  from  Europe,  under  Admiral 
Byron,  who  came  out  to  relieve  Lord  Howe.  This  circumstance  determined 
the  latter,  though  still  superior  in  force,  to  attack  the  French  fleet  before 
Newport.  Having  approached  that  town,  D'Estaing,  with  the  weather  gage, 
left  the  harbour  to  give  battle.  Howe  deemed  this  an  advantage  in  addition 
to  numerical  superiority,  too  great  to  encounter,  and  immediately  put  to  sea, 
followed  by  the  French.  Two  days  were  spent  in  fruitless  manoeuvres; 
and  on  the  third,  the  fleets  were  separated  and  dispersed,  by  a  storm.  In  a 
shattered  condition,  the  English  vessels  sailed  for  New  York,  and  the  French 
for  Rhode  Island.  D'Estaing,  alleging  his  instructions  to  repair  to  Boston, 
should  a  superior  British  force  reach  America,  refused  to  renew  the  attempt 
on  the  island,  and  left  the  American  army  there,  to  contend  alone  with  the 
British  in  their  entrenchments.  Against  this  measure,  all  the  general  offi- 
cers, except  La  Fayette,  warmly  protested.  But  thus  deserted,  the  siege  of 
Newport  was  broken  up,  on  the  night  of  the  28th  of  August ;  the  army  re- 
tiring, unobserved,  to  the  northern  end  of  the  island.  The  British  followed  in 
two  columns,  and  a  smart  action  was  fought,  in  which  the  American  troops 
showed  great  firmness  and  courage.  The  battle  ended  with  the  day ;  both 
parties  claiming  the  victory.  Sullivan  retreated  from  the  island  on  the  30th, 
just  in  season  to  save  his  army ;  for  on  the  next  day,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  ar- 
rived with  a  force  which  would  have  rendered  it  impracticable.  The  con- 
duct of  the  general  was  highly  approved  by  Congress.  But  an  unfortunate 
expression,  in  his  general  orders,  seemingly,  reflecting  on  the  conduct  of  the 
French,  gave  the  officers  of  their  fleet  and  army  some  offence,  which  induced 
a  representation  from  D'Estaing  to  the  national  council.  The  inhabitants  of 
New  England,  generally,  were  so  much  discontented  with  the  conduct  of  the 
fleet,  that  fears  were  entertained,  lest  the  means  of  repairing  the  ships,  could 
not  be  procured.  These  dangerous  and  irritating  dissentions  were  appeased 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  277 

by  the  interference  of  Washington,  Hancock,  Greene,  and  other  American 
patriots,  who  justly  dreaded  their  effect  on  the  fate  of  the  country. 

The  English  fleet  had  suffered  less  from  the  storm  than  the  French ;  and 
Lord  Howe,  after  refitting  at  New  York,  sailed  for  Boston,  in  hope  of  inter- 
cepting D'Estaing;  but  failing  in  this,  and  finding  him  safely  moored  in  the 
harbour,  he  returned  to  New  York,  where  receiving  such  additions  to  his 
force,  as  rendered  him  decidedly  superior  to  his  adversary,  he  resigned  the 
command  to  Admiral  Gambier,  until  the  arrival  of  Admiral  Byron,  daily 
expected  from  Halifax. 

XIV.  On  his  way  from  Rhode  Island  to  New  York,  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
prepared  to  make  a  descent  on  New  London ;  but  the  winds  proving  adverse, 
he  left  the  troops  and  transports,  under  Major-general  Gray,  to  conduct  an 
expedition  to  the  eastward,  as  far  as  Buzzard's  Bay.     Gray  destroyed  a 
number  of  privateers,  with  their  prizes,  and  some  merchant  vessels  in  Acush- 
net  river,  and  reduced,  on  the  5th  of  September,  great  part  of  the  towns  of 
Bedford  and  Fairhaven,  where  a  considerable  quantity  of  provisions,  military 
and  naval  stores,  were  reduced  to  ashes.    At  Martha's  Vineyard,  several 
vessels  and  salt  works  were   destroyed,  and  a  heavy  contribution  of  live 
stock,  levied  on  the  inhabitants. 

XV.  Apprehensive  that  a  combined  attack  of  the  land  and  naval  force  of 
the  British,  would  be  made  on  the  French,  fleet,  General  Gates  was  directed 
with  three  brigades  to  proceed  as  far  as  Danbury,  in  Connecticut,  there  to 
await  orders.     And  with  a  view,  both  to  the  passes  of  the  Highlands,  and 
the  eastern  States,  the  camp  at  White  Plains  was  broken  up,  and  the  main 
body  of  the  army  took  a  position  further  north,  at  Fredericksburg ;  while 
General  Putnam  was  detached  with  two  brigades,  to  the  neighbourhood  of 
West  Point,  and  General  M'Dougal  with  two  others  to  Danbury,  to  join 
General  Gates. 

XVI.  Soon  after  the  return  of  Gray,  a  large  British  force  from  New  York, 
in  two  columns,  ascended  the  North  river,  by  either  bank.    That  on  the  west, 
of  five  thousand  men,  was  commanded  by  Cornwallis,  and  that  on  the  east,  of 
three  thousand,  by  Knyphausen.     Their  principal  object  was  conjectured  to 
be  forage.    The  west  corps  surprised  the  cavalry  regiment  of  Colonel  Baylor, 
at  Taupan,  or  Harrington.     The  British  troops,  on  the  27th  of  September, 
rushed  upon  them  in  a  barn  where  they  slept,  and  refusing  quarter,  used  the 
bayonet  with  savage  cruelty.    Of  one  hundred  and  four  privates,  sixty-seven 
were  killed,  wounded  or  taken — Colonel  Baylor  and  Major  Clough,  both 
wounded,  the  former  dangerously,  the  latter  mortally,  were  among  the  pri- 
soners.    Some  militia  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  apprized  of  the  approach 
of  Colonel  Campbell,  who  was  sent  against  them,  made  their  escape.     The 
cruelty  exercised  on  this  occasion  was,  by  the  request  of  Congress,  establish- 
ed by  an  inquisition  instituted  by  Governor  Livingston.     This  affair  was  in 
some  degree  balanced  by  one  which  occurred  three  days  after.     Colonel 
Richard  Butler,  assisted  by  Major  Lee,  with  part  of  his  cavalry,  fell  in  with 
a  party  of  fifteen  chasseurs,  and  an  hundred  yagers,  under  Captain  Donop, 
on  whom  they  made  so  rapid  a  charge,  that,  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  they 
killed  ten  of  the  enemy  on  the  spot,  and  took  the  officer  commanding  the 
chasseurs,  and  eighteen  of  the  yagers,  prisoners. 

This  movement  had  been,  in  part,  designed  to  favour  an  expedition  against 
Little  Egg  Harbour.  Count  Pulaski  had  been  appointed  general  of  the 
American  cavalry,  but  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  officers  induced  him  to  resign 
his  commission.  He  obtained  permission  to  raise  a  legionary  corps,  consist- 
ing of  three  incomplete  companies  of  horse,  and  the  like  number  of  foot, 
officered  by  foreigners,  among  whom  was  one  Juliet,  a  deserter  from  the 
enemy.  The  Count  had  been  ordered  from  Trenton  to  Little  Egg  Harbour, 


278  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  was  lying  eight  or  ten  miles  from  the  coast,  when  his  position  was  be- 
trayed by  Juliet.  The  plan  to  surprise  him  was  successful,  with  respect  to 
his  infantry,  who  were  put  to  the  bayonet.  The  British  account  represents 
the  whole  corps  to  have  been  destroyed ;  but  the  Count  admitted  a  loss  of 
about  forty  only — and  averred,  that  with  his  cavalry,  he  drove  the  enemy 
from  the  ground. 

XVII.  Admiral  Byron  assumed  the  command  of  the  British  fleet  at  New 
York,  in  September,  and  in  October,  appeared  before  Boston,  for  the  purpose 
of  blocking  up  D'Estaing,  and  availing  himself  of  any  circumstance  which 
might  favour  an  .attack  on  the  French  fleet.     But  a  furious  storm  driving 
him  to  sea,  and  essentially  injuring  him,  he  was  compelled  to  put  into  Rhode 
Island,  to  refit.    The  French  admiral,  improving  the  favourable  opportunity, 
sailed  on  the  3d  of  November,  for  the  West  Indies.     Thus  terminated,  with- 
out material  advantage,  an  expedition,  of  whose  success  the  most  sanguine 
expectations  had  been  entertained. 

Upon  the  same  day,  a  detachment  of  five  thousand  men,  from  the  British 
army,  sailed  from  New  York,  under  Major-general  Grant,  with  the  like  des- 
tination ;  and  towards  the  close  of  the  month,  another  under  Colonel  Camp- 
bell, embarked,  to  act  offensively,  against  the  southern  States. 

XVIII.  As  there  yet  remained  in  New  York  a  force  sufficient  for  its  de- 
fence, the  American  army  retired,  in  December,  into  winter  quarters.     The 
main  body  was  cantoned  in  Connecticut,  on  both  sides  of  the  North  river, 
about  West  Point,  and  at  Middlebrook.     The  troops  again  wintered  in  huts, 
to  which  they  had  become  accustomed ;  and  though  far  from  being  well  clad, 
their  condition  was  in  this  respect,  so  much  ameliorated,  by  supplies  from 
France,  that  they  bore  every  inconvenience  without  repining. 

The  errors  of  the  first  years  of  the  war  had  produced  some  useful  reforms. 
The  insufficiency  of  the  provision  for  the  support  of  the  military  officers,  had 
caused  the  resignation  of  many,  to  the  great  injury  of  the  service.  From 
the  convictions  of  justice  and  policy,  and  from  respect  to  the  earnest  and  dis- 
interested recommendation  of  General  Washington^  Congress  allowed  half 
pay,  for  seven  years  after  the  expiration  of  service ;  which  was  subsequently 
extended  to  the  end  of  their  lives,  but  was  finally  commuted  for  full  pay,  for 
five  years.  Resignations  were  afterwards  rare,  and  the  States  reaped  the 
benefit  of  experienced  officers,  until  the  war  was  ended.  A  system  of  more 
regular  discipline  was  introduced  into  the  army,  by  Baron  de  Steuben,  who 
had  served  under  the  King  of  Prussia.  A  very  important  amelioration  was 
effected  in  the  medical  department,  by  appointing  different  officers  to  dis- 
charge the  directing  and  purveying  business  of  the  military  hospitals,  which 
had  been  before  united  in  the  same  hands.  The  merit  of  this  change  is  due 
to  Dr.  Rush.  And  the  ordinances  limiting  prices,  being  found  utterly  im- 
practicable, were  abolished. 

XIX.  Throughout  all  the  borders  of  the  land,  a  barbarous  war  was  carried 
on  by  the  savages,  in  which  the  usual  restraints  on  the  worst  passions  of  our 
nature  were  abandoned.     The  American  tories  and  refugees,  who  had  fled 
to  the  wilds,  under  the  disguise  of  Indians,  indulged  an  unbounded  lust  for 
rapine.     These  tutored  savages  acted  as  guides  to  the  war  parties,  leading 
them  into  the  richest  and  undefended  settlements,  and  enabling  them  fre- 
quently to  escape  with  impunity.     Any  reverses  they  might  occasionally 
suffer,  were  amply  compensated  by  the  British  agents,  whose  inhuman  po- 
licy had  armed  the  murderers'  hands,  and  daily  urged  them  to  action. 
Whilst  the  war  was  distant  from  the  Indian  country,  the  Indians  experienced 
none  of  its  evils.  It  produced  only  the  pleasure  of  adventure,  and  of  sudden  and 
extraordinary  acquisition.     A  particular  detail  of  the  devastations  of  property, 
of  the  distress  of  all  sexes,  ages  ancl  conditions,  who  were  driven  from  their 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  279 

conflagrated  homes,  and  wasted  farms,  to  seek  precarious  shelter  in  the  forest, 
and  to  subsist  upon  the  spontaneous  productions  of  the  earth,  and  an  account,  ol 
the  barbarous  murders,  would  exceed  our  limits,  and  be  but  repetitions  of  dis- 
gusting scenes  of  horror.  We  will  dwell  only  on  the  massacre  at  Wyoming, 
in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  perpetrated  under  Colonel  John  Butler,  a 
Connecticut  tory,  and  an  inhabitant  of  that  charming  valley,  which  in  atro- 
city has  never  been  surpassed.  Early  in  July,  1778,  a  party  of  one  thousand 
one  hundred,  of  whom  nine  hundred  were  Indians,  entered  this  new  settle- 
ment. One  of  the  forts,  which  had  been  constructed  for  the  security  of  the 
inhabitants,  being  garrisoned  by  concealed  tories,  was  surrendered,  without 
opposition.  Another  was  taken,  part  of  the  garrison  having  retired.  The 
two  principal  forts,  however,  were  Kingston  and  Wilkesbarre,  near  each 
other,  on  opposite  sides  of  the  Susquehanna  river.  The  first  contained  Co- 
lonel Zebulon  Butler,  a  cousin  of  the  tory  chieftain,  with  the  greatest  part  of 
the  armed  force  of  the  country,  and  a  number  of  women  and  children.  After 
rejecting  a  summons  to  surrender,  he  agreed  to  a  parley  at  some  distance 
from  the  fort,  and  marched  to  the  appointed  spot,  with  four  hundred  men. 
No  person  was,  there,  visible ;  but  at  a  greater  distance  a  flag  was  seen,  which 
retired  towards  the  mountain  as  he  advanced,  until  it  led  him  into  an  am- 
bush, where,  almost  enveloped,  he  was  suddenly  attacked  by  the  enemy. 
His  troops,  Math  great  presence  of  mind  and  courage,  instantly  returned  the 
fire,  and  were  gaining  the  advantage  in  the  combat,  when  some  one,  either 
coward  or  traitor,  cried  out,  "  the  Colonel  has  ordered  a  retreat !"  upon 
which  immediate  confusion  was  succeeded  by  a  total  rout.  The  troops  en- 
deavoured to  cross  the  river  to  Wilkesbarre,  but  twenty  only  escaped  from 
slaughter.  Fort  Kingston  was  immediately  invested,  and,  to  increase  the  terror 
of  the  garrison,  the  green  and  bleeding  scalps  of  their  wounded  countrymen 
were  sent  in  for  their  inspection.  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  having  withdrawn 
himself  and  family  down  the  river,  Colonel  Dennison,  the  commanding  officer, 
went  out  with  a  flag,  to  inquire  what  terms  would  be  allowed  the  garrison. 
He  received  for  answer,  two  words,  uniting  Spartan  brevity  with  cannibal 
ferocity — "The  hatchet."  This  condition,  so  merciless,  he,  unhappily,  be- 
lieved would  not  be  inflicted,  and  surrendered  at  discretion.  But  the  threat 
was  in  execution,  more  barbarous  than  in  the  letter.  After  selecting  a  few 
prisoners,  the  great  body  of  the  captives  were  enclosed  in  the  houses,  fire  was 
applied  to  them,  and  they  were  consumed  together. 

Wilkesbarre  surrendered  without  resistance,  in  the  vain  hope  to  mollify  the 
fury  of  the  invaders.  The  continental  soldiers,  amounting  to  about  seventy, 
were  hacked  to  pieces.  The  remaining  men,  with  the  women  and  children, 
shared  the  fate  of  the  sufferers  in  Kingston ;  they  perished  in  the  flames. 
Although  all  show  of  resistance  had  terminated,  the  ruin  was  not  yet  com- 
plete. Near  three  thousand  persons  had  escaped.  Flying  without  money, 
clothes,  or  food,  they  sought  safety  in  the  interior  country.  To  prevent 
their  return,  every  thing  remaining  was  destroyed.  All  the  dwellings,  and 
other  improvements  which  the  labour  of  years  had  provided,  as  well  as  every 
living  animal  which  was  discovered,  was  extirpated.  The  settlements  of  the 
tories,  alone  were  preserved;  an  oasis  amid  the  desert.*  Some  particular  in- 
stances of  barbarity  occurred  in  this  expedition,  which  stain  only  civil  wars. 
Parents  were  murdered  by  their  children,  and  brothers  and  sisters  fell  by  the 
hands  of  brothers. 

A  repetition  of  these  scenes,  was  attempted  by  a  body  of  about  five  hun- 
dred men,  composed  of  Indians,  tories,  and  a  few  regulars,  who  broke  into 
the  Cherry  Valley  settlement,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  where  Colonel 

*  Marshall,  Ramsay,  Gordon. 


280  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Alden  was  posted  with  a  continental  regiment.  A  serjeant,  with  a  small  pa- 
trole,  was  cut  off;  in  consequence  of  which,  the  colonel  was  completely  sur- 
prised, and,  while  endeavouring  to  regain  the  fort,  was  killed,  with  ten  of  his 
soldiers ;  and  the  lieutenant-colonel,  and  two  subaltern-officers,  were  made 
prisoners.  The  fort  was  assaulted,  but  a  resolute  defence  being  made,  and 
the  assailants  having  intelligence  that  relief  was  approaching  the  garrison, 
the  enterprise  was  abandoned,  and  the  party,  after  repeating  the  horrors 
practised  in  Wyoming,  departed  from  the  settlement. 

XX.  These  injuries  were  in  a  small  degree  retaliated — by  inroads  into  the 
Indian  country  from  Schoharie,  under  Colonel  William  Butler ;  who  pene- 
trated as  far  as  the  towns  of  Unandilla,  and  Anaquaqua,  the  head-quarters 
of  the  celebrated  Col.  Brandt,  an  Indian  of  the  half-breed,  distinguished  for 
his  courage  and  his  cruelty,  which  he  destroyed,  with  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  corn,  laid  up  for  the  winter's  supply,  without  discovering  an  enemy : — 
By  Colonel  Hartley,  who  had  been  despatched  with  his  regiment,  and  two 
companies  of  militia,  to  Wyoming — and  by  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clarke, 
of  Virginia,  who,  with  a  small  force,  and  extraordinary  exertions,  averted 
the  Indian  war  from  his  state,  and  captured  the  fort  at  St.  Vincents,  with 
its  commander,  Colonel  Hamilton.     This  officer,  with  a  few  of  his  imme- 
diate agents  and  counsellors,  who  had  been  instrumental  in  the  savage  bar- 
barities he  had  encouraged,  were  by  the  executive  of  Virginia,  imprisoned  in 
irons. 

These  expeditions,  however  beneficial,  procured  only  partial  relief.  Con- 
gress, on  being  informed  that  the  Indians  were  fortifying  at  Chemung,  a 
large  settlement  about  twelve  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Cayuga,  a  river 
emptying  into  the  Susquehanna,  where  a  large  body  of  tories  was  collected, 
directed  General  Washington  to  take  measures  to  disperse  this  encampment, 
and  to  repel  the  invasion  of  the  savages  on  the  frontiers  of  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania.  But  the  season  of  the  year  being  unfit  for  such 
an  enterprise,  it  was  postponed. 

Early  in  1779,  an  extensive  plan  of  operations  was  devised  by  General 
Washington,  against  the  broad  and  fertile  country,  lying  between  the  then 
westernmost  settlements  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  and  the  great 
lakes,  occupied  by  the  Six  Nation  Indians.  These  tribes  had,  from  long  in- 
tercourse with  the  whites,  acquired  many  of  the  comforts  of  civilized  life, 
with  enlarged  ideas  of  the  advantages  of  private  property.  Their  populous 
villages  contained  some  good  houses,  their  fertile  fields  yielded  an  abundant 
supply  of  corn,  and  their  thrifty  orchards,  of  fruit.  A  few  of  their  towns 
were  attached  to  the  United  States,  but  the  greater  portion  was  under  the 
influence  of  the  British.  In  the  commencement  of  the  war,  they  had  en- 
gaged to  be  neutral ;  but  were  unable  to  resist  the  seduction  of  British  pre- 
sents, and  their  own  longings  for  plunder  and  slaughter.  Many  of  the 
loyalists  driven  from  the  United  States,  had  taken  refuge  among  them,  in- 
creasing their  strength,  without  diminishing  their  ferocity.  Into  the  heart 
of  these  villages  of  mingled  whites  and  Indians,  it  was  now  determined  to 
lead  a  force,  which,  overpowering  any  numbers  they  could  bring  in  the 
field,  would  inflict  on  them  a  merited  punishment  for  their  cruelties  of  the 
past  year. 

The  country  was  to  be  entered  in  three  divisions.  The  principal,  consist- 
ing of  three  thousand  men,  marching  by  the  Susquehanna,  was  to  penetrate 
into  the  settlements  of  the  Senecas ;  the  second,  of  one  thousand,  to  proceed 
by  the  Mohawk ;  and  the  third,  of  five  hundred,  by  the  Alleghany  river. 
To  prevent  relief  from  Canada,  demonstrations  were  made  of  a  design  to 
attack  that  province  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain. 

XXI.  As  the  army  destined  for  the  expedition,  was  about  to  move,  alarming 


' 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  281 

symptoms  of  discontent  appeared  in  part  of  it.  The  Jersey  brigade  had 
been  stationed  through  the  winter  at  Elizabethtown,  for  the  purpose  of  cover- 
ing the  adjacent  country  from  the  incursions  of  the  British  troops,  on  Staten 
Island.  It  was  ordered,  early  in  May,  to  march  by  regiments.  To  this 
order,  General  Maxwell  replied,  in  a  letter  to  the  commander-in-chief,  that 
the  officers  of  the  first  regiment  had  delivered  to  their  colonel,  a  remon- 
strance, addressed  to  the  State  Legislature,  declaring,  that,  unless  their  com- 
plaints on  the  subjects  of  pay  and  subsistence  obtained  immediate  attention, 
they  were,  at  the  expiration  of  three  days,  to  be  considered  as  having  re- 
signed ;  and  requesting  the  Legislature  in  that  event,  to  appoint  other  officers. 
General  Maxwell  added,  "  this  is  a  step  they  are  extremely  unwilling  to 
take;  but  is  such,  as  I  make  no  doubt,  they  will  all  take.  Nothing  but  ne- 
cessity, their  not  being  able  to  support  themselves  in  time  to  come,  and 
being  loaded  with  debts  contracted  in  time  past,  would  have  induced  them  to 
resign  at  so  critical  a  juncture."  They  declared,  however,  their  readiness 
to  make  every  necessary  preparation  for  obeying  the  marching  orders  which 
had  been  given,  arid  to  continue  their  attention  to  the  regiment,  until  a  rea- 
sonable time  for  the  appointment  of  their  successors  should  elapse. 

General  Washington  was  much  afflicted  by  this  intelligence,  and  sought, 
in  vain,  by  paternal  remonstrance,  to  change  their  determination. 

The  condition  of  these  officers  seems  to  have  been  one  of  extreme  priva- 
tion. By  a  resolution  of  December,  1777,  Congress  had  recommended  to 
the  several  States  to  furnish  the  officers  of  their  respective  quotas,  with  cer- 
tain clothing,  at  the  prices  current,  when  the  army  was  established,  in  the 
year  1776,  the  surplus  to  be  charged  to  the  United  States.  This  resolution 
seems  to  have  been  tardily  and  imperfectly  obeyed,  notwithstanding  the  re- 
peated applications  of  the  soldiery.  Their  pretensions  were  probably  more 
strenuously  urged  in  a  memorial  presented  to  the  Assembly,  on  the  27th  of 
April,  1779,  respecting  their  pay,  subsistence  and  clothing,  and  were  sup- 
ported by  an  energetic  letter  from  General  Maxwell ;  all  of  which  were  re- 
ferred to  a  joint  committee  of  both  Houses.  That  committee  reported, 
"  That  provision  had  been  already  agreed  upon,  as  far  as  was  consistent, 
previous  to  an  application  to  Congress ;  and  that  if  upon  such  application,  no 
measures  are  by  them  adopted  in  that  behalf,  it  will  then  be  the  duty  of  this 
State,  to  provide  for  its  quota  of  troops,  in  the  best  manner  they  can  de- 
vise." This  resolution  was  duly  approved ;  but  another  offered  by  the  same 
committee,  that  the  letter  of  General  Maxwell  contains  indecent  and  unde- 
served reflections  upon  the  representatives  of  the  State;  and  that  the  same 
be  transmitted  to  Congress,  with  a  proper  expression  of  the  disapprobation 
and  displeasure  of  the  Legislature,  was  negatived. 

Moved  by  the  wretchedness  of  these  officers,  and  the  troops  they  com- 
manded, Governor  Livingston,  John  Cooper,  Andrew  Sinnickson,  Joseph 
Holmes,  Robert  Morris,  Peter  Tallman,  Abraham  Vannest,  Silas  Condict, 
and  William  Churchill  Houston,  during  the  recess  of  the  Legislature,  on 
the  fifteenth  of  January,  requested  the  treasurer  to  pay  into  the  hands  of 
Enos  Kelsey,  commissioner  for  the  purchase  of  clothing,  the  sum  of  seven 
thousand  pounds,  to  be  applied  in  procuring  clothes  for  the  officers,  agreea- 
bly to  the  resolution  of  Congress,  engaging  to  replace  that  sum  in  the  trea- 
sury, provided  the  Legislature,  at  their  next  sitting,  should  not  direct  it  to  be 
credited  in  the  accounts  of  the  treasurer.  On  the  30th  of  April,  this  direction 
was  given  by  the  House,  with  orders  to  the  commissioners  to  draw  the  fur- 
ther sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  pounds,  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  to 
certain  officers,  clothing  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  pounds,  as  the  prices 
then  were,  upon  their  paying  the  sum  it  would  have  cost,  in  the  year  1776. 
2  N 


282  HISTORY  QF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Still  there  were  conditions  annexed  to  these  grants,  which  rendered  them 
ineffective 

On  the  7lh  of  May,  the  remonstrance  of  the  officers  was  repeated,  stating, 
that  they  were  under  marching  orders,  and  in  immediate  want  of  a  necessary 
supply.  Upon  which  the  House  directed  the  commissioner  to  furnish  them 
with*  clothing  immediately,  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  pounds,  and  to  pay 
to  the  soldiers  of  the  brigade,  the  sum  of  forty  dollars  each.  This  disburse- 
ment removed  the  obstacle  to  the  march  of  the  brigade.  The  reason  of  the 
delay  of  the  State,  in  supplying  her  forces,  would  seem  to  be  a  desire,  that 
some  uniform  rule  to  this  end,  should  be  adopted  by  Congress,  or  that  the 
confederacy  should  assume  the  whole  duty  to  itself. 

XXII.  Before  the  grand  expedition  against  the  Indians,  was  put  in  motion, 
an  enterprise  of  less  extent,  was  successfully  undertaken  by  Colonel  Van 
Schaick,  assisted  by  Lieutenant-colonel  Willet,  and  Major  Cochran,  and 
between  five  and  six  hundred  men,  from  Fort  Schuyler,  against  the  Onon- 
dago  settlements.  Most  of  the  Indians  escaped — but  twelve  were  killed,  and 
thirty-four  made  prisoners,  including  one  white  man.  The  houses  and  pro- 
visions were  burned,  the  country  devastated,  and  the  horses  and  stock  slain. 
The  party  returned  without  the  loss  of  a  man;  and  the  colonel  received 
thanks  of  Congress. 

The  largest  division  of  the  western  army  reached  Wyoming,  under  Gene- 
ral Sullivan,  in  the  month  of  June.  Its  further  progress  was  delayed  for 
want  of  provisions  and  military  stores,  until  the  last  of  July.  In  the  mean 
while,  the  enemy  was  not  inactive.  Brandt,  at  the  head  of  some  whites  and 
Indians,  fell  upon  the  frontiers  of  New  York,  murdered  many  of  the  inha- 
bitants, carried  others  into  captivity,  and  burned  and  destroyed  several 
houses.  He  was  pursued  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  militia,  whom  he  drew 
into  an  ambuscade  and  entirely  defeated.  A  few  days  afterwards,  Captain 
M'Donald,  at  the  head  of  another  small  party,  of  whom  a  third  were  British, 
took  a  small  fort  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  making  the  gar- 
rison, of  thirty  men,  prisoners  of  war;  the  women  and  children,  contrary 
to  the  usages  of  the  savages,  were  permitted  to  retire  into  the  settled 
country. 

Another  body  of  troops  designed  to  compose  a  part  of  the  western  army, 
had  passed  the  winter  on  the  Mohawk,  and  early  in  the  season,  under  the 
command  of  General  Clinton,  marched  to  Lake  Otsego,  and  thence  de- 
scending the  Susquehanna,  united  with  the  main  division  on  the  22d  of 
August.  The  whole  army,  amounting  to  five  thousand  men,  proceeded,  by 
the  Cayuga,  into  the  heart  of  the  Indian  country.  The  Indians,  apprized  of 
its  approach,  selected  and  fortified  the  ground  on  which  to  fight  a  general 
action,  with  no  inconsiderable  skill.  About  a  mile  in  front  of  Newton,  and 
some  miles  above  Chemung,  they  collected  their  whole  force,  consisting,  by 
the  computation  of  Sullivan,  of  fifteen  hundred,  but  by  their  own,  of  eight 
hundred  men,  only;  with  whom  were  united  five  companies  of  whites,  com- 
prising two  hundred  men.  They  were  commanded  by  the  two  Butlers,  Grey, 
Johnston,  M'Donald,  and  Brandt.  A  breastwork  had  been  constructed  about 
half  a  mile  in  length,  upon  a  piece  of  rising  ground,  having  its  flank  and 
rear  covered  by  the  river,  and  in  other  respects,  naturally  strengthened. 

About  eleven  in  the  morning  of  the  29th  of  August,  this  work  was  dis- 
covered by  Major  Par,  of  the  advance  rifle  corps.  General  Hand  formed 
his  light  infantry  in  a  wood  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  enemy,  and 
awaited  the  arrival  of  the  main  body ;  skirmishing  with  parties  of  Indians, 
who  endeavoured  to  entice  them  to  an  incautious  pursuit.  Conjecturing  that 
the  hills  on  his  right,  were  occupied  by  the  enemy,  Sullivan  ordered  General 
Poor,  supported  by  General  Clinton,  to  possess  himself  of  them,  to  turn  the 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  283 

left  and  gain  the  rear  of  the  breastwork,  while  Hand  and  Maxwell  should 
attack  in  front.  This  manoeuvre  was  speedily  decisive.  The  savages  find- 
ing their  flank  uncovered,  abandoned  their  works,  and  crossing  the  river, 
fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation.  An  unavailing  pursuit  was  kept  up  for  a 
few  miles.  Their  ascertained  loss  was  inconsiderable;  but  they  were  so 
intimidated,  that  they  abandoned  all  idea  of  further  resistance.  The  Ame- 
rican loss  did  not  exceed  thirty.  Sullivan  penetrated  into  the  heart  of  the 
country ;  which  his  parties  scoured  and  laid  waste  in  every  direction.  Every 
lake,  river,  and  creek,  was  traced  for  villages,  and  no  vestige  of  human  in- 
dustry was  spared.  Houses,  cornfields,  gardens,  and  fruit-trees,  shared  one 
common  fate;  the  commanding  general  strictly  executing  the  severe,  but 
necessary  orders  he  had  received,  to  render  the  country  completely  unin- 
habitable, and  thus  to  compel  the  Indians  to  remove  to  a  greater  distance. 
Eighteen  villages,  a  number  of  detached  buildings,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and  all  those  fruits  and  vegetables  which  conduce 
to  the  comfort  and  subsistence  of  man,  were  utterly  destroyed.  Five  weeks 
were  spent  in  this  work  of  devastation.  The  want  of  provisions,  alone, 
prevented  Sullivan  from  endeavouring  to  render  the  campaign  more  decisive, 
by  an  attempt  on  the  British  post  at  Niagara. 

XXIII.  While  Sullivan  laid  waste  the  country  on  the  Susquehanna,  ano- 
ther expedition,  under  Colonel  Broadhead,  ascended  the  Allegheny,  against 
the  Mingo,  Muncey,  and  Seneca  tribes.     With  more  than  six  hundred  men, 
he  advanced  two  hundred  miles  up  that  stream,  and  destroyed  the  villages 
and  cornfields  on  its  head  branches,  with  their  wretched  proprietors. 

This  chastisement  of  the  savages  was  most  savage,  and  is  defensible,  only, 
on  the  ground,  that  experience  had  taught,  that  nothing  short  of  such  seve- 
rity could  deter  them  from  the  yearly,  perhaps,  the  more  frequent,  repetition 
of  the  scenes  at  Wyoming.  Although  the  object  of  the  campaign  was  not 
thoroughly  obtained  by  terminating  the  Indian  war,  the  Indians  were  intimi- 
dated; they  became  less  terrible,  their  excursions  less  formidable,  and  less 
frequent. 

XXIV.  In  the  following  year,  (1780)  the  Cherokees,  forgetting  a  severe 
chastisement  given  them  in  1776,  made  an  excursion  into  Ninety-Six  dis- 
trict, South  Carolina,  massacred  some  families  and  burned  several  houses. 
General  Pickens,  with  three  hundred  and  sixty-four  horsemen,  penetrated 
the  recesses  of  their  country ;  killed  forty  of  the  enemy,  took  several  pri- 
soners, and  burned  thirteen  towns  and  villages.     Of  his  party,  one  only  was 
killed  and  two  were  wounded.     No  expedition  against  the  Indians  was  more 
rapid  and  decisive  than  this.     The  whiles  did  not  expend  three  rounds  of 
ammunition ;  and  yet,  of  the  Indians  who  made  themselves  visible,  three  only 
escaped.   A  new  and  successful  mode  of  fighting  was  introduced ;  the  horse- 
men charging  with  reliance  only  upon  their  swords.     The  vanquished  hum- 
bly sued  for  peace,  which  was  granted,  on  condition,  that  they  would  deliver 
up  all  British  emissaries,  who  should  stimulate  them  to  war. 

XXV.  These  severe  inflictions  upon  the  Indian  tribes,   were  the  rigid 
exactions  of  duty ;  but  we  are  required  to  record  a  massacre  by  the  whites, 
that  may  be  a  pendant  for  that  of  Wyoming.      An  English  poet*  has, 
gracefully,  sung  the  sufferings  in  the  last,  but  no  bard  has  described  the  hor- 
rors of  the  slaughter  at  Muskingum.     At  this  place  some  Indian  converts  of 
the  Moravians  had  settled.     Under  the  care  of  pious  missionaries,  they  had 
been  formed  into  some  degree  of  civil  and  religious  order,  and  had  adopted 
the  faith,  that  "  The  Great  Being  did  not  make  men  to  destroy  men,  but  to 
love  and  assist  each  other."     Upon  this  principle,  they  advised  other  tribes 

*  Campbell. 


284  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

to  desist  from  war :  and  from  humanity,  they  premonished  the  whites,  from 
time  to  time,  of  the  dangers  that  threatened  them.  Provoked  by  this  inter- 
ference, the  hostile  Indians  removed  their  pacific  countrymen  to  the  banks 
of  the  Sandusky.  They  obtained  permission,  however,  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  to  return  and  collect  the  crops  they  had  planted.  The  whites,  on  the 
Monongahela,  either  through  misconception  or  malice,  reported,  that  their 
designs  were  inimical;  and  without  due  inquiry,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
crossed  the  Ohio,  and  slaughtered  these  inoffensive  people,  who  fell  mar- 
tyrs to  their  principles  of  non-resistance.  Not  less  than  ninety  were  thus 
immolated. 

Retribution,  however,  was  not  long  delayed.  Soon  after  this  unprovoked 
butchery,  a  party  of  whites  set  out  with  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  Indian 
towns  on  the  Sandusky.  But  being  encountered  by  the  Delawares  and 
Wyandots,  they  were  repelled,  with  the  loss  of  several  prisoners,  among 
whom,  were  Colonel  Crawford  and  his  son-in-law.  All  were  offered  up  to  the 
manes  which  haunted  the  Moravian  towns  of  the  Muskingum. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  285 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Comprising  a  View  of  the  War  in  the  South.— I.  Inert  state  of  the  Country  in  1779. 
— II.  The  British  Government  adopts  views  of  partial  Conquest. — III.  Georgia 
overrun — and  Charleston  threatened — Unsuccessful  Siege  of  Savannah. — IV.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  subdues  South  Carolina. — V.  His  measures  induce  Revolt.— VI. 
General  Gates  assumes  command  of  the  Southern  Army — Battle  of  Camden. — 
VII.  Battle  of  King's  Mountain.— VIII.  Cornwallis  reinforced.— IX.  General 
Greene  appointed  to  the  Southern  Department — Battle  of  the  Cowpens — Retreat 
to  Virginia. — X.  Cornwallis  retires,  is  pursued— Battle  of  Guilford  Court  House. 
— XI.  Cornwallis  marches  for  Petersburg — Greene  for  South  Carolina — Expedi- 
tion of  Arnold  against  Virginia — Preparations  against  him — Defence  of  Virginia 
entrusted  to  La  Fayette— Cornwallis  takes  command  of  the  British  Forces  in  Vir- 
ginia.— XII.  Progress  of  Greene  in  recovering  the  Southern  States. — XIII.  Suf- 
ferings of  the  Inhabitants. 

I.  The  exertions  made  by  the  United  States,  though  not  beyond  their 
strength,  if  put  forth  with  system  and  discretion,  were  irregular  and  vjolent, 
and  followed  by  that  syncope  which  invariably  attends  undue  efforts.  A 
general  langour  had  diffused  itself  through  all  the  civil  departments.  The 
alliance  with  France  was  supposed  to  have  secured  independence,  and  a  con- 
fidence that  the  enemy  could  not  longer  prosecute  the  war  with  success,  pre- 
vented that  activity  which  was  painful  to  exert.  The  wretched  policy  of 
short  enlistments  had  been  pursued,  until  correction  was  impossible.  The 
enthusiasm,  which,  at  the  commencement  of  the  contest  had  overcome  all 
personal  considerations,  had  subsided,  arid  was  succeeded  by  views  more 
particularly  selfish,  and  more  durable.  From  these  considerations,  it  was 
not  until  the  23d  January,  1779,  that  Congress  authorized  the  re-enlistment 
of  the  army ;  nor  until  the  9th  March,  that  requisition  was  made  upon  the 
States,  for  their  respective  quotas.  The  bounty  offered,  being  insufficient  to 
bring  the  men  into  the  field,  resort  was  again  had  to  the  special  authority  of 
the  States.  Thus,  at  a  season  when  the  recruits  should  have  been  in  camp, 
they  were  yet  to  be  obtained ;  and  the  public  service  was  exposed  to  great 
hazard  from  the  delay.  At  this  period,  too,  several  circumstances  conspired 
to  foment  pernicious  divisions  and  factions  in  Congress,  which  greater  danger 
might  have  prevented  or  suppressed. 

These  dissentions,  the  removal  of  individuals  of  the  highest  influence, 
from  the  national  councils  to  offices  in  the  state  governments ;  the  deprecia- 
tion of  the  paper  currency ;  the  destructive  spirit  of  speculation  caused  by 
imaginary  gain  from  this  depreciation ;  a  general  laxity  of  principles,  the  in- 
separable concomitant  of  civil  war  and  revolution ;  the  indisposition  to  sacri- 
fice personal  convenience  for  the  public  weal ;  were  rocks,  on  which  the  ves- 
sel of  state  might  yet  split,  and  which  required  the  care  of  those  whom 
influence  and  patriotism  placed  at  the  helm.* 

The  knowledge  of  these  facts,  deeply  affected  the  mind  of  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  American  armies,  and  gave  him  many  apprehensions  for  the 
final  result  of  the  contest.  They,  also,  had  probably  great  effect  upon  the 
British  commissioners ;  who  inferred  that  the  people,  worn  out  by  the  com- 
plicated calamities  of  the  struggle,  desired  an  accommodation  on  the  terms 
proposed  by  the  ministry,  and  that  the  increasing  difficulties  necessarily  re- 
sulting from  the  failure  of  public  credit,  would  induce  them  to  desert  Con- 

*  Letter  of  Washington,  Marshall,  iv.  p.  6. 


286  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

gress,  or  compel  that  body  to  accede  to  those  terms.     These  opinions,  com- 
municated to  their  government,  undoubtedly  continued  to  protract  the  contest. 

II.  The  British  government,  confident  of  complete  conquest,  had  prose- 
cuted the  war  with  a  view  to  the  recovery  of  the  whole  of  its  dominions  in 
America.     But  the  reverses  they  had  sustained,  the  alliance  with  France, 
and  the  firmness  with  which  the  contest  had  been  maintained,  together  with 
the  rejection  of  the  late  pacific  propositions,  induced  a  change  in  the  plan  of 
operations.     The  islands  about  New  York  were  retained,  whilst  their  arms 
were  principally  directed  against  the  southern  States,  which  were  less  capable 
of  resistance,  arid  on  which  a  considerable  impression  might  certainly  be 
made,  and  probably  extended  northward ;  but,  however  this  might  be,  the 
possession  of  several  States,  at  the  negotiation  for  general  peace,  would  afford 
plausible  ground  for  claiming  to  retain  them.     Of  the  succeeding  campaigns, 
therefore,  the  most  active  and  interesting  operations  were  in  the  southern 
country.     But  our  limits  and  our  purpose,  forbid  us  to  do  more  than  shortly 
to  advert  to  them. 

III.  Lieutenant-colonel  Campbell,  who  sailed  from  New  York,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1777,  arrived  soon  after  at  Savannah,  and,  in  despite  of  the  opposing 
efforts  of  General  Howe,  captured  that  place;  and,  aided  by  General  Prevost, 
who  advanced  from  Florida,  reduced  without  difficulty,  the  whole  state  of 
Georgia ;  the  inhabitants  flocking  in  numbers  to  the  royal  standard.     This 
rapid  progress  of  the  enemy  calling  for  more  efficient  measures  of  resistance, 
General  Lincoln  was  appointed  to  the  southern  command,  in  September, 
1778.     Previously,  considerable  reinforcements  had  been  ordered  from  the 
northern  army,  particularly  in  the  cavalry  regiments  of  Bland,  and  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Washington.     Their  march  was,  however,  some  time  delayed, 
in  consequence  of  the  invasion  of  Virginia,  in  May,  by  Brigadier-general 
Matthews.     His  expedition,  undertaken  principally  with  the  view  of  destroy- 
ing the  stores  which  had  been  laid  up  on  the  waters  of  that  State,  was  but  too 
successful ;  he  having  destroyed,  in  a  few  weeks,  public  and  private  pro- 
perty of  immense  value,  at  Norfolk,  Portsmouth,  Gosport,  and  the  adjacent 
country. 

The  greatest  force  under  Lincoln,  assembled  and  armed  with  much  diffi- 
culty, amounted  to  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-nine,  of  whom  two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty  eight,  rank  and  file,  were  effectives ;  one- 
half,  however,  were  militia ;  whilst  PrevOst  commanded  three  thousand  ef- 
fective regulars,  aided  by  many  provincials.  Lincoln  proceeded  from  Purys- 
burg,  into  Georgia ;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  Provost  marched  on  Charleston 
with  two  thousand  four  hundred  regular  troops,  and  a  considerable  body  of 
Indians,  driving  before  him  General  Moultrie,  at  the  head  of  an  inferior 
force.  He  summoned  the  town,  on  the  llth  of  May,  1779,  but  was  com- 
pelled soon  after,  to  raise  the  siege,  by  the  approach  of  Lincoln,  and  to  retire 
to  the  islands  on  the  coast.  On  the  20th  of  June,  a  sharp  but  indecisive  affair 
took  place  between  twelve  hundred  Americans  and  seven  hundred  British,  at 
Stono  Ferry,  in  which  the  former  lost  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  the 
much  lamented  Colonel  Roberts.  Prevost,  retreating  from  island  to  island, 
soon  after  returned  to  Port  Royal  and  Savannah,  his  troops  enriched  by  the 
indiscriminate  plunder  they  had  made. 

The  Count  D'Estaing,  after  a  successful  cruise  to  the  West  Indies,  pur- 
suant to  the  instructions  of  his  court,  and  the  solicitations  of  Lincoln  and  the 
authorities  of  South  Carolina,  arrived  (September  1st,)  on  the  coast  of 
Georgia.  He  summoned  Savannah,  but  suffered  himself  to  be  amused  by 
Prevost  for  several  days,  until  the  latter  had  called  in  his  troops,  and  was 
fully  prepared  for  defence.  Being  joined  by  Lincoln,  a  formal  siege  was 
commenced;  the  ground  being  broken  on  the  23d  of  the  month,  and  the  ad- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  287 

vances  made  with  every  prospect  of  final  success.  The  impatience  of  the 
French  commander  and  his  officers,  excited  by  the  dangers  of  the  hurricane 
season,  induced  an  assault  on  the  9th  of  October,  with  thirty-five  hundred 
French,  and  six  hundred  continental  troops;  which,  though  bravely  made, 
was  bravely  and  successfully  repelled.  Count  D'Estaing  and  Count  Pulaski, 
were  both  wounded, — the  former  slightly,  the  latter  mortally.  The  loss  of 
the  French  was  six  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  and  of  the  Americans  two  hun- 
dred, men.  The  militia  returned  to  their  homes,  and  the  French  fleet  and 
army  to  the  West  Indies.  This  visit  of  the  fleet,  however,  disconcerted  the 
British  plans  for  the  campaign,  and  occasioned  the  withdrawal  of  their  army 
from  Rhode  Island;  and  their  efforts  in  the  south  resulted  in  the  possession 
of  Savannah  merely. 

IV.  Upon  intelligence  of  these  events,  both  parties  sought  to  strengthen 
their  respective  forces,  in  the  south.     A  large  detachment,  under  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  in  person,  sailed  from  New  York,  late  in  December,  leaving  the 
defence  of  that  city  to  General  Knyphausen ;  whilst  Washington  despatched 
southward,  the  troops  of  North  Carolina,  the  new  levies  of  Virginia,  the  rear 
division  of  Eland's  and  Baylor's  cavalry,  and  afterwards,  the  Virginia  line. 
In  his  passage,  Sir  Henry  encountered  a  storm,  which  endamaged  him  so 
much  as  to  require  a  reinforcement  and  supplies  from  New  York.     Charles- 
ton was  his  primary  object,  against  which  he  proceeded  from  Savannah,  on 
the  10th  of  February,  1780;  approaching  by  way  of  the  islands  with  great 
caution.     On  the  first  of  April,  he  broke  ground,  within  eight  hundred 
yards  of  the  American  works,  and  on  the  12th  of  May,  the  town  capitulated. 
General  Lincoln  and  his  army,  consisting  of  two  thousand  effectives,  be- 
came prisoners.     During  the  progress  of  the  expedition,  several  sharp  en- 
counters took  place,  between  small  parties.     The  cavalry  under  General 
Huger,  stationed  about  thirty  miles  above  Charleston,  was   attacked  and 
routed  by  Colonel  Tarleton  and  Major  Ferguson,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th 
of  April,  and  four  hundred  horses  captured ;  and  on  the  7th  of  May,  the 
remnant  collected  under  Colonel  White,  of  New  Jersey,  at  Monk's  Corner, 
was  again  charged  and  dispersed  by  the  same  active  British  officers. 

Having  possession  of  the  capital,  Sir  Henry  employed  himself  in  reducing 
the  country ;  despatching  parties  in  various  directions  over  it.  The  inhabi- 
tants vied  with  each  other  in  devotion  to  the  royal  cause,  and  many,  even  of 
the  citizens  of  Charleston,  enlisted  under  the  royal  banners.  In  these  opera- 
tions, the  only  circumstance  meriting  special  notice,  was  the  surprise  and 
defeat  of  Colonel  Burford,  by  Colonel  Tarleton.  Burford  commanded  a  re- 
giment of  new  levies  from  Virginia,  who  arrived  too  late  to  aid  Charleston. 
Upon  the  surrender  of  the  city,  he  commenced  his  retreat,  but  was  overtaken 
by  a  rapid  march  of  one  hundred  and  five  miles  in  fifty-four  hours.  No 
quarter  was  given,  and  the  carnage  was  horrible;  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
were  killed  on  the  spot ;  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  so  badly  wounded,  that 
they  could  not  be  removed.  So  confident  was  Sir  Henry  of  having  conquer- 
ed the  State,  that  he  proclaimed  the  pacification,  and  released  from  their 
parole  his  militia  prisoners,  those  taken  in  Charleston  and  Fort  Moultrie 
excepted;  and  with  the  most  sanguine  hope  of  the  recovery  of  all  the 
southern  States,  he  embarked  for  New  York,  on  the  5th  of  June,  leaving  in 
South  Carolina,  about  four  thousand  regulars,  under  Lord  Cornwallis. 

V.  The  parole  of  the  American  prisoners  recognised  their  character  of 
aliens  to  Great  Britain;  their  release  from  it,  avowedly,  restored,  without 
their  assent,  their  relation  of  subjects ;  and  its  effect  was  to  compel  them  to 
assume  arms  against  their  countrymen.     Had  they  been  suffered  to  enjoy 
the  quiet  of  non-combatants,  they  might  have  remained  unarmed ;  but  they 
would  not  submit  to  the  degradation  of  fighting  the  battles  of  the  oppressor. 


288  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  proclamation  sowed  the  teeth  of  the  hydra,  and  armed  men  sprang  up 
in  every  direction,  to  resist  the  British  power. 

The  Delaware  and  Maryland  lines,  with  the  first  regiment  of  artillery, 
were  ordered  to  South  Carolina,  under  General  de  Kalb;  and  exertions 
were  made  in  Virginia  to  increase  this  force.  The  exiles  from  the  north 
and  west  parts  of  the  State,  to  the  number  of  six  hundred,  collected  under 
Colonel  Sumpter,  and  were  soon  strengthened  by  a  corps  of  militia,  which 
had  been  collected  by  Cornwallis.  The  latter  circumstance  demonstrating 
the  temper  of  the  people,  induced  the  British  general  to  draw  in  his  outposts, 
and  arrange  his  troops  in  larger  bodies. 

VI.  An  army  of  two  thousand  men  was  thus  formed,  of  which  General 
Gates  took  the  command,  on  the  25th  of  July.  He,  changing  the  disposi- 
tions of  De  Kalb,  marched  by  the  most  direct  route  towards  the  enemy's  post 
at  Camden ;  and,  unhappily,  through  a  barren  country,  in  which  his  troops 
suffered  greatly  from  famine  and  unwholesome  food.  On  his  way  he  was 
joined  by  the  North  Carolina  militia,  under  General  Caswell,  and  some 
troops  commanded  by  Lieutenant-colonel  Peterfield.  He  arrived  on  the  13th 
of  August,  at  Clermont,  or  Rugely's  Mills,  whence  Lord  Rawdon  withdrew  at 
his  approach.  And,  here,  the  militia  from  Virginia,  under  General  Stevens, 
also  came  to  his  aid.  With  a  force,  now,  of  about  four  thousand  men,  he 
marched  rapidly,  in  the  hope  of  surprising  'Camden.  At  the  very  hour  of 
his  departure  from  Clermont,  Lord  Cornwallis  left  Camden,  with  the  design 
of  striking  him  a  sudden  blow;  and,  to  their  mutual  surprise,  the  hostile 
armies  encountered  in  the  woods,  at  about  two  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the 
16th  of  August.  The  ground  did  not  permit  Gates  to  avail  himself  of  his 
superiority  in  numbers,  and  Cornwallis  restrained  the  ardour  of  his  troops, 
that  he  might,  with  the  light,  better  direct  their  disciplined  valour.  With 
the  dawn  the  action  commenced.  The  militia  shamefully  fled,  carrying 
Gates  with  them,  from  the  field  of  battle,  in  his  endeavours  to  rally  them. 
De  Kalb,  at  the  head  of  the  continental  troops,  maintained  the  fight  with 
some  success,  until  overpowered  by  numbers,  they  were  broken,  and  he  fell 
under  eleven  mortal  wounds.  The  Americans  lost  the  greater  part  of  their 
baggage,  stores,  and  artillery ;  and  by  the  estimate  of  the  enemy,  eight  hun- 
dped  men  killed,  and  one  thousand  prisoners.  Previous  to  the  battle,  a  party 
was  detached  under  Lieutenant-colonel  Woolford,  of  Maryland,  to  unite  with 
Sumpter,  to  intercept  an  escort  of  stores,  for  the  garrison  at  Camden.  This 
enterprise  was  successful ;  but  the  party  was,  afterwards,  surprised  by  Tarle- 
ton,  near  the  Catawba  Ford,  and  was  beaten  and  dispersed  with  the  loss  of 
between  three  and  four  hundred  men,  killed  and  wounded. 

Notwithstanding  the  victory,  Lord  Cornwallis  was  unable  to  proceed 
against  North  Carolina,  and  to  prosecute  the  career  which  he  had  pro- 
posed; his  troops  being  enfeebled  by  sickness,  and  the  hostile  disposition 
of  the  citizens  rendering  it  unsafe  to  remove  any  considerable  portion  of 
them  from  the  State.  The  disasters,  however,  of  the  American  arms,  chilled 
the  spirit  of  resistance ;  yet  it  was  kept  alive  by  the  exertions  of  those  able 
partisans,  Sumpter  and  Marion,  and  was  again  reanimated,  by  the  severity 
with  which  Cornwallis  punished,  as  traitors,  the  militia  who  deserted  his 
standard — producing  but  a  fiercer  resistance,  and  a  capacity  to  brave  and  to 
bear  the  extremity  of  suffering.  But  the  designs  of  the  British  commander 
were  only  suspended.  He  resumed  them  by  despatching  Major  Ferguson 
into  the  western  part  of  North  Carolina,  to  rouse  and  organize  the  tory  in- 
habitants ;  whilst  he  marched  himself,  late  in  September,  to  Charlotte,  where 
he  proposed  to  await  the  result  of  Ferguson's  endeavours.  That  officer, 
attempting  to  intercept  Colonel  Clarke  of  Georgia,  in  his  retreat  from  an 
unsuccessful  attack  upon  Augusta,  removed  nearer  to  the  mountains,  where 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  2*9 

a  short  delay  .proved  fatal  to  him.  Several  corps  of  hardy  mountaineers, 
from  the  western  parts  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  under  Colonels 
Campbell,  Cleaveland,  Shelby,  and  Servier,  moved  upon  him  with  great  cele- 
rity, whilst  Colonels  Williams,  Tracy,  and  Brannan,  from  South  Carolina,  ap- 
proached the  same  point.  These  forces,  together  three  thousand  strong, 
united  at  Gilbertstown.  Sixteen  hundred  of  the  best  mounted  marksmen 
pursued  Ferguson,  who,  apprized  of  their  approach,  pushed  for  Charlotte. 
He  was  overtaken,  on  the  seventh  of  October,  upon  King's  Mountain,  attack- 
ed by  three  divisions,  respectively,  commanded  by  Shelby,  Campbell,  and 
Cleaveland,  against  each  of  whom,  in  the  order  of  their  arrival,  he  turned 
with  considerable  effect,  the  fearful  bayonet ;  sustaining  the  conflict  for  more 
than  an  hour,  and  until  he  received  a  wound  which  caused  his  instant  death. 
His  second  in  command  instantly  demanded  quarter.  Of  the  enemy  one 
hundred  and  fifty  were  killed,  as  many  wounded,  and  eight  hundred  and  ten 
were  made  prisoners ;  among  the  latter  were  one  hundred  English  regulars. 
A  valuable  and  timely  prize  was  obtained  in  fifteen  hundred  stand  of  arms. 
The  American  loss  was  inconsiderable,  but  among  the  slain  was  Colonel 
Williams.  Ten  of  the  most  active  tories  were  selected  and  hung  on  the  spot, 
in  retaliation  of  the  cruelties  committed  on  the  whigs  at  Camden.  This  mis- 
fortune compelled  Cornwallis,  who  had  crossed  the  Yadkin,  to  retrace  his 
steps  as  far  as  Wynnesborough,  where  he  awaited  reinforcement.  The  mi- 
litia were  unable  to  follow  up  their  successful  blow  for  want  of  provisions. 

VIII.  Confident  in  the  progress  of  Cornwallis,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  despatch- 
ed from  New  York,  on  the  16th  of  October,  three  thousand  men,  under 
General  Leslie,  against  Virginia,  who,  after  some  depredations,  were  ordered 
to  Charleston,  by  sea,  in  consequence  of  the  defeat  of  Ferguson.     In  the  in- 
terim, Cornwallis  was  employed  in  suppressing  the  hostile  efforts  of  the  inha- 
bitants, under  Marion,  Sumpter,  Clarke,  and  Brannan.     The  most  important 
of  these  affairs  was  that  with  Sumpter,  on  November  20th,  at  Blackstocks, 
near  Tyger  river,  in  which  he  repulsed  Colonel  Tarleton,  with  great  loss. 

IX.  Gates  slowly  collected,  at  Hillsborough,  the  shattered  remains  of  his 
army  defeated  at  Camden.     Being  recalled,  he  delivered  the  command  to 
his  successor,  General  Greene,  at  Charlotte,  on  the  2d  of  December.     His 
greatest  efforts  had  not  collected  more  than  two  thousand  men,  of  whom 
a  full  third  were  militia,  with  which  Greene  took  the  field  against  a  supe- 
rior regular  force,  flushed  with  successive  victories.     But  even  this  small 
army  he  soon  divided ;  sending  Morgan,  with  a  considerable  detachment  to 
the  western  extremity  of  South  Carolina,  whilst  he  conducted  the  main  body 
to  Hicks's  Creek,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Pedee  river,  opposite  the  Cheraw 
Hills.   Cornwallis,.  who  was,  again,  preparing  to  proceed  against  North  Caro- 
lina, but  could  not  leave  Morgan  in  his  rear,  sent  Carleton  against  him,  with 
orders  to  push  him  to  the  utmost.     Morgan,  with  an  inferior  force,  consist- 
ing, in  a  great  measure,  of  militia,  firmly  awaited  his  approach,  at  the  Cow- 
peris,  three  miles  from  the  line  separating  North  and  South  Carolina.     In 
the  encounter  which  ensued,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1781,  Tarleton  was 
defeated  with  the  loss  of  three  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and  five  hundred 
prisoners,  eight  hundred  muskets,  thirty-five  baggage  wagons,  and  one  hun- 
dred dragoon  horses.     The  impetuosity  which  had  frequently  served  this 
energetic  partisan,  was,  now,  the  cause  of  his  defeat.     Upon  tidings  of  this 
victory,  Greene  hastened  to  join  Morgan,  directing  his  own  corps  to  Guilford 
Court-house ;  and  with  great  exertions,  the  prisoners  and  baggage  were  se- 
cured.    In  the  pursuit,  the  British  army  sacrificed  its  baggage  and  every 
thing,  not  indispensable  to  action  or  the  existence  of  the  troops,  and  hung, 
almost  constantly,  on  the  American  rear.     Twice,  at  the  Catawba  and  the 
Yadkin,  the  Americans  were  saved  by  the  rising  of  the  waters  after  their 

2O 


290  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

passage  and  before  the  arrival  of  the  British.  The  two  divisions  of  the  Ame 
rican  army  united  at  Guilford  Court-house ;  but  too  feeble  for  combat,  the 
commander  resolved  to  continue  his  retreat  across  the  Dan  to  Virginia.  The 
pursuit  was  so  hotly  followed,  that  as  his  rear  crossed  that  river,  the  Bri- 
tish van  was  in  sight.*  Thus  baffled,  Cornwallis  retired  to  Hillsborough, 
with  the  view  of  rousing  the  tories ;  whilst  Greene  immediately  recrossed  the 
river  to  mar  his  labours,!  m  which  he  was  eminently  successful.  Genera 
Pickens  and  Colonel  Lee  fell  in  with  three  hundred  and  fifty  tories,  undei 
Colonel  Pyle,  on  their  way  to  the  British  army,  whom  they  cut  to  pieces 
amid  their  shouts  of  "  God  save  the  King,"  and  protestations  of  loyalty 
which  they  uttered  in  the  belief,  that  the  assailants  were  royalists. 

Cornwallis  now  retired,  yet  seeking  a  proper  occasion  for  battle ;.  some 
times  turning  upon  the  pursuer,  and  compelling  him  to  retread  his  steps.  A 
length,  Greene  having  received  all  the  reinforcements  he  had  reason  to  ex 
pect,  resolved  to  give  battle,  and  marched,  for  that  purpose,  to  Guilforc 
Court-house.  Cornwallis  promptly  accepted  the  offer.  The  American  troop; 
amounted  to  four  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty -two,  of  whom  one  thousanc 
four  hundred  and  ninety  were  regulars ;  the  British  did  not  exceed  two  thou 
sand  four  hundred  veterans.  Greene  selected  his  ground,  and  the  issue  was 
joined  on  the  15th  of  March.  After  a  fierce  combat,  in  which  his  troops 
generally,  behaved  well,  Greene  was  compelled  to  retreat ;  but  the  victor) 
was  dearly  purchased,  by  the  loss  of  five  hundred  and  thirty-two  killed  am 
wounded,  being  much  greater  than  that  sustained  by  the  Americans.  Green< 
retired  but  a  few  miles,  and  awaited  another  attack ;  but  Cornwallis,'  mud 
enfeebled,  left  his  wounded  to  the  care  of  the  loyalists  in  the  neighbourhood 
and  pushed  rapidly  for  Wilmington,  where  stores  had  been  lodged  and  sup 
plies  might  be  obtained.  Greene,  also,  leaving  his  hospital  to  the  Quaker; 
of  the  vicinage,  whom  he  reminded  of  his  former  fraternization,  as  rapidl) 
followed  to  Ramsay's  Mills,  on  Deep  River;  where  excessive  fatigue,  the 
want  of  food,  and  the  release  of  his  militia,  compelled  him  to  stop. 

XI.  After  resting  his  troops,  for  about  three  weeks,  at  Wilmington,  Corn' 
wallis  crossed  the  country  to  Petersburg.  He  pondered  long  before  he 
adopted  this  northern  course,  when  informed  that  Greene  had  taken  the  bole 
resolution  to  attempt  the  recovery  of  the  southern  country.  He  concluded 
at  length,  that  if  Lord  Rawdon,  who  commanded  there,  should  have  beer 
defeated,  he  might  dread  his  own  safety ;  but  if  he  had  sustained  himself,  c 
return  would  be  an  useless  abandonment  of  the  ground  he  had  gained.  Or 
the  departure  of  Leslie  from  Virginia,  the  traitor,  Arnold,  entered  that  State. 
(on  the  30th  of  December)  and  after  committing  many  depredations,  esta- 
blished himself  at  Portsmouth,  on  the  20th  of  January.  Against  him, 
Washington  proposed  to  send,  under  La  Fayette,  twelve  hundred  men,  ol 
the  New  England  and  New  Jersey  lines,  and,  also,  to  employ  the  whole 
French  fleet  from  Newport.  Two  frigates,  however,  only,  sailed,  which 
though  inoperative  in  the  original  design,  captured  the  Romulus,  of  fifty 
guns,  passing  from  Charleston  to  the  Chesapeake.  Flattered  by  this  success, 
the  French  admiral  despatched  a  larger  expedition  to  the  same  point ;  which 
encountering  a  British  fleet,  under  Arbuthnot,  near  the  Capes  of  Virginia, 
was  so  much  endamaged  as  to  return  to  Newport,  leaving  La  Fayette  al 
Annapolis,  where  he  had  repaired  for  convoy.  That  general  returned  to  the 
head  of  Elk,  whence  he  was  directed  to  join  the  southern  army.  In  the  in- 
terim, General  Phillips  had  embarked  for  the  Chesapeake,  with  two  thousand 
men,  and  arrived  at  Portsmouth  on  the  26th  of  March,  1781.  This  reinforce- 
ment, giving  the  British  a  decisive  superiority  in  Virginia,  changed  the  des- 

*  February  14th,  1781.  t  February  21st. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  291 

tination  of  La  Fayette,  to  whom  the  defence  of  that  State  was  now  committed. 
For  near  two  months,  Phillips  and  Arnold  prosecuted  a  predatory  war,  de- 
stroying immense  quantities  of  tobacco  and  stores,  and  marking  their  course 
by  terrible  devastations;  La  Fayette  and  Steuben,  endeavouring  in  vain  to 
stay  them,  except  in  the  protection  of  the  magazines  at  Richmond.  On  the 
20th  May,  Lord  Cornwallis  joined  Arnold  at  Petersburg,  a  few  days  after  the 
death  of  Phillips,  and  assumed  the  command  of  the  whole  British  force  in  the 
State. 

Against  him,  General  La  Fayette,  aided  by  General  Wayne,  maintained 
a  war  of  posts  for  the  space  of  three  months ;  until  Cornwallis,  impressed  with 
the  necessity  of  providing  a  strong  place  of  arms  in  the  Chesapeake,  select- 
ed Yorktown,  as  a  station  for  his  army,  and  Gloucester  Point,  for  his  fleet, 
to  which  he  retired  with  his  whole  force,  increased  to  seven  thousand  men. 
From  the  Virginians,  he  had  derived  little  aid.  They  either  united  with  the 
continental  army,  or,  more  commonly,  kept  out  of  the  way  of  the  British. 
Few  purchased  safety  by  submission. 

XII.  Having  thus  followed  Lord  Cornwallis  to  an  hour  big  with  his  own 
fate,  and  that  of  the  war,  we  return  to  General  Greene,  who,  with  equal 
courage  and  ability,  had  turned  his  arms  to  the  south.  A  line  of  posts  had 
been  constructed  by  the  British  from  Charleston,  by  the  way  of  Camden  and 
Ninety-Six,  to  Augusta,  in  Georgia,  the  most  important  point  of  which  was 
Camden.  The  forts,  generally  garrisoned  by  a  few  regular  troops,  united 
with  the  tory  militia,  were  only  slightly  fortified  to  resist  the  sudden  at- 
tack of  the  militia  of  the  neighbouring  country,  no  apprehensions  being  en- 
tertained of  a  more  formidable  enemy.  Greene  was  fully  aware  of  these 
unfavourable  circumstances.  "  I  shall  take,"  said  he,  in  a  letter  to  General 
Washington,  "  every  measure  to  avoid  misfortune.  But  necessity  obliges 
me  to  commit  myself  to  chance,  and  if  any  accident  should  attend  me,  I  trust 
my  friends  will  do  justice  to  my  reputation."  He  detached  Lee  to  unite  with 
Marion,  and  Pickens,  to  assemble  the  western  militia,  and  lay  siege  to  Ninety- 
Six;  and,  marching  himself  on  Camden,  encamped  before  it  on  the  19th 
April.  He  manoeuvred  several  days  around  the  place,  and,  on  the  25th, 
fought  a  severe  battle  with  Lord  Rawdon,  at  Hobkirk's  Hill,  with  loss  to 
either  party,  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Although  Greene  re- 
treated from  the  field,  he  did  not  abandon  his  views  on  Camden,  until  Rawdon 
was  reinforced  in  the  close  of  the  month,  by  the  corps  of  Colonel  Watson, 
amounting  to  five  hundred  men.  He  then  withdrew  behind  Sawney's  Creek, 
and  declined  the  battle,  which  Rawdon  again  offered.  In  the  mean  time, 
Forts  Watson  and  Mottehouse,  had  surrendered  to  Marion  and  Lee,  and  Fort 
Orange,  to  Sumpter.  Rawdon,  abandoning  the  upper  country,  retired  to 
Monk's  Corner,  to  protect  the  district  around  Charleston.  Compelled  thus  to 
comparative  inactivity,  he  beheld  the  smaller  posts  reduced,  and  Seventy-Six 
in  imminent  danger  from  the  attack  of  General  Greene.  From  this  mortify- 
ing state,  he  was  relieved  by  the  arrival  of  three  regiments  from  Ireland, 
which  again  enabled  him  to  overrun  the  state,  and  forced  Greene  to  retreat 
before  him,  by  the  road  to  Charlotte.  An  eager  race  ensued,  in  which  both 
parties  divested  themselves  of  whatever  could  stay  their  speed.  But  at  the  En- 
noree,  Lord  Rawdon  gave  it  over  as  hopeless.  The  retreat  ceased  with  the 
pursuit,  Greene  halting  on  the  north  side  of  the  Broad  river;  and,  on  the 
13th  July,  he  took  post  on  the  high  hills  of  Santee. 

Lord  Rawdon,  still  holding  his  purpose  of  concentrating  his  forces  in  the 
lower  country,  withdrew  his  garrison ;  but  soon  after  availed  himself  of  per- 
mission to  return  to  Europe.  The  command  devolved  on  Colonel  Stuart, 
who  advanced  to  the  post  near  the  junction  of  the  Congaree,  and  Wateree, 
where  he  was  greatly  annoyed  by  the  corps  of  Marion  and  Washington.  After 


292  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

a  period  of  comparative  repose,  Greene  recommenced  active  operations  on 
the  22d  of  August,  and,  being  strengthened  by  the  militia  and  state  troops  of 
South  Carolina,  followed  the  British  army  to  Eutaw,  where  it  was  reinforced 
by  a  detachment  from  Charleston.  Greene  was  here  joined  by  Marion,  on 
the  7th  September,  and  resolved  to  attack  the  British  camp  next  day. 

The  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  was  one  of  the  most  obstinate  of  the  war. 
It  was  fought  with  about  equal  numbers,  (2000)  and  ended  in  equal  loss. 
The  American  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  were  estimated  at  five  hundred 
and  fifty-five;  the  British,  at  six  hundred  and  ninety-three.  But  the  Ame- 
rican dead,  owing  to  an  obstinate  contest  on  unfavourable  ground,  was  most 
numerous.  Among  them,  was  Lieutenant-colonel  Campbell,  who  fell  whilst 
leading  the  Virginia  brigade  with  trailed  arms  to  a  bold  and  decisive  charge, 
which  broke  the  British  line.  Colonel  Washington  was  taken  prisoner, 
having  been  unable  to  extricate  himself  from  his  horse,  which,  being  killed, 
had  fallen  upon  him.  Both  parties  claimed  the  victory,  but  Stuart  was 
compelled  to  withdraw  to  Monk's  Corner,  whilst  Greene  returned  to  the 
high  hills  of  Santee,  where  his  troops  became  too  much  enfeebled  by  disease, 
for  active  enterprise.  The  battle  of  Eutaw  may  be  considered  as  closing 
the  national  war  in  South  Carolina.  A  few  excursions  were  afterwards 
made  by  the  British,  but  with  no  more  consequence  than  the  loss  of  property 
and  individual  lives.  On  the  18th  November,  Greene  moved  down  into  the 
lower  country,  and  the  British  retired  with  their  whole  force  to  the  quarter- 
house  within  Charleston  Neck,  and  the  conquerors,  who  had  carried  their 
arms  to  the  extent  of  the  State,  aimed  at  nothing  more,  than  to  secure  them- 
selves. After  the  capitulation  at  Yorktown,  the  British  post  at  Wilmington, 
in  North  Carolina,  was  evacuated,  and  the  troops  in  Georgia,  were  concen- 
trated in  Savannah. 

The  labours  and  exertions  of  the  southern  army  were  highly  meritorious, 
but  the  successful  activity  of  the  legion  under  Lee,  claims  particular  atten- 
tion. It  was,  from  its  structure,  peculiarly  adapted  to  partisan  war ;  and, 
being  detached  against  the  weaker  posts  of  the  enemy,  had  opportunities  for 
displaying  all  its  energies.  In  the  extensive  sweep  from  the  Santee  to  Au- 
gusta, which  employed,  from  the  15th  April,  to  the  5th  June,  1781,  acting 
in  junction,  first  with  Marion,  afterwards  with  Pickens,  and  sometimes  alone, 
it  constituted  the  principal  force  which  carried  five  British  posts,  and  made 
eleven  hundred  prisoners.  At  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  of  1781, 
the  British  were  in  force  all  over  the  state;  at  its  close,  they  durst  scarce 
venture  twenty  miles  from  Charleston.  At  its  commencement,  the  country 
had  been  completely  conquered,  and  was  defended  by  a  regular  army,  es- 
timated at  four  thousand  men.  The  inhabitants  were  so  divided,  as  to  ren- 
der it  doubtful,  to  which  side  the  majority  was  attached.  At  no  time  did  the 
effectual  continental  force,  which  General  Greene  could  bring  into  the  field, 
amount  to  two  thousand  men ;  of  whom  a  considerable  portion  were  raw 
troops.  Yet,  by  a  course  of  judicious  movement,  bold  action,  and  hardy  en- 
terprise, in  which  he  displayed  invincible  constancy  and  courage,  happily, 
tempered  with  prudence,  he  recovered  the  southern  States ;  and,  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  civil  government  was  fully  established  therein.  A  full  portion 
of  praise  due  to  these  achievements,  belong  to  his  troops.  They  bore  every 
hardship  and  privation  with  patience  and  constancy.  In  his  officers,  the  ge- 
neral was  peculiarly  happy.  Unshackled  by  those,  who,  without  military 
talent,  had,  through  political  influence,  obtained  high  rank,  his  orders  were 
executed  by  young  men  of  equal  spirit  and  intelligence,  formed  in  the  severe 
service  of  the  north. 

XIII.  The  sufferings  occasioned  by  the  ardent  struggle  for  the  southern 
States,  were  not  confined  to  the  armies.  The  inhabitants  underwent  the  se- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  293 

verest  inflictions.  Reciprocal  injuries  sharpened  the  resentment  of  contend- 
ing parties,  and  armed  neighbour  against  neighbour,  in  a  war  of  extermi- 
nation. As  the  parties,  alternately,  triumphed,  opportunity  was  given  to 
either  for  the  exercise  of  vindictive  passions,  which  derived  new  virulence 
from  the  example  of  the  British  commanders.  When  they  had  overrun 
Georgia,  and  South  Carolina,  they  considered  these  States  as  reannexed  to 
the  British  empire,  and  manifested  a  disposition  to  treat  as  rebels,  all  who, 
having  submitted,  resumed  arms.  One  of  their  executions,  that  of  Colonel 
Hayne,  took  place  on  the  3d  of  August,  whilst  Lord  Rawdon  was  in 
Charleston,  preparing  to  sail  for  Europe.  The  disposition  to  retaliate,  to  the 
full  extent  of  their  power,  was  equally  strong  in  the  opposite  party.  When 
Fort  Granby  surrendered,  the  militia  attached  to  the  legion,  manifested  so 
strong  .a  desire  to  break  the  capitulation,  and  to  kill  the  most  obnoxious  of 
the  prisoners,  who  were  tories,  as  to  produce  a  solemn  declaration  from 
Greene,  that  he  would  put  any  man  to  death,  who  should  commit  an  act  so 
atrocious.  Lieutenant-colonel  Grierson,  of  the  loyal  militia,  was  shot  by  un- 
known marksmen ;  and,  though  a  reward  of  one  hundred  guineas  was  of- 
fered for  the  perpetrator,  he  was  never  discovered.  "  The  whole  country," 
said  the  general,  "  is  a  continued  scene  of  blood  and  carnage."* 

*  Ramsay,  Gordon,  Marshall. 


294  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

I.  Condition  of  the  Armies  in  the  North. — II.  British  Expedition  against  the  Forts  on 
the  North  River.— III.  Expedition  under  Tryon,  against  Connecticut.— IV.  Cap- 
ture of  Stony  Point,  by  Wayne.— V.  Attack  of  the  British  Post,  on  Penobscot 
river. — VI.  Major  Lee  assaults  Paules  Hook. — VII.  Effects  of  the  System  of 
Paper  Currency.— VIII.  Spain  declares  War  against  England.— IX.  Prospects 
of  the  Campaign  of  1780.— X.  The  American  Army  retires  into  winter  quar- 
ters.— XI.  Marauding  Parties  of  the  Enemy  in  New  Jersey. — XII.  The  Army 
at  Morristown  supplied  by  forced  levies  of  Provisions. — XIII.  Washington 
attempts  the  British  Post  at  Staten  Island— XIV.  Difficulties  arising  from  the 
want  of  political  power  in  Congress. — XV.  Discontents  of  the  Army — Mutiny  of 
the  Connecticut  troops. — XVI.  Knyphausen  invades  New  Jersey — Murder  of 
Mrs.  Caldwell,  and  of  her  Husband.— XVII.  Battle  of  Springfield.— XVIII.  La 
Fayette  returns  to  the  United  States.— XIX.  Renewed  efforts  for  the  Defence 
of  the  Country. — XX.  Arrival  of  the  French  Fleet  and  Army— Plans  consequent 
thereon. — XXI.  Treason  of  Arnold. — XXII.  American  Army  retires  into  winter 
quarters. — XXIII.  European  combinations  against  Great  Britain. — XXIV.  Revolt 
of  the  Pennsylvania  line — of  the  Jersey  line — Discontent  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
New  Jersey.— XXV.  Gloomy  Prospect  for  the  year  1781.— XXVI.  Combined 
Operations  of  the  French  Fleet  and  Allied  Armies,  against  Cornwallis— His 
Capture.— XXVII.  New  London  taken  and  burned  by  Arnold.— XXVIII.  Condi- 
tion of  the  Country  for  the  Campaign  of  1782 — Resolutions  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment in  favour  of  Peace. — XXIX.  Malignity  of  the  Tories — Murder  of  Captain 
Huddy. — XXX.  Cessation  of  Hostilities— Treaty  of  Peace. — XXXI.  Disbanding 
of  the  Army  .—XXXII.  Public  Entry  of  Washington  to  New  York— takes  leave  of 
his  Officers — Surrenders  his  Commission  to  Congress. 

I.  The  apathy  which  we  have  noticed,  as  paralyzing  the  efforts  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States,  at  the  commencement  of  the  year  1779,  was 
also  visible  in  the  operations  of  the  British  government.     The  ministry  had 
lost  the  hope  of  reducing  all  the  revolted  colonies  to  obedience,  and  the  de- 
sire of  vengeance  alone  seems  to  have  inspired  the  plan  of  the  ensuing  cam- 
paign, which  was  publicly  announced  to  be  that  of  rendering  the  colonies  of 
as  little  avail  as  possible  to  their  new  connexions.    With  this  view  the  opera- 
tions in  the  northern  States  were  conducted. 

The  force  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  at  New  York,  Rhode  Island,  and 
Virginia,  was  estimated  at  more  than  sixteen  thousand  men,  whose  efficiency 
was  greatly  increased  by  the  co-operation  of  a  powerful  fleet,  enabling  the 
general  to  concentrate  and  direct  it,  at  pleasure.  The  grand  total  of  the 
American  army,  exclusive  of  the  troops  in  the  south  and  west,  was  also 
about  sixteen  thousand ;  of  whom  three  thousand  were  with  Gates,  in  New 
England — seven  thousand  with  Washington,  at  Middlebrook,  and  the  residue 
in  the  Highlands,  under  M'Dougals,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson,  under 
Putnam. 

II.  After  the  destruction  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery,  in  1777,  the 
fortifications  for  defending  the  Hudson,  were  established  at  West  Point,  and 
at  Stony  and  Verplank's  Points,  at  King's  Ferry,  over  which  the  great  road 
between  the  middle  and  eastern  States  passed.     Against  these  posts  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  proposed  to   open   the   campaign  by  a  brilliant  coup  de 
main.     Washington,  notwithstanding  the  financial  embarrassments  of  the 
country,  having  always  specie  to  reward  spies,  soon  learned  this  intention, 
and  made  his  dispositions  to  repel  the  attack.     On  the  30th  of  May,  the 
forces  selected  for  the  expedition  united  with  that  from  Virginia  under  Mat- 
thews, which  arrived  on  that  day,  at  New  York,  were  conveyed  to  their 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  295 

destined  point,  by  the  fleet  under  Sir  George  Collier.  The  works  at  Stony 
Point  being  incomplete,  were  abandoned  without  resistance,  and  as  they 
commanded  those  on  the  other  bank,  the  latter  were  surrendered — Captain 
Armstrong  and  his  garrison  becoming  prisoners.  Both  forts  were  completed 
by  the  enemy,  and  put  into  the  best  state  of  defence. 

III.  The  contiguity  of  Connecticut  to  New  York,  its  extent  of  coast,  the 
supplies  which  it  furnished  to  the  continental  army,  and  the  many  cruisers 
which  plied  in  the  Sound,  rendered  that  State  peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the 
enemy,  and  provoked  an  enterprise  against  it,  which  was  stimulated,  also, 
by  the  hope,  that  Washington  might  thereby  be  drawn  from  his  impregnable 
position  on  the  North  river.  Governor  Tryon,  with  a  force  of  twenty-six 
hundred  men,  reached  New  Haven  on  the  5th  of  July,  before  the  inhabitants 
had  notice  of  his  approach.  The  militia  hastily  assembled,  but  their  opposi- 
tion was  feeble.  The  invaders  having  seized  the  town,  and  destroyed  the 
naval  and  military  stores,  proceeded  on  the  succeeding  day,  along  the  coast 
to  the  village  of  Fairfield.  They  experienced  more  resistance  here,  yet  the 
spirited  conduct  of  the  people  served  but  as  a  pretext  for  reducing  the  town 
to  ashes,  for  the  wanton  destruction  of  private  property,  and  for  the  mal- 
treatment of  the  unarmed  inhabitants  of  both  sexes.  From  Fairfield,  the 
British  troops  passed  over  the  Sound  to  Huntingdon  Bay,  where  they  remain- 
ed until  the  llth,  when  they  recrossed  the  water  to  the  Cow  Pasture,  a 
peninsula  on  the  east  of  Newark.  At  the  same  time  a  larger  detachment 
from  the  main  army  approached  Horse  Neck,  demonstrating  a  design  of 
penetrating  the  country  in  that  direction. 

General  Parsons,  who  had  been  despatched  by  Washington,  to  aid  and 
direct  the  efforts  of  his  countrymen,  attacked  the  British  with  a  considerable 
militia  force,  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  so  soon  as  they  were  in  motion, 
and  kept  up  throughout  the  day  an  irregular  and  distant  fire,  but  was  unable 
to  check  their  progress.  After  burning  the  town  of  Norwalk,  Tryon  re- 
turned to  Huntingdon  Bay,  to  await  supplies  and  reinforcements ;  and  was 
thence  ordered  to  White  Stone,  where,  in  conference  with  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton, and  Admiral  Collier,  it  was  determined  to  proceed,  with  increased  force 
against  New  London.  But  this  incursion  was  postponed  by  the  assault  of 
the  American  army,  on  the  newly  captured  posts  on  the  North  river. 

IV.  By  an  original  plan  a  simultaneous  attack  on  both  posts  was  intend- 
ed ;  but  it  was,  subsequently,  resolved  to  proceed  against  Stony  Point,  as  a 
distinct  object.  The  enterprise  was  committed  to  General  Wayne,  with 
whom  Major  Lee  was  associated.  He  set  out  at  the  head  of  a  strong  de- 
tachment, at  noon,  and  completed  a  march  of  about  fourteen  miles,  by  eight 
o'clock  of  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  July;  the  hour  of  twelve  being  fixed  for 
the  assault.  The  garrison  consisted  of  six  hundred  men,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-colonel  Johnston.  The  dispositions  for  the  assault  were  made  at 
Spring  Steels,  one  and  a-half  mile  from  the  fort.  Instructions  were  given  to 
attack  the  works  on  the  right  and  left  flank,  at  the  same  moment.  The  re- 
giments of  Febiger  and  Meiggs,  with  Major  Hull's  detachment,  formed  the 
right  column,  and  Butler's  regiment,  with  two  companies  under  Major  Mur- 
phrey,  the  left.  One  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers,  led  by  Lieutenant-colonel 
Fleury,  and  Major  Posey,  constituted  the  van  of  the  right;  and  one  hun- 
dred, under  Major  Stewart,  that  of  the  left.  At  half  past  eleven,  the  two 
columns  moved  on  to  the  charge,  the  van  of  each,  with  unloaded  muskets, 
and  fixed  bayonets ;  each  preceded  by  a  forlorn  hope  of  twenty  men,  com- 
manded, respectively,  by  Lieutenants  Gibbon  and  Knox.  The  assailants 
reached  the  marsh,  in  front  of  the  fort,  undiscovered.  Both  columns  rushed 
forward,  under  a  tremendous  fire  of  musketry  and  grape  shot,  and  entered 
the  works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and  without  discharging  a  single  piece, 


296  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

obtained  possession  of  the  post.  The  humanity  of  the  conquerors  was  no< 
less  honourable  than  their  courage.  Not  a  single  individual  suffered  after 
resistance  had  ceased. 

All  the  troops  distinguished  themselves,  whose  situation  enabled  them  so 
to  do.  Colonel  Fleury  was  the  first  to  enter  the  fort,  and  to  strike  the  Bri- 
tish standard.  Major  Posey  mounted  the  works  almost  at  the  same  instant, 
and  gave  the  watch  word,  "  The  fort  is  our  own."  Lieutenants  Gibbon  and 
Knox  executed  the  service  allotted  to  them,  with  intrepidity  which  could  not 
be  surpassed.  Of  the  party  of  the  former,  seventeen  were  killed  or  wound- 
ed ;  and  the  whole  loss  was  a  hundred.  Of  the  garrison,  sixty -three  were 
killed,  and  five  hundred  and  forty-three  made  prisoners;  and  a  large  quan- 
tity of  military  stores  was  taken. 

The  attack  on  Fort  Fayette,  though,  postponed,  to  that  on  Stony  Point, 
was  not  abandoned.  Two  brigades,  under  General  M'Dougal,  had  been 
ordered  to  attempt  the  works  at  Verplank's,  where  Colonel  Webster  com- 
manded, so  soon  as  Wayne  should  obtain  possession  of  Stony  Point.  The 
messenger,  directed  to  apprize  M'Dougal  of  Wayne's  success,  did  not  com- 
municate with  him  on  his  way  to  camp ;  and  this  error,  or  negligence,  was 
followed  by  others,  which  defeated  subsequent  efforts  upon  the  place,  until  it 
was  relieved  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who,  to  save  it,  relinquished  his  views 
upon  Connecticut.  The  failure  to  obtain  the  fort  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
diminished  the  advantages  expected  from  that  on  the  west ;  and  the  latter, 
requiring  for  its  defence,  a  much  larger  force  than  could  be  spared  for  such 
a  purpose,  was  abandoned.  Sir  Henry,  immediately,  resumed  possession, 
repaired  the  fortifications,  and  regarrisoned  it ;  and  afterward  retired  to  Phi- 
lipsburg.  General  Washington  maintained  his  post  in  the  Highlands.  While 
the  armies  watched  each  other,  frequent  rencounters  took  place,  between 
small  parties,  which  were  of  no  other  importance,  than  to  evince  the  intre- 
pidity, common  to  the  junior  officers,  who  had  been  formed  during  the  war. 
At  length,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  withdrew  into  York  Island,  and  employed  him- 
self in  strengthening  its  fortifications,  that  he  might  direct  his  principal  efforts 
against  the  southern  States,  and  compensate  for  the  abstraction  of  the  fleet, 
now  sent  to  relieve  Penobscot. 

V.  Early  in  June,  Colonel  M'Clean  from  Nova  Scotia,  with  six  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  had  taken  possession  of  a  defensible  piece  of  ground  on  the 
Penobscot  river,  where  he  commenced  such  fortifications,  as  intimated  a 
design  to  maintain  the  position.  This  measure  threatened  a  serious  diminu- 
tion of  the  territory  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  great  exertions  were, 
consequently,  made  to  dislodge  him.  A  considerable  naval  force,  under 
Commodore  Saltonstall,  carried  out,  between  three  and  four  thousand  men, 
commanded  by  General  Lovell,  which  appeared  before  the  new  and  unfi- 
nished work,  on  the  25th  of  June.  Lovell  effected  a  landing,  with  the  loss 
of  fifty  men  killed  and  wounded ;  erected  a  battery  within  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  of  the  main  work  of  the  enemy,  and  kept  up  a  warm  can-, 
nonade  for'several  days.  Making  little  progress  with  his  militia,  he  applied, 
through  the  governor  of  Massachusetts,  to  General  Gates,  commanding  at 
Providence,  for  a  reinforcement  of  four  hundred  continental  troops;  and 
Colonel  Jackson  and  his  regiment  were  immediately  put  in  motion.  But,  on 
the  13th  of  August,  Sir  George  Collier  arrived  in  the  river,  with  a  superior 
naval  force.  Lovell  immediately  re-embarked  his  army,  so  silently  as  to  be 
undiscovered  by  the  garrison,  who,  in  their  lines,  awaited  an  expected  assault. 
His  fleet  offered  a  show  of  resistance,  that  the  transports  might  escape  up  the 
river,  and  land  the  troops  at  a  convenient  point  for  further  retreat.  But  the 
British  admiral  disregarded  this  stratagem ;  the  Americans  gave  way,  and  a 
general  chase  and  unresisted  destruction  ensued.  The  troops  landed  in  a 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  297 

wild  desert  country,  through  which  they  had  to  explore  their  way  without 
provision  or  other  necessaries,  for  more  than  a  hundred  miles,  before  they 
could  obtain  supplies. 

VI.  The  successful  enterprise  at  Stony  Point,  was  speedily  followed  by 
another,  which  equalled  it  in  boldness  of  design.     After  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
had  retired  down  the  Hudson,  Major  Lee  was  employed  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  to  watch  the  proceedings  of  the  British  at  Paules  Hook,  and  the 
motions  of  their  main  army.     The  careless  confidence  of  the  garrison  of  the 
Hook,  suggested  to  him  the  idea  of  surprising  and  carrying  it  off.     The  at- 
tempt was  one  of  much  danger,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  access,  and  the 
greater  difficulty  of  safe  retreat,  which,  without  boats  to  cross  the  Hacken- 
sack,  must  be  made  for  many  miles  up  that  river,  on  the  narrow  neck  between 
it  and  the  Hudson,  and  could  be  secured,  only,  by  its  celerity.   On  the  night 
of  the  18th  of  August,  a  detachment  from  the  division  of  Lord  Stirling,  in- 
cluding three  hundred  men  designed  for  the  expedition,  was  ordered  down,  as 
a  foraging  party.     The  American  troops  having  frequently  foraged  in  this 
vicinage,  the  movement  excited  no  suspicion.     Lord  Stirling  followed,  with 
five  hundred  men,  and  posted  himself  at  the  New  Bridge,  over  the  Hacken- 
sack,  so  as  to  afford  assistance,  should  it  be  necessary*  The  assailing  party, 
under  Major  Lee,  having  passed  the  outworks,  undiscovered,  entered  the 
main  work  at  the  Hook,  at  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  after  a 
feeble  resistance,  with  the  loss  of  only  two  killed  and  three  wounded,  made 
one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  prisoners,  including  some  officers.     Very  few  of 
the  British  were  killed.     Major  Sutherland,  who  commanded  the  garrison, 
threw  himself,  with  forty  or  fifty  Hessians,  into  a  strong  redoubt,  which  it 
was  thought  unadvisable  to  attack,  lest  the  time  employed,  should  endanger 
the  retreat ;  the  guns  fired  in  New  York  and  from  the  ships  in  the  harbour, 
giving  full  evidence,  that  the  alarm  was  complete.     Wasting  no  time,  there- 
fore, in  destroying  works,  which  could  easily  be  replaced,  Lee,  expeditiously, 
withdrew  with  his  prisoners.     To  favour  his  retreat,  boats  had  been  placed 
at  Dow's  Ferry,  on  the  Hackensack,  near  the  Hook,  with  instructions  to  the 
officer  in  command,  to  await  his  arrival,  which  it  was  supposed  would  be 
before  morning.     Day  appearing  without  the  detachment,  the  officer  sup- 
posed the  attack  had  been  postponed,  and  retired  with  his  boats  to  Newark. 
The  column,  though  greatly  fatigued,  was  compelled  to  proceed  to  New 
Bridge,  covered  by  the  force  of  Lord  Stirling.     By  mutual  mistake,  this 
party,  and  a  party  under  the  tory  Colonel,  Vanbuskirk,  which  crossed  each 
other,  avoided  a  battle,  each  supposing,  that  it  was  opposed  by  a  superior 
force. 

VII.  Among  the  causes  which  now  operated  to  paralyze  the  exertions  of 
the  Americans,  was  the  depreciation  of  the  paper  currency.     We  have  seen 
the  extraordinary  spectacle  of  thirteen  colonies,  and  afterwards  States,  wholly 
independent  of  each  other,  carrying  on,  by  themselves  and  their  deputies,  a 
burdensome  war,  against  one  of  the  most  powerful  nations  of  the  earth; 
raising  armies  on  the  most  expensive,  as  well  as  dangerous,  establishment; 
carrying  war  into  a  neighbouring  State,  and  equipping  an  efficient,  though 
small  navy ; — without  commerce  and  without  revenue.     These  almost  mi- 
raculous events  were  produced,  in  a  great  measure,  by  a  paper  currency, 
sustained  by  the  ignorance,  the  confidence,  and  the  patriotism  of  the  people. 

Paper  money  was  a  familiar  agent  throughout  the  continent ;  and  south  of 
New  England,  with  the  exception  of  South  Carolina,  its  credit  had  been,  ge- 
nerally, well  preserved ;  the  quantity  being  much  below  the  demand  of  com- 
mercial exchange.  Its  extension,  therefore,  in  the  first  stages  of  the  revolu- 
tion, was  hailed  by  all  classes  as  a  real  benefit — as  a  supply  of  vital  fluid  to 
the  body  politic,  which  renewed  and  increased  its  vigour.  The  commerce  of 
2P 


298  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

the  colonies  with  England  was  a  perpetual  drain  of  their  specie ;  and  the  busi- 
ness of  the  continent,  always  languished  for  want  of  a  circulating  medium 
At  the  commencement  of  the  revolution,  too,  the  quantity  of  coin  usually  it 
the  country,  was  greatly  diminished.  When  the  intercourse  with  Greai 
Britain  had  ceased,  and  the  credit  of  the  colonists  with  their  merchants  was 
discontinued,  part  of  the  current  gold  and  silver  was  absorbed  in  the  paymen 
of  balances ;  part  by  the  operations  of  the  new  authorities,  particularly,  ir 
the  expedition  to  Canada;  and  part  by  the  hoarding  of  those,  who  foresaw 
the  effects  of  the  almost  boundless  extension  of  the  paper  system. 

The  necessity,  therefore,  of  a  circulating  medium  co-operated,  admirably 
with  the  patriotism  of  the  people,  to  facilitate  the  use  of  the  continental  bill: 
of  credit;  and,  though,  no  specific  funds  were  pledged  for  their  redemption 
and  the  government  had  none  competent  to  that  object,  the  occasion  and  th< 
circumstances,  gave  such  confidence  in  their  value,  that  he  was  deemed  j 
traitor  to  his  country,  who  manifested  a  suspicion,  that  the  public  faith  woul< 
not  be  religiously  observed.  So  early  as  January,  1776,  Congress  passed  5 
resolution  on  this  delicate  subject,  denouncing  against  those  who  should  dis 
courage  the  circulation  of  the  bills,  the  penalty  of  being  deemed  enemies  t< 
their  country.*  But  this  delusion  could  not  be  complete  with  thinking  men 
nor  permanent  with  any  class.  As  the  quantity  of  bills  daily  increased 
and  soon  exceeded  all  demands  for  commercial  purposes,  and  could  neithe 
find  their  way  into  foreign  countries  nor  be  absorbed  at  home,  their  valu 
became,  necessarily,  greatly  impaired,  and  their  redemption  at  par  imprac 
ticable. 

Aware  that  this  truth  must  be  betrayed,  to  all,  by  its  effects,  Congress  la 
boured  to  procrastinate  an  event,  pregnant  with  difficulties,  they  could  nc 
surmount.  The  emissions  were  small,  as  possible,  and  disbursements  so  par 
simonious,  as  almost  to  produce  the  mischief  dreaded,  from  that  want  of  pe 
cuniary  resources  which  might  result  from  the  failure  of  public  credit.  Th 
first  emission  was  of  two  millions  of  dollars,  in  June,  1775,  to  which  a  fur 
ther  million  was  added,  on  the  25th  of  the  following  month,  and  on  the  29t] 
of  November,  an  additional  three  millions.  All  these  sums  were  to  be  re 
deemed  by  four  annual  payments,  the  first  of  which,  on  the  last  emission,  t 
be  made,  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  November,  1783 ;  and  the  quota  c 
each  colony,  was  apportioned  to  the  relative  number  of  its  inhabitants.  Thes 
sums  were  supposed  to  be  adequate  to  defray  expenses  to  the  10th  of  June 
1776.  But  the  march  of  events,  soon  required  further  issues,  and  by  th 
22d  of  July,  1776,  they  amounted  to  twenty  millions,  which,  for  some  months 
were,  almost  universally,  received  at  par.  Thus,  whilst  the  ministry  o 
England  were  perplexed  to  raise  supplies,  the  American  patriots,  gave  th 
power  of  gold  to  paper  rags,  by  simple  volition. 

But  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  Congress  to  limit  the  issue  of  paper  money 
the  right  to  emit  it  pertaining  to  every  State,  and  being  liberally  exercised 
To  economise  disbursements,  to  call  in  by  taxes  a  part  of  the  sums  disbursed 
thereby,  diminishing  the  quantity,  and  increasing  the  demand,  were  the  onl; 
possible  means  of  preventing  such  an  accumulation,  as  infallibly  to  continu 
its  depreciation,  until  it  should,  entirely,  cease  to  be  a  circulating  medium 
But  the  disbursements  were  made  by  too  many  hands  to  be  economised,  am 
the  power  of  taxation  was  not  in  Congress.  That  body  could,  only,  recom 
mend  the  imposition  of  taxes,  and  their  recommendations  were,  perhaps,  th 
less  attended  to,  because,  whatever  might  be  the  public  exigencies,  the  mea 
sure  was,  at  all  times,  unpopular,  and  could,  only,  be  effectual,  by  being  uni 
versal.  It  was  earnestly  recommended,  to  the  several  colonies,  and  after 

*  Marshall. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  299 

wards  to  the  States,  to  adopt  measures  to  redeem  their  quotas  of  the  bills  of 
credit  emitted  by  Congress ;  but  such  was  the  danger  apprehended  from  im- 
mediate taxation,  that  the  payment  of  the  first  instalment  of  the  first  emission, 
was  to  be  postponed  until  1779,  by  which  time  it  was  certain  the  deprecia- 
tion must  be  considerable. 

Depreciation  had  made  much  progress,  before  the  taxation  commenced, 
and  the  remedy  was  so  sparingly  applied,  as  little  to  affect  the  disease.  It 
is  yet  a  problem  unsolved,  whether  the  revolution  would  have  been  aided  by 
a  more  liberal  resort  to  taxes.  As  it  was  dangerous  to  attempt  the  enforce- 
ment of  taxation,  palliatives  were  necessarily  resorted  to.  A  loan  of  five 
millions  was  proposed,  at  an  interest  of  four  per  cent. ;  the  principal  to  be 
repaid  in  three  years,  and  for  the  greater  accommodation  of  lenders,  a  loan 
office  was  to  be  established  in  each  State.  No  certificate  of  loan  to  be  less 
than  three  hundred  dollars.  A  hope  was  entertained,  that  the  loan  would 
fill  immediately,  and  would  diminish  the  bills  in  circulation ;  and  that  the 
certificates  being  of  large  amount,  would  not  be  adapted  to  ordinary  use.  A 
lottery  of  four  classes  was  also  suggested,  by  which  it  was  proposed  to  raise 
one  million  and  five  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  to  draw  in  a  large  sum  of 
continental  money  by  the  sale  of  the  tickets;  to  retain,  with  the  consent  of 
the  successful  adventurers,  the  small  prizes  in  each  class,  for  tickets  in  the 
succeeding  one,  and  the  large  prizes  on  loan.  These  means  were  wholly 
inadequate  to  the  proposed  object. 

The  faith  of  the  people,  however,  supported  the  paper  currency  in  undi- 
minished  reputation,  until  near  the  close  of  the  campaign  of  1776.  Early  in 
1777,  the  depreciation  became  considerable;  but,  it  was,  generally,  mistaken 
for  the  rise  of  prices ;  and  in  the  ignorance  of  political  economy  which  pre- 
vailed, it  was  supposed,  that  such  effect  might  be  violently  restrained.  To  this 
end,  Congress  declared,  that,  whoever,  in  any  purchase,  sale,  or  barter, 
whatever,  should  rate  gold  or  silver  coin,  higher  than  the  continental  bills 
of  credit,  ought  to  be  deemed  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  the  United  States, 
and  to  forfeit  the  value  of  the  subject,  in  which  such  difference  was  made. 
And  by  most,  perhaps,  by  all  of  the  States,  the  paper  bills  were  made  a  tender 
in  payment  of  debts.  But,  a  more  effective  and  wise  measure  was,  at  the 
same  time,  devised.  The  States  were  urged,  respectively,  to  support  the 
credit  of  the  Union,  by  a  direct  engagement  to  redeem  these  bills  at  the  times 
fixed  by  Congress,  and,  immediately,  to  impose  such  taxes  as  the  people  were 
in  condition  to  pay.  They  were  assured,  that,  for  all  moneys  thus  raised, 
each  State  should  receive  a  credit,  with  the  United  States,  in  its  quota  of  the 
public  debt,  that  had  been  apportioned  to  them.  At  the  same  time,  a  further 
loan  of  two  millions  was  voted.  The  recommendations, of  Congress  were 
complied  with.  The  situation  of  the  south,  in  these  circumstances,  required 
additional  measures  for  relief.  That  portion  of  the  country  had  been  supplied 
by  British  merchants  and  British  capital.  The  colonial  traders  had  credit  with 
such  merchants ;  and  large  balances  were  annually  owing,  and  in  the  hands 
of  the  planters,  who,  generally,  preserved  a  credit  to  the  value  of  their  crops. 
To  compel  the  American  merchant  to  receive  his  debts,  in  paper,  whilst  he 
was  bound  to  pay,  in  specie,  would  have  been  highly  unjust ;  and  he  was, 
therefore,  authorized  to  pay  those  due  from  him,  into  the  public  treasury , 
and  was  assured,  that  he  should  be,  thereby,  discharged  from  the  claims  of 
has  creditor. 

But  neither  loans  nor  taxes  could  be  obtained  in  sufficient  sums  to  prevent 
recourse  to  new  issues  of  bills,  and  with  every  issue  their  value  continued  to 
decrease.  Congress,  in  1779,  made  a  second  effort  to  limit  the  flood  of 
paper.  They  required  of  the  Stares,  on  the  first  of  January,  to  pay  into  the 
continental  treasury,  their  respective  quotas  of  fifteen  millions  for  the  service 


300  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  that  year,  and  of  six  millions,  annually,  from  and  after  the  year  1779,  as 
a  fund  for  reducing  their  early  emissions  and  loans;  and  on  the  21st  of  May, 
they  further  required,  within  the  current  year,  forty-five  millions  of  dollars. 
Large  as  these  requisitions  nominally  were,  they  were  wholly  insufficient. 
The  depreciation  increased  so  rapidly  as  to  defy  all  calculation.  Towards 
the  close  of  1777,  it  was  two  or  three  for  one — in  1778,  five  or  six  for  one — 
in  1779,  twenty-eight  for  one — in  1780,  sixty  for  one,  in  the  first  half  of  the 
year ;  and  near  its  close,  it  fell  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  for  one.  In  some  few 
places  it  continued  in  circulation  for  the  first  four  or  five  months  of  1781 ;  but, 
in  this  last  period,  many  would  not  take  it  at  any  rate,  whilst  others  received 
it  at  a  depreciation  of  several  hundred  for  one. 

To  still  the  clamour  which  prevailed  against  these  excessive  issues,  Con- 
gress resolved,  in  October,  1779,  that  no  further  sum  should  be  issued,  on 
any  account,  than  would  increase  the  circulation  to  two  hundred  millions, 
and  no  greater  part  of  the  sum,  wanting  to  that  amount,  than  was  indis- 
pensable for  the  public  exigencies,  until  adequate  supplies  could  be  otherwise 
obtained,  for  which  reliance  was  placed  upon  the  States.  But  Congress 
could  not  maintain  its  resolution;  and  soon  completed  the  sum  they  had 
fixed  as  the  maximum.  At  length,  their  paper  became  absolutely  worthless ; 
and  they  were  almost  wholly  deprived  of  pecuniary  means.  Yet  an  effort 
was  made  to  revive  the  credit  of  their  bills,  by  a  new  issue  under  State  gua- 
rantees— the  old  to  be  called  in  by  taxes,  and  burned ;  and  one  dollar  in 
new,  to  be  emitted  for  every  twenty  of  the  old.  Of  the  ten  millions  thus  to 
be  substituted,  four  were  to  be  subject  to  the  orders  of  Congress,  and  the  re- 
mainder to  that  of  the  several  States — the  whole  to  be  redeemable  in  specie, 
within  six  years ;  to  bear  an  interest  at  the  rate  of  five  per  cent.,  to  be  paid, 
also,  in  specie,  at  the  redemption  of  the  bills,  or  at  the  election  of  the  owner, 
annually,  in  bills  of  exchange,  on  the  American  commissioners  in  Europe. 
This  plan  was  soon  found  impracticable,  and  public  credit  being  at  the  lowest 
ebb,  the  army  was  well  nigh  dissolved,  and  the  country  opened  in  every 
direction,  to  British  excursions. 

The  crisis  was  a  trying  one,  but  it  was  happily  past.  New  resources 
were  discovered,  and  the  war  carried  on  with  vigour.  Much  specie  was 
about  this  time  (1781)  introduced  into  the  United  States,  by  trade  with  the 
French  and  Spanish  West  Indies,  and  by  means  of  the  French  army  in 
Rhode  Island.  The  King  of  France  gave  the  United  States  a  subsidy  of 
six  millions  of  livres,  and  became  their  security  for  ten  millions  more,  bor- 
rowed by  them  in  the  Netherlands.  A  regular  system  of  finance  was  in- 
troduced by  Mr.  Robert  Morris,  who  was  placed  at  its  head,  and  whose  indi- 
vidual credit  was  Jiberally  and  advantageously  used.  The  Bank  of  North 
America  was  established,  and  thus  Congress  and  the  country  were  extricated 
from  the  most  imminent  peril.  By  the  scale  of  depreciation,  the  war  was 
carried  on  for  almost  five  years,  for  little  more  than  a  million  sterling,  and 
two  hundred  millions  of  paper  dollars,  were  made  redeemable  by  five  silver 
ones. 

New  Jersey  seems  to  have  used  her  right  of  making  money,  with  great 
moderation,  and  that  dread  of  debt,  which  has  peculiarly  characterized 
her.  By  the  act  of  June  8th,  1779,  she  called  in  all  the  bills  of  credit  issued 
during  her  colonial  state ;  and  directed,  that  all  not  presented  before  the  first 
of  January,  1780,  should  be  irredeemable.  The  provincial  conventions,  be* 
fore  the  constitution  of  the  State,  authorized  the  issue  of  sixty  thousand 
pounds,  and  provided  for  its  extinction  by  taxation.  This  debt  was  adopted 
by  the  State.  Under  the  requisition  of  Congress,  March,  1780,  the  State 
authorized  the  issue  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  pounds,  pay- 
able with  interest  in  yearly  instalments,  and  the  whole  within  six  years. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  301 

But  of  this  sum  the  whole  was  not  emitted.  On  the  9th  of  January,  1781, 
a  further  emission  of  thirty  thousand  pounds  was  authorized,  also,  redeema- 
ble within  six  years.  This  sum  was  in  small  bills.  And  there  were,  pro- 
bably, some  other  inconsiderable  issues.  But  for  the  redemption  of  all, 
taxes  were  duly  and  timely  laid.  The  State  bills  ceased  to  be  a  tender  under 
the  act  of  June  13th,  1781 ;  and  the  continental  bills,  by  an  act  of  the  22d 
of  the  same  month.  The  taxes  were,  during  the  depreciation,  nominally 
enormous ;  and  the  amounts  proposed  to  be  raised  at  different  times,  strong- 
ly mark  the  course  of  depreciation.  By  a  resolution  of  November,  1778, 
the  Assembly  proposed  to  raise  one  hundred  thousand  pounds,  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  government  during  the  succeeding  year;  of  which  sum  they  pro- 
posed to  pay  to  the  governor  one  thousand  pounds,  and  to  Robert  Morris, 
chief-justice,  five  hundred  pounds,  and  the  salaries  of  the  other  officers  pro- 
portionately. And  in  November  20th,  1779,  they  resolved  to  raise  nine 
millions  of  dollars,  by  the  first  of  October  following ;  and  appropriated  for 
the  salary  of  the  governor,  seven  thousand  pounds,  and  for  that  of  David 
Brearly,  chief-justice,  five  thousand,  and  to  the  other  officers  proper- 
tionably. 

During  the  war,  there  were  large  amounts  of  property  belonging  to  the 
tories,  confiscated;  but  they  proved  of  little  avail  to  the  public  treasury. 
The  sales  were  generally  made  on  credit,  and  by  the  progressive  deprecia- 
tion, what  might  have  been  dear  at  the  time  of  purchase,  became  dog  cheap 
at  the  time  of  payment. 

The  most  extensive  evils  resulted  from  making  the  paper  bills  a  tender  in 
payment  of  debts  contracted  to  be  payable  in  gold  and  silver.  They  fell  chiefly 
on  those  who  lived  upon  fixed  incomes,  or  possessed  capitals,  previously  accu- 
mulated or  invested.  The  annuitant,  the  widow,  the  heir,  and  the  legatee,  in 
receiving  the  nominal  amount  of  their  respective  interests,  did  not,  in  many 
cases,  receive  a  cent  in  the  dollar.  In  a  vast  number  of  instances,  the  earn- 
ings of  a  long  life  of  care  and  diligence,  were  wrested  from 'their  possessors. 
But  the  subject  was  not  one  of  unmixed  evil.  It  was  generally  useful  to  the 
poor ;  to  those  who  hoarded  not,  but  lived  to-day  upon  the  labour  of  yester- 
day or  to-morrow.  Whilst  the  paper  money  was  current,  none  were  idle 
from  want  of  employment.  Expending  their  money  as  fast  as  they  received 
it,  they  always  had  its  full  value.  No  Agrarian  law  could  have  more  effec- 
tually equalized  the  conditions  of  the  State,  than  the  tender  of  these  depre- 
ciating bills.  The  poor  became  rich,  the  rich  poor.  All  that  the  money  lost 
in  value  was  taken  from  the  capitalists;  but  the  active  and  industrious  were 
safe,  in  conforming  the  price  of  their  services  to  the  state  of  the  depreciation. 
The  debtor  who  possessed  property  of  any  kind,  could  easily  extinguish  his 
debts.  Every  thing  useful  found  a  ready  purchaser.  The  price  of  a  bul- 
lock to-day  would  pay  that  of  a  slave  purchased  a  few  months  before — that 
of  a  good  horse,  the  value  of  an  improved  plantation. 

The  worst  evil  of  the  paper  system  was  its  demoralizing  effect  upon 
the  community.  The  nature  of  obligations  was  so  far  changed,  that  the 
honest  man,  only,  withheld  the  payment  of  his  debts.  A  flood  of  specula- 
tion and  fraud  deluged  the  land,  and  found  its  way  into  its  courts  and  its 
legislative  halls,  overwhelming  truth,  honour  and  justice.* 

VIII.  The  summer  of  1779  passed  away,  without  furnishing,  in  America, 
any  event  which  could  have  a  material  influence  on  the  issue  of  the  war. 
But  it  was  otherwise  in  Europe,  where  a  coalition,  long  looked  for,  and  from 
which  arose  sanguine  expectations,  was  effected.  Spain  resolved  to  unite 
with  France,  and  to  make,  with  her,  common  cause  against  Great  Britain. 

*  Ramsay. 


302  HISTORY  .OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

These  two  powers,  it  was  believed,  would  be  able  to  obtain  complete  as- 
cendency at  sea,  and  their  fleets  to  maintain  their  superiority  on  the 
American  coast,  as  well  as  in  Europe.  Yet,  the  United  States  were  not 
acknowledged  by  Spain,  as  sovereign  and  independent ;  nor  was  their  min- 
ister, Mr.  Jay,  who  had  been,  some  time  before,  sent  to  the  Spanish  court, 
accredited. 

IX.  As  the  campaign  drew  towards  a  close,  without  realizing  the  hope 
which  had  been  cherished,  that  the  war  would  terminate  with  it,  General 
Washington  laboured  to  induce  the  civil  authorities  to  prepare  in  season  for 
the  ensuing  campaign,  exhibiting  the  alarming  fact,  that  between  October,  1779, 
and  the  last  of  June,  of  the  coming  year,  the  terms  of  service  of  near  one-half 
of  the  soldiers  of  the  army  would  expire.     But  it  was  impossible  to  remove 
the  obstacles  to  prompt  and  united  action.    They  were  inherent  in  the  system 
of  confederation,  in  the  novelty  and  untried  circumstances  of  the  States,  and 
in  that  selfishness  which  had  succeeded  the  first  glow  of  patriotic  indignation. 
Thus,  the  resolutions  of  Congress,  relating  to  the  military  establishment, 
were  not  passed^  until  the  9th  of  February,  1780;  and  did  not  require  the 
troops  to  rendezvous  before  the  first  of  April.     The  necessary  acts  of  the 
State  Legislatures,  to  give  effect  to  these  resolutions,  were  slow  and  irre- 
gular, uncertain  and  unseasonable ;   and  the  army  could  not  possess  that 
consistency  and  stability,  which  a  better  system  would  have  given. 

X.  The  season  for  active  operations,  in  a  northern  climate,  having  ceased, 
the  army  retired  into  winter  quarters.     It  was  divided  into  two  divisions — 
the  northern  under  the  command  of  .Major-general  Heath,  had  for  its  princi- 
pal object,  the  security  of  West  Point,  and  the  posts  on  the  North  river,  as 
low  as  King's  Ferry;  subordinate  to  which,  was  the  protection  of  the  country 
on  the  Sound,  and  the  Hudson  towards  King's  Bridge.     The  other  and  prin- 
cipal division,  under  Washington,  originally  proposed  to  encamp  on  the 
heights  in  the  rear  of  the  Scotch  Plains,  New  Jersey ;  but  Morristown  was 
subsequently  chosen,  near  which,  the  army  was  disposed  in  huts,  late  in  De- 
cember.    From  this  post  detachments  were  thrown  out,  towards  the  North 
river  and  Staten  Island,  for  the  purpose  of  covering  the  country  from  the 
depredations  of  the  enemy. 

XI.  During  the  year  1779,  the  marauding  parties  of  tories  from  New  York 
and  Staten  Island,  and  occasionally,  some  of  the  enemy's  regular  troops, 
made  devastating  excursions  into  the  State ;  the  former  for  the  purpose  of 
plundering  and  capturing  the  unarmed  inhabitants,  and  the  latter,  under  the 
cover  of  legitimate  war,  to  do  the  office  of  brigands.    The  enormities  thus  in- 
flicted, were  greatly  increased,  by  associates  sheltering  themselves  in  the  deep 
pine  forests  of  Monmouth  county,  who,  scarce  regarding  the  distinctions  of 
whig  and  tory,  preyed  on  all  within  their  power.    Of  these  freebooters,  Fagan, 
Bourke  alias  Emmons,  Stephen  West,  Ezekiel  Williams,  and  one  Fenton,  were 
most  noted.     Fagan  was  hunted  and  killed  by  a  party  of  militia,  under  Cap- 
tain Benjamin  Dennis,  who  soon  after,  (January)  by  the  agency  of  one  Van- 
kirk,  entrapped  Bourke,  West,  and  Williams,  whilst  setting  off  from  Rock 
Pond,  for  New  York,  with  their  booty.    A  small  party,  which  lay  concealed, 
shot  them  as  they  approached  their  boats.    Their  bodies,  with  that  of  Fagan, 
were  hung  in  chains.     Fenton  was  soon  after  killed  by  stratagem. 

Bergen  county  was  particularly  exposed  to  hostile  inroads,  and  the  malice 
of  the  tories.  On  the  10th  of  May,  about  an  hundred  of  the  latter  approach- 
ed, by  the  way  of  New  Dock,  the  settlements  of  Closter,  and  carried  off 
Cornelius  Tallman,  Samuel  Demarest,  Jacob  Cole,  and  George  Buskirk; 
killed  Cornelius  Demarest,  wounded  Hendrick  Demarest,  Jeremiah  Wester- 
velt,  Dow  Tallman,  and  others;  burned  the  dwellings  of  Peter  Demarest, 
Matthias  Bogart,  Cornelius  Kuyler,  Samuel  Demarest,  together  with  many 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  303 

out-houses  of  other  persons.  They  attempted  to  consume  every  dwelling 
they  entered,  but  the  fire  was,  in  some,  extinguished.  They  wantonly  de- 
stroyed the  furniture  and  stock,  and  abused  the  women.  They  were  so 
closely  pursued  in  their  retreat,  by  the  militia  and  a  few  continental  troops, 
that  they  carried  off  no  cattle,  although  that  was  a  principal  object  of  the  in- 
cursion. This  party  belonged  to  the  provincial  corps  of  Colonel  Vanbuskirk, 
an  active  and  violent  tory  partisan,  and  consisted  of  former  residents  of 
Closter  and  Tappan,  and  some  negroes. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  a  detachment  of  one  thousand  men,  under  that  com- 
mander in  person,  swept  over  the  county,  marking  their  course  with  desola- 
tion and  slaughter.  Not  a  house  within  their  reach,  belonging  to  a  whig 
inhabitant,  escaped.  Mr.  Abraham  Allen,  and  Mr.  George  Campbell,  were 
barbarously  murdered ;  Mr.  Joost  Zabriskie  was  stabbed  in  fifteen  places, 
and  two  negro  women  were  shot  down,  whilst  endeavouring  to  drive  oft*  their 
master's  cattle.  The  party  avoided  the  vengeance  of  the  militia  by  a  speedy 
retreat  with  their  plunder. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  a  party  of  more  than  fifty  tories,  from  New  York, 
landed  in  Monmouth  county,  and  reached  Tinton  Falls  undiscovered.  They 
surprised  and  carried  off  Colonel  Hendrickson,  Lieutenant-colonel  Wikoff, 
Captains  Shadwick  and  Mr.  Knight,  with  several  privates  of  the  militia,  and 
drove  away  a  few  sheep  and  horned  cattle.  They  were  assailed  by  about 
thirty  militia,  whom  they  repelled,  with  the  loss  of  two  .killed  and  ten 
wounded. 

About  the  first  of  August,  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  Farr,  near  Cross- 
wicks  Baptist  Church,  was  attacked  by  several  of  the  forest  ruffians.  The 
family  consisted  of  himself,  wife  and  daughter.  The  assailants  broke  into 
the  dwelling,  mortally  wounded  Mr.  Farr,  and  slew  his  wife  outright.  The 
daughter  escaped  to  the  house  of  a  neighbour ;  and  the  alarmed  villains  fled 
without  plunder. 

On  the  18th  of  October,  a  party  of  the  enemy's  light  dragoons  landed  at 
Sandy  Point,  above  Amboy,  and  proceeding  to  Bound  Brook,  burned  some 
stores ;  thence  by  Van  Veighton's  Bridge,  where  they  destroyed  a  number 
of  boats,  they  marched  to  Somerset  Court-house,  which  they  fired.  On  their 
return,  by  the  way  of  Brunswick,  to  South  Amboy,  they  were  annoyed  by 
the  militia.  Their  colonel  and  commandant,  had  his  horse  killed  under  him, 
and  was  himself  made  prisoner. 

XII.  Among  the  evils  most  dreaded,  from  the  depreciation  of  the  conti- 
nental currency,  was  the  difficulty  which  must  necessarily  arise  in  subsisting 
the  army.  This  calamity  was  more  hastened  than  deferred,  by  the  parsi- 
mony with  which  Congress  withheld,  from  the  public  agents,  the  money  ne- 
cessary for  public  purposes.  Contracts  could  not  be  made  co-extensive  with 
the  public  wants,  and  many  formed,  were  not  fulfilled.  A  modification  of 
the  commissary  department,  in  January,  1780,  unfortunately,  produced  new 
embarrassments,  and,  at  length,  the  credit  of  the  purveying  agents  was  wholly 
destroyed.  Gaunt  famine  invaded  the  American  camp  at  Morristown ;  and 
the  procurement  of  supplies,  by  forced  levies,  became  indispensable. 

The  commander-in-chief  required,  from  each  county  in  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  a  quantity  of  meat  and  flour  proportioned  to  its  resources,  to  be  for- 
warded to  the  army  within  six  days.  To  mitigate  the  odium  of  this  measure, 
he  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  magistrates,  stating  the  urgency  of  the 
wants  of  the  army,  but  with  assurances,  that  if  voluntary  relief  could  not  be 
obtained,  a  resort  to  force  would  be  inevitable.  .  To  the  honour  of  the  State, 
notwithstanding  its  exhaustion,  the  required  supplies  were  instantly  furnished. 
Nor  is  less  honour  due  to  the  soldiery,  for  the  patient  and  unrepining  forti- 
tude with  which  they  bore  their  sufferings.  In  the  Highlands,  similar  wants 


304  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

were  relieved  by  similar  measures,  which  were  more  than  once  necessary  to 
both  camps.  Soon  after,  the  energies  which  the  French  displayed  in  the  war, 
awakened  a  corresponding  disposition  in  Congress,  and  in  several  States, 
which,  in  a  new  system  of  finance,  gave  adequate  relief;  but  not  until  more 
serious  evils,  as  will  appear  in  the  progress  of  the  narrative,  had  developed 
themselves. 

XIII.  The  isolated  position  of  New  York,  had  been  much  relied  upon  by 
the  British  commander  for  its  defence.     But  the  barrier  which  the  waters 
afforded,  was  entirely  removed  by  the  severity  of  the  frost  in  the  winter  of 
1779,  1780.     The  ice  becoming  of  such  thickness,  as  to  permit  the  army, 
with  its  wagons  and  artillery,  to  pass  without  danger,  invited  the  enterprise 
of  the  commander-in-chief.     His  judgment  and  love  of  fame,  alike,  prompted 
him  to  attempt  the  city  ;  but,  the  numerical  inferiority  of  his  force,  still  more 
the  feebleness  of  his  troops  from  the  want  of  food  and  raiment,  were  in- 
superable obstacles.     He  eagerly  engaged,  however,  in  such  enterprises  to 
distress  the  enemy,  as  were  in  his  power,  without  departure  from  the  cau- 
tious system  which  had  proven  so  beneficial  to  his  country.     The  British 
troops,  on  Staten  Island,  were  computed  at  twelve  hundred  men.  The  bridge 
of  ice,  over  the  waters,  offered  him,  seemingly,  a  fair  opportunity  to  surprise 
and  bear  off  this  corps,  particularly,  as  the  communication  between  Staten, 
and  Long,  and  York  islands,  was  supposed  impracticable. 

The  enterprise  was  confided  to  General  Lord  Stirling,  with  a  force  of  two 
thousand  five  hundred  men,  united  to  a  detachment  under  General  Irvine. 
On  the  night  of  the  14th  of  January,  1780,  he  moved  from  Dehart's  Point; 
and  detaching  Lieutenant-colonel  Willet  to  Decker's  house,  where  Buskirk's 
regiment  of  two  hundred  men  was  stationed,  proceeded,  himself,  to  the  water- 
ing place,  where  the  main  body  was  posted.  But  the  enemy,  apprehensive 
of  attack,  was  abundantly  vigilant ;  and,  contrary  to  the  intelligence  pre- 
viously received,  the  communication  between  the  island  and  New  York  was 
still  open.  The  object  of  the  expedition,  therefore,  was  unattainable,  unless 
at  an  unjustifiable  risk,  as  a  reinforcement  from  New  York  might  endanger 
the  American  detachment.  Lord  Stirling  retreated  on  the  morning  of  the 
17th,  sustaining  an  inconsiderable  .loss  by  a  charge  of  cavalry  on  his  rear. 
The  excessive  cold  continuing,  the  rivers  were  soon  afterwards  completely 
blocked  up.  Even  arms  of  the  sea  were  passable  on  the  ice,  and  the  islands, 
about  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson,  presented  to  the  view,  and  in  effect,  an  un- 
broken continent. 

XIV.  The  want  of  power  in  Congress,  to  raise  funds,  and  to  enforce  its 
decrees  of  every  character,  almost  deprived  it  of  the  semblance  of  a  national 
council.     The  articles  of  confederation  had  been  slowly  approved,  and  were 
totally  inefficient  to  protect  the  many  general  interests  which  it  embraced. 
The  establishment  of  the  army,  for  the  ensuing  campaign,  was  fixed  at  thirty- 
five  thousand  two  hundred  and  eleven  men,  and  the  measures  for  recruiting 
it,  which  preceded,  a  few  days,  those  for  its  support,  partook  of  the  State 
system,  which  was  entirely  predominant.     No  means  were  used  for  raising 
men  under  the  authority  of  Congress ;  and  the  several  States  were  required 
by  draught,  or  otherwise,  to  bring  into  the  field,  by  the  first  day  of  April,  the 
numbers  necessary  to  their  respective  quotas.     This  course  gave,  unhappily, 
to  the  American  confederacy,  the  semblance,  nay,  substantially,  the  character 
of  an  alliance  of  independent  nations,  whose  embassadors  assembled  in  ge- 
neral Congress,  to  recommend  to  their  respective  sovereigns,  a  plan  of  ope- 
rations which  each  might  pursue  at  pleasure.     The  measures  productive  of 
great  uncertainty  and  delay,  were  reprobated  by  the  commander-in-chief  in 
vain,  and  he  was  doomed  to  struggle  with  embarrassments,  of  which  he  had 
never  ceased  to  complain. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  305 

Famine  was  not  the  only  great  evil  which  beset  the  military  service  in 
1780.  Others,  of  a  serious  nature,  presented  themselves.  The  pay  of  an 
officer  was  reduced,  by  the  depreciation  of  money,  to  a  pittance  wholly  in- 
competent to  his  wants.  That  of  a  major-general  would  not  compensate 
an  express  rider;  nor  that  of  the  captain,  furnish  the  shoes  in  which  he 
marched.  Generally,  without  fortune,  the  officers  had  expended  the  little 
they  possessed,  in  the  first  equipments  for  their  station ;  and  were,  now,  com- 
pelled to  rely  on  the  States,  to  which  they  respectively  belonged,  for  such 
clothing  as  they  might  furnish ;  which  was  so  insufficient  and  unequal,  as  to 
produce  extreme  dissatisfaction,  and  great  reluctance  to  remain  in  service. 

XV.  Among  the  privates  there  grew  out  of  the  very  composition  of  the 
army,  causes  of  disgust,  which  increased  the  dissatisfaction  flowing  from  their 
multiplied  wants.     The  first  effort,  towards  the  end  of  the  campaign  of  1776, 
to  enlist  troops  for  the  war,  had,  in  some  degree,  succeeded.   In  some  States, 
especially  in  Pennsylvania,  many  recruits  had,  for  small  bounties,  thus  en- 
gaged.    Whilst  they  served  without  pay,  and  almost  without  the  necessaries 
of  life,  they  had  the  mortification  to  behold  their  vacant  ranks  filled  by  men, 
who  enlisted  for  a  few  months,  only,  and,  for  that  short  service,  received 
high   bounties,  which,  in  depreciated  money,  seemed  immense.     In  their 
chagrin,  many  were  induced  to  contest  their  engagements,  and  others  to  de- 
sert.   A  representation  of  these  circumstances,  to  Congress,  produced  a  com- 
mittee of  inquiry,  who  reported,  "  that  the  army  was  unpaid  for  five  months; 
that  it  seldom  had  more  than  six  days'  provisions  in  advance ;  and  was,  on 
several  occasions,  for  sundry  successive  days,  without  meat ;  that  it  was  des- 
titute of  forage ;  that  the  medical  department  had  neither  sugar,  tea,  choco- 
late, wine,  or  spirituous  liquors  of  any  kind ;  that  every  department  was  with- 
out money,  and  had  not  even  the  shadow  of  credit  left ;  and  that,  the  patience 
of  the  soldiers,  borne  down  by  the  pressure  of  complicated  sufferings,  was  on 
the  point  of  being  exhausted."     In  the  mean  time,  Congress  resolved,  that 
they  would  make  good  to  the  line,  and  independent  corps  of  the  army,  the 
depreciation  of  their  pay,  by  which  all  the  troops  should  be  placed  on  an 
equal  footing.     But  this  benefit,  dictated  by  simple  justice,  was  limited  to 
those  in  actual  service,  and  to  those  who,  after,  came  into  it,  engaging  for 
three  years,  or  the  war. 

These  resolutions  mitigated,  but  did  not  cure  the  prevailing  griefs.  A  long 
course  of  suffering  had  produced  some  relaxation  of  discipline,  and  the  dis- 
contents of  the  soldiery,  at  length,  broke  forth  into  actual  mutiny. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  two  regiments  from  Connecticut,  paraded  under  arms, 
with  a  declared  resolution  to  return  home,  or  to  obtain  subsistence  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet.  The  soldiers  x)f  other  regiments,  though  not  actually  uniting 
with  the  mutineers,  showed  no  disposition  to  suppress  the  mutiny.  By  great 
exertions  of  the  officers,  and  the  appearance  of  a  neighbouring  brigade  of 
Pennsylvanians,  then  commanded  by  Colonel  Stuart,  the  leaders  were  se- 
cured, and  the  troops  brought  back  to  their  duty.  But  the  temper  of  the 
soldiers,  as  apparent  in  their  replies  to.  the  remonstrances  of  their  officers, 
was  of  an  alarming  nature.  They  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  promises  of 
Congress,  and  demanded  some  present,  substantial,  recompense  for  their  ser- 
vices. A  paper  was  found  in  the  brigade,  supposed  from  New  York,  stimu- 
lating the  troops  to  abandon  the  cause  of  their  country. 

XVI.  The  discontents  of  the  army,  and  the  complaints  of  the  people  of  New 
Jersey,  on  account  of  the  repeated  requisitions  upon  them,  had  been  commu- 
nicated, with  such  exaggerations,  to  the  general,  commanding  in  New  York, 
as  to  induce  the  belief,  that  the  American  soldiers  were  ready  to  desert  their 
standards,  and  the  people  of  New  Jersey  to  change  their  government.     To 
avail  himself  of  these  dispositions,  Knyphausen  crossed  over,  on  the  sixth  of 

2Q 


306  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

June,  with  about  five  thousand  men,  from  Staten  Island,  and  landed  in  the 
night  at  Elizabethtown  Point.  Early  next  morning  he  marched  towards 
Springfield,  by  the  way  of  Connecticut  Farms,  but  soon  perceived,  that  the 
temper  of  the  country  and  army,  had  been  misapprehended. 

Washington  had  taken  measures,  in  concert  with  the  government  of  New 
Jersey,  to  call  out  the  militia,  so  soon  as  occasion  should  require ;  and,  on 
the  appearance  of  the  invading  army,  they  assembled  with  great  alacrity. 
On  their  march  to  Connecticut  Farms,  distant  five  or  six  miles  from  Eli- 
zabethtown, the  British  were  harassed  by  small  parties  of  continental 
troops,  whose  numbers  were  augmented,  every  instant,  "by  the  neighbouring 
militia.  This  resistance  manifested,  too  clearly  to  be  misunderstood,  the 
resolution  and  temper  to  be  encountered  in  the  further  progress  of  the  expe- 
dition. A  halt  was  made  at  the  Connecticut  Farms,  where  a  spirit  of  revenge, 
more  probably  dwelling  in  the  bosom  of  Governor  Tryon,  who  was  present, 
than  in  that  of  Knyphausen,  who  commanded,  directed  this  village,  with  its 
church  and  parsonage,  to  be  reduced  to  ashes.  Another  enormity  was  com- 
mitted, at  the  same  place,  which  aroused  great  indignation,  not  only  in  the 
vicinage,  but  every  where  throughout  the  Union.  Mrs.  Caldwell,  the  wife 
of  the  clergyman,  had  remained  in  her  house,  under  the  conviction,  that  her 
presence  would  protect  it  from  pillage ;  and,  that  her  person  would  not  be 
endangered,  as  in  the  hope  of  preserving  the  Farms,  Colonel  Dayton,  then 
commanding  the  militia,  had  determined  not  to  halt  in  the  settlement,  but  to 
take  post,  at  a  narrow  pass,  on  the  road  leading  to  Springfield..  Whilst  sit- 
ting in  the  midst  of  her  children,  having  a  sucking  infant  in  her  arms,  a 
soldier  came  to  the  window,  and  discharged  his  musket  at  her.  She  received 
the  ball  in  her  bosom  and  instantly  expired.  Ashamed  of  an  act  so  univer- 
sally execrated,  the  British  contended,  that  the  lady  was  the  victim  of  a  ran- 
dom shot  from  the  militia.  Circumstances,  however,  too  strongly  negatived 
this  assertion,  and  a  pathetic  representation  of  the  fact,  published  by  the 
afflicted  husband,  received  universal  credit.  The  husband  was  distinguished 
for  zeal  to  the  American  cause,  and  his  fate  was  very  like  that  of  his  wife. 
He  was,  some  months  after  her  decease,  also  shot  to  death,  by  a  drunken  tory, 
or  British  soldier,  at  Elizabethtown  Point. 

From  the  Farms,  Knyphausen  proceeded  towards  Springfield.  The  Jersey 
brigade,  under  General  Maxwell,  and  the  militia  of  the  neighbourhood,  who 
assembled  in  great  force,  took  an  advantageous  position  at  that  place,  with 
the  resolution  to  defend  it.  Knyphausen  halted,  and  remained  on  the  ground 
all  night;  but  made  no  effort  to  dislodge  the  Americans.  Washington  having 
intelligence  of  this  movement,  marched  his  army  early  in  the  morning  that 
Knyphausen  left  Elizabethtown  Point,  and  advanced  to  the  Short  Hills,  in 
the  rear  of  Springfield.  An  impending  battle  was  avoided  by  the  German 
commander,  who,  hopeless  of  success,  retired  to  the  Point  from  which  he  hi 
marched.  He  was  followed  by  a  detachment,  which  attacked  his  out-posts, 
supposing  it  had  to  contend  with  the  rear  of  his  army  only ;  but  on  du 
very,  that  the  main  body  was  still  at  the  Point,  the  pursuers  were  recalled. 

XVII.  At  this  period,  the  numerical  force  of  the  American  army,  we 
fifty-five  hundred  and  fifty-eight  continental  troops,  of  whom,  only  thi 
thousand  were  effective.     By  return  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  from  his  southei 
conquests,  the  British  regular  force,  in  New  York,  and  its  dependence 
was  increased  to  full  twelve  thousand,  which  could  be  employed  in  the  field, 
whilst  four  thousand  militia  and  refugees  performed  garrison  duty.     Wit 
this  disparity  of  numbers,  the  British  commander  might  well  hope  to  gathei 
important  fruits  from  again  invading  New  Jersey,  particularly,  by  penetrating 
to  the  American  stores  near  Morristown.     After  masking  his  purpose,  an< 
dividing  the  small  force  of  his  adversary,  by  demonstrations  against  We 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  307 

Point,  he  marched,  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  June,  from  Elizabethtown, 
with  five  thousand  infantry,  a  large  body  of  cavalry,  and  from  ten  to  twenty 
field  pieces,  towards  Springfield. 

In  anticipation  of  this  enterprise,  General  Greene  had  remained  at  Spring- 
field, with  two  brigades  of  continental  troops,  and  the  Jersey  militia:  but  in 
apprehension  for  the  posts  in  the  Highlands,  the  greater  part  of  the  army 
had  been  directed,  slowly,  towards  Pompton.  On  observing  the  force  which 
had  entered  the  State,  Washington  halted  and  detached  a  brigade  to  hang  on 
its  right  flank,  whilst  he  prepared  himself  to  support  Greene,  or  otherwise  to 
counteract  the  designs  of  the  enemy. 

At  Springfield,  Major  Lee  was  advanced  on  the  Vauxhall  road,  taken  by 
the  British  right  column ;  and  Colonel  Dayton,  on  the  direct  road,  pursued 
by  the  left.  As  the  enemy  approached  the  town,  a  cannonade  commenced, 
between  their  van  and  the  American  artillery,  which  had  been  posted  to  de- 
fend a  bridge  over  the  Rahway,  guarded  by  Colonel  Angel,  with  less  than 
two  hundred  men.  Colonel  Shreve,  with  his  regiment,  occupied  a  second 
bridge,  in  order  to  cover  the  retreat  of  Angel.  Major  Lee,  with  his  dra- 
goons, and  the  piquets  under  Captain  Walker,  supported  by  Colonel  Ogden, 
defended  a  bridge  on  the  Vauxhall  road.  The  residue  of  the  continental- 
troops,  were  drawn  up  on  high  ground,  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  with  the 
militia  on  the  flanks. 

The  right  column  of  the  British,  advanced  on  Lee,  who  resisted  their  pas- 
sage until  a  body  of  the  enemy  had  forded  the  river  above  him,  when  he 
withdrew  his  corps  to  avoid  being  surrounded.  At  this  instant,  their  left  at- 
tacked Angel,  who  maintained  his  ground  with  persevering  gallantry,  until 
compelled,  after  thirty  minutes  struggle,  to  yield  to  superior  numbers ;  but 
he  retired  in  perfect  order,  and  brought  off  his  wounded.  Shreve,  after 
covering  Angel's  retreat,  rejoined  his  brigade.  The  English  then  took  pos- 
session of  the  town  and  reduced  it  to  ashes.  The  stern  resistance  he  had 
encountered,  the  gallantry  and  discipline  of  the  continental  troops,  their 
firm  countenance  displayed  in  continual  skirmishing,  and  the  strength  of 
Greene's  position,  together  with  tidings,  that  a  formidable  fleet  and  army 
was  daily  expected  from  France,  deterred  Sir  Henry  from  prosecuting  his 
original  design.  He  withdrew  that  afternoon  from  Elizabethtown ;  and  in 
the  same  night  passed  over  to  Staten  Island.  In  this  battle  the  Jersey  bri- 
gade and  militia,  bore  a  conspicuous  and  honourable  part. 

XVIII.  There  is,  perhaps,  no  event  connected  with  the  American  revolu- 
tion, of  more  extraordinary  character,  than  the  devotion  displayed  towards  it, 
by  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette.  Of  high  aristocratic  descent,  rich,  and  with 
every  prospect  of  flattering  consideration,  at  the  court  of  his  king,  he  became 
enamoured  of  the  principles  of  freedom  and  equality,  in  a  distant  and  a 
foreign  land ;  and  against  the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  and  the  disappro- 
bation of  his  prince,  devoted  his  life  and  fortune  to  their  support.  At  the 
close  of  1776,  he  communicated  to  the  American  commissioners,  at  Paris, 
his  determination  to  repair  to  the  United  States.  The  encouragement  which 
they  gave  to  his  wishes  was  retracted,  when  the  reverses  in  New  Jersey 
were  known.  But  his  enthusiasm  was  not  to  be  thus  extinguished ;  and  he 
replied,  that  these  circumstances  rendered  even  inconsiderable  aids  more 
necessary ;  and  that  if  they  could  not  furnish  him  with  a  ship,  he  would 
freight  one  himself,  to  convey  him  and  their  despatches.  This  he  did.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  years,  newly  wedded  to  a  wife  whom  he  loved,  and 
tempted  by  the  pleasures  of  a  luxurious  court,  he  voluntarily  rejected  the 
ready  enjoyments  of  his  condition,  and  sailed  to  America.  He  was  received 
with  such  sentiments  as  his  disinterestedness  merited.  But,  instead  of  using 
this  grateful  disposition,  to  obtain  extraordinary  distinction,  in  the  rendition 


HO*  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  his  services,  as  was  generally  the  case  with  foreigners,  who  then  sought 
employment  in  America,  he,  modestly  and  generously,  declined  a  commission, 
and  requested  leave  to  serve  as  a  volunteer.  Nor  were  the  virtues  of  this 
extraordinary  man,  thus  displayed,  the  temporary  fruits  of  momentary  and 
youthful  excitement.  His  love  of  freedom  and  political  equality,  and  his  dis- 
interested pursuit  of  them,  have  rendered  illustrious  a  long  life ;  and  it  w&uld 
seem,  that  with  him,  at  least,  the  exercise  of  virtuous  passions  had  the  power 
to  give  increase  of  days.  He  became  the  friend  of  Washington.  And  if  a 
nation's  gratitude  be  the  appropriate  meed  for  national  services,  La  Fayette 
has  been  rewarded,  by  his  triumphal  procession,  of  months,  through  the 
North  American  continent. 

When  war  was  declared  between  France  and  England,  La  Fayette  deem- 
ed, that  his  duty  required  him  to  tender  his  services  to  his  own  sovereign. 
He  obtained  the  permission  of  Congress,  to  return,  preserving  his  rank  of 
major-general,  in  the  American  army,  and  all  his  zeal  for  American  inte- 
rests. He  was  received  at  court  with  favour  and  distinction,  and  success- 
fully employed  his  influence,  in  persuading  the  cabinet  to  grant  efficient 
succours  to  the  United  States.  There  being  no  probability  of  active  employ- 
ment in  Europe,  he  returned  to  America,  in  April,  1780 ;  bearing  the  grate- 
ful intelligence,  that  France  would  immediately  despatch  a  considerable  land 
and  naval  armament,  for  the  ensuing  campaign. 

XIX.  These  tidings  gave,  indeed,  a  new  impulse  to  Congress,  the  State 
Legislatures,  and  the  people.     The  first  adopted  vigorous  resolutions  for 
raising  money  and  troops,  which  were  transferred  into  the  laws  of  the  seve- 
ral States.     But,  unfortunately,  the  energy  displayed  in  the  enactment,  did 
not  extend  to  the  execution  of  the  laws ;  the  troops  being  slowly  raised,  and 
in  numbers  far  less  than  the  service  required.     Several  patriotic  individuals 
contributed  largely  to  the  public  funds.    The  citizens  of  Philadelphia  establish- 
ed a  bank,  subscribing  £315,000,  Pennsylvania  currency,  payable  in  specie; 
principally,  with  a  view  to  provide  the  army  with  provisions,  and  without 
contemplation  of  profit  to  the  founders.     The  ladies  of  that  city  set  a  splen- 
did example  of  patriotism,  devoting  large  sums  for  the  relief  of  suffering 
soldiers,  which  was,  generally,  followed  throughout  the  country.*     Yet, 
despite  of  all  these  exertions,   the  condition  of  the  army  continued  de- 
plorable. 

XX.  On  the  10th  of  July,  before  Washington  could  fill  his  ranks,  or  had 
prepared  any  plan  for  the  campaign,  the  first  division  of  the  French  auxilia- 
ries arrived  at  Newport,  with  more  than  five  thousand  troops,  and  intelli- 
gence, that  a  second  division  might  be  speedily  expected.     The  instructions 
of  General  Rochambeau,  placed  him,  entirely,  under  the  command  of  Wash- 
ington, and  required  his  forces,  as  allies,  to  cede  the  post  of  honour  to  the 
Americans.     In  reliance  on  the  French  naval  superiority,  Washington  pro- 
posed a  joint  attack  on  New  York ;  fixing  the  5th  of  August,  for  the  re- 
embarkation  of  the  French  troops,  and  the  assembling  of  his  army  at  Morris- 
ania.     But  this  design  was  procrastinated  and  finally  defeated,  by  the  suc- 
cessive arrival  of  British  squadrons,  which  gave  them  the  command  of  the 
sea,  and  confined  the  French  to  the  harbour.     In  its  prosecution,  however, 
the  commander-in-chief  visited  Hartford,  that  by  personal  conference  with 
the  French  officers,  he  might  concert  measures  for  this  and  other  objects. 

During  his  absence  from  camp,  the  long  meditated  treason  of  General 
Arnold  exploded,  destroying,  however,  only,  the  most  active  auxiliary  of  his 

*  On  the  4th  of  July,  the  ladies  of  Trenton  appointed  Mrs.  Cox,  Mrs.  Dickenson, 
Mrs.  Fprman,  and  Miss  Cadvvalader,  to  open  a  subscription,  and  to  correspond  with 
the  ladies  in  the  different  counties  of  the  State,  whom  they  named  on  committees. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  309 

guilt ;  whose  merit  caused  him  to  be  wept,  even  by  his  enemies.  General 
Arnold  possessed  great  courage,  enterprise,  patience,  and  fortitude,  with 
other  qualities  essential  to  the  able  soldier.  But  without  moral  principle,  or 
sound  judgment,  he  estimated  greatness  to  consist  in  ostentatious  display, 
and  the  liberal  indulgence  of  the  senses.  Previous  to  the  revolution  his 
poverty  denied  these  enjoyments.  His  sudden  elevation,  whilst  stimulating 
his  appetites,  gave  him,  justly  or  unjustly,  the  means  for  their  gratification. 
A  short  period  of  success  filled  him  \vith  that  disposition,  which  leads  inevi- 
tably to  ruin.  He  became  prodigal  of  his  own,  and  avaricious  of  the  pro- 
perty of  others.  The  wounds  he  received  at  Quebec  and  Saratoga,  unfitted 
him  for  active  service ;  and  having  large  accounts  to  settle  with  Congress, 
he  was,  on  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia  in  1778,  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  that  city.  Here,  yielding  to  his  vain  propensities,  he  incurred  large 
expenses,  for  a  sumptuous  table  and  splendid  equipage.  To  sustain  these, 
with  the  spirit  of  the  gambler,  he  embarked  in  perilous  and  unfortunate  com- 
mercial speculations,  and  in  unsuccessful  privateer  adventures.  His  ac- 
counts with  the  United  States  were  intricate,  and  the.  enormous  balances  he 
claimed,  were  reduced,  not  only  by  a  committee  of  Congress,  but  by  the 
House,  on  the  report  of  its  committee.  Charged  with  various  acts  of  extor- 
tion upon  the  citizens,  and  peculation  in  the  funds,  detected  and  degraded, 
he  reproached  his  country  with  ingratitude,  and  giving  general  offence,  was 
arrested,  tried,  and  sentenced  by  a  court  martial,  and  publicly  reprimanded 
by  the  commander-in-chief. 

From  this  hour,  his  haughty  spirit  is  supposed  to  have  devoted  his  country 
to  the  direst  vengeance.  Knowing  well  the  importance  of  the  post  at  West 
Point,  he  deliberately  and  successfully  sought  its  command,  With  the  view  of 
betraying  it  to  the  enemy.  To  this  end,  a  correspondence  was  for  some  time 
carried  on,  under  mercantile  disguise,  in  the  names  of  Gustavus  and  An- 
derson, between  him  and  Major  John  Andre,  aid-de-camp  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  and  adjutant-general  of  the  British  army.  To  facilitate  their  com- 
munication, the  Vulture,  sloop  of  war,  took  a  station  on  the  North  river;  and 
the  visit  of  General  Washington,  at  Hartford,  was  improved,  for  adjusting 
.their  plans  by  a  personal  interview.  Andre  landed  from  the  sloop,  without 
the  American  lines,  under  a  flag  sent  by  Arnold.  Their  conference  having 
been  protracted,  into  the  succeeding  day,  it  became  necessary  that  Andre 
should  be  concealed,  until  the  night  afforded  him  a  safe  opportunity  to  re- 
embark.  He  refused,  peremptorily,  to  enter  within  the  lines,  but  the  respect 
promised  to  this  objection,  was  not  preserved.  They  continued  together 
during  the  day,  in  which  the  Vulture  shifted  her  position,  in  consequence  of 
a  gun  having,  without  the  knowledge  of  Arnold,  been  brought  to  bear  upon 
her.  The  boatmen,  on  the  following  night,  refusing  to  carry  Andre  on 
board,  he  attempted  to  reach  New  York,  by  land.  Reluctantly  yielding 
to  the  representations  of  Arnold,  he  exchanged  his  uniform,  which  he  had 
hitherto  worn  beneath  his  surtout,  for  plain  clothes,  and  set  forth  with  a  per- 
mit, authorizing  him,  under  the  name  of  John  Anderson,  to  proceed  on  the 
public  service  to  the  White  Plains,  or  lower,  if  he  thought  proper. 

He  had  safely  passed  the  posts,  when  he  was  arrested  by  one  of  three 
militiamen,  on  a  scouting  party.  With  a  self-abandonment,  extraordinary 
in  one  equally  brave  and  intelligent,  instead  of  producing  his  pass,  he  hastily 
asked  the  soldier,  who  had  seized  his  bridle,  "  where  he  belonged  to  ?"  The 
reply,  "  to  below,"  designating  him  to  be  from  New  York,  Andre  said,  "And 
so  am  I ;" — and  declaring  himself  to  be  a  British  officer,  on  urgent  business, 
begged  that  he  might  not  be  detained.  The  other  militiamen  coming  up,  he 
discovered  his  mistake  too  late  to  repair  it.  His  most  tempting  offers  for 
permission  to  escape,  were  rejected  by  his  captors,  who,  on  searching  him, 


310  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

found  concealed,  in  his  boots,  among  other  interesting  papers,  exact  returns, 
in  the  hand-writing  of  Arnold,  of  the  state  of  West  Point,  and  its  dependen- 
cies. Carried  before  Colonel  Jameson,  who  commanded  the  scouts  on  the 
lines,  he,  anxious  for  the  safety  of  Arnold,  requested,  that  he  should  be  in- 
formed, that  Anderson  was  taken.  An  express  was  despatched  with  the 
communication.  On  receiving  it,  Arnold  took  refuge  on  board  the  Vulture, 
whence  he  proceeded  to  New  York.  Sufficient  time  being  allowed  for  his 
escape,  Andre  no  longer  affected  concealment,  but  avowed  himself  the  adju- 
tant-genera] of  the  British  army. 

This  gallant  and  unfortunate  man  suffered  the  penalty  which  would  have 
more  justly  fallen  upon  the  fugitive  traitor.  He  was  condemned  as  a  spy, 
by  a  court-martial,  of  which  General  Greene  was  president,  and  La  Fayette, 
Steuben,  and  others,  were  members.  And  notwithstanding  the  earnest  en- 
deavours of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  to  save  him,  and  the  tears  even  of  his  judges, 
the  sentence,  sternly  exacted  by  duty,  was  executed.  Arnold  became  a  bri- 
gadier in  the  British  service,  universally  contemned  as  a  vile  and  sordid 
traitor,  who  had  been  redeemed  from  the  gallows,  by  the  blood  of  one  of  the 
most  accomplished  officers  of  the  British  army. 

The  thanks  of  Congress  were  given,  with  a  silver  medal,  bearing  an  in- 
scription, expressive  of  their  fidelity,  to  John  Paulding,  David  Williams,  and 
Isaac  Vanvert;  and  subsequently,  a  pension  of  two  hundred  dollars  per 
annum — a  reward,  better  proportioned  to  the  state  of  the  treasury,  than  their 
services — was  settled  upon  them,  respectively. 

XXII.  Early  in  December,  1780,  the  American  army  retired  to  winter 
quarters.     The  Pennsylvania  line  was  stationed  near  Morristown,  the  Jersey 
line  about  Pompton,  on  the  confines  of  New  York,  and  the  troops  of  the  New 
England  States,  at  and  near  West  Point,  on  both  sides  of  the  river.     The 
line  of  New  York  remained  at  Albany,  to  which  place  it  had  been  sent  to  aid 
in  opposing  a  temporary  invasion  from  Canada. 

XXIII.  In  Europe,  Great  Britain,  at  war  with  France  and  Spain,  was 
threatened  by  the  northern  powers,  Russia,  Sweden,  and  Norway,  who,  in 
the  summer  of  1780,  entered  into  the  celebrated  compact  known  as  "  The 
armed  neutrality"     Holland  showed  a  disposition  not  only  to  join  this  alli- 
ance, but  to  enter  into  a  treaty  with  the  United  States  of  America.     Both 
were  offences  which  the  English  ministers  were  not  disposed  to  overlook,  and 
war  was  declared  against  that  nation. 

XXIV.  The  state  of  the  American  army  was  little  improved  during  the 
year  1780.  Discontent  gainejd  ground,  and  even  the  officers  could  not  always 
restrain  their  repinings,  in  contrasting  their  condition  with  that  of  other 
classes  in  the  country.     These  had,  inevitably,  an  influence  upon  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  soldier.     In  addition  to  the  general  causes  of  dissatisfaction,  the 
Pennsylvania  line  had  one,  almost,  peculiar  to  itself.     When  Congress  di- 
rected enlistments  to  be  made  for  "  three  years  or  during  the  war"  the  re- 
cruiting officers  of  that  line  engaged  many  men  on  those  ambiguous  terms. 
As  a  consequence,  the  soldier  claimed  his  discharge,  at  the  expiration  of  three 
years ;  whilst  the  officer  insisted,  upon  detaining  him  during  the  war.     The 
imposition,  as  the  soldier  viewed  it,  was  more  impatiently  borne,  whilst  he  wit- 
nessed the  large  bounties  given  to  the  new  recruits.     The  discontent  which 
had  been  long  fomenting,  broke  out  on  the  night  of  the  first  of  January,  1781, 
in  open  and  almost  universal  revolt  of  this  line. 

Upon  a  signal  given,  all  the  regiments,  except  three,  turned  out  under 
arms ;  avowing  their  determination  to  march  to  the  seat  of  Congress,  and 
obtain  redress  for  their  grievances,  or  to  serve  no  longer.  The  officers  en- 
deavoured, in  vain,  to  quell  them.  Several  were  wounded,  and  a  Captain 
Billing  killed,  in  the  attempt.  General  Wayne  presented  his  pistols,  as  if 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  311 

about  to  fire ;  but  the  bayonet  was  put  to  his  breast,  whilst,  with  expressions 
of  respect  and  affection,  he  was  told,  "  If  you  fire,  you  are  a  dead  man.  We 
are  not  going  to  the  enemy ;  should  he  approach,  we  will  fight  him  under 
your  orders.  But  we  will  be  no  longer  amused,  and  are  resolved  to  obtain 
our  just  rights."  In  this  temper,  thirteen  hundred  men  marched  from  Mor- 
ristown  to  Princeton,  with  their  arms  and  six  pieces  of  cannon,  in  good 
order,  with  officers  appointed  from  themselves,  a  sergeant-major,  who  had 
deserted  from  the  British,  being  commander.  They  resisted  attempts  at  ac- 
commodation, made,  severally,  by  General  Wayne  and  a  committee  of  Con- 
gress. But,  at  length,  at  the  instance  of  President  Reed  of  Pennsylvania, 
they  marched  to  Trenton,  and  submitted,  on  condition, — 1.  That  those  en^ 
listed  for  "three  years  or  during  the  war"  should  be  discharged;  such 
enlistment  to  be  determined  by  commissioners  mutually  chosen,  on  the  oath 
of  the  soldier,  where  the  written  contract  could  not  be  found;  2.  That  cer- 
tificates for  the  depreciation  of  their  pay  should  be  immediately  given,  the 
arrearages  to  be  paid  as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit ;  3.  That  certain 
specified  articles  of  clothing,  greatly  needed,  should  be  immediately  furnished. 
In  consequence  of  the  irksomeness  of  this  affair,  the  whole  of  the  artillery, 
and  of  the  five  first  regiments  of  infantry,  were  discharged  before  the  con- 
tracts of  enlistment  could  be  brought  from  Morristown.  On  their  production, 
it  appeared,  that  the  engagements  of  the  remaining  regiments  did  not  entitle 
them  to  .their  discharge,  and  that,  of  those  actually  dismissed,  the  far  greater 
number  had  enlisted  for  the  war.  The  discharges,  however,  were  not  re- 
voked, and  those  who  were  to  remain  in  service,  received  furloughs  for  forty 
days,  with  orders  to  rendezvous  at  designated  places  in  Pennsylvania. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  apprized  of  the  revolt,  on  the  third  of  January,  sent 
his  emissaries,  with  highly  tempting  offers,  to  the  line,  to  engage  them  in  his 
service.  The  offers  were  communicated  to  General  Wayne,  the  agents 
seized  and  confined,  and  after  the  accommodation,  they  were  tried  and  exe- 
cuted as  spies. 

General  Washington,  who,  for  prudential  reasons,  did  not  approach  the 
mutineers,  took  measures  to  avail  himself  of  the  regular  troops,  and  the  mi- 
litia of  New  York,  for  offence  or  defence.  And,  on  the  first  notice  of  the 
mutiny,  the  militia  of  New  Jersey,  under  General  Dickenson,  took  the  field, 
for  the  purpose  of  opposing  any  incursion  which  might  be  made  in  the  State, 
and  of  co-operating  with  such  of  the  regular  troops  as  it  might  be  necessary 
to  employ. 

The  danger  of  yielding,  even  to  the  just  demands  of  soldiers,  with  arms  in 
their  hands,  was  soon  evident.  The  success  of  the  Pennsylvania  line  stimu- 
lated part  of  that  of  Jersey,  many  of  whom  were  foreigners,  in  the  hope  of 
like  advantages,  to  a  similar  attempt.  On  the  night  of  the  20th  of  January, 
part  of  the  Jersey  brigade,  stationed  at  Pompton,  rose  in  arms,  and  making 
the  same  claims  which  had  been  granted  to  the  Pennsylvanians,  marched  to 
Chatham,  where  another  portion  of  the  brigade  was  posted,  in  expectation, 
that  it  would  join  in  the  revolt.  But,  the  commander-in-chief,  chagrined  at 
the  result  of  the  late  mutiny,  and  confident  in  the  faith  of  the  eastern  troops, 
resolved  on  strong  measures  to  stop  the  further  progress  of  a  spirit  which 
threatened  the  total  destruction  of  the  army.  A  detachment,  under  General 
Howe,  was  immediately  sent  against  the  mutineers,  with  orders  to  bring 
them  to  unconditional  submission,  and  to  execute  some  of  the  most  active 
of  the  leaders.  Howe  marched  from  Kingwood  about  midnight,  and  by 
the  dawning  of  the  next  day,  had  so  posted  his  force  as  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  the  revolters.  Colonel  Barber,  of  the  Jersey  line,  commanded  them 
to  parade  without  arms,  and  to  march  to  designated  ground.  Upon  their 
hesitation,  Colonel  Sprout  advanced,  giving  them  five  minutes,  only,  for  com- 


312  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

pliance.  Intimidated,  they  instantly  obeyed.  The  Jersey  officers  gave  a  list 
of  the  leaders  of  the  revolt,  from  whom  three  of  the  most  active  were  selected, 
who  were  executed  upon  the  spot,  by  the  other  prominent  mutineers.  The 
vast  disparity  of  numbers  engaged  in  these  mutinies,  accounts  for  the  dif- 
ference in  the  results.  The  disaffected  in  the  Jersey  line  did  not  exceed  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  offered  to  the  Jersey  mutineers  the  same  terms  as  to 
the  Pennsylvania  line ;  and  General  Robertson,  at  the  head  of  three  thousand 
men,  was  detached  to  Staten  Island,  for  the  purpose  of  entering  Jersey,  and 
covering  any  movement  which  they  might  make  towards  New  York.  The 
emissary  employed,  proved  to  be  in  the  American  interest,  and  delivered  his 
papers  to  Colonel  Dayton,  commanding  at  the  first  station  to  which  he  came. 
Other  papers  were  dispersed  among  the  mutineers,  promising  rewards  to 
every  soldier  who  should  join  the  British  troops  when  landed  at  Elizabeth- 
town;  but  the  mutiny  was  crushed  so  suddenly,  as  to  allow  no  time  for  the 
operation  of  these  proposals. 

The  vigorous  steps  now  taken,  were,  happily,  followed  by  such  attention, 
on  the  part  of  the  States,  to  the  wants  of  the  army,  as  checked  the  further 
progress  of  discontent.  Although  the  army  was  reduced  to  almost  insup- 
portable distress,  by  the  scantiness  of  supplies,  the  discontents  of  the  people 
were  daily  multiplied,  by  enforced  contributions,  and  the  offensive  manner 
in  which  they  were  levied.  Every  article  for  public  use,  was  obtained  by 
impressment,  and  the  taxes,  being  chiefly  specific,  were  either  unpaid  or  col- 
lected by  coercion.  Strong  representations  were  made  against  this  system, 
and  committees  were,  in  some  places,  raised  to  express  the  public  complaints. 
The  dissatisfaction,  therefore,  which  pervaded  the  mass  of  the  community, 
was  scarcely  less  dangerous,  than  that  which  had  been  manifested  by  the 
army. 

XXV.  The  year  1781  commenced  in  gloom  and  despondency.  The  hopes 
founded  on  French  aid  had  been  disappointed ;  the  sufferings  of  the  army 
were  unalleviated,  and  the  prospect  of  its  increase,  discouraging.     Of  thirty- 
seven  thousand  troops,  voted  by  Congress,  to  be  in  camp  on  the  first  of 
January,  not  more  than  fourteen  thousand,  two-thirds  of  whom,  only,  were 
effective,  had  been  raised,  in  all  the  Union,  in  June,  when  the  campaign 
opened.    Food  and  raiment  were  still  scantily  supplied ;  the  latter,  contracted 
for  in  France,  having  been  unaccountably  delayed.     In  the  mean  time,  the 
country  was  threatened  from  every  quarter,— in  the  west,  by  new  combina- 
tions of  the  Indians — in  the  north,  from  Canada,  and  the  discontented  resi- 
dents of  Vermont,  whose  contention  for  jurisdiction,  with  the  State  of  New 
York,  made  them  cold  in  the  common  cause — on  the  eastern  border,  by  the 
increased  force  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton — on  the  south,  by  Rawdon  and  Corn- 
wallis.     To  supply  the  American  army  with  food,  would,  perhaps,  have  been 
impossible,  but  for  the  efforts  of  the  financier,  Mr.  Robert  Morris ;  whose 
mercantile  capital  and  credit  were,  judiciously,  called  to  aid  his  official  duties, 
without  which,  the  decisive  operations  of  the  campaign,  might  have  been  de- 
feated. 

XXVI.  Washington  still  cherished  the  design  of  attacking  New  York,  and 
the  French  troops  were  ordered  from  Newport,  late  in  June,  for  this  purpose, 
The  intention  was  abandoned,  however,  in  August,  in  consequence  of  large  re- 
inforcements having  been  received,  from  Germany,  by  Clinton,  the  tardiness 
with  which  the  American  ranks  were  filled,  and  the  prospect  of  striking  a  suc- 
cessful blow  in  the  south.   A  large  fleet,  commanded  by  the  Count  de  Grasse, 
was  expected,  daily,  to  arrive  in  the  Chesapeake,  affording,  if  conjoined  in 
operation  with  the  army,  the  most  flattering  hopes  of  the  capture  of  Corn- 
wallis. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  313 

The  appearance  of  an  attack  on  New  York,  was  still  kept  up,  whilst 
the  allied  army  crossed  the  North  river,  and  passed,  by  way  of  Philadel- 
phia, to  Yorktown.  This  march  would,  probably,  have  been  interrupted, 
had  not  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  relying,  confidently,  on  some  intercepted  letters, 
developing  the  plan  of  the  intended  attempt  on  New  York,  believed  the  present 
movement  to  be  a  feint,  until  it  was  too  far  completed  to  be  opposed.  The 
order  observed  by  the  French  troops,  has,  with  great  reason,  called  forth  the 
plaudits  of  the  historian.  In  a  march  of  five  hundred  miles,  through  a  coun- 
try abounding  in  fruit,  not  a  peach  nor  an  apple  was  taken  without  leave. 
General  Washington  and  Count  Rochambeau,  reached  Williamsburg  on  the 
14th  of  September ;  and  visiting  Count  de  Grasse,  on  board  his  ship^the  Ville 
de  Paris,  concerted  the  plan  of  future  operations. 

De  Grasse  arrived  in  the  Chesapeake,  from  Cape  Francoise,  late  in  August, 
with  twenty-eight  sail  of  the  line,  and  several  frigates.  At  Cape  Henry,  an 
officer  from  La  Fayette  informed  him  of  the  situation  of  the  armies  in  Vir- 
ginia. Lord  Cornwallis,  who  had  received  notice  that  a  French  fleet  was  to 
be  expected  on  the  coast,  had  collected  his  whole  force  at  Yorktown  and 
Gloucester  Point ;  and  the  Marquis  had  taken  a  position  on  James  River,  for 
the  purpose  of  opposing  any  attempt,  which  the  British  might  make,  to  escape 
into  South  Carolina.  Four  ships  of  the  line  and  several  frigates,  were  de- 
tached for  the  purpose  of  blocking  up  the  mouth  of  York  River,  and  of  con- 
veying the  French  land  forces,  under  the  Marquis  of  St.  Simon,  up  the  James 
River,  to  form  a  junction  with  La  Fayette.  In  the  mean  time,  the  fleet  lay 
at  anchor  just  within  the  capes.  On  the  25th  of  August,  the  Count  de  Barras 
sailed  from  Newport  for  the  Chesapeake. 

Admiral  Rodney,  who  commanded  in  the  West  Indies,  supposing  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  fleet  of  De  Grasse,  had  proceeded  to  Europe,  and  that  a 
part,  only,  of  his  own  squadron,  would  suffice  to  maintain  an  equality  of  force 
in  the  American  seas,  detached  Sir  Samuel  Hood  to  the  continent,  with  four- 
teen sail  of  the  line.  That  officer  made  land  south  of  the  capes  of  Virginia, 
a  few  days  before  De  Grasse's  arrival,  and  proceeded,  thence,  to  Sandy  Hook, 
which  he  reached  on  the  28th  of  August.  Uniting  with  the  force  under  Ad- 
miral Greaves,  who,  as  senior  officer,  took  the  command,  the  whole  fleet, 
amounting  to  nineteen  sail  of  the  line,  set  sail,  immediately,  in  hopes  of  falling 
in  with  De  Barras  or  De  Grasse,  wholly  unsuspicious  of  the  force  of  the 
latter.  On  the  morning  of  the  fifth  of  September,  the  fleet  of  De  Grasse  was 
discovered,  consisting  of  twenty-four  sail  of  the  line,  in  the  mouth  of  the 
Chesapeake.  An  engagement  ensued,  for  several  hours,  in  which  neither 
party  could  claim  the  victory.  Some  days  were  spent  in  manoeuvres, 
during  which  De  Grasse,  having  the  wind,  might  have  brought  on  another 
battle ;  but  it  was  declined,  that  the  capture  of  the  British  army,  now  deemed 
almost  certain,  might  not  be  put  to  hazard.  In  the  mean  time,  De  Barras 
arrived  with  his  squadron,  and  fourteen  transports  laden  with  artillery  and 
stores,  proper  to  carry  on  the  siege.  The  English  fleet  retired  before  this 
superior  force,  and  returned  to  New  York. 

At  length,  the  post  of  Lord  Cornwallis  was  formally  besieged,  and  the  first 
parallel  commenced,  on  the  night  of  the  sixth  of  October.  The  siege  was 
prosecuted  with  great  vigour,  courage,  and  skill;  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
France  and  America,  striving  who  should  display  most,  these  qualities.  The 
defence  was  maintained,  with  equal  spirit,  against  a  vastly  superior  force, 
during  thirteen  days ;  until  almost  every  gun  on  the  fortifications  was  dis- 
mounted, and  the  batteries  prostrated.  On  the  nineteenth,  Lord  Cornwallis 
surrendered  the  posts  of  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  Point,  with  their  garrisons, 
and  the  shipping  in  the  harbour  with  the  seamen ;  the  army  and  arms,  mi- 
litary chest  and  stores,  to  Washington ;  the  ships  and  seamen  to  the  Count 
2  R 


314  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

de  Grasse.  The  total  amount  of  prisoners,  exclusive  of  seamen,  exceeded 
seven  thousand  men.  The  allied  army  may  be  estimated  at  sixteen  thousand ; 
the  French  at  seven  thousand ;  the  continental  troops  at  five  thousand  five 
hundred,  and  the  militia  at  three  thousand  five  hundred.  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
fully  apprized  of  the  influence  which  the  fate  of  the  army,  in  Virginia,  must 
have  on  the  war,  exerted  himself,  strenuously,  for  its  preservation;  and 
having  embarked  about  seven  thousand  of  his  best  troops,  sailed  for  the 
Chesapeake,  under  convoy  of  twenty-five  sail  of  the  line.  This  armament 
left  the  Hook  on  the  day  the  capitulation  was  signed  at  Yorktown,  and  ap- 
peared off  the  capes  of  Virginia,  to  learn  the  tidings  of  surrender,  and  to 
return  to  New  York ;  no  sufficient  motive  remaining  for  attacking  the  great- 
ly superior  force  of  De  Grasse. 

The  exultation  throughout  the  United  States,  at  the  capture  of  this  formi- 
dable army,  which  had  inflicted  incalculable  misery  over  an  immense  space 
of  territory,  was  equal  to  the  terror  which  it  had  inspired.  The  opinion  be- 
came universal,  that  the  great  struggle  was  over,  that  the  object  of  the  con- 
test had  been  fully  gained,  and  every  demonstration  of  gratitude  was  poured 
forth  by  Congress  and  the  people,  to  heaven,  and  its  agents  in  their  de- 
liverance. 

XXVII.  Whilst  the  allied  armies  were  on  march  for  Virginia,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  probably,  with  the  hope  of  recalling  Washington,  sent  an  expedition 
under  Arnold,  against  New  London,  which  landed  in  the  port  on  the  6th 
of  September.     Fort  Griswold,  on  one  side  of  the  harbour,  made  an  obsti- 
nate resistance.     It  was  garrisoned  by  Colonel  Ledyard,  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty  men.     But  being  taken  by  storm,  the  captors  disgraced  their  tri- 
umph, by  the  slaughter  of  the  brave  and  unresisting  defenders.     Colonel 
Ledyard  presented  his  sword  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  assailants, 
which  the  barbarian  instantly  plunged  into  his  bosom,  and  the  carnage  was 
kept  up,  until  the  greater  part  of  the  garrison  was  killed  or  wounded.     If 
such  vengeance  could  be  justified,  there  was,  indeed,  cause  for  it.     Colonel 
Eyre,  and  Major  Montgomery,  the  second  in  command,  together  with  two 
hundred  men,  fell  in  the  assault.     The  town  of  New  London,  and  the  stores 
which  it  contained,  were  consumed  by  fire. 

XXVIII.  The  capture  of  Cornwallis  was  the  conclusion  of  the  war.     A 
show  of  hostility  was  preserved  for  a  few  months,  and  some  skirmishing 
was  had,  of  no  great  interest,  between  the  parties,  near  New  York,  and 
in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston.     But  no  military  event  of  importance,  after- 
wards took  place.     Count  de  Grasse  sailed  for  the  West  Indies,  Wayne 
and  Gest's  brigades  marched  under  General  St.  Clair,  to  the  aid  of  Greene, 
in  the  south ;   the  French  troops  remained  in  Virginia,  and   the  eastern 
regiments  returned  to  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  General  Lincoln. 

Stimulated  by  these  successes,  the  preparations  for  another  campaign 
were  commenced,  with  much  alacrity.  The  resolutions  respecting  the  mili- 
tary establishment,  were  adopted  by  Congress,  so  early  as  the  10th  of  De- 
cember; and  those  providing  for  the  expenses  of  the  war,  substituting  a 
vigorous  system  of  taxation,  for  the  demoralizing  and  unjust  practice  of  ex- 
tortion, and  requiring  eight  millions  of  dollars,  in  specie,  to  be  paid  by  the 
States,  quarterly,  were  passed  so  early  as  the  10th  of  October.  But  the 
country  was  exhausted.  The  obstacles  to  raising  revenue,  were  almost 
insuperable.  At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1782,  not  a  dollar  remained 
in  the  public  treasury ;  and  although  the  payment  of  two  millions  had  been 
required  by  the  first  of  April,  on  the  twenty-third  of  that  month,  not  a  cent 
had  been  received.  On  the  first  of  June,  twenty  thousand  dollars,  scarce  more 
than  sufficient  for  a  single  day's  service,  had  been  paid.  In  July,  when  a 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  315 

half  years'  tax  was  due,  the  minister  of  finance  was  informed  by  his  agents, 
that  in  some  States,  nothing  would  be  received  before  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber. The  country  was,  therefore,  indebted  for  indispensable  supplies,  to  the 
funds  and  credit  of  the  financier ;  but  the  public  creditors  were  unpaid,  and 
no  one  could  look  forward,  without  deep  anxiety,  to  the  perpetuation  of  the 
system  of  forced  contribution. 

Happily  for  the  United  States,  the  people  of  Great  Britain  had  wearied  of 
the  contest,  and  constrained  their  King,  and  his  ministers,  to  think  of  peace. 
Strong  resolutions  were  adopted  by  Parliament  late  in  February,  which  not 
being  promptly  acted  upon  by  the  ministry,  were  followed  on  the  4th  of 
March,  by  a  vote  of  the  House  of  Commons,  denouncing  as  enemies  to  his 
Majesty  and  the  country,  all  who  should  advise  or  attempt,  a  further  prose- 
cution of  offensive  war  on  the  continent  of  North  America.  A  change  of 
ministry  succeeded  these  votes,  with  instructions  to  the  commanding  officers 
in  America,  which  conformed  to  them. 

XXIX.  Although  the  spirit  of  animosity  between  the  two  nations,  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  of  America,  began  to  yield  to  policy  and  hu- 
manity, the  ire  which  dwelt  in  the  bosoms  of  the  tories,  seemed  to  wax 
stronger,  as  their  hopes  of  restitution  waned.  In  the  depredations  of  Arnold, 
and  in  the  border  war  of  New  Jersey,  the  injuries  done  by  them,  were  the 
most  malignant ;  and  their  vengeance  was  still  poured  out  upon  New  Jersey. 
From  many  outrages,  we  select  the  following,  as  most  prominent. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  1782,  Captain  Joshua  Huddy  was  captured,  with  the 
block-house  he  defended,  on  Tom's  river,  by  a  party  of  refugees,  after  a 
gallant  resistance.  He  was  carried  to  New  York,  and  detained  in  close 
confinement  for  some  days,  and  then  told,  that  he  was  to  be  hanged.  Four 
days  after  (on  the  12th,)  he  was  carried  by  a  party  of  tories  to  Middletown 
Heights,  where  he  was  deliberately  executed,  with  the  following  label  affixed 
to  his  breast. — "  We,  the  refugees,  having  long,  with  grief,  beheld  the  cruel 
murders  of  our  brethren,  and  finding  nothing  but  such  measures  daily  carry- 
ing into  execution ; — we,  therefore,  determine  not  to  suffer  without  taking 
vengeance  for  the  numerous  cruelties ;  and  thus  begin,  having  made  use  of 
Captain  Huddy,  as  the  first  object  to  present  to  your  view ;  and  further  de- 
termine, to  hang  man  for  man,  while  there  is  a  refugee  existing.  Up  goes 
Huddy,  for  Philip  White." 

The  Philip  White  here  named,  was  a  tory,  who  had  been  taken  by  a 
party  of  Jersey  militia,  and  killed,  in  attempting  to  escape.  His  death  was, 
falsely,  charged  upon  this  victim.  Huddy  was  a  man  of  extraordinary 
bravery,  and  met  his  hard  fate,  with  rare  fortitude  and  composure  of  mind. 
He  executed  his  will,  under  the  gallows,  upon  the  head  of  the  barrel,  from 
which  he  was  immediately  to  make  his  exit — and  in  a  hand-writing,  fairer 
than  usual.  Greatly  indignant  at  this  wanton  murder,  Washington  wrote 
to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  threatening,  that  unless  the  murderers  were  surren- 
dered, he  would  retaliate.  The  demand  being  refused,  Captain  Asgill  was 
designated  by  lot,  as  the  subject.  In  the  mean  time  the  British  instituted 
a  court-martial,  for  the  trial  of  Captain  Lippincott,  the  principal  agent  in 
the  nefarious  deed;  when  it  appeared,  that  Governor  Franklin,  president 
of  the  board  of  associated  loyalists,  had  given  verbal  orders  to  Lippincott, 
designating  Huddy  as  a  proper  object  for  vengeance,  as  one  who  had  perse- 
cuted the  loyalists,  and  had  been  especially  instrumental  in  hanging  Stephen 
Edwards,  a  refugee.  The  court  acquitted  Lippincott,  stating,  that  his  con- 
duct was  dictated  by  the  conviction,  that  duty  required  him  to  obey  the 
orders  of  the  board,  as  he  did  not  doubt  their  authority.  Sir  Guy  Carleton, 
who  had  succeeded  to  the  chief  command  of  the  British  army,  notwith- 
standing the  acquittal,  reprobated  the  measure,  gave  assurance  of  further 


316  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

inquiry,  and  broke  up  the  board  of  associated  loyalists,  to  prevent  the  repeti- 
tion of  such  excesses.  Asgill  was  rescued  from  various  reasons.  The  end 
of  the  war  rapidly  and  visibly  approached — the  Count  de  Vergennes  inter- 
ceded for  him,  by  letter,  enclosing  one  from  Mrs.  Asgill,  his  mother,  and  Con- 
gress (November  7th,)  directed  the  commander-in-chief,  to  his  great  satisfac- 
tion, to  set  the  captain  at  liberty. 

XXX.  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  with  Admiral   Digby,  was   commissioned   to 
negotiate  a  separate  peace  with  the  Americans ;  but  their  efforts  were  futile, 
as  such  a  course,  being  dishonourable  to  the  States,  was  inadmissible.     Nor 
was  it  apparent,  that  the  powers  of  the  commissioners  were  sufficiently  full 
for  the  object.     But  the  public  votes  we  have  stated,  arid,  probably,  the  pri- 
vate instructions  given  to  the  British  general,  restrained  him  from  offensive 
war;  and  the  state  of  the  American  army,  disabled  Washington  from  any 
attempt  on  posts  held  by  the  enemy.     These  causes  of  inactivity  in  the 
north,  extended  also  to  the  south. 

After  an  intricate  negotiation,  in  which  the  penetration,  judgment,  and 
firmness  of  the  American  commissioners*  were  eminently  displayed,  eventual 
and  preliminary  articles  of  peace  were  signed  on  the  30th  of  November. 
The  treaty,  however,  did  not  take  effect,  until  the  general  pacification,  on 
the  20th  of  January,  1783.  Tidings  of  the  latter  event  were  communicated 
by  M.  de  La  Fayette,  by  letter,  received  24th  of  March.  Early  in  April, 
came  a  copy  of  the  treaty,  from  the  American  commissioners,  and  on  the 
19th  of  that  month,  the  cessation  of  hostilities  was  proclaimed.  On  the  15th, 
the  execution  of  the  treaty  was  publicly  celebrated,  at  Trenton. 

XXXI.  To  the  restoration  of  the  blessings  of  peace,  one  important  mea- 
sure, the  dissolution  of  the  army,  was  indispensable.     Military  habits,  and 
the  spirit  of  segregation  which  they  engender,  are  incompatible  with  the 
order  and  equality  of  civil  life.     The  general  and  corporal  are  alike  te- 
nacious of  command ;  and  the  soldier,  reluctantly,  lays  aside  the  casque, 
the  uniform  and  arms,  the  idleness  and  the  license,  which  distinguish  him 
from  the  citizen.     The  camp  becomes  his  country — his  fellows  in  arms,  his 
only  compatriots,  and  the  articles  of  war,  and  the  will  of  his  officers,  his  only 
laws.     His  whole  being  is  .newly,  but  not  beneficially,  modified.     His  intel- 
lectual powers  and  employments  are  confined  to  narrow  limits,  whilst  his 
physical  force  and  sensual  appetites,  are  generally  increased,  and  often  in- 
dulged, by  irregular  gratification.    To  dissolve  an  army  which  has  no  cause 
of  complaint  against  the  State,  is  often  a  difficult  and  dangerous  duty — to 
disarm  men,  to  whom  the  State,  without  the  means  of  payment,  is  deeply 
indebted;  who,  poor  and  naked,  look,  confidently,  on  their  return  to  civil  life, 
only,  to  servile  labour,  beggary  and  oblivion,  is  indeed  a  perilous  task;  .yet 
one,  which  among  the  miracles  of  the  American  revolution,  was  accomplish- 
ed.    A  happiness,  for  which  the  country  was  as  much  indebted  to  the  com- 
mander-in-chief, as  for  his  military  services.     The  traits  of  character  dis- 
played by  him  in  attaining  this  object,  are  more  valuable  than  any  exhibited 
in  his  previous  and  after  life,  excellent  as  these,  certainly,  were.     He  had  his 
equals,  perhaps  superiors,  in  his  own  country,  in  military  talent  and  political 
science;  but  in  magnanimity,  self-control,  and  true  appreciation  of  fame, 
he  was  unrivalled.     Had  he  been  animated  by  ordinary  ambition,  the  pas- 
sion common  to  an  Alexander,  a  Csesar,  a  Cromwell,  and  a  Bonaparte,  he 
might  readily  have  availed  himself  of  the  discontents  of  the  army  to  gratify 
it;  he  might  have  loosed  upon  his  country,  the  most  ferocious  of  animals,  an 
irritated  soldiery,  and  have  compelled  that  country  to  fly  to  military  despot- 
ism, as  a  refuge  against  the  worse  evils  of  anarchy.     But,  with  the  love  of 

*  Messrs.  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Franklin.  John  Jay.  and  Henry  Laurens. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  317 

peace,  of  order,  of  social  feeling  and  political  equality,  which  can  never  be 
too  much  praised,  he  said  to  the  angry  elements  of  discord,  be  still,  and  they 
obeyed  his  voice. 

When  the  prospect  of  peace  became  certain,  the  officers  of  the  army  turn- 
ed anxiously  to  their  own  condition,  and  asked,  as  an  act  of  justice,  payment 
of  arrears,  and  compensation  for  losses  sustained  by  a  depreciated  currency ; 
and,  as  an  act  of  gratitude,  a  reward,  for  services  which  were  inestimable. 
To  the  immediate  gratification  of  these  demands,  the  obstacle  was  obvious, 
as  irremediable,  in  an  empty  treasury.  But  there  was  a  party  in  the  na- 
tional councils,  who  were  indisposed  to  accept,  without  question,  the  high 
estimate  of  services  made  by  the  military — who  believed  that  the  life  of  the 
soldier,  had,  like  other  conditions,  mingled  good  and  evil,  the  one  com- 
pensating the  other ;  and  who  would  not  admit,  that  the  distinction  sought 
by  thousands,  despite  of  the  labours  and  privations  which  it  imposed,  gave 
extraordinary  and  preferable  claims  upon  the  country.  However  sound,  in 
general,  might  be  this  view  of  military  merit,  it  was  less  just  when  applied  to 
the  continental  army.  There  is  no  evil,  it  is  true,  which  afflicted  the  Ameri- 
can soldier,  that  had  not  been  borne  in  pursuit  of  the  very  worst  objects  of 
human  ambition,  of  absolute  and  unhallowed  power,  of  the  sordid  love  of 
gold.  But  the  motive  elevated  the  service;  yet,  only  so  long,  as  that  motive 
was  disinterestedly  patriotic.  Every  effort  to  obtain  pecuniary  compensa- 
tion, made  by  the  soldier,  stripped  his  pretensions  of  their  gilding,  and  re- 
duced him  nearer  to  the  grade  of  the  ordinary  mercenary.  The  country, 
but  more,  especially,  posterity,  owed  to  the  men  of  the  revolution,  a  deep  debt 
of  gratitude.  But  was  that  more  due  to  the  suffering  soldier,  than  the  suffer- 
ing citizen — to  him  who  met  the  enemy  in  arms,  manfully  returning  blow 
for  blow,  than  to  him,  who  encountered  the  foe  upon  his  hearth-stone,  and 
unresistingly  beheld  his  barns  and  his  byres  plundered,  the  wife  of  his 
bosom,  and  the  children  of  his  love,  violated  or  slaughtered — to  him,  who, 
though,  occasionally,  scantily  and  precariously  fed,  had  some  assurance  in 
the  care  of  the  nation,  and  in  his  own  arms,  that  he  should  not  starve,  than 
to  him,  who  was  stripped  of  the  loaf  that  he  had  garnered  for  his  infants, 
that  the  soldier  might  not  want — to  him  whom,  depreciation  of  the  currency, 
left  as  it  found  him,  a  pennyless  man,  than  to  him  whom  that  depreciation 
despoiled  of  the  hoards  of  his  ancestors,  and  of  the  stores  laid  up  during  a 
long  life  of  unremitting  industry?  Let  the  suffering  of  the  soldier  and  the 
citizen,  be  duly  compared;  they  will  not  be  found  more  unequal  than  were 
the  enjoyments  for  which  they  contended.  An  extraordinary  gratitude  con- 
tinues even  now,  to  repay  the  one,  but  no  pension,  no  praise,  has  smoothed 
the  thorny  path  of  the  other,  to  the  grave. 

With  views  such  as  we  have  glanced  at,  Congress  lent  a  dull  and  unwil- 
ling ear,  in  the  depth  of  pecuniary  distress,  to  the  vehement  cries  of  the 
soldier ;  and  in  consonance  with  the  experience  of  all  times  past,  he  demon- 
strated the  disposition  to  redress  his  own  grievances,  and  in  his  own  way.  An 
anonymous,  but  eloquent  and  inflammatory  address,  was  circulated  through 
the  army,*  exciting  to  this  course ;  whilst  another  missive  summoned  the 
general  and  field-officers,  to  convene  on  the  succeeding  day.  A  crisis  had 
thus  approached,  big  with  the  fate  of  the  nation.  It  was  possible,  for  the 
commander-in-chief,  by  prompt,  decisive  and  steady  action,  to  avert  the 
threatened  evil ;  and  he  did  not  shrink  from  the  service.  He  instantly  no- 
ticed the  seditious  papers,  in  general  orders,  and  called  the  general  and  field- 
officers,  with  one  officer  from  each  company,  and  a  representation  from  the 
staff  of  the  army,  to  assemble  on  the  15th,  to  consider  the  report  of  a  com- 

*  March  10th ,1783. 


318  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

mittee  which  had  been  deputed  from  the  army  to  Congress.  He  employed 
the  interval,  successfully,  in  preparing  the  minds  of  all  for  moderate  mea- 
sures. At  the  convention,  General  Gates  took  the  chair,  and  Washington 
addressed  the  officers,  reprobating,  in  the  strongest  terms,  the  anonymous 
addresses,  not  only  as  to  the  mode  of  communication,  but,  also,  as  to  the 
spirit  which  indicted  them — dwelling  on  the  character  which  the  army  had 
acquired  for  patriotism  and  order — expressing  undiminished  confidence  in 
the  justice  and  gratitude  of  the  country,  and  conjuring  them,  as  they  valued 
their  honour,  as  they  respected  the  rights  of  humanity,  and  as  they  regarded 
their  military  and  national  character,  to  express  their  utmost  detestation  of 
the  man  who  was  attempting  to  open  the  floodgates  of  civil  discord,  and  to 
deluge  the  rising  empire  with  blood.  So  absolute  was  the  power  of  virtue, 
on  this  occasion,  that  not  a  voice  was  raised  to  oppose  its  behests.  Reso- 
lutions were,  unanimously,  adopted,  echoing  the  sentiments  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief. 

These  events  hastened  the  adoption  of  a  resolution,  which  had  been,  some 
time,  pending  before  Congress,  giving  to  the  officers  who  preferred  a  sum  in 
gross  to  an  annuity,  five  years  full  pay,  in  money,  or  in  securities  at  six  per 
cent.,  instead  of  the  half-pay  for  life,  which  had  previously  been  promised 
them ;  and  measures  were  also  taken,  to  obtain  for  the  troops,  three  months' 
pay  in  hand.  At  the  same  time,  a  happy  mean  was  pursued,  of  dispersing 
the  dangerous  mass.  The  commander-in-chief  was  instructed,  to  grant  fur- 
loughs to  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  with  an  intention, 
which,  of  course,  was  persevered  in,  that  they  should  not  be  required  to  re- 
join their  regiments.  The  officers  remonstrated ;  but  the  general  again  ap- 
peased them,  and  gained  their  acquiescence.  In  the  course  of  the  summer, 
a  great  proportion  of  the  troops,  who  had  enlisted  for  three  years,  returned 
to  their  homes ;  and  on  the  third  of  November,  1783,  all  who  had  engaged 
for  the  war,  were  discharged. 

By  these  means,  an  unpaid  army  was  disbanded  and  dispersed ; — the  pri- 
vates betaking  themselves  to  labour — the  officers,  who  had  been  drawn  from 
every  condition  of  society,  from  the  professions,  from  husbandry  and  from 
trade,  and  the  mechanic  arts,  returned,  generally,  to  their  primary  pursuits. 

One,  only,  exception  stands  forth  from  this  scene  of  honourable  and  pa- 
triotic devotion.  About  eighty  of  the  new  Pennsylvania  levies,  who  were 
without  pretensions  of  suffering  and  service,  in  despite  of  their  officers, 
marched  from  Lancaster  to  Philadelphia,*  to  seek  a  redress  of  grievances. 
Joining  with  some  troops,  in  the  barracks  of  the  city,  their  force  was  increased 
to  three  hundred,  which  proceeded  with  fixed  bayonets  and  drums,  to  the  state- 
house,  where  Congress,  and  the  supreme  executive  council  of  Pennsylvania, 
held  their  sessions.  They  placed  guards  at  every  door,  and  sent  to  the 
council  a  written  message,  threatening  to  loose  the  soldiery  upon  them,  if 
their  demands  were  not  granted  within  twenty  minutes.  Congress,  though 
not  the  object  of  the  soldiers  resentment,  deemed  themselves  grossly  insulted, 
having  been  restrained  of  their  liberty  for  several  hours.  Apprehensive  of 
further  ill  consequence,  from  this  insurrection,  that  body  adjourned,  to  meet 
at  Princeton,  the  next  place  of  their  assemblage.  General  Washington,  in- 
formed of  this  outrage,  despatched  fifteen  hundred  men,  under  General  Howe, 
to  quell  the  mutiny,  which,  previously  to  their  arrival,  was  suppressed,  with- 
out bloodshed.  Several  of  the  mutineers  were  tried  and  condemned,  two,  to 
suffer  death ;  and  four,  to  receive  corporal  punishment ;  but  all  were  afterwards 
pardoned. 

XXXII.  On  the  25th  of  November,  1783,  the  British  evacuated  New 

*  June  20th,  17aS. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  319 

York,  and  General  Washington,  attended  by  General  Clinton,  many  civil 
and  military  officers,  and  a  cavalcade  of  citizens,  made  a  public  entry  into 
that  city. 

His  military  career  was  now  on  the  point  of  terminating ;  but  previously 
to  divesting  himself  of  his  command,  he  proposed  to  bid  adieu  to  his  com- 
rades in  arms.  The  interview,  for  this  purpose,  took  place  on  the  fourth  of 
December,  at  Francis'  tavern.  At  noon,  the  principal  officers  had  assembled, 
when  he  entered  the  room.  His  emotions  were  too  strong  to  be  concealed. 
Filling  a  glass  with  wine,  he  turned  to  them  and  said,  "  with  a  heart  full  of 
love  and  gratitude,  I  now  take  leave  of  you.  I  most  devoutly  wish,  that  your 
latter  days  may  be  as  prosperous  and  happy  as  your  former  ones  have  been 
glorious  and  honourable."  Having  drank,  he  added,  «*  I  cannot  come  to 
each  of  you  to  take  leave,  but  shall  be  obliged,  if  each  will  come  and  take 
me  by  the  hand."  General  Knox  being  nearest,  turned  to  him.  Incapable 
of  utterance,  Washington  grasped  his  hand,  and  embraced  him.  In  the  same 
affectionate  manner,  he  took  leave  of  all.  Every  eye  was  suffused  with  tears, 
and  not  a  word  broke  the  deep  silence  and  tenderness  of  the  scene.  Leav- 
ing the  room,  he  passed  through  the  corps  of  light  infantry,  and  walked  to 
White  Hall,  where  a  barge  waited  to  convey  him  to  Paules  Hook.  The 
whole  company  followed  in  mute  and  solemn  procession,  testifying  feelings 
of  delicious  melancholy,  which  no  language  can  describe.  Having  entered 
the  barge,  he  turned  to  his  companions,  and  waving  his  hat,  bade  them  a 
silent  adieu.  They  returned  the  affectionate  salute,  and  when  the  barge  had 
left  them,  marched,  in  the  same  solemn  manner,  to  the  place  where  they 
had  assembled.* 

One  other  act  remained,  to  render  the  fame  of  Washington,  as  imperisha- 
ble as  the  globe  on  which  he  lived — to  set  an  example  of  virtue  and  patriot- 
ism, which,  through  all  time,  shall  inspire  the  good  with  the  desire  of  imita- 
tion, and  curb  and  defeat  the  demagogue,  and  the  tyrant,  who  use  political 
power  for  private  ends.  This  was,  the  voluntary  surrender  of  that  almost 
dictatorial  power,  which  had  been  granted  by  the  sages  of  his  country,  and 
which  he  had  used  with  unequalled  prudence  and  conscientious  reserve.  This 
solemn  and  impressive  duty,  he  performed  at  Annapolis,  on  the  23d  of  De- 
cember, 1783,  delivering  his  commission  to  the  assembled  council  of  the 
nation,  from  whom,  eight  years  before,  he  had  received  it ;  and  retiring  to 
become,  the  first  in  peace,  as  he  had  been  first  in  war,  and  first  in  the  hearts 
of  his  countrymen. 

*  Marshall.     Gordon. 


320  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

I.  Peculiar  sufferings  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  from  the  War.— II.  Laws  in  New 
Jersey  relative  to  the  Militia.— III.  Council  of  Safety.— IV.  Military  efforts  of 
New  Jersey. — V.  State  Representatives  in  Congress. — VI.  Establishment  of  the 
New  Jersey  Gazette. — VII.  Unhappy  Condition  of  the  States  after  the  return  of 
Peace. — VIII.  Inefficiency  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation — Part  of  New  Jersey 
in  their  Adoption. — IX.  Measures  proposed  in  Congress  for  maintaining  Public 
Credit — Efforts  of  New  Jersey  upon  this  subject. — X.  She  resorts  to  Paper  Cur- 
rency and  Loan  Office  for  Relief. — XI.  Difficulties  with  Great  Britain  relative  to 
the  Execution  of  the  Treaty. — XII.  Measures  for  regulating  the  Trade  of  the 
Union — Result  in  a  Proposition  for  Revision  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation. — 
XIII.  Adoption  of  the  New  Constitution — Ratified  by  New  Jersey. 

I.  In  the  rapid  sketch  we  have  given  of  the  revolutionary  war,  we  have 
endeavoured  to  place  in  full  relief,  those  events,  in  which  the  State  of  New 
Jersey  bore  a  distinguished  part,  or  claimed  a  peculiar  interest.  We  have, 
thus,  noticed  the  battles  and  skirmishes  which  took  place  within  and  around 
her  borders,  and  the  injuries  she  sustained  from  the  marauding  parties  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  requisitions  of  her  friends.  We  have  seen,  that  the  Ameri- 
can grand  army,  except  for  a  period  of  nine  months,  between  September, 
1777,  and  June,  1778,  when  the  British  occupied  Philadelphia,  and  for  the 
two  months  of  the  autumn  of  1781,  employed  against  Cornwallis,  in  Virgi- 
nia, was,  during  the  whole  war,  within,  or  on  the  confines  of,  the  State.  Its 
presence  necessarily  drew  upon  her,  the  perpetual  observation  and  frequent 
inroads  of  the  enemy ;  so  that  her  citizens  were,  at  no  time,  relieved  from 
the  evils  of  war.  Had  the  American  army  been  regularly  and  fully  paid, 
some,  though  inadequate  compensation,  might  have  been  derived  from  the 
sale  of  her  products  to  additional  consumers.  But,  unhappily,  those  pro- 
ducts were,  too  frequently,  taken  without  payment,  or  were  paid  for  in  cer- 
tificates, which,  for  the  time,  were  worthless. 

New  Jersey,  therefore,  in  the  contest,  to  which  she  was  as  disinterested  a 
party  as  any  State  in  the  Union,  suffered  more  than  her  proportion,  more 
than  any  other  State,  South  Carolina  excepted.  Under  these  inflictions,  the 
patriotism,  patience,  and  fortitude  of  her  people,  were  merits  of  the  highest 
order.  Her  Legislature  shrunk  from  no  effort  which  the  general  interest 
required,  and  was,  commonly,  among  the  first  to  act  upon  the  suggestions  of 
Congress.  After  the  victories  of  Trenton  and  Princeton,  her  militia,  though 
continually  harassed,  by  the  cares  of  defending  a  long  line  of  coast,  turned 
out  with  promptness  and  energy,  at  the  frequent  calls  of  the  commander-in- 
chief;  and  when  actually  invaded,  in  force,  upon  her  eastern  border,  de- 
spatched considerable  aid  to  her  western  sister  State.  The  commander-in- 
chief,  and  his  principal  officers,  bear  abundant  testimony  to  the  activity, 
courage,  and  patriotism  of  her  regular  troops.  Still,  it  remains,  in  order  to 
display  the  part  borne  by  the  State,  in  the  revolution,  that  we  enter  some- 
what more  fully  into  the  peculiar  measures  she  pursued. 

II.  The  subject  of  militia  service  was  then,  as  now,  one  of  much  diffi- 
culty, in  all  communities  where  the  Quakers  are  numerous.  The  doctrine 
of  non-resistance  is  more  admirable  in  theory,  than  admissible  in  prac- 
tice. Probably,  it  can  exist,  only,  where  the  State  possesses  an  adequate 
number  of  members,  who  are  conscientiously  scrupulous  in  defending  their 
rights;  and  that  a  community  of  non-combatants,  having  wherewith  to 
excite  the  cupidity  of  others,  would  be  converted  into  soldiers  or  slaves.  In 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  321 

West  Jersey,  the  Quakers  were  numerous,  rich,  and,  as  in  Pennsylvania, 
many  were  not  unfriendly  to  British  pretensions.  Their  influence  was  suffi- 
cient to  enervate  the  rnilitia  system.  The  ordinances  of  the  Convention  be- 
trayed this;  and  the  system  became  one  of  the  first  subjects  of  attention  for 
the  Legislature  of  the  new  State. 

In  a  letter  of  the  24th  of  January,  1777,  to  Governor  Livingston,  General 
Washington  complained  of  its  inefficiency,  and  strenuously  urged,  that  "every 
man  capable  of  bearing  arms,  should  be  obliged  to  turn  out,  and  not  permit- 
ted to  buy  off  his  services  for  a  trifling  sum."  The  governor  communicated 
and  enforced  this  sentiment  to  the  Legislature,  whilst  General  Putnam,  at 
this  time,  stationed  at  Princeton,  irritated  by  the  refusal  of  numbers  to  perform 
military  duty,  gave  peremptory  orders  to  apprehend  delinquents,  and  to  exact 
personal  service,  or  to  levy  what  he  deemed  proportionate  fines.  This  arbi- 
trary and  illegal  measure  was  properly  reproved  by  the  governor;  but  the 
general  seems  neither  to  have  understood,  nor  relished  the  forbearance  en- 
joined upon  him,  although  sustained  by  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief. 
In  framing  the  new  militia  bill,  the  principle  of  pecuniary  composition  for 
service,  was,  tenaciously,  retained.  Again,  Washington  interfered,  exclaim- 
ing, "  How  can  an  Assembly  of  gentlemen,  eye  witnesses  to  the  distresses 
and  inconveniences  that  have  their  principal  source  in  the  want  of  a  well 
regulated  militia,  hesitate  to  adopt  the  only  remedy  that  can  remove  them ! 
And  stranger  still ;  think  of  a  law,  that  must,  necessarily,  add  to  the  accu- 
mulated load  of  confusion !  For  Heaven's  sake,  entreat  them  to  lay  aside 
their  present  opinions,  and  waving  every  other  consideration,  let  the  public 
good  be  singularly  attended  to !  The  ease  they  design  their  constituents,  by 
composition,  must  be  delusive.  Every  distinction  between  rich  and  poor, 
must  be  laid  aside  now."*  Still  the  militia  law,  passed  on  the  15th  of  March, 

1777,  authorized  the  commutation  of  service,  during  the  war. 

III.  More  energy  was  infused  into  another  act  of  the  Legislature,  enacted 
at  this  period,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  executive,  constituting  the  go- 
vernor, and  twelve  members  of  the  Assembly,  "  a  council  of  safety,"  with 
extraordinary  and  summary  powers.     The  members  had  the  authority  of 
justices  of  the  peace  throughout  the  State, — they  might  fill  vacancies  in  all 
offices  during  the  recess  of  the  Legislature — might  correspond  with  Congress 
and  other  States,  transact  business  with  the  officers  of  government,  and  pre- 
pare bills  for  the  General  Assembly — might  apprehend  disaffected  persons, 
and  imprison  them,  without  bail  or  mainprize — might  cause  the  laws  to  be 
faithfully  executed,  enforce  the  resolutions  of  the  Assembly,  and  recommend 
to  the  speaker,  to  convene  that  body — and  might  call  out  such  portions  of  the 
militia,  as  they  should  deem  necessary,  to  execute  the  laws  or  protect  them- 
selves.    The  original  act  was  limited  to  six  months,  but  the  powers  given 
were  continued  and  enlarged  from  time  to  time,  until  the  middle  of  the  year 

1778.  An  attempt  was  unsuccessfully  made,  to  revive  this  power  in  1780. 
It  was  most  usefully  employed  in  detecting  and  punishing  the  tories. 

IV.  There  is  much  difficulty  in  giving  a  minute  and  accurate  account  of 
the  military  efforts  of  the  State.     Those  of  the  militia  were,  generally,  desul- 
tory and  momentary,  whilst  those  of  the  regular  troops  are  involved  in  the 
operations  of  the  continental  armies.     All  officers  of  the  militia,  above  the 
grade  of  captain,  were  appointed  by  the  council  and  Assembly,  in  joint  meet- 
ing, who,  also,  nominated  all  the  officers  of  the  continental  brigade,  below 
the  rank  of  brigadier.     The  militia  officers,  of  all  ranks,  were  frequently 
changed ;  but  the  changes  in  the  brigade  were  little  more  than  such  as  were 
occasioned  by  death  and  promotion. 

*  Sedgwick's  Livingston— Vote  of  Assembly— State  Laws. 
2S 


322  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  first  brigadiers  of  militia  were  Philemon  Dickenson,  Isaac  William- 
son, and  William  Livingston.  General  Williamson  resigned  sixth  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1777.  Mr.  Livingston's  commission  was  vacated  by  his  election  as 
governor.  On  the  close  of  June,  1776,  when  the  militia  were  ordered  to 
meet  the  enemy  operating  against  New  York,  Colonel  Nathaniel  Heard  was 
promoted  to  the  command  of  the  detachment  of  three  thousand  three  hun- 
dred volunteers,  engaged  to  serve  until  December,  which  had  been  offered  to 
Joseph  Reed,  who,  about  this  time,  entered  the  continental  service.  The 
colonels  were  Philip  Van  Cortland,  Ephraim  Martin,  Stephen  Hunt,  Silas 
Newcomb ;  lieutenant-colonels,  David  Brearley,  David  Forman,  John  Mun- 
son,  Philip  Johnson,  and  Bowes  Reed;  brigade-major,  Robert  Hoopes.  On 
the  eighteenth  of  July,  Congress  having  authorized  the  commander-in-chief 
to  call  to  his  assistance,  two  thousand  men  from  the  flying  camp,  the  Conven- 
tion of  New  Jersey  supplied  their  place  by  a  like  number  of  militia.  As  the 
success  of  the  enemy  increased,  and  the  danger  to  the  State  became  immi- 
nent, still  more  strenuous  measures  were  adopted.  On  the  llth  of  August, 
1776,  the  Convention,  by  ordinance,  divided  the  militia  into  two  classes,  or- 
dering one-half  into  immediate  service,  to  be  relieved,  monthly.  The  fine 
imposed  on  privates,  refusing  to  serve,  was  three  pounds,  only.  This  forced 
effort  was,  necessarily,  of  short  duration. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  1777,  General  Dickenson  proposing  to  remove 
from  the  State,  tendered  to  the  Assembly  his  commission  of  brigadier,  which 
was  accepted  with  a  vote  of  thanks,  for  his  spirited  and  prudent  conduct 
whilst  in  office.  Joseph  Ellis  was  named  his  successor,  but  declined  the 
commission.  On  the  twenty-first  of  February,  David  Potter  and  John  Neil- 
son,  on  the  fourth  of  March,  Colonel  William  Winds,  on  the  fifth,  David 
Forman,  and  on  the  fifteenth  Silas  Newcomb,  were  named  brigadiers.  Mr. 
Potter  declined  to  serve.  General  Forman  resigned  on  the  6th  of  Novem- 
ber, and  General  Newcomb  on  the  4th  of  the  following  month.  On  the  6th 
of  June,  Mr.  Dickenson,  having  abandoned  his  intention  of  leaving  the  State, 
was  appointed  major-general;  he  held  this  post  during  the  war,  was  fre- 
quently, as  we  have  seen,  engaged  in  active  service,  giving  high  satisfaction 
to  the  commander-in-chief,  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  State,  and  the 
troops  under  his  command. 

To  the  continental  army,  New  Jersey  supplied  two  highly  distinguished 
general  officers,  and  a  brigade,  certainly,  inferior  to  none  in  the  service. 
Lord  Sterling,  remarkable  for  his  zeal  and  energy  as  a  whig,  was,  in 
October,  1775,  a  colonel  in  the  militia  of  Somerset  county.  He  was  soon 
after  appointed  to  the  same  rank,  in  the  first  continental  regiment  from  the 
province,  whilst  William  Maxwell  received  the  colonelcy  of  the  second.  In 
December,  of  the  same  year,  Lord  Stirling  was  suspended  by  Governor 
Franklin,  from  his  seat  in  Council.  In  January,  1776,  he  received  the 
thanks  of  Congress,  for  the  capture  of  the  ship  Blue  Mountain  Valley,  which, 
with  the  aid  of  several  gentlemen,  volunteers  from  Elizabethtown,  he  sur- 
prised. In  March  following,  he  became  brigadier,  and  in  February,  1777, 
major-general,  in  the  continental  army.  He  died  at  Albany,  15th  of 
January,  1783,  whilst  in  chief  command  of  the  northern  department. 
During  the  war,  he  rendered  as  much  personal  service  as  any  officer  of  his 
rank ;  and  to  his  military  merit,  General  Washington  has  borne  honourable 
testimony.* 

*  William  Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling,  was  the  only  son  of  James  Alexander,  a 
distinguished  lawyer,  of  New  York,  and  at  one  time,  Secretary  of  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey.  William  commenced  business  as  a  merchant,  in  New  York.  In  1755, 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  army  contractors,  by  General  Shirley;  and,  subsequent- 
ly, private  secretary  to  that  commander.  Being  skilled  in  theoretic  and  practical 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  323 

In  February,  1776,  a  third  battalion  was  raised  in  New  Jersey,  placed 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Maxwell,  and  marched  for  Canada.  Under 
the  resolutions  of  Congress,  authorizing  the  raising  of  eighty -eight  battalions, 
for  the  war,  four  were  allowed  to  that  State.  In  fitting  them,  recourse  was 
had  to  the  three  battalions  already  in  service,  northward  of  Albany,  and  for 
the  deficiency,  to  the  five  battalions,  raised  for  one  year,  under  the  command 
of  General  Heard.  Pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  Congress,  of  the 
8th  of  October,  1779,  the  Assembly  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Theophilus  Elmer  and  Abraham  Clark,  to  nominate  the  officers  for  the  bat- 
talions, subject  to  the  revision  and  confirmation  of  the  Legislature,  The 
first  field-officers  confirmed  in  joint  meeting,  were  Colonels  Elias  Dayton, 
Ephraim  Martin,  Silas  Newcomb,  Isaac  Shreve ;  Lieutenant-colonels  David 
Brearley,  Matthias  Ogden,  David  Rhea,  and  Francis  Barber;  Majors  Wil- 
liam De  Hart,  Richard  Howell,  Joseph  Bloomfield,  and  E.  Howell.  The 
company  officers  were  appointed  at  the  same  time.  Several  changes  in  the 
field-officers,  almost  immediately  took  place. 

Under  the  authority  of  Congress,  in  1780,  a  new  arrangement  of  the 
Jersey  brigade  was  made,  reducing  the  four  battalions  to  three  regiments, 
which  was  confirmed  by  the  Assembly  of  the  State,  on  the  26th  of  Septem- 
ber, in  the  following  manner,  as  to  the  field-officers.  Of  the  first  regiment, 
Matthias  Ogden,  colonel,  David  Brearley,  lieutenant-colonel,  Daniel  Piatt, 
major;  of  the  second  regiment,  Isaac  Shreve,  colonel,  WTilliam  De  Hart, 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  Richard  Howell,  major;  of  the  third,  Elias  Dayton, 
colonel,  Francis  Barber,  lieutenant-colonel,  and  John  Conway,  major.  The 
brigade,  before  and  after  it  was  thus  constituted,  was  commanded  by  Briga- 
dier-general Maxwell,  and  was  employed,  at  times,  in  every  part  of  the  con- 
tinent; wherever  hard  service  was  required,  in  the  north,  south,  centre,  and 
west.*  Besides  the  distinguished  military  officers,  we  have  above  named, 
New  Jersey  gave  to  the  continental  army,  Adjutant-general  Joseph  Reed, 
subsequently  President  of  the  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Elias 
Boudinot,  the  commissary-general  of  prisoners.  This  gentleman  was,  also, 
in  1783,  President  of  Congress.  In  the  civil  department,  she  gave  to  the 
United  States,  a  judge  of  admiralty,  in  Francis  Hopkinson,  and  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, an  attorney-general,  in  Jonathan  D.  Sergeant. 

V.  In  Congress,  the  State  appears  to  have  been  uniformly  and  efficiently 
represented,  and  her  delegates  chosen,  annually,  by  the  Assembly,  in  joint 
ballot,  to  have  borne  an  active  part  in  all  the  important  business  of  that 
body.  We  have  heretofore  given  the  names  of  her  representatives,  up  to  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution,  of  the  State,  and  now  append  the  names  of  those 

mathematics,  he  was  made  surveyor-general  of  East  Jersey.  In  September,  1756,  he 
accompanied  Shirley  to  England,  and  by  his  persuasions,  was  induced  to  claim  the 
Scottish  earldom  of  Stirling,  of  which  he  bore  the  family  name,  and  which  had  been 
in  abeyance,  since  1739.  He  succeeded  in  establishing,  in  1759,  his  direct  descent 
from  the  titled  family,  before  a  jury  of  service,  as  required  by  the  Scotch  law,  and, 
confident  of  final  success,  assumed  the  title,  which  was,  at  the  same  time,  adopted  by 
several  other  claimants.  But  the  final  decision  depended  on  the  House  of  Peers, 
which  forbade  all  claimants  of  peerages  to'  use  the  titles,  until  their  rights  were  esta- 
blished. The  decision  was  ultimately  against  him;  but  the  title  was  given  to  him  by 
courtesy,  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Shortly  after  his  return  to  America,  he 
removed  to  Baskingridge,  in  the  county  of  Somerset,  New  Jersey,  where  his  father 
had  owned  extensive  tracts  of  land ;  and  being  soon  afterwards  appointed  a  member  of 
the  King's  Council,  he  remained  at  this  place  until  the  revolution.  His  letters  to  the 
Lords  Bute  and  Shelburne,  some  of  which  remain,  show  an  earnest  desire  to  develope 
the  resources  of  the  colony.  He  made  a  map  of  the  province,  and  endeavoured  to 
foster  its  manufactures.  In  the  year  1773,  he  exerted  himself  to  discover  the  agents 
in  the  robbery  of  the  treasurer,  Stephen  Skinner. — SedgwicVs  Life  of  Livingston. 
*  General  Maxwell  resigned,  20th  of  July,  1780. 


324  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

who  served  from  that  period,  to  the  organization  of  the  present  federal 
government.* 

VI.  Among  other  measures,  and  certainly  not  the  least  efficient,  adopted 
by  the  Legislature,  in  aid  of  the  revolution,  was  the  establishment  of  the 
public  press,  and  the  New  Jersey  Gazette ;  designed,  among  other  good  pur- 
poses, to  counteract  the  influence  of  the  Royal  Gazette,  published  by  Riving- 
ton,  in  New  York.     This  matter  was  proposed  to  the  Assembly  on  the  llth 
of  October,  1777,  and  was  undertaken  by  Mr.  Isaac  Collins,  who  had  been" 
printer  to  the  province  for  some  years ;  the  Legislature  engaging,  for  seven 
hundred  subscribers,  to  establish  a  post  from  the  printing  office  to  the  nearest 
continental  post  office,  and  to  exempt  the  printer  and  four  workmen  from 
militia  service-     Mr.  Collins  was  a  Quaker,  a  whig,  a  man  of  enterprise, 
courage  and  discretion.     The  gazette  was  regularly  published,  until  the 
25th  of  November,  1786,  when  other  presses  having  been  established,  it 
was  discontinued,  for  want  of  patronage.     It  rendered  essential  service  to 
the  patriot  cause,  and  was  the  vehicle  for  the  lucubrations  of  Governor  Liv- 
ingston, and  other  writers,  who  animated  and  directed  the  efforts  of  their 
countrymen. 

VII.  The  States  had  universally  looked  forward  to  the  return  of  peace, 
with  the  establishment  of  their  independence,  as  to  a  condition  of  unalloyed 
happiness.     The  unyielding  firmness  with  which  their  trials  had  been  borne, 
and  the  glorious  termination  of  the  contest,  gave  to  the  people  much  self- 
satisfaction,  at  home,  and  an  honourable  reputation,  abroad,  which  served  as 
powerful  stimulus  to  pursue  their  high  destinies  with  vigour.     But  many 
obstacles  opposed  the  rapid  progress  which  their  hopes  had  predicted.     In 
the  course  of  the  long  war,  the  people  had  been  greatly  impoverished — their 
property  had  been  seized  for  the  support  of  both  armies,  and  their  labour 
had  been  much  devoted  to  military  service.     The  naval  power  of  the  enemy 
had  almost  annihilated  their  commerce ;  the  price  of  imports  was  enhanced, 
whilst  exports  were  reduced  much  below  their  ordinary  value.     On  opening 
their  ports,  an  immense  quantity  of  foreign  merchandise  was  poured  into 
the  country ;  and  the  citizens  were,  generally,  tempted  by  the  sudden  cheap- 
ness of  goods,  and  by  their  own  wants,  to  purchase  far  beyond  their  means 
of  payment.     Into  this  indiscretion  they  were,  in  some  measure,  beguiled, 
by  their  own  sanguine  calculations,  on  the  rise  of  the  value  of  their  products, 

*  The  following  named  gentlemen  were  elected  to  Congress  at  the  times  respec- 
tively designated. — 

1776,  November  30th,  Richard  Stockton,  Jonathan  Dickenson  Sergeant,  Dr.  John 
Witherspoon,  Abraham  Clark,  and  Jonathan  Elmer.     Mr.  Stockton  resigned,  10th  of 
February,  1777. 

1777,  November  20th,  Messrs.  Witherspoon,  Clark,  and  Elmer,  Nathaniel  Scudder, 
and  Elias  Boudinot.    • 

1778,  November  6th,  Witherspoon,  Scudder,  Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  John  Fell, 
and  John  Neilson. 

1779,  November  17th.     The  delegates  were  reduced  to  three,  and  were,  John  Fell, 
William  Churchill  Houston,  and  Thomas  Henderson. 

1780,  November  23d,  Witherspoon,  Clark,  Houston,  William  Patterson,  and  Wil- 
liam Burnett. 

1781,  November  2d,  Clark,  Houston,  Elmer,  Boudinot,  and  Silas  Condict. 

1782,  October  30th,  Boudinot,  Clark,  Elmer,  Condict,  and  Frelinghausen. 

1783,  November  6th,  Elmer,   Condict,  John   Stephens,  sen.,    John  Beatty,  and 
Samuel  Dick. 

1784,  October  29th,  Houston,  Beatty,  Dick,  Lambert  Cadwallader,  John  Cleves 
Symmes,  and  Josiah  Hornblower. 

1785,  October  28th,  Cadwallader,  Symmes,  and  Hornblower. 

1786,  November  7th,  Cadwallader,  Clark,  and  James  Schureman. 

1787,  October  31st,  Clark,  Elmer,  Patterson. 

1788,  Clark,  Elmer,  Jonathan  Dayton. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  325 

and  the  evidences  of  the  public  debt,  which  were  in  the  hands  of  most  men. 
Extravagant  estimates  were  made  of  the  demand  for  lands,  by  the  vast  con- 
course of  emigrants,  which  it  was  supposed  equal  liberty  would  bring  from 
Europe ;  and  adverting  to  the  advantages  gained  by  those  who  purchased  on 
credit,  during  the  prevalence  of  paper  money,  many  individuals  made  exten- 
sive purchases  at  very  high  prices.  The  delusions,  however,  were  soon 
dissipated,  and  a  greater  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  found  themselves  in- 
volved in  debts  they  were  unable  to  discharge.  One  of  the  consequences  of 
this  state  of  things,  was  a  general  discontent  with  the  course  of  trade.  From 
their  superior  skill  and  capital,  and  free  admission  to  American  ports,  the 
British  merchants  had  greater  advantage  in  the  American  trade,  than  when 
the  States  were  colonies ;  whilst  the  navigation  of  American  ships  to  British 
ports,  was  prohibited,  and  American  exports  refused  admission,  or  burdened 
with  heavy  duties.  In  the  rich  trade  of  the  neighbouring  colonies,  the  Ameri- 
cans were  not  permitted  to  participate,  and  in  the  ports  of  Europe  they  en- 
countered embarrassing  regulations.  From  the  Mediterranean,  they  were 
excluded  by  the  Barbary  powers,  whose  hostility  they  could  not  subdue,  and 
whose  friendship  they  could  not  purchase. 

The  unpaid  debt  of  the  war  was  a  source  of  great  inconvenience  to  the 
country  at  home,  whilst  it  caused  ignominy  and  contempt  abroad,  from 
which  there  was  no  chance  of  escape,  whilst  the  means  of  payment  were 
derived  from  the  State  sovereignties.  The  debts  of  the  union  were  com- 
puted to  amount,  on  the  first  of  January,  1783,  to  somewhat  more  than  forty 
millions  of  dollars,  which  were  due  to  three  classes  of  highly  meritorious 
creditors.  To  an  ally,  who,  to  the  extensions  of  his  arms,  had  added  gene- 
rous loans,  and  liberal  donations; — to  individuals  in  Holland,  who,  besides 
this  precious  token  of  confidence,  were  members  of  a  republic,  which  was 
second  in  espousing  our  rank  among  nations — and  to  the  soldiers  of  the  war, 
whose  patience  and  services,  merited  any  other  reward,  than  neglect  and 
procrastination  of  payment ;  and  to  citizens  who  had  originally  loaned  their 
funds,  or  had  become  purchasers  of  public  securities. 

This  debt  was  due,  part  from  the  United  States,  and  part  from  the  individual 
States,  who  became  immediately  responsible  to  the  creditors,  retaining  a  claim 
against  the  general  government,  for  the  balance,  which  might  appear  on  the 
settlement  of  accounts.  The  depreciation  of  the  debts  due  from  the  Union, 
was  consequent  on  its  poverty,  and  inability  to  acquire  funds ;  whilst  the  de- 
preciation of  the  State  debt,  can  be  ascribed  only  to  the  want  of  confidence  in 
governments  controlled  by  no  fixed  principles.*  In  many  of  the  States,  pub- 
lic securities  were  sold  at  a  discount  of  seventeen  shillings  in  the  pound.  In 
private  transactions,  a  great  degree  of  distrust,  also,  prevailed.  The  bonds 
of  debtors,  of  unquestioned  solvency,  were  sold  at  fifty  per  cent,  reduction ; 
real  estate  was  scarce  vendible,  and  few  articles  could  be  sold  for  ready 
money,  unless  at  a  ruinous  loss. 

VIII.  Much  of  the  evils  of  this  condition  might  have  been  readily  re- 
moved, by  an  efficient  general  government,  which  could  call  forth  and  direct 
the  wealth  and  energies  of  the  people.  /  But  no  such  power  could  be  derived 
from  the  loose  articles  of  confederation,  which  had  been,  after  much  delay 
and  reluctance,  on  the  part  of  the  States,  finally  adopted  in  1781.  These 
articles  were  laid  before  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  4th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1777.  No  action  was  had  upon  them  during  the  then  session,  nor 
until  the  15th  of  June,  1778,  when  the  joint  committee  reported  them,  with 
sundry  propositions  of  amendment: — 1.  That  the  delegates  in  Congress 

*  New  Jersey  provided  for  the  payment  of  the  interest,  and  for  the  final  redemption 
of  her  domestic  debt,  by  taxation. 


326  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

should  take  an  obligation  to  pursue  the  interests  of  the  confederation,  and, 
particularly,  to  assent  to  no  measure  which  might  violate  it ;  2.  That  the 
sole  and  exclusive  power  of  regulating  the  trade  of  the  United  States  with 
foreign  nations,  should  be  vested  in  Congress ;  and  the  revenue  arising  from 
the  customs,  should  be  appropriated  to  the  establishment  of  a  navy,  and  to 
other  public  and  general  purposes;  3.  That  no  body  of  troops  should  be 
kept  up  by  the  United  States  in  time  of  peace,  except  by  the  assent  of  nine 
States ;  4.  That  the  quotas  of  aids  and  supplies  from  the  several  States 
should  be  settled  every  five  years;  5.  That  the  boundaries  of  the  several 
States  should  be  fully  and  finally  established,  as  soon  as  practicable  within 
five  years;  6.  That  the  vacant  crown  lands  should  be  deemed  the  spoils  of 
the  war,  to  be  applied  for  the  general  benefit;  and  that  whilst  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  several  States  was  preserved  with  chartered  or  determined  limits,  the 
vacant  lands  should  be  vested  in  Congress,  in  trust  for  the  United  States ; 
7.  That  the  requisitions  on  the  several  States  for  land  forces,  should  be  ap- 
portioned to  the  whole  of  the  respective  population,  and  not  to  the  number 
of  white  inhabitants  only ;  8.  That  for  equitably  ascertaining  the  quota  of 
troops  of  each  State,  a  census  of  the  inhabitants  should  be  taken  every  five 
years ;  9,  and  lastly,  That  the  provision  which  required  the  assent  of  nine 
out  of  thirteen  States,  in  certain  cases,  should  be  so  modified,  that  the  pro- 
portion should  be  preserved  upon  an  increase  of  the  number  of  States. 

Although  the  inconvenience  of  amending  the  articles  of  confederation,  may 
have  prevented  the  incorporation  of  these  propositions,  it  is  obvious  that  the 
statesmen  of  New  Jersey  had  foreseen  and  supplied  the  omission  of  many 
principles  which  were  essential  to  the  welfare,  nay,  the  existence  of  the 
Union.  At  various  times  she  enforced  the  propriety  of  the  general  regula- 
tion of  trade,  and  of  making  the  crown  lands  a  common  fund ;  and,  finally, 
all  her  suggestions  were  adopted  in  the  establishment  of  the  Union.  On  the 
14th  of  November,  1778,  the  Assembly,  reasserting  the  propriety  and  expe- 
diency of  their  propositions,  which  they  forebore  to  press,  on  account  of  the 
urgency  of  the  case,  and  in  the  hope  that  the  States  would,  in  due  time,  re- 
move the  existing  inequality,  adopted  the  articles  of  confederation.  And  on 
the  20th,  a  law  authorized  their  delegates  in  Congress,  to  subscribe  them. 

IX.  The  utter  inefficiency  of  the  articles  of  confederation,  became  appa- 
rent almost  as  soon  as  they  were  adopted,  and  was  most  conclusively  exem- 
plified, in  the  failure  of  the  earnest  endeavour  to  provide  for  the  public  debt, 
made  in  1783.  Two  parties,  as  we  have  elsewhere  observed,  began  to  per- 
vade the  Union.  One  contemplated  America  as  a  nation,  and  laboured  in- 
cessantly to  invest  the  federal  head  with  powers  competent  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union.  The  other,  attached  to  the  State  authorities,  viewed  all 
the  powers  of  Congress  with  jealousy,  and  assented,  reluctantly,  to  measures 
which  tended  to  render  them  independent  of  the  States.  Sensible  that  the 
character  of  the  government  would  be  determined  by  the  measures  which 
should  immediately  follow  the  treaty  of  peace,  gentlemen  of  distinguished 
political  acquirements,  among  whom  were  some  conspicuous  officers  of  the 
late  army,  sought  a  place  in  the  Congress  of  1783.  They  procured  the 
assent  of  the  House,  to  a  system,  the  best  that  circumstances  would  admit, 
to  restore  and  support  public  credit,  and  to  obtain  from  the  States  substantial 
means  for  the  funding  the  whole  debt  of  the  nation.  They  proposed  that 
adequate  funds  should  be  raised  by  duties  on  imports,  and  by  internal  taxes, 
for  the  immediate  payment  'of  the  interest,  and  gradual  extinction  of  the 
principal ;  and  that  the  quotas  of  the  several  States,  should  be  determined, 
not  by  the  value  of  the  located  lands,  but  by  the  extent  of  its  population.  It 
was  proposed,  also,  as  an  amendment  to  the  8th  article  of  the  confederation, 
that  the  taxes  for  the  use  of  the  continent,  should  be  levied,  separately,  from 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  327 

other  taxes,  and  paid  directly  into  the  national  treasury,  and  that  the  col- 
lectors should  be  subject  and  responsible  to  Congress.  To  prevent  the  pre- 
ference in  payment,  for  part  of  the  debts,  which  might  result  from  a  partial 
adoption  of  the  system,  it  was  declared,  that  no  part  of  the  revenue  system 
should  take  effect,  until  the  whole  had  been  adopted  by  all  the  States ;  after 
which,  the  grant  was  to  be  irrevocable,  except  by  the  concurrence  of  the 
whole,  or  by  a  majority  of  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled.  But  to 
remove  the  jealousy  which  obstructed  the  grant  of  power,  to  collect  an  inde- 
finite sum  for  an  indefinite  time,  the  proposition  was  modified,  so  that  the 
grant  was  to  be  limited  to  twenty -five  years,  to  be  strictly  appropriated  to 
the  debt  contracted  on  account  of  the  war,  and  collected  by  persons  appoint- 
ed by  the  respective  States.  These  resolutions  were  adopted  on  the  18th  of 
April,  1783 ;  and  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr.  Madison,  Mr.  Hamilton,  and 
Mr.  Ellsworth,  was  appointed  to  recommend  them  by  an  address  to  the 
people,  and  Washington,  himself,  joined  in  this  object,  by  a  circular  address- 
ed to  the  governors  of  the  States,  respectively.* 

While  the  fate  of  these  measures  remained  undecided,  requisitions  for  the 
intermediate  supply  of  the  national  demands,  were  annually  repeated,  but 
annually  neglected.  From  the  first  of  November,  1784,  to  the  first  of  Ja- 
nuary, 1786,  there  had  been  paid  to  the  public  treasury,  only  482,397  dol- 
lars. Happily,  a  loan  had  been  negotiated  in  Holland,  by  Mr.  Adams,  after 
the  termination  of  the  war,  out  of  which  the  interest  of  the  foreign  debt  had 
been  partly  paid ;  but  that  fund  was  exhausted.  Unable  to  pay  the  interest, 
the  United  States  would,  in  the  course  of  the  succeeding  year,  be  liable  for 
the  first  instalment  of  the  principal ;  and  the  humiliation  of  total  failure,  in 
the  fulfilment  of  her  engagements,  would  be  accompanied  with  no  hope  of 
future  ability.  If  the  condition  of  the  domestic  creditors  was  not  absolutely 
hopeless,  their  prospect  of  payment  was  so  remote,  that  the  evidences  of  their 
claim  were  transferred  at  a  tenth  of  their  nominal  value.  In  a  word,  in  1786,, 
a  crisis  had  arrived,  when  the  people  of  the  United  States  were  required  to 
decide,  whether,  by  the  establishment  of  a  secure  and  permanent  revenue, 
and  the  maintenance  of  public  faith,  at  home  and  abroad,  they  woi?ld  sustain 
their  rank  as  a  nation. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1786,  the  revenue  system,  proposed  in  April,. 
1783,  had  been  adopted  by  every  State  in  the  Union,  New  York  excepted^ 
That  State  had  passed  an  act  upon  the  subject,  but  influenced  by  its  jealousy 
of  the  Federal  Government,  had  not  vested  in  Congress  the  power  of  collect- 
ing the  duties  specified  in  their  resolutions ;  but  had  reserved  to  itself  the 
levying  of  the  duties  according  to  its  own  laws,  made  the  collectors  answera- 
ble only  to  the  State,  and  the  duties  payable  in  State  bills,  which  were  liable 
to  depreciation.  As  the  assent  of  every  State  was  indispensable  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  plan,  it  was  thus,  wholly  defeated. 

New  Jersey,  overshadowed  by  her  overgrown  neighbours,  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  whose  capitals  and  whose  ports,  made  them  importers,  not 
only  for  themselves,  but  for  her,  had  a  grievance  peculiarly  her  own — pay- 
ing the  duties  which  those  States,  severally,  levied  upon  the  merchandise 
she  consumed.  She  was,  therefore,  induced,  by  the  strongest  ties  of  interest, 
to  support  the  federative  system,  by  which  such  duties,  instead  of  being 
levied  by  individual  States  for  their  special  benefit,  would  be  received  and 
expended  for  the  general  weal  of  the  nation ;  and  was  indignant,  that  the 
system  had  been  rejected  by  New  York.  Certain  resolutions,  expressive 
of  her  sense,  upon  this  and  other  momentous  subjects,  were  reported  to  the 
Assembly,  by  Mr.  Abraham  Clarke,  on  the  20th  of  February,  1786,  and 

*  Dated  June  8th,  1783. 


328  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

afterwards  embodied  in  instructions  to  her  delegates  in  Congress,  to  the  fol- 
lowing effect. 

"When  the  revenue  system  of  April  18th,  1783,  was  passed  in  Congress, 
we  were  then  in  hopes  that  our  situation,  between  two  commercial  States, 
would  no  longer  operate  to  our  detriment ;  and  that,  those  States,  and  others 
in  their  predicament,  were,  at  length,  convinced  of  the  selfish  and  palpable 
injustice  of  subjecting  others  to  their  exactions,  and  then  applying  those  ex- 
actions to  the  augmentation  of  their  respective  private  revenues." 

"  The  same  contracted  and  destructive  policy,  that  has  long  subsisted,  still 
continues ;  and  as  we  are  convinced,  that  neither  the  public  credit  can  be 
supported,  the  public  debts  paid,  or  the  existence  of  the  Union  maintained, 
without  the  impost  revenue,  in  some  beneficial  effective  manner,  it  has  be- 
come our  duty  to  instruct  you,  to  vote  against  each  and  every  ordinance,  re- 
solution, or  proceeding,  whatever,  which  shall  produce  any  expense  to  New 
Jersey,  for  the  promotion  or  security  of  the  commerce  of  these  States,  or 
any  of  them,  from  which  neither  the  Union,  in  general,  nor  this  State,  in 
particular,  derives  any  advantage,  until  all  the  States  shall,  effectually,  and 
substantially,  adopt  and  carry  into  execution,  the  impost  above  mentioned. 
You  will  see,  by  the  representation  of  this  State,  June  25th,  1778,  that  the 
Legislature  have,  uniformly,  held  the  same  justice  of  sentiment,  respecting 
the  vacant  or  crown  lands ;  relative  to  which,  you  are  instructed — to  vote 
against  every  proceeding,  which  shall  tend  to  charge  this  State  with  any 
expense  for  acquiring,  gaining  possession  of,  or  defending  such  territory, 
claimed  by,  or  which  is  to  accrue  to,  the  exclusive  benefit  of  any  particular 
State  or  States,  and  not  the  Union  at  large." 

"  The  Legislature  has  beheld,  with  much  concern,  gratuitous  advances  of 
money  and  partial  payments,  made  by  Congress,  to  importuning  creditors 
and  others,  not  regulated  by  any  general  and  equal  system,  which  not  only 
impoverish  the  treasury,  but  produce  discontents,  and  furnish  bad  precedents. 
You  are,  therefore,  instructed  not  to  assent  to  any  such  payments,  or  to  the 
payment  of  any  particular  debts,  other  than  foreign  loans,  in  preference  to 
others  of  a  like  nature,  whereby  a  discrimination  of  creditors  may  take  place. 
It  were  well  if  the  public  could  pay  all,  promptly,  but  as  that  is  impractica- 
ble, it  is  absolutely  necessary,  to  act  upon  settled  uniform  plans,  in  paying 
as  far  as  the  revenue  can  extend." 

The  Assembly,  also,  resolved,  for  these  reasons,  "that  they  could  not, 
consistently  with  the  duty  they  owed  to  their  constituents,  comply  with  the 
requisition  of  Congress  of  the  27th  of  September,  1785,  or  any  other  of  a 
similar  nature,  requiring  specie  contributions,  until  all  the  States  in  the 
Union  should  comply  with  the  requisition  of  April,  1783,  or  at  least,  until 
the  several  States,  having  the  advantage  of  commerce,  which  they  now  enjoy, 
solely  from  the  joint  exertions  of  the  United  States,  shall  forbear  exacting 
duties  upon  merchandise,  for  the  particular  benefit  of  their  respective  States, 
thereby  drawing  revenues  from  other  States,  whose  local  situation  and  cir- 
cumstances, would  not  admit  their  enjoying  similar  advantages  from  com- 
merce." 

This  resolution  proved  so  embarrassing  to  Congress,  that  a  committee  was 
appointed  from  that  body,  personally,  to  remonstrate  with  the  Legislature  of 
New  Jersey,  and  to  endeavour  to  procure  its  repeal.  Whereupon,  the 
House  resolved,  that  "  being  willing  to  remove,  as  far  as  in  their  power, 
every  embarrassment,  from  the  councils  of  the  Union,  and  that  the  failure  of 
supplies  from  temporary  demands,  though  clearly  evinced  from  experience, 
may  not  be  imputed  to  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  only,  the  resolution  of  the 
twentieth  of  February,  should  be  rescinded."  Thus  disappointed  in  procuring 
an  equalization  of  the  customs,  the  State,  from  the  many  petitions  upon  this 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  329 

subject,  seems  to  have  prepared  itself  for  the  establishment  of  a  tariff  of 
duties,  upon  all  goods  imported  from  the  adjacent  States.  A  measure  which 
could  have  resulted  only  in  awakening  dangerous  feuds  with  her  neighbours, 
and  in  the  greater  oppression  of  her  own  citizens. 

X.  To  relieve  the  pecuniary  distress  which  weighed  upon  this  State,  in 
common  with  the  rest  of  the  Union,  the  Legislature  resorted  to  the  old  expe- 
dient of  issuing  bills  of  credit,  and  lending  them  upon  mortgage,  through 
loan  offices,  established  in  the  several  counties.     A  bill  for  striking  and 
making  current,  one  hundred  thousand  pounds,  was  passed  by  the  Assem- 
bly, in  March,  1786,  but  was  rejected  in  Council.     The  cries  of  the  people, 
however,  were  too  general  and  loud,  to  be  thus  disregarded ;  and  a  special 
session  of  the  Legislature  was  holden  on  the  17th  of  May,  following,  when 
the  bill  passed  both  Houses. 

XI.  To  increase  the  gloom  which  hung  over  the  Union,  difficulties  had 
arisen  relative  to  the  execution  of  the  treaty  with  Great  Britain,  which  had 
been  broken  by  both  parties.     The  British  had  not  delivered  up,  nor  paid  for, 
the  slaves  of  the  southern  planters,  nor  surrendered  the  military  posts  upon 
the  borders.     Nor  had  the  United  States  complied  with  the  4th,  5th,  and  6th 
articles,  containing  agreements  respecting  the  payment  of  private  debts,  due 
the  British  merchants,  the  confiscation  of  property,  and  the  prosecution  of 
individuals,  for  the  part  taken  by  them,  during  the  war.     Complaints  were 
also,  made,  of  British  encroachments  on  the  territory  of  the  United  States, 
from  the  eastern  frontier.     But  the  cause  of  the  greatest  disquiet,  was  the 
rigorous  commercial  system,  pursued  by  Great  Britain.     To  settle  these 
vexatious  questions,  Mr.  John  Adams  was,  in  February,  1785,  appointed 
plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  to  the  British  court.     His  efforts  to  give 
reciprocity  and  stability  to  the  commercial  relations,  between  the  two  coun- 
tries, were  unavailing ;  the  cabinet  of  London  declining  negotiation  with  a 
government,  which  was  unable  to  secure  the  observance  of  any  general  re- 
gulation, and  to  make  the  obligations  of  a  treaty  reciprocal. 

XII.  All  these  circumstances  rendered  a  modification  of  the  compact  be- 
tween the  States,  not  only  desirable,  but  inevitable,  if  their  union  was  to  be 
preserved.     The  immediate  measures  leading  to  a  change,  commenced  in 
Virginia.     On  the  21st  of  January,  1786,  a  resolution  was  adopted  in  the 
Legislature  of  that  State,  appointing  commissioners  "  to  meet  such  as  might 
be  appointed  by  the  other  States  in  the  Union,  at  a  time  and  place  to  be 
agreed  on,  to  take  into  consideration  the  trade  of  the  United  States ;  to  ex- 
amine the  relative  situation  and  trade  of  the  said  States ;  to  consider  how  far 
a  uniform  system  in  their  commercial  relations  may  be  necessary  to  their 
common  interests,  and  their  present  harmony,  and  to  report  to  the  several 
States,  such  an  act,  relative  to  this  great  object,  as  when  unanimously  rati- 
fied by  them,  will  enable  the  United  States,  in  Congress  assembled,  effectu- 
ally, to  provide  for  the  same."     In  the  circular  letter  transmitting  these 
resolutions  to  the  respective  States,  Annapolis,  in  Maryland,  was  proposed 
as  the  place,  and  the  ensuing  September  as  the  time,  of  meeting. 

This  resolution  was  submitted  to  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  on  the 
14th  of  March,  1786,  and  concurred  in,  a  few  days  after.  On  the  21st,  in 
joint  meeting,  Messrs.  Abraham  Clarke,  William  C.  Houston,  and  James 
Schureman,  were  appointed  delegates  to  the  convention  at  Annapolis. 

But  five  States,*  only,  were  represented,  on  this  important  occasion.  The 
delegates  having  appointed  Mr.  John  Dickinson  their  chairman,  proceeded  to 
discuss  the  objects  of  their  convention;  when  they  soon  perceived,  that  more 
ample  powers  were  requisite  to  effect  their  contemplated  purpose.  They 


New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and  Maryland. 
2T 


330  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

rose,  therefore,  without  coming  to  any  resolution,  save  that  of  recommend- 
ing, to  the  several  States,  the  necessity  of  extending  the  revision  of  the 
federal  system,  to  all  its  defects,  and  the  appointment  of  deputies  for  that 
purpose,  to  meet  in  convention,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  second  day 
of  the  ensuing  May. 

This  proposition  was  variously  received,  in  accordance  with  the  temper  of 
the  several  parties  in  the  Union.  Those  who  sought  the  energetic  govern- 
ment of  monarchy,  and  those  who  earnestly  desired  to  break  up  the  old  con- 
federation, believed,  that  the  public  affairs  had  not  yet  reached  their  worst 
state — that  state  which  would  compel  a  change ;  and,  therefore,  they  looked 
coldly  upon  it.  Others  deemed  the  mode  of  calling  the  convention,  irregular ; 
whilst  others  objected  to  it,  because  it  gave  no  authority  to  the  plan,  which 
should  be  devised.  But  its  most  active  opponents  were  the  devotees  of  state 
sovereignty,  who  deprecated  any  considerable  augmentation  of  federal  power. 
The  ultimate  decision  of  the  States,  in  favour  of  the  proposition,  is  supposed 
to  have  been  produced,  by  the  commotions  which  at  that  time  agitated  all 
New  England,  and  particularly  Massachusetts.  Congress  was  restrained 
from  giving  its  sanction  to  the  measure,  by  an  apprehension,  that  their  action 
upon  it  would  impede,  rather  than  promote,  it.  From  this  fear,  they  were 
relieved  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  which,  by  a  majority  of  one  voice, 
only,  instructed  its  delegation  to  move  in  Congress,  a  resolution,  recommend- 
ing to  the  several  States,  to  appoint  deputies  to  meet  in  convention,  for  the 
purpose  of  revising,  and  proposing  amendments  to,  the  federal  constitution. 
On  the  21st  of  February,  1787,  the  day  succeeding  the  instructions  given  by 
New  York,  Congress  resolved  it  "  to  be  expedient,  that  on  the  second  Mon- 
day in  May  next,  a  convention  of  delegates,  who  shall  have  been  appointed 
by  the  several  States,  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  for  the  sole  and  express  pur- 
pose of  revising  the  articles  of  confederation,  and  reporting  to  Congress,  and 
the  several  Legislatures,  such  alterations  and  provisions,  therein,  as  shall, 
when  agreed  to,  in  Congress,  and  confirmed  by  the  States,  render  tjie  federal 
constitution  adequate  to  the  exigencies  of  government,  and  the  preservation 
of  the  Union." 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1786,  New  Jersey  had  approved  the  measure, 
and  nominated  David  Brearley,  William  C.  Houston,  William  Patterson,  and 
John  Neilson,  commissioners  on  her  part ;  to  whom  she  afterwards  added, 
Governor  Livingston,  and  Abraham  Clark,  on  the  19th  of  May,  1787, 
(omitting  the  name  of  Mr.  Nielson,)  and  Jonathan  Dayton,  on  the  7th  of 
June. 

XIII.  The  representatives  of  twelve  States  convened  at  the  time  and  place 
appointed;  Rhode  Island,  alone,  having  refused  to  send  deputies.  Having, 
unanimously,  chosen  General  Washington  their  president,  they  proceeded 
with  closed  doors,  to  discuss  the  interesting  subject  submitted  to  them.  Upon 
the  great  principles  of  the  system,  not  much  contrariety  of  opinion  is  under- 
stood to  have  prevailed;  but  the  various  and  intricate  modifications  of  those 
principles,  presented  much  difficulty.  More  than  once,  there  was  reason  to 
fear,  that  the  convention  would  rise  without  effecting  the  object  for  which  it 
was  formed.  Happily,  the  advantages  of  the  Union  triumphed  over  local 
interests.  And  at  length,  on  .the  17th  of  September,  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  was  given  to  the  world. 

Although  earnestly  devoted  to  the  establishment  of  a  strong  and  permanent 
government  for  the  Union,  New  Jersey  was  anxious  to  preserve  the  original 
equality  of  the  States,  which  had  given  to  each,  in  Congress,  before  and  after 
the  adoption  of  the  articles  of  confederation,  a  voice  alike  potential.  The 
pretension  was  unjust,  considering  the  United  States  as  composed  of  one 
people,  but  had  a  colour  of  propriety  when  they  were  viewed  as  a  confede- 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  331 

ration  of  independent  States.  The  "  New  Jersey  plan,"  as  it  was  termed, 
was  proposed  by  Mr.  Patterson,  and  sustained  by  the  delegates  of  New  Jersey, 
Connecticut,  Delaware,  and  in  part  of  Maryland.  To  its  introduction  we, 
probably,  owe  that  provision  of  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  which 
gave  from  the  several  States,  an  equal  representation  in  the  Senate.* 

The  convention  directed  the  result  of  their  labours  to  be  laid  before  Con- 
gress; and  that  it  should  afterwards  be  submitted  to  a  convention  of  dele- 
gates, chosen  in  each  State  by  the  people,  thereof,  under  the  recommendation 
of  its  Legislature,  for  their  assent  and  ratification ;  and  that  so  soon  as  the 
conventions  of  nine  States  should  have  ratified  it,  it  should  be  earned  into 
operation  by  Congress,  in  a  mode  prescribed. 

When  submitted  to  the  people,  the  merits  of  this  constitution  were  fully 
and  rigorously  discussed,  not  only  in  the  several  conventions,  but  in  the 
periodical  papers  of  the  day.  The  federal,  and  the  State-right  parties,  which 
divided  the  country,  maintained  their  views  with  equal  •  zeal ;  but  the  first, 
after  an  arduous  struggle,  prevailed.  In  producing  this  result,  Messrs. 
Madison,  Jay,  and  Hamilton,  were  among  the  most  efficient  and  distinguish- 
ed agents,  and  their  essays  under  the  title  of  the  Federalist,  form  a  valua- 
ble treatise  on  government,  which  must  continue  to  be  the  text  book  for,  at 
least,  the  statesmen  of  North  America. 

So  balanced  were  the  parties  in  some  of  the  States,  that  even  after  the 
constitution  had  been  long  discussed,  its  fate  could  scarcely  be  conjectured; 
and  so  small  in  many  instances,  was  the  majority  in  its  favour,  as  to  afford 
ground  to  believe,  that  had  the  influence  of  character  been  removed,  the 
merits  of  the  instrument  would  not  have  secured  its  adoption.  And  in  some 
of  the  adopting  States,  a  majority  of  the  people  are  supposed  to  have  been  op- 
posed to  it.  The  commissioners  of  New  Jersey,  reported  to  the  Assembly 
the  proceedings  of  the  Convention,  on  the  25th  of  October,  1787.  And  Con- 
gress having  unanimously  resolved,  that  the  constitution  be  transmitted  to 
the  several  States,  for  consideration,  the  House,  unanimously,  on  the  29th  of 
October,  recommended,  such  inhabitants  of  the  State  as  were  entitled  to  vote 
for  representatives  in  the  General  Assembly,  to  elect  on  the  fourth  Tuesday 
of  November,  from  each  county,  three  delegates  to  a  convention,  to  meet  at 
Trenton,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  December,  to  consider,  and  if  approved, 
to  ratify,  the  constitution. 

The  State  Convention  met  on  the  llth  of  December,  1787,  and  chose 
John  Stephens,  president,  and  Samuel  Witham  Stockton,  secretary.  After 
establishing  rules  for  its  government,  it  resolved,  "  that  the  federal  constitu- 

*  The  plan  of  Mr.  Patterson  contemplated  the  amendment  of  the  articles  of  confede- 
ration— By  vesting  in  Congress  power — To  raise  a  revenue  by  duties  on  imposts, 
stamps,  and  postage — To  regulate  trade  and  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  be- 
tween the  States;  all  punishments,  fines,  forfeitures,  and  penalties,  to  be  adjudged  by 
the  common  law  judiciary  of  the  State,  in  which  the  offence  should  be  committed, 
subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  judiciary  of  the  United  States — To  make  requisitions  upon 
the  several  States,  in  proportion  to  the  whole  number  of  inhabitants,  including  those 
bound  to  servitude  for  a  term  of  years,  and  three-fifths  of  slaves;  and  in  case  of  non- 
compliance,  to  direct  the  collection  of  the  same — To  elect  a  Federal  Executive  to  con- 
sist of  several  persons,  paid  by  Congress,  having  power  to  appoint  all  Federal  officers, 
&c. — To  establish  a  Federal  Judiciary,  consisting  of  a  supreme  tribunal,  appointed  by 
the  Executive,  during  good  behaviour,  to  have  original  jurisdiction  in  case  of  im- 
peachment, and  appellate  jurisdiction  in  cases  relating  to  ambassadors,  captures, 
piracy  and  felony  on  the  sea — To  impose  an  oath  of  fidelity,  &c.  on  all  officers — To 
make  the  Federal  laws  and  treaties  the  supreme  laws  of  the  land,  and  to  call  forth  the 
military  powers  of  the  confederated  States,  to  enforce  such  laws — To  provide  for  the 
admission  of  new  States  into  the  Union — To  provide  for  deciding  upon  all  disputes 
between  the  United  States  and  an  individual  State,  respecting  territory— To  make  a 
uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  &c.  &c. 


332  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

tion  be  read,  by  sections,  and  that,  as  so  read,  every  member  make  his  obser- 
vations thereon;  that  after  debating  such  section,  the  question  be  taken, 
whether  further  debate  be  had  thereon ;  and  if  determined  in  the  negative, 
that  the  convention  proceed  in  like  manner  to  the  next  section,  until  the 
whole  be  gone  through;  upon  which  the  general  question  shall  be  taken, 
Whether  the  Convention  in  the  name,  and  on  behalf  of  the  people  of  this 
State,  do  ratify  and  confirm  the  said  constitution  ?"  And  on  Tuesday,  the 
18th  of  December,  the  constitution  was,  unanimously,  adopted,  without  a  sin- 
gle amendment.  On  the  19th,  the  members  of  the  Convention  went  in 
solemn  procession,  to  the  Court  House,  where  the  ratification  was  publicly 
read  to  the  people.* 

The  twelve  articles  of  amendment,  which  were  proposed  and  adopted,  at 
the  first  session  of  the  first  Congress,  were  ratified  by  this  State,  by  an  act 
passed  on  the  20th  of  November,  1789.  That  the  happiness  of  all  the  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States  has  been  promoted  and  secured,  by  the  Federal 
Constitution,  admits  not  of  doubt.  But,  to  New  Jersey,  especially,  that  in- 
strument brought  peace,  protection  and  prosperity.  Condemned,  by  circum- 
stances, which  she  could  not  control,  to  abandon  all  prospect  of  foreign  com- 
merce, she  would  have  been  dependant  upon  New  York  on  the  east,  and 
Pennsylvania  on  the  west,  for  her  supplies  of  foreign  merchandise.  For  so 
valuable  a  customer,  those  States  would,  probably,  have  contended  between 
themselves ;  and  the  inhabitants  on  the  shores  of  the  Delaware  and  its  tribu- 
taries, would  have  made  common  interest  with  Philadelphia,  whilst  those  on 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson  and  the  sea  coast,  would  have  been  controlled  by 
the  merchants  of  New  York.  Less  causes  have  divided  States,  have  given 
birth  to  civil  wars,  followed  by  the  subjection  of  the  country.  New  Jersey 
might  have  become  the  prize  for  which  her  great  neighbours  would  have  re- 
sorted to  arms ;  and  her  greatest  happiness  might  have  been,  to  be  conquered 
by  the  strongest. 

From  the  dread  of  these  evils,  the  Union  has,  happily,  delivered  her,  and 
left  her  at  perfect  liberty  to  pursue,  with  unerring  certainty,  the  welfare  of 
her  citizens.  Debarred  from  foreign  commerce,  she  has  turned  her  pro- 
vidence to  agriculture  and  manufactures.  For  the  first,  the  diversity  of  her 
soils  is  admirably  adapted.  For  the  second,  her  mines  and  her  streams  have 
fitly  prepared  her.  From  both,  she  has  continued  to  derive,  abundantly, 
morals,  wealth,  and  happiness.  Since  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitu-  - 
tion,  few  subjects  of  historical  interest  have  occurred, — public  business  has 
flowed  in  a  silent  and  tranquil  stream,  and  individual  prosperity  has  been  un- 
interrupted. The  fondest  wish  of  the  patriot  heart,  must  be,  that  the  Union, 
the  Federal  Constitution,  and  the  weal  of  the  State,  which  are  inseparable, 
may,  also,  be  perpetual. 

*  New  Jersey  was  the  third  State  to  ratify  the  constitution,  being  preceded  only 
by  Delaware,  on  the  7th,  and  Pennsylvania,  on  the  12th,  of  December. 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE  A.— Page  6. 

The  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers  have  been  known  under  various  names,  by  the 
aborigines  and  the  whites.  Thus,  the  Hudson  was  called  Manahatla,  from  an  In- 
dian nation  near  its  mouth.  Mahakaneghtac,  or  Mohican- nittuck,  and  Mohegan,  from 
the  Mohicans;  Shattemuck,  perhaps  a  corruption  of  the  preceding;  and  Cohetaba,  by 
the  Iroquois.  The  Dutch  and  English  termed  it  the  North,  to  distinguish  it  from 
the  Delaware,  or  South  river.  The  Dutch  also  called  it  Mauritius  river,  in  honour 
of  Prince  Maurice.  The  Spaniards  are  supposed  to  have  called  it  Riviere  de  Mon- 
tagues, from  the  Highlands  through  which  it  passes. 

The  Delaware,  among  the  natives,  was  known  as  the  Poutaxat,  Marisqueton, 
Makeriskitton,  and  Makerisk-kiskon,  and  Lenape-wihittuck,  stream  of  the  Lenape. 
By  the  Dutch  it  was  called  Zuydt,  or  South,  Nassau,  Prince  Kendrick's,  or  Charles' 
river;  and  by  the  English,  the  Delaware.  The  derivation  of  the  last  name  is 
doubtful.  Campanius  says  it  was  so  named,  from  Mons.  De  la  Warre,  a  captain 
under  Chartier;  and  that  it  was  discovered  in  1600;  whilst  Stith  informs  us,  that 
Thomas  West,  Lord  Delaware,  discovered  and  gave  it  his  name,  in  1610,  and  that 
he  died  opposite  its  mouth,  on  a  second  voyage  to  Virginia,  in  1618.  In  Heylin's 
Cosmography,  originally  written  in  1648,  but  continued  by  Edward  Bohun  to  1703, 
this  river  is  called  Arasapha. 

NOTE  B.— Page  18. 

The  description  given  by  Plantagenet,  was  doubtless  very  enticing,  and  it  would 
seem  that  the  country  had  been  pretty  well  explored,  since  he  speaks  familiarly  of 
"  iron  stone,  and  by  it,  waters  and  falls,  to  drive  iron-works,  in  an  uninhabited  de- 
sert." He  speaks  also,  of  lions,  for  which  probably  the  panthers  were  taken.  On  re- 
ligious subjects,  the  views  of  the  projectors  were  liberal  for  the  age,  since  there  was 
to  be  "no  persecution  to  any  dissenting;  and  to  all  such,  as  to  the  Walloons,  in 
Holland,  free  chapels;  and  to  punish  all  as  seditious,  and  for  contempt,  as  bitter  rail, 
and  condemn  others  of  the  contrary." 

NOTE  C.— Page  34. 

There  is  a  singular  pleasure  in  contrasting  the  order  and  moral  beauty  which  has 
arisen  from  the  chaotic  materials  of  primitive  Quakerism.  To  the  philosophic  mind, 
the  dependence  on  the  divine  light  within,  as  the  guide  of  moral  action,  is  little  else 
than  an  abandonment  of  the  understanding  to  every  capricious  impulse,  and  "  wind 
of  doctrine."  Intense  zeal  has  but  two  modes  of  expending  itself — by  action 
upon  others,  or  upon  ourselves.  In  the  first  case,  its  fruits  are,  commonly,  active 
force  and  oppression,  of  which  the  history  of  every  sect,  is  but  too  full  of  ex- 
ample ;  and  in  the  second,  it  is  passive  resistance,  whose  reaction  is  equal  to  any 
power  that  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon  it.  But  this  species  of  force  requires  the 
homogeneity  and  condensation  of  the  parts  of  the  suffering  body.  These  were  given 
by  the  establishment  of  the  "  discipline"  of  the  Quakers,  providing  practical  rules 
of  action  for  life,  and  requiring  the  assent  of  a  large  portion  of  the  society,  to  all 
public  demonstrations  of  its  faith  and  doctrines;  whilst,  at  the  same  time,  watchful 
guardians  observed  and  regulated,  by  timely  monition,  the  walking  of  the  brethren. 
In  these  causes,  of  which  the  peculiarity  of  garb,  the  Quaker  uniform,  is  but  part, 
lay  the  strength  of  the  society.  The  persecution  it  sustained,  was  an  exterior  force 
aiding  its  integrity  and  preservation,  and  without  which,  it  is  possible,  the  society 
cannot  resist  the  centrifugal  power  of  the  inward  divine  light.  For,  when  that 
ceased,  a  disintegration  commenced,  which  has  already  produced  a  broad  separation 
of  the  parts,  and  may  ultimately  resolve  the  whole  body  into  primitive  monads. 


334  APPENDIX. 

From  the  writings  of  modern  historians,  and  apologists  of  Quakerism,  we  might 
suppose,  that  none  of  the  Quakers,  who  were  imprisoned  by  the  magistrates,  at  this 
period,  had  been  accused  of  aught  but  the  profession  of  their  peculiar  doctrines,  or 
attendance  at  their  peculiar  places  of  worship.  But  very  different  causes  of  their 
imprisonment,  have  been  transmitted  to  us,  even  by  the  sufferers  themselves,  and 
which  leave  it  questionable  whether  the  greatest  wrong  they  sustained,  was  not  the 
committal  to  the  gaol,  instead  of  the  lunatic  hospital.  These  sectarians,  who  have 
always  professed  and  inculcated  the  maxims  of  inviolable  peace,  who  not  many 
years  after  their  association,  were  accounted  philosophical  deists,  seeking  to  pave 
the  way  to  a  scheme  of  natural  religion,  by  allegorizing  the  distinguishing  articles 
of  the  Christian  faith,  and  who  are,  now,  in  general,  remarkable  for  calm  benevo- 
lence, and  peculiar  remoteness  from  active  efforts  to  make  proselytes,  were,  in  their 
infancy,  the  most  impetuous  zealots,  and  inveterate  disputers.  In  their  eagerness 
to  convict  the  world,  and  to  bear  witness  from  the  fountain  of  oracular  testimony, 
which  they  supposed  to  reside  within  them,  against  a  regular  ministry,  which  they 
called  a  priesthood  of  Baal,  and  against  the  sacraments,  which  they  termed  carnal 
and  idolatrous  observances,  many  committed  the  most  revolting  blasphemy,  inde- 
cency, and  disorderly  outrage. 

We  refer  our  readers,  on  this  subject,  to  SewaVs  History,  Howell's  State  Trials, 
vol.  v.  p.  801 — vol.  vi.  p.  998;  Hume's  History  of  England,  vol.  vii.  p.  336;  Besse's 
"  Collection  of  the  Sufferings  of  the  People  called  Quakers;"  Fox's  Journal,  &c. 

NOTE  D.~ Page  37. 

The  being  a  party  to  this  agreement,  constitution,  or  concessions,  confers  an 
honour  upon  a  descendant,  of  which  many  inhabitants  of  New  Jersey  may  now  just- 
ly boast.  The  names  of  the  signers,  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  may  be  found 
in  the  Appendix  to  Smith's  History,  page  538,  and  Learning  and  Spicer's  Collec- 
tion, page  409. 

NOTE  E.—Page  38. 

Thomas  Hutchinson,  of  Beverley;  Thomas  Pierson,  of  Bonwicke,  yeoman;  Jo- 
seph Helmsly,  of  Great  Kelke,  yeoman;  George  Hutchinson,  of  Sheffield,  distiller; 
and  Mahlon  Stacy,  of  Hansworth,  tanner;  all  of  the  county  of  York,  were  principal 
creditors  of  E.  Byllinge,  to  whom  several  of  the  other  creditors  made  assignments  of 
their  debts,  which  together  amounted  to  the  sum  of  JE2450  sterling,  and  who  took 
in  satisfaction,  seven  full,  equal  and  undivided  ninetieth  parts  of  ninety  equal  and 
undivided  hundred  parts  of  West  Jersey;  and  the  same  was  conveyed  to  them, 
their  heirs  and  assigns,  by  William  Penn,  Gawen  Lawrie,  Nicholas  Lucas,  and  E. 
Byllinge,  by  deed,  bearing  date,  the  first  of  the  month  called  March,  1676:  And  by 
another  conveyance  of  the  same  date,  from  and  to  the  same  persons,  in  satisfaction 
for  other  debts,  to  the  amount  of  £1050  sterling,  three  other  full,  equal  and  un- 
divided ninetieth  parts  of  the  aforesaid  ninety  equal  and  undivided  hundred  parts  of 
West  Jersey,  were  also  conveyed. — Smith's  Hist.  New  Jersey,  p.  92,  n. 

NOTE  F.— Page  39. 

Among  these  first  settlers  of  Burlington,  were  Thomas  Olive,  Daniel  Wills,  Wil- 
liam Peachy,  William  Clayton,  John  Crips,  Thomas  Eves,  Thomas  Harding,  Thomas 
Nositer,  Thomas  Farnworth,  Morgan  Drewet,  William  Pennton,  Henry  Jennings, 
William  Hibes,  Samuel  Lovett,  John  Woolston,  William  Woodmaney,  Christopher 
Saunders,  and  Robert  Powell.  John  Wilkinson  and  William  Peikins  were  with 
their  families,  passengers,  but  dying  on  the  voyage,  the  latter  were  duly  protected, 
and  aided  by  their  fellow  passengers.  Perkins  became  a  Quaker,  early  in  life,  and 
lived  well  in  Leicestershire;  but,  in  the  fifty-second  year  of  his  age,  was  induced, 
by  a  favourable  account  of  New  Jersey,  written  by  Richard  Hartshorne,  to  embark 
with  his  wife,  four  children,  and  some  servants.  Among  the  last,  was  one  Mar- 
shall, a  carpenter,  whose  services  were  most  useful  in  setting  up  the  habitations  of 
the  new  comers. 

NOTE  G.— Page  40. 

In  the  Willing  Mind  came  James  Nevill,  Henry  Salter,  George  Deacon,  and  other 
families;  in  the  Martha,  Thomas  Wright,'  William  Goforth,  John  Lynam,  Edward 
Season,  William  Black,  Richard  Dungworth.  George  Miles,  William  Wood,  Thomas 


APPENDIX.  335 

Schooley,  Richard  Harrison,  Thomas  Hooten,  Samuel  Taylor,  Marmaduke  Horse- 
man, William  Oxley,  William  Lex,  Nathaniel  Luke,  the  families  of  Robert  Stacy, 
and  Samuel  Odas,  and  Thomas  Ellis,  and  John  Barts,  servants  sent  by  George 
Hutchinson.  Letters  from  the  first  emigrants,  from  John  Cripps,  Thomas  Hooten, 
William  Clark,  and  others,  to  their  friends  in  England,  descriptive  of  the  richness 
and  capabilities  of  the  soil,  abundance  of  game  and  fruits,  temperature  of  the 
climate,  excellence  of  the  water,  and  kindness  of  the  aborigines,  induced  many  to 
emigrate.  In  The  Shield,  came  William  Emley,  the  second  time,  with  his  wife,  two 
children,  one  born  by  the  way,  two  men,  and  two  women  servant^;  Mahlon  Stacy, 
his  wife,  children, and  several  servants,  men  and  women;  Thomas  Lambert,  his  wife, 
children,  and  several  men  and  women  servants ;  John  Lambert  and  servant;  Thomas 
Revell,  his  wife,  children,  and  servants;  Godfrey  Hancock,  his  wife,  children,  and 
servants;  Thomas  Potts,  his  wife,  and  children;  John  Wood  and  four  children; 
Thomas  Wood,  wife,  and  children;  Robert  Murfin,  his  wife,  and  two  children; 
Robert  Schooley,  his  wife,  and  children;  James  Pharo,  wife,  and  children;  Susan- 
nah Farnsworth,  her  children,  and  two  servants;  Richard  Tattersal,  his  wife,  and 
children;  Godfrey  Newbold",  John  Dewsbury ;  Richard  Green,  Peter  and  John 
Fretwell;  John  Newbold;  one  Barns,  a  merchant  from  Hull,  Francis  Barwick, 
George  Parks,  George  Hill,  John  Heyres,  and  several  more. 

In  the  ship  from  London,  1678,  came  John  Denn,  Thomas  Kent,  John  Hollins- 
head,  with  their  families;  William  Hewlings,  Abraham  Hewlings,  Jonathan  Eld- 
ridge,  John  Petty,  Thomas  Kirby,  with  others:  the  first  of  these  settled  about  Salem, 
the  rest  at  Burlington.  About  this  time,  and  a  few  years  afterwards,  arrived  at 
Burlington,  the  following  settlers  from  England,  viz.  John  Butcher,  Henry  Grubb, 
William  Butcher,  William  Brightwin,  Thomas  Gardner,  John  Budd,  John  Bourten, 
Seth  Smith,  Walter  Pumphrey,  Thomas  Ellis,  James  Satterthwaite,. Richard  Arnold, 
John  Woolman,  John  Stacy,  Thomas  Eves,  Benjamin  Duffeld,  John  Payne,  Samuel 
Cleft,  William  Cooper,  John  Shinn,  William  Biles,  John  Skein,  John  Warrel,  An- 
thony Morris,  Samuel  Bunting,  Charles  Read,  Francis  Collins,  Thomas  Mathews, 
Christopher  Wetherill,  John  Dewsbury,  John  Day,  Richard  Basnett,  John  Antrem, 
William  Biddle,  Samuel  Furnace,  John  Ladd,  Thomas  Raper,  Roger  Huggins,  and 
Thomas  Wood. 

About  this  time  also,  arrived  John  Kinsey.  His  father,  one  of  the  commissioners, 
dying  on  his  arrival,  the  charge  of  the  family  fell  upon  him.  He  and  his  son  be- 
came much  distinguished  in  the  province,  holding  many  public  stations.  The  latter 
died  phief  justice  of  Pennsylvania. 

NOTE  H.— Page  43. 

The  names  of  this  Assembly  and  Council,  and  the  forms  of  their  engagements, 
may  be  seen  in  Learning  and  Spicer's  Collection  of  Grants,  &c.  p.  456. 

NOTE  I.— Page  46. 

We  purposed  to  reprint  here,  the  act  relating  to  the  Confession  of  Faith  ;  but  our 
space  does  not  permit  it.  It  will  be  found  in  Learning  and  Spicer's  Collection, 
p.  548. 

NOTE  K.— Page  48. 

The  salary  of  the  Governor  was,  generally,  fifty  pounds  a  year,  paid  in  country 
produce,  at  prices  fixed  by  law,  and  sometimes,  four  shillings  a  day  besides,  to  defray 
the  charges  while  a  session  was  held  :  the  wages  of  the  Council  and  Assembly,  durino- 
the  sitting  in  legislation,  was,  to  each  member,  three  shillings  a  day :  the  rates  for  pub- 
lic charges,  were  levied  at  two  shillings  a  head,  for  every  male  above  fourteen  years. 

In  1668  the  council  consisted  of  six,  viz.  Nicholas  Verlet,  Robert  Bond,  Robert 
Vanquellin,  Daniel  Price,  Samuel  Edsall,  and  William  Pardon  ;  the  Assembly  of 
twelve,  viz.  Casper  Steenmets,  Baltazar  Bayard  for  Bergen,  John  Ogden,  senior, 
John  Brackett  for  Elizabethtown,  Robert  Treat  and  Samuel  Swame  for  Newark, 
John  Bishop  and  Robert  Dennis  for  Woodbridge,  James  Grover  and  John  Bound 
for  Middletovvn  and  Shrewsbury. 

NOTE  L.— Page  51. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  understand  how  a  friendly  intercourse  originated  between 
the  leading  persons  among  the  Quakers,  and  Charles  II.  and  his  brother.  The 


336  APPENDIX. 

Quakers  desired  to  avail  themselves  of  the  authority  of  the  King,  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  general  toleration,  and  for  their  own  especial  defence  against  the  enmity 
and  dislike  of  their  numerous  adversaries.  The  King  and  his  brother  regarded, 
with  great  benevolence,  the  principles  of  non-resistance,  professed  by  Friends,  and 
found  in  them,  the  only  class  of  Protestants,  who  could  be  rendered  instrumental  to 
their  design  of  re-establishing  Popery,  by  the  preparatory  measure  of  general  tole- 
ration. But  how  the  friendly  relation  thus  created,  between  the  royal  brothers,  and 
such  men  as  Penn  and  Barclay,  should  have  continued  to  exist,  uninterrupted  by 
all  the  tyranny  and  treachery  which  the  reigns  of  these  princes  disclosed,  is  a  diffi- 
culty which  their  contemporaries  were  unable  to  solve,  otherwise  than  by  consider- 
ing the  Quakers,  as  at  bottom,  the  votaries  of  Popery  and  arbitrary  power.  The 
more  modern  and  juster,  as  well  as  more  charitable  censure  is,  that  they  were  dupes 
of  kingly  courtesy,  craft,  and  dissimulation.  They  endeavoured  to  make  an  instru- 
ment of  the  King ;  while  he  permitted  them  to  flatter  themselves  with  this  hope,  that 
he  might  avail  himself  of  their  instrumentality,  for  the  acsomplishment  of  his  own 
designs. — Grahame's  Col.  Hist. 

NOTE  M.— Page  51. 

By  recurring  to  the  letters  of  Rudyard,  first  deputy -governor  of  East  Jersey, 
Samuel  Groome,  surveyor,  Lawrie,  deputy-governor,  John  Barclay,  and  Arthur 
Forbes,  to  the  proprietaries  in  London,  the  reader  will  perceive  how  strong  and 
favourable  were  the  impressions  on  the  minds  of  the  first  settlers,  in  relation  to  the 
country.  See  Smith's  Hist.  New  Jersey,  from  page  168  to  188. 

NOTE  N.— Page  55. 

The  counsellors  named  in  the  instructions  were  Edward  Hunlake,  Lewis  Mo'rris, 
Andrew  Bowne,  Samuel  Jennings,  Thomas  Revel,  Francis  Davenport,  William 
Pinhorne,  Samuel  Leonard,  George  Deacon,  Samuel  Walker,  Daniel  Leeds,  Wil- 
liam Sanford,  and  Robert  Quarry.  Quarry  was  said  to  be  of  the  council  of  five 
governments  at  one  time;  viz.  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
and  Virginia.  He  died  about  the  year  1712. — Smith,  p.  231,  n. 

NOTE  O.— Page  66. 

A  dispute  was  long  pending  between  the  general  proprietors  and  the  inhabitants 
of  Newark,  relating  to  lands  included  within  the  bounds  of  three  Indian  purchases, 
called  the  Mountain,  the  Horse  Neck,  and  Van  Gieson's.  After  several  suits  at 
law  and  equity,  the  contest  was  referred  to  arbitrators,  mutually  chosen  by  the 
parties,  who  awarded  in  favour  of  the  general  proprietors.  Some  of  the  defendants, 
dissatisfied  with  the  award,  endeavoured  to  excite  the  others  to  further  contest, 
gave  occasion  for  the  letter  of  Mr.  Ogden,  who  was  council  for  the  proprietors. 
His  clear  and  satisfactory  exposition  of  the  case,  most  probably  prevented  a  conti- 
nuation of  the  controversy.  We  find  the  letter  too  long  to  be  copied.  It  may  be 
seen  in  a  small  pamphlet,  in  the  Philadelphia  Library,  as  noted,  at  page  66  of  the 
text. 

NOTE  P.— Page  77. 

The  curious  reader  will  find  at  the  end  of  vol.  iv.  of  the  printed  Minutes  of  the 
Assembly,  in  the  State  Library,  at  Trenton,  a  MSS.  "  table  of  the  sittings  of  Assem- 
bly, from  the  surrender,  in  the  year  1702,  to  the  revolution,  in  1776,  with  the  names 
of  the  governors  and  speakers}"  and  also,  li  a  list  of  the  members  of  Assembly 
during  the  same  period." 

NOTE  Q.— Page  81. 

Names  of  the  Legislative  Council,  in  1707,  Richard  Ingoldsby,  lieutenant- 
governor,  William  Pinhorne,  R.  Mornpesson,  Thomas  Revell,  Daniel  Leeds,  Daniel 
Coxe,  Richard  Townly,  Robert  Quarry,  and  William  Sandford. 

NOTE  R.— Page  82. 

This  illness  of  Jennings  proved  mortal,  after  a  year's  duration.  He  was  a  zealous 
minister  among  "  Friends;"  and  upon  all  occasions  took  an  active  part  in  public 
affairs,  in  which  he  was  alike  distinguished  by  ability  and  integrity.  His  warm  and 
sanguine  temperament,  was  ordinarily  controlled  by  a  sound  and  experienced  judg- 


APPENDIX.  o37 

merit;  but  it  sometimes  betrayed  him  into  hasty  and  passionate  conduct,  of  which 
his  treatment  to  Keith,  the  apostate  Quaker,  whilst  on  trial  before  the  court  at 
Philadelphia,  was  a  remarkable  instance,  and  perhaps  justified  the  charge  made  by 
the  schismatic,  that  "  he  was  too  high  and  imperious,  in  worldly  courts."  He  was 
an  ardent  lover  of  liberty,  and  firm  and  fearless  in  its  defence.  And  though  his 
manners  were  stern  and  severe,  he  was  always  sought  by  the  people  when  impor- 
tant services  were  required.  Twenty -eight  years  of  his  life  were  devoted  to  public 
employment;  part  of  which,  in  Philadelphia.  In  private  life,  says  Smith,  "  alive 
to  the  more  generous  emotions  of  a  mind  formed  to  benevolence,  and  acts  of  human- 
ity, he  was  a  friend  to  the  widow,  the  fatherless,  and  the  unhappy;  tender,  compas- 
sionate, disinterested,  and  with  great  opportunities,  he  left  but  a  small  estate; 
abhorring  oppression  in  every  shape,  his  whole  conduct,  a  will  to  relieve  and  be- 
friend mankind,  far  above  the  littleness  of  party  and  sinister  views.  He  left  three 
daughters,  who  intermarried  with  three  brothers,  by  the  name  of  Stevenson,  whose 
posterity  reside  in  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania." 

Thomas  Gordon,  his  successor,  was  intimately  connected  with  the  proprietaries  of 
East  Jersey,  before  the  surrender  of  the  government  in  1702.  In  1697-8,  he  was 
deputy-secretary,  and  register  of  the  province,  and  one  of  the  council;  and  in  1702, 
on  the  removal  of  William  Dockwra,  he  was  appointed  principal  secretary.  He 
was  several  years  a  representative  in  the  Assembly,  after  the  surrender;  was 
treasurer  for  the  eastern  divison  of  the  province,  and  distinguished  in  Perth  Amboy 
as  a  pious  member  and  liberal  patron  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  died  on  the  28th 
of  April,  1722,  aged  seventy  years.  A  tomb-stone  in  the  grave-yard  of  St.  Peter's 
church,  at  Amboy,  with  a  long  Latin  inscription,  commemorates  his  virtues. 

NOTE  S.— Page  83. 

The  Assembly  of  New  York  adopted  resolutions,  declaring,  that  the  levying 
money  on  her  Majesty's  subjects  of  the  colony,  under  any  pretence,  without  the 
consent  of  the  General  Assembly,  was  a  violation  of  the  people's  property;  and 
that  the  freemen  of  the  colony  had  an  unquestionable,  perfect  and  entire  property 
in  their  goods  and  estate.  We  recognise  here,  the  principles  which  subsequently 
led  to  the  revolution.  The  Assembly,  also,  denounced  the  practice  of  Cornbury,  in 
levying  imposts  on  trade,  and  establishing  fees  without  the  sanction  of  law. 

NOTE  T.— Page  86. 

The  members  of  Council  named  in  the  instructions  of  Governor  Hunter,  were 
Lewis  Morris,  William  Pirihorne,  George  Deacon,  Richard  Townley,  Daniel  Coxe, 
Roger  Mompesson,  Peter  Sonmans,  Hugh  Huddy,  William  Hall,  Thomas  Gordon, 
Thomas  Gardiner,  Colonel  Robert  Quarry.  The  Queen,  on  the  receipt  of  the  re- 
monstrance of  the  Assembly,  appointed  John  Anderson,  Elisha  Parker,  Thomas 
Byerly,  John  Hamilton,  and  John  Reading;  removing  Pinhorne,  Coxe,  Sonrnans, 
and  Hall. 

NOTE  U.— Page  94. 

We  give  the  following  abstract  from  the  minutes  of  the  Assembly,  indicative  of 
the  spirit  of  the  times,  and  exemplifying  the  matter  which  occasionally  occupied 
the  Legislature.  On  the  24th  of  January,  1719,  the  House  appointed  a  committee 
to  inquire  into  certain  printed  libels,  and  personal  abuse  against  its  members.  One 
Benjamin  Johnson,  of  Monmouth,  had  said  to  William  Lawrence,  a  member  from 
that  county,  "  You  Lawrence,  are  a  pitiful  pimping  fellow,  and  have  been  false  to 
your  trust  in  the  Assembly."  On  the  complaint  of  Lawrence,  Johnson  was  ordered 
into  arrest  by  the  House ;  but  he  avoided  its  displeasure  by  absconding.  A  passage 
in  Titan  Leeds'  Almanac,  for  1718,  was  voted  libellous,  and  the  author  and  printer 
were  ordered  into  the  custody  of  the  sergeant-at-arms.  Leeds  was  apprehended  ; 
but  we  do  not  know  how  punished.  Two  pamphlets,  one  entitled,  "  Jl  further  dis- 
covery of  the  mystery  of  trade,  proposed  by  A  B"  and  the  other,  "  Proposals  for  traffic 
and  commerce  in  New  Jersey,"  were  also  declared  to  be  libellous,  the  books  con- 
demned to  be  burned  by  the  common  hangman,  and  a  reward  offered  for  the  appre- 
hension of  the  authors.  William  Sandford  and  Thomas  Buskirk,  Esq.  of  Bergen 
county,  were  arrested  on  the  speaker's  warrant,  for  having  reported,  that  Mr.  Philip 
Schuyler,  a  member  of  the  House,  "  had  drank  a  health  to  the  damnation  of  the  go- 
vernor and  the  justices  of  the  peace."  Sandford  admitted  and  justified  the  declara- 
2U 


338  APPENDIX 

tion;  producing  the  affidavit  of  the  coroner  of  the  county,  to  the  tittering  of  the 
words  by  Schuyler.  Schuyler  denied  the  words,  but  said,  that  he  had  quarrelled 
with  the  coroner,  and  had  kicked  him.  Whereupon,  the  House  gave  the  member 
permission  to  withdraw  and  go  home,  that  he  might  procure  evidence  to  disprove 
the  charge  thus  brought  against  him.  Sandford  and  Buskirk  were  discharged  from 
custody.  A  copy  of  the  affidavit  was  denied  to  Schuyler.  Subsequently,  the  coro- 
ner was  required  to  name  the  persons  present,  when  the  offensive  words  were 
alleged  to  have  been  uttered.  These  persons  having  no  remembrance  of  the  words, 
Schuyler  was  acquitted  by  a  solemn  vote,  and  permitted  again  to  take  his  seat.  But 
the  proceedings  against  Sandford  and  Buskirk  were  not  renewed. 

NOTE  V.— Page  97. 

The  members  of  council,  named  in  the  instructions  of  Governor  Burnet,  were 
Lewis  Morris,  Thomas  Gordon,  John  Anderson,  John  Hamilton,  Thomas  Byerly, 
David  Lyell,  John  Parker,  John  Wills,  John  Hugg,  John  Johnson,  junior,  John 
Reading,  and  Peter  Bard. 

NOTE  W.— Page  105. 

We  refer  the  reader  to  Sparks'  Life  of  Governeur  Morris,  for  a  full  account  of 
this  family,  which  has  been  distinguished  for  so  many  years  in  New  York  and  New 
Jersey. 

NOTE  Z.— Page  121. 

"  It  was  rumoured  at  an  early  period,  that  Braddock  had  been  shot  by  his  men. 
More  recently,  it  has  been  stated,  by  one  who  could  not  be  mistaken,  that  in  the 
course  of  the  battle,  Braddock  ordered  the  provincial  troops  to  form  a  column.  They, 
however,  adhered  to  the  Indian  mode  of  firing,  severally,  from  the  shelter  of  the 
trees.  Braddock,  in  his  vexation,  rode  up  to  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Fawcett, 
and  with  his  sword,  rashly  cut  him  down.  Thomas  Fawcett,  a  brother  of  the  killed, 
soon  learned  his  fate,  and  watching  his  opportunity,  revenged  his  brother's  blood, 
by  shooting  Braddock,  mortally,  through  the  body.  Thomas  Fawcett  dwelt  near 
Laurel  Hill,  Pennsylvania,  until  above  ninety-seven  years  of  age." — Register  of 
Pennsylvania,  by  S.  Hazard,  Jan.  28th,  1828. 

NOTE  A  A. —Page  140. 

The  following  abstract  from  the  address  of  Mr.  Speaker  Ogden  to  the  House,  ex- 
hibits, strongly,  the  state  of  the  public  feeling.  "  I  am  so  unhappy  as  to  find,  that 
my  conduct,  which  was  the  consequence  of  this  opinion,  formed  on  the  most  deli- 
berate, impartial,  and  disinterested  reasoning  on  the  subject,  has  been  put  in  an  un- 
favourable light,  and  has  made  me  the  object  of  too  general  a  resentment;  I  trust, 
that  Providence  will,  in  due  time,  make  the  rectitude  of  my  heart,  and  my  inviola- 
ble affection  to  my  country,  appear  in  a  fair  light  to  the  world,  and  that  my  sole  aim 
was  the  happiness  of  New  Jersey.  But,  as  at  present,  there  appears  a  great  dissatis- 
faction at  my  conduct,  that  has  spread  even  among  some  of  my  constituents,  whom 
I  have  served  many  years  in  General  Assembly,  to  the  utmost  of  my  abilities,  I  beg 
leave  of  the  House,  to  resign  my  seat  in  it,  whereby  my  constituents  may  have  an  op- 
portunity of  sending  another  person  in  my  room,  who  may  act  more  agreeable  to 
their  present  sentiments  :  though  I  am  well  assured,  that  no  person  can  be  found, 
who  will  study  their  welfare  more  sincerely,  nor  pursue  it  with  more  steadiness  and 
integrity  than  I  have  done." — Votes  of  Assembly.  Mr.  Stephen  Crane  was  elected 
in  the  place  of  Mr.  Ogden. 

NOTE  BB.— Page  152. 

The  suit  instituted,  if  any,  against  the  treasurer,  Stephen  Skinner,  was  never 
brought  to  trial.  He  adhered  to  the  British  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  all  his 
property  in  New  Jersey,  was  confiscated  and  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  State. 

NOTE  CO.— Page  164- 

List  of  deputies  in  the  provincial  Congress,  May,  June,  and  August,  1775. 

Bergen  County,  John  Fell.  John  Demarest,  Hendrick  Kuyper,  Abraham  Van  Bus- 
kirk, Edw.  Merselius.  Essex,  Henry  Garritse,  Michael  V  reel  and,  Robert  Drum- 
mond,  John  Berry,  William  P.  Smith,  John  Stiles,  John  Chetwood,  Abraham  Clark, 
Elias  Boudinot,  Isaac  Ogden,  Philip  Van-Cortlandt,  Bethuel  Pierson,  Caleb  Camp. 
Middle. sex,  Nathaniel  Heard,  William  Smith.  Johh  Dunn,  John  Lloyd,  Azwiah  Dun- 


APPENDIX.  339 

ham,  John  Schurman,  John  Wetherill,  David  Williamson,  Jonathan  Sergeant,  Jona- 
than Baldwin,  Jonathan  Deare.  Morris,  William  Winds,  William  De  Hart,  Peter 
Dickerson,  Jacob  Drake,  Ellis  Cooke,  Silas  Condict.  Somerset,  Hendrick  Fisher, 
John  Roy,  Peter  Schenk,  Abraham  Van  Neste,  Enos  Kelsey,  Jonathan  D.  Sergeant, 
Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  William  Patterson,  Archibald  Stewart,  Edward  Dumont, 
William  Maxwell,  Ephraim  Martin.  Monmouth,  Edward  Taylor,  Joseph  Saltar, 
Robert  Montgomery,  John  Holmes,  John  Covenhoven,  Daniel  Hendrickson,  Nicho- 
las Van  Brunt.  Hunterdon,  Samuel  Tucker,  John  Mehelm,  John  Hart,  John  Stout, 
Jasper  Smith,  Thomas  Lowry,  Charles  Stewart,  Daniel  Hunt,  Ralph  Hart,  Jacob 
Jennings,  Richard  Stevens,  John  Stevens,  junior,  Thomas  Stout,  Thomas  Jones, 
John  Bassett.  Burlington,  Joseph  Borden,  Isaac  Pearson,  Colin  Campbell,  Joseph 
Read,  John  Pope.  Gloucester,  John  Cooper,  Elijah  Clark,  John  Sparks.  Cumber- 
land, Samuel  Fithian,  Jonathan  Elmer,  Thomas  Ewing.  Salem,  Andrew  Sinnick- 
son,  Robert  Johnson,  Samuel  Dick,  Jacob  Scoggin,  James  James.  Cape  May,  Jesse 
Hand. 

NOTE  DD.— Page  172. 

List  of  the  deputies  of  the  provincial  Congress,  elected  in  September,  1775. 

Bergen,  John  Demarest,  Jacobus  Post,  Abraham  Van  Buskirk.  Essex,  Abraham 
Clark,  Lewis  Ogden,  Samuel  Potter,  Caleb  Camp,  Robert  Drummond.  Middlesex, 
John  Wetherill,  John  Dennis,  Azariah  Dunham.  Morris,  William  Winds.*  William 
De  Hart,*  Jacob  Drake,  Silas  Condict,  Ellis  Cook.  Somerset,  Hendrick  Fisher, 
Cornelius  Van  Muliner,*  Ruloffe  Van  Dyke.  Sussex,  William  Maxwell,*  Ephraim 
Martin,  Thomas  Potts,*  Abijah  Brown,  Mark  Thompson.  Hunterdon,  Samuel 
Tucker,  John  Mehelm,  John  Hart,  Charles  Stewart,  Augustine  Stevenson.*  Mon- 
mouth,  Edward  Taylor,  John  Covenhoven,  Joseph  Holmes.  Burlington,  Isaac  Pier- 
son,  John  Pope,  Samuel  How,*  John  Wood,  Joseph  Newbold.  Gloucester,  John 
Cooper,*  Joseph  Ellis,  Thomas  Clark,*  Elijah  Clark,*  Richard  Somers.*  Salem, 
Grant  Gibbon,  Benjamin  Holme,  John  Holme,  Edward  Keasby,  John  Carey.  Cum- 
berland, Theophilus  Elmer,  Jonathan  Eyers.  Cape  May,  Jesse  Hand,*  Elijah 
Hughes. 

*  The  persons  whose  names  are  thus  *  marked  did  not  attend  this  session  of  the 
Congress. 


GAZETTEER  OP  1VEW  JERSEY. 


PREFATORY  CHAPTER. 

PART  I. 

Containing  a  Physical  View  of  the  State. 

I.  General  Boundary. — II.  Principal  Divisions. — III.  Southern  and  Alluvial  Division. — 
Bounds — Surface — Nevisink  Hills — Sandy  Hook — Sea  Beach — Bays  or  Lagunes — 
Soil:  Forest — Pine  Lands — Oak — Cedar  Sicamp — Marl — Ferruginous  Sand — Pro- 
portions of  Marl  used  in  Agriculture. — Cultivation  of  the  Alluvial  District. — Bog 
Ore — Streams. — IV.  Middle  and  Secondary  District :  Bounds — Area — Formation — 
Trap  Ridges — Bergen  Ridge — First  and  Second  Mountains — Bituminous  Coal — 
Mountains  from  Springfield  to  Pluckemin. — Pompton  Plain  :  Abundance  of 
Minerals  there — Ridges  extending  to  the  Delaicare — Character  of  the  surrounding 
Country — Quarries  of  Freestone  near  Princeton — Sandy  Hill — Primitirc  Rocks 
near  Trenton. — Copper  Mines:  at  Belleville,  Brunswick,  Somerville,  Greenbrook. — 
V.  Mountainous  District:  Extent — Blended  Geological  Formation — Limits — Pri- 
mitive Ridges,  Minerals  of— Tongue  of  Transition  Formation,  Minerals  of — Primi- 
tive resumed — Valley  of  the  Wallkill,  or  of  Sparta — Singular  Geology  and  Mine- 
ralogy—  Valley  of  Paulins  Kill — Alternation  of  Slate  and  Limestone — Blue  or 
Kittatinney  Mountains — Transition  Limestone  on  Delaware  River — Precious  Mar- 
bles— Manganese — Rivers  and  Lakes  of  the  Third  Section — Timber  of  the  Middle  and 
Northern  Sections. — VI.  Turnpike  Roads. — VII.  Rail  Roads :  Camdcn  and  Amboy, 
West  Jersey,  Patterson  and  Hudson,  Patterson  Junction,  Patterson  and  Fort  Lee, 
Elizabethtown  and  Somerville,  New  Jersey,  New  Jersey,  Hudson  and  Delaware, 
Delaware  and  Jobstown. — VIII.  Canals:  Morris,  Delaware  and  Raritan,  Manas- 
quan,  Salem. — IX.  Population — Increase — Tables — Slavery. — X.  Statistical  Table. 
XI.  Agriculture,  Manufactures  and  Commerce. — XII.  Climate. 

I.  The  State  of  New  Jersey  is  bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by  Orange  and  Rockland  coun- 
ties, of  the  State  of  New  York ;  on  the  E.  by  Hudson  River  and  Bay,  Staten  Island 
Sound,  Raritan  Bay  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean;  on  S.  E.  and  S.  by  the  Atlantic;  on 
S.  W.  by  the  Delaware  Bay,  dividing  it  from  the  State  of  Delaware;  and  on  the  W. 
and  N.  W.  by  the  Delaware  River,  separating  it  from  Pennsylvania.     The  N.  E. 
line  from  Carpenter's  Point,    at  the  mouth   of  the  Nevisink,  or  Mackackomack 
River,  in  north  lat.  41°  21',  to  a  point  on  the  Hudson  River,  in  41°  north  latitude; 
is  in  length  45  miles;  the  E.  60;  the  S.  E.  from  Sandy  Hook  to  Cape  May,  120; 
and  the  S.  W.,  W.  and  N.  W.  from  Cape  May  to  Carpenter's  Point,  220  miles — 
making  the  extent  of  its  exterior  limit  445  miles.    The  extreme  length  of  the  State, 
by  a  line  almost  due  north  from  Cape  May,  to  the  northern  angle  on  the  Delaware, 
is  164  miles;  its  greatest  breadth  due  E.  and  W.  through  Salem,  Gloucester,  Bur- 
lington and  Monmouth  counties,  about  75   miles;    and  through  Warren,  Sussex, 
Morris  and  Bergen  counties,  to  the  extreme  N.  E.  point,  on  the  Hudson  River,  about 
60  miles.     It  may  be  crossed,  however,  by  a  direct  line  from  S.  W.  to  N.  E.,  from 
Bordentown  to  South  Amboy,  in  about  30  miles.     The  nearest  approximation  we 
can  make  to  its  area,  measuring  the  map  by  a  reticulated  scale  of  square  miles,  is 
about  7,276  square  miles,  or  4,656,330  acres,  contained  between  38°  58'  and  41°  21' 
northern  latitude.* 

II.  This  area  is  distributed  into  three  strongly  marked  divisions;  the  alluvial  and 
southern ;  the  secondary,  hilly  and  middle  ;  and  the  mountainous  and  northern,  com- 
prising primitive  and  transition  formations. 

III.  The  triangular  peninsula,  or  southern  division,  bordered  on  the  S.  and  E.  by 
Delaware  Bay  and  the  Ocean,  on  the  N.  and  W.  by  the  Delaware  River,  about  110 
miles  in  length,  and  75  in  breadth,  is  entirely  alluvial.    South  of  the  Nevisink  Hills, 
the  surface  seldom  rises  60  feet  above  the  sea.     Those  hills,  adjacent  to  the  Ocean, 
are  310  feet  above  its  level ;  and  stand  where  the  waves  formerly  rolled,  resting  in 
some  places  on  banks  of  oyster  shells  and  other  marine  relics,  blended  with  clay  and 

*  Morse  gives  8,320  square  miles,  or  5,324,800  acres;    Smith's  Hist.  N.  J.  4,800,000 
acres;  and  Darby  6,851  square  miles,  or  4,384,000  acres. 

A 


2  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

sea  mud.  A  sandy  earth,  highly  coloured  by  oxide  of  iron,  and  imbedding  reddish 
brown  sand  and  puddingstone,  cemented  by  iron,  composes  the  higher  strata;  and 
large  rocks  and  beds  of  ferruginous  sandstone,  apparently  in  place,  of  a  more  recent 
formation  than  the  alluvial  below,  containing  sufficient  metal  to  be  called  an  ore  of 
iron,  are  of  frequent  occurrence.  Particles  of  iron  are  blended  with  the  sands  of  the 
beach  ;  and  some  of  the  streams  which  descend  from  the  top  of  the  clay  strata,  are 
red  with  iron  oxide.  Efflorescences  of  the  sulphates  of  iron  and  alumine,  are  often 
observed ;  and  flame,  proceeding  from  the  spontaneous  combustion  of  gases,  gene- 
rated, probably,  in  beds  of  sulphuret  of  iron,  has  been  noticed  here.  The  strata  of  the 
steep  eastern  declivity  are  exposed  by  frequent  land  slips. 

A  small  portion,  only,  of  these  hills  is  cultivated.  They  are  rough,  broken,  and 
covered  with  wood,  in  which  deer  still  find  covert.  From  their  summit,  a  view  is 
disclosed  of  the  ocean,  unrivalled  in  grandeur  upon  the  seaboard  of  this  State  ;  and 
the  coast  on  the  N.  E.  and  S.  may  be  seen  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  The  land 
prospect,  though  not  so  extensive,  is  scarce  less  interesting.  In  this  hill,  on  the  side 
of  a  branch  of  the  Nevisink  River,  is  a  remarkable  cave,  30  feet  long  by  15  broad, 
divided  into  three  apartments.  The  entrance  and  roof  are  low,  the  latter  arched,  and 
of  soft  rock,  through  which  the  water  percolates;  the  bottom  is  of  loose  sand. 

Sandy  Hook,  east  of,  and  divided  from,  the  Nevisink  Hills  by  a  narrow  bay,  is  six 
miles  in  length.  It  was  formerly,  and  is  now,  isolated  by  a  channel  running  from 
Shrewsbury  River,  which  was  first  opened  in  1778,  closed  in  1810,  but  reopened  in 
1830.  The  beach  running  northward  several  miles  from  Long  Branch,  invites  to  a 
promenade  on  the  hard  sand  when  the  tide  is  low;  but  the  wrecks  of  vessels,  visible 
at  short  intervals,  oppress  the  spectators  with  recollections  of  the  perils  of  the  sea. 
From  the  Hook,  this  beach  extends  123  miles  to  Cape  May,  varying  in  width  from 
half  a  mile  to  two  miles,  but  broken  in  several  places  by  channels  communicating 
with  the  sea.  South  of  Manasquan  it  covers  a  number  of  bays  or  salt  water  lakes, 
of  which  Barnegat,  Little  Egg  Harbour,  and  Great  Egg  Harbour,  are  the  chief.  West 
of  these  runs  a  belt  of  marsh,  in  some  places  from  four  to  five  miles  wide,  intersected 
by  small  rivers,  with  broad  and  shallow  estuaries. 

The  soil  of  this  alluvial  district  consists  of  sand  and  clay,  sometimes  one  overlay- 
ing the  other;  but  frequently  intimately  blended,  forming  a  tolerably  fertile  loam, 
which  prevails  on  its  northern  and  western  border  with  a  variable  breadth.  Above 
Salem,  this  breadth  is  from  five  to  twelve  miles,  but  below  that  town  it  is  sometimes 
contracted  to  a  mile.  East  of  this  strip  of  loam,  and  west  of  the  marsh  which  girds 
the  sea  shore,  lies  an  immense  sandy  plain,  scarce  broken  by  any  inequality,  and 
originally  covered  by  a  pine  and  shrub-oak  forest — a  great  portion  of  which  has  been 
once,  and  some  of  it  twice,  cut  over.  There  are  many  square  miles  on  which  there 
is  not  a  human  inhabitant,  and  where  the  deer,  foxes  and  rabbits  are  abundant,  and 
the  wolf  and  the  bear  find  a  lair  to  protect  their  race  from  extirpation.  But  in  many 
places  the  echo  is  awakened  by  the  woodman's  axe,  and  the  louder  din  of  the  forge 
hammer,  and  the  forest  glares  with  the  light  of  the  furnace  or  glass  house.  In  this 
sandy  desert  there  are  found  veins  of  generous  soil,  which  yield  a  compensatory 
crop  of  corn  and  rye  to  the  labours  of  the  husbandman. 

This  immense  forest  covers  probably  four-fifths  of  the  alluvial  district;  and  forty 
years  ago  a  large  portion  of  it  was  not  worth  more  than  from  six  to  ten  cents  the 
acre.  There  was  little  demand  for  the  timber,  oak  being  preferred  for  architectural 
and  economical  uses,  nor  was  the  land  worth  clearing  for  agricultural  purposes. 
The  establishment  of  furnaces  and  glass  manufactories  first  gave  additional  value  to 
the  woodland  near  their  locations ;  but  for  a  while  they  made  little  apparent  reduc- 
tion of  the  vast  wilderness.  Then  came  the  steamboats,  which  for  some  years  tra- 
versed our  waters,  propelled  by  timber  from  New  Jersey,  without  sensibly  diminish- 
ing the  density  of  the  forest.  In  a  few  years  more,  however,  their  number  was 
doubled,  trebled,  quadrupled.  Their  huge  maws,  though  fed  with  thousands  of 
shallop  loads  of  pine  wood,  were  insatiable.  The  demand  for  fuel  became  immense; 
the  almost  worthless  pine  lands  rose  rapidly  in  value,  and  the  hitherto  almost  idle 
population  of  the  sea-board,  found  abundant  and  profitable  employment  in  supplying 
the  growing  marketsj  The  introduction  of  anthracite  coal  diminished  the  consump- 
tion of  oak  wood  as  fuel,  but  increased  that  of  pine,  vast  quantities  of  charcoal  being 
required  to  ignite  the  fossil.  Yet  the  invention  of  the  simple  portable  culinary  fur- 
nace increased  the  demand  still  more,  thousands  of  these  convenient  utensils  being 
constantly,  during  the  summer  months,  fed  by  charcoal.  These  circumstances  have 
produced  an  entire  revolution  in  the  value  of  pine  lands.  They  have  risen  from  ten 


SOUTHERN  DIVISION.  3 

cents,  to  an  average  price  of  six  dollars  the  acre;  and,  where  very  well  timbered,  and 
convenient  to  market,  bring  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  dollars.  Indeed,  the  soil,  de- 
nuded of  the  timber,  is  worth  from  four  to  sixteen  dollars  the  acre,  the  purchaser  look- 
ing to  the  growth  of  wood  for  profit  on  his  investment.  Where  the  forest  has  been 
felled,  an  extraordinary  change  takes  place  in  the  subsequent  product.  The  oak 
springs  up  where  the  pine  has  flourished,  and  pine  where  the  oak  has  grown.  The 
second  growth  becomes  fit  for  the  axe,  in  a  space  varying  from  25  to  40  years. 

Upon  the  clay  and  loarn  soils,  oak  grows  abundantly;  frequently  of  great  size,  and 
of  quality  much  valued  in  the  construction  of  ships.  It  is  the  common  timber  of  the 
western  border,  and  covers  almost  exclusively  the  central  portion  of  the  county  of 
Cape  May.  In  the  sandy  region,  are  extensive  swamps  which  bear  the  beautiful 
and  valuable  white  cedar,  much  sought  for  fencing,  and  which  sells  readily  at  from 
one  to  three  hundred  dollars  the  acre. 

Throughout  a  great  portion  of  the  alluvial  district,  from  four  to  twenty  feet  be- 
neath the  surface,  is  a  species  of  greenish  blue  earth,  mixed  with  shells,  and  gene- 
rally known  as  marl.  As  this  substance  is  of  great  importance  to  the  agricultural 
interest  of  the  section,  some  remarks  on  its  physical  properties  and  use  will  not  be 
out  of  place  here.  The  essential  ingredient  of  marl,  as  a  manure,  is  lime;  and  its 
value  depends  upon  the  proportion  of  calcareous  matter  which  it  contains.  When 
this  abounds  in  connexion  with  sand  only,  it  produces  indurated  marl,  classed  with 
the  limestones,  and  frequently  forming  marble  of  great  variety  and  beauty.  We 
have  discovered  none  of  this  precious  character;  but  shell  limestone,  similar  to  that 
of  the  alluvion  of  North  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Mississippi  Territory,  has  been  dis- 
covered in  several  places,  and  is  burned  for  lime  on  the  banks  of  the  Rancocus,  be- 
tween Eayrstown  and  Vincent-town.  The  Jersey  marls,  at  present,  are  chiefly 
known  as  the  shell,  clay  and  stone  marls.  The  first  is  composed  of  testaceous  mat- 
ter, in  various  quantities  and  degrees  of  combination;  and  sometimes  imbeds  bones 
of  marine  and  land  animals.*  The  quantity  of  clay  in  union  with  calcareous  sub- 
stances, gives  name  to  the  second  sort.  This  absorbs  and  retains  moisture  better 
than  other  kinds,  and  varies  greatly  in  colour — being  brown,  blue,  red  and  yellowish. 
In  the  third  species,  sand  is  combined  with  calcareous  and  argillaceous  matter,  giving 
hardness  proportionate  to  its  quantity;  when  of  thin  and  laminar  structure,  this  is 
termed  slate  marl.  From  the  clay  they  contain,  all  these  species  are  softened  by 
water,  and,  when  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  gradually  fall  into  powder. 

By  reason  of  their  calcareous  principle,  all  marls  effervesce  with  acids;  but  as 
water,  alone,  frequently  produces  the  same  effect  when  poured  on  dry  clay,  it  may 
be  necessary,  in  order  to  guard  against  mistake,  in  making  trials  upon  substances 
supposed  to  be  marl,  to  let  them  remain  a  short  time  in  mixture  with  water,  pre- 
vious to  the  test  of  acids.  The  best  marls  containing  the  largest  proportion  of  cal- 
careous earth,  it  is  important  to  know  haw  to  ascertain  the  quantity.  Some  are  so 
poor  as  to  have  only  a  thirtieth  part  of  their  weight  of  lime.  A  simple  method  has 
been  suggested,  founded  on  the  fact,  that  marl  commonly  contains  about  forty  per 
cent,  of  its  weight  of  fixed  air  or  carbonic  acid.  It  is  merely  by  saturating  the  marl 
with  muriatic  or  some  other  acid,  and  marking  correctly  the  loss  of  weight  which  it 
sustains  by  the  extrication  of  the  fixed  air.  So,  also,  if  the  substance  supposed  to 
be  marl  falls  readily  to  powder  when  exposed  to  the  air ;"  if  the  powder,  when  dry 
and  thrown  on  hot  coals,  crackles  like  salt;  and  if,  when  dry,  and  mixed  with  water, 
it  have  a  soapy  feel  and  effervesces  much,  its  quality  may  be  pronounced  good. 

Some  marls  in  England,  and  probably  here,  have  eighty-four  per  cent,  of  carbonate 
of  lime,  which  is  more  than  limestone  generally  possesses;  and  the  refuse  being 
often  of  peaty  substances,  is  more  useful  as  manure  than  that  of  limestone,  which 
is  mostly  sand  or  clay.  Such  marl  may  be  converted  into  quicklime  by  burn- 
ing; and  its  solution  changes  vegetable  colours  to  green,  possessing  all  the  other 
properties  of  caustic  lime.  Marl  is  further  distinguished  by  its  feeling  fat  and  unc- 
tuous, and  appearing  when  dry,  after  exposure  to  the  weather,  as  if  covered  with  hoar 
frost,  or  sprinkled  with  fine  salt;  and  even  when  mixed  with  the  land,  giving  to  the 
whole  surface  a  whitish  appearance. 

The  farmers  in  Staffordshire,  England,  consider  the  soft  blue  marl,  commonly 


Among  the  latter,  it  is  said,  are  bones  of  the  rhinoceros  and  other  animals  of  the  eastern 
inent,  some  of  them  of 
,le,  shark's  teeth,  and  ent 
dites,  and  various  shell-fish. 


continent,  some  of  them  of  extinct  species ;  elephant's  teeth,  deer's  horns,  bones  of  the 
whale,  shark's  teeth,  and  entire  skeletons  of  fish,  together  v,  ith  ^-tphytea,  belemnites,  car- 


4  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

found  under  clay,  or  low  black  ground,  at  the  depth  of  seven  or  eight  feet,  the  best 
for  arable  land,  and  the  grey  sort  for  pasture.  But  that  which  is  of  a  brownish 
colour,  with  blue  veins,  and  small  lumps  of  chalk  or  limestone  lying  under  stiff  clays 
and  very  hard  to  dig,  is  most  esteemed  in  Cheshire.  The  rnarl  having  a  light  sand 
in  its  composition,  usually  found  at  the  depth  of  two  or  three  feet,  on  the  sides  of 
hills,  and  in  wet,  boggy  grounds,  is  fat  and  close,  and  reckoned  the  strongest  and 
most  beneficial  on  sandy  lands.  It  is  usually  called  peat  or  delving  marl.  What  is 
sometimes  called  paper  marl,  frequently  lies  near  coals,  and  flakes  like  leaves  or 
pieces  of  brown  paper,  being  of  somewhat  lighter  colour.  That  which  some  call 
clay  marl  is  very  fat,  and  is  sometimes  mixed  with  chalk  stones.  There  is  another 
sort  of  marl,  which  breaks  of  itself  into  square  cubical  bits.  The  two  last  kinds  ge- 
nerally lie  under  sand  and  clay ;  sometimes  about  a  yard  deep  under  the  former,  but 
often  much  deeper  under  the  latter.  The  stone,  slate  or  flag  marl,  which  is  a  kind 
of  soft  stone,  or  rather  slate,  of  a  bluish  colour,  is  generally  allowed  very  good.  It 
easily  breaks  down,  and  dissolves  with  frost  or  rain  ;  is  found  near  rivers  and  on  the 
sides  of  hills,  and  is  very  lasting  when  used  as  manure. 

In  many  places  marl  discovers  itself  to  the  most  negligent  eye,  particularly  on  the 
sides  of  broken  hills  or  deep  hollow  roads.  Many  rivers  are  bordered  with  a  vast 
treasure  of  this  sort,  which  is  plundered  by  every  flood.  Boggy  lands  frequently 
cover  it,  and  in  them  it  seldom  lies  above  three  feet  deep.  It  is  somewhat  lower 
under  stiff  clays  and  marshy  levels.  The  lowest  parts  of  most  sandy  lands  abound 
with  it,  at  the  depth  of  three,  seven,  nine  or  more  feet.  The  depth  of  the  marl 
itself  can  seldom  be  found  ;  for  when  the  upper  crust  is  removed,  all  that  can  be 
seen  or  dug  is  marl,  to  so  great  a  depth  that  there  are  few  if  any  instances  of  a  pit 
having  been  exhausted.  Much  of  the  preceding  description  of  the  English  marls 
is  applicable  to  those  of  New  Jersey. 

The  marl  region  of  this  State,  is  classed  by  some  authors  with  the  ferruginous  sand 
formation  of  the  United  States.  It  may  be  located,  so  far  as  it  has  yet  been  explored, 
between  two  lines ;  one  drawn  from  Amboy  Bay  to  Trenton,  the  other  from  Deal,  on 
the  Atlantic,  to  the  mouth  of  Stow  Creek,  in  Cumberland  county,  upon  the  Dela- 
ware River  :  but  there  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  this  formation  occupies  a  great 
portion  of  the  triangular  peninsula  south  of  the  Raritan  River.  Much  of  the  ferru- 
ginous sand  region,  however,  is  overlaid  by  deposites  of  clay  containing  lignite. 
Above  these  is  an  almost  uniform  covering  of  grey  sand ;  yet  in  many  places  the 
marl,  with  its  peculiar  fossil,  is  found  immediately  beneath  the  soil.  This  formation 
has  been  traced  southward  in  many  places,  and  most  probably  extends  nearly  the 
whole  length  of  the  Atlantic  frontier  of  the  United  States. 

In  all  its  localities,  it  has  been  identified  by  similar  genera  and  species  of  organic 
remains,  though  all  the  genera  do  not  exist  in  every  locality.  Thus,  at  the  Deep  Cut 
of  the  Delaware  and  Chesapeake  Canal,  the  strata  are  characterized  by  great  num- 
bers of  ammonites,  baculites,  and  other  rnultilocular  univalves.  These  remarks  apply 
to  various  parts  of  Burlington  and  Monmouth  counties,  in  New  Jersey.  Near  New 
Egypt,  are  ten  or  twelve  beds,  one  above  the  other,  with  the  genera  terebratula  and 
gryphsa.  (Ostrea,  Say.)  Near  Homer's  Town,  the  marl  is  extremely  indurated ; 
and  contains  terebratulse  exclusively.  Near  Walnford,  the  fossils  are  chiefly  exogyrae 
and  belemnites ;  while  at  Mullica  Hill,  in  Gloucester  county,  the  beds  contain  bi- 
valves, and  quantities  of  belemnites  ;  and  the  calcareous  beds  of  this  county  contain 
gryphoea,  teredo,  alcyonium  ?  sparangus,  and  several  species  of  Linnaean  madre- 
pores. 

The  mineralogical  characters  vary  considerably.  Of  the  species  of  marl  in  minute 
grains,  loose  and  friable,  and  of  an  uniform  dull  bluish  or  greenish  colour,  often  with 
a  shade  of  grey,  and  called  gunpowder  marl,  Mr.  Seybert  has  given  the  following 
constituents  :  silex  49.83,  alumine  6.00,  magnesia  1.83,  potash  10.12,  water  9.80, 
protoxide  of  iron  51.53,  loss  89=100  grains.  A  less  cautious  analysis  by  Mr.  J.  P. 
Wetherill  and  Dr.  S.  G.  Morton,  of  a  specimen,  apparently  similar,  from  another  lo- 
cality, gave  silex  49.00,  protoxide  of  iron  50.00,  alumine  5.50.  lime  4.70;  the  re- 
mainder being  chiefly  water  and  carbonic  acid.  Hence  the  predominant  constituents 
of  these  marls  are  silex  and  iron.  They  often  contain  beds  of  a  dark  bluish  tenacious 
clay,  sometimes  mixed  with  the  marl,  forming  marley  clay  ;  at  others,  the  marl  and 
clay  alternate. 

Again,  marl  is  seen  of  a  yellowish  brown  colour,  friable  or  compact,  and  filled 
with  green  specks  of  the  silicate  of  iron.  Some  of  the  greenish  varieties  are  also 
very  compact,  rendering  it  extremely  difficult  to  separate  the  fossils  from  their 


SOUTHERN  DIVISION.  5 

matrix.  The  friable  blue  marls  often  contain  a  large  proportion  of  mica,  in  minute 
scales. 

Other  localities  present  beds  of  silicious  gravel,  the  pebbles  varying  from  the 
size  of  coarse  sand,  to  one  and  two  inches  in  diameter,  cemented  together  by  oxide 
and  phosphate  of  iron,  and  containing  fossils,  similar  to  those  above  described. 
The  most  striking  instance  of  this  kind  is  at  Mullica  Hill.  Some  of  the  blue  marls, 
which  effervesce  strongly  with  acids,  contain  but  five  per  cent,  of  lime.  But  we 
find  large  beds  of  calcareous  marl,  containing  at  least  thirty-seven  per  cent.;  the  re- 
mainder being  silex,  iron,  &c.  Also  a  hard,  well  characterized,  subcrystalline  lime- 
stone, filled  with  zeophytes.  All  these  diversified  appearances  pass,  by  insensible 
degrees,  into  each  other,  exhibiting  an  almost  endless  variety  of  mineralogical 
character. 

The  mineral  substances  found  in  these  beds,  are  iron  pyrites  in  profusion ;  chert 
in  the  calcareous  beds,  amber,  retinasphalt,  lignite  and  small  spherical  masses  of  a 
dark  green  colour,  and  compact  texture,  apparently  analogous  to  those  found  in  the 
green  sand  of  France.  Their  structure  does  not  appear  to  be  organic,  although 
they  have,  often,  a  shark's  tooth,  or  a  small  shell  for  a  nucleus.  Larger  spherical 
bodies  also  occur,  resembling  the  nodules  of  clay  in  ironstone,  common  in  some 
parts  of  England. 

As  the  quality  of  the  marl  varies  greatly,  so  does  the  quantity  used  in  manuring 
lands.  In  Monmouth  county,  south  of  the  Shrewsbury  River,  there  is  marl  so  strong, 
that  five  cart-loads  the  acre  are  as  much  as  the  land  will  bear  advantageously  :  in 
other  places,  from  twenty  to  one  hundred  and  forty  loads  to  the  acre  are  profitably 
used.  It  is  asserted,  that  a  good  dressing  will  last  from  twelve  to  twenty  years.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  calculate  the  advantages  which  the  state  has  gained,  and  will 
yet  derive  from  the  use  of  marl.  It  has  already  saved  some  districts  from  depopula- 
tion, and  increased  the  inhabitants  of  others;  and  may,  one  day,  contribute  to  con- 
vert the  sandy  and  pine  deserts  into  regions  of  agricultural  wealth. 

Pine  lands,  in  the  counties  of  Columbia,  Albany,  and  Saratoga,  and  other  parts 
of  the  state  of  New  York,  of  a  character  similar  to  those  of  New  Jersey,  have  been 
rendered  very  valuable  by  gypsum,  and  rotation  of  crops,  often  producing  from 
twenty  to  twenty-five  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre.  The  sandy  soil  is  in  time 
changed  to  a  rich  vegetable  mould — and  gypsum,  therefore,  may  probably  be  used 
with  marl  to  render  the  pine  lands  of  this  State  productive. 

The  occupation  of  a  vast  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  section  is  agricultu- 
ral. Upon  the  loam  soils  large  quantities  of  grass  and  grain,  particularly  rye, 
corn  and  oats,  are  produced;  and  the  sandy  lands,  treated  with  marl,  also  give 
abundant  crops  of  grain  and  grass.  In  convenient  situations  for  supplying  the  mar- 
kets of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  the  farmers  give  much  attention  to  the  more 
profitable  culture  of  garden  vegetables,  potatoes,  melons,  fruit,  &c.  The  peach 
orchards  of  E.  and  W.  Jersey,  give  abundance  of  that  delicious  fruit  to  both  cities; 
so  low,  at  times,  as  fifty  cents  the  bushel.  At  a  distance  from  the  navigable  wa- 
ters, and  from  market,  the  grain  is  commonly  fed  to  stock,  and  few  portions  of  the 
United  States,  of  equal  area,  produce  more,  or  better,  pork,  than  the  counties  of 
Monmouth,  Burlington  and  Gloucester ;  scarce  less  famed  for  the  quality  of  their 
horses.  In  the  counties  of  Gloucester,  Cumberland  and  Salem,  upon  the  fresh 
waters  of  their  streams  whose  shores  are  subject  to  overflow  by  the  tides,  many 
thousand  acres  have,  by  embankment,  been  converted  into  productive  meadows, 
which  maintain  large  herds  of  cattle,  and  furnish  adequate  means  for  enriching  the 
upland.  Adjacent  to  the  Delaware  Bay  and  sea  coast,  are  wide  tracts  of  salt  mea- 
dow, some  of  which  have  also  been  reclaimed  by  embankment ;  and  the  rest  afford 
abundance  of  coarse  hay,  free  in  many  places  to  all  who  seek  it,  and  valuable  in  the 
maintenance  of  stock  and  making  manure.  The  climate  is  so  mild,  near  the  coast, 
that  herds  of  cattle  subsist,  through  the  winter,  upon  these  meadows,  and  in  the 
neighbouring  thickets,  without  expense  to  the  proprietors.  The  sea  coast  is  said 
also  to  be  favourable  to  the  production  of  good  mutton  and  wool.  The  great  in- 
ducements to  enterprise  and  industry  constantly  operating  in  the  markets  upon  the 
borders  of  this  section,  have  already  produced  wonderful  effects,  and  cannot  fail  to 
excite  the  inhabitants  to  still  greater  efforts  to  improve  the  advantages  they  possess. 

Extensive  beds  of  the  variety  of  argillaceous  oxide  of  iron,  called  bog  ore,  are 
common  throughout  this  district,  which  when  mixed  with  mountain  ore,  in  the  fur- 
nace, makes  good  iron  for  castings  and  the  forge.  From  these  furnaces,  and  those 
of  the  glasg-houses,  fed  by  the  wood  of  the  forest,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  an- 


6  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

nually  growing  wealth  of  the  district  is  derived;  and  if  we  add  to  these,  the  cord 
wood,  and  lumber,  and  vessels  built  upon  its  southern  waters,  we  shall  have  enu- 
merated the  chief  sources  of  the  prosperity  of  the  peninsula.  In  this  part  of  the 
state,  14  furnaces,  including  cupolas,  and  14  forges,  one  extensive  rolling  and  slit- 
ting mill  and  nail  factory,  and  11  glass  manufactories,  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  window-glass  and  hollow  ware,  provide  a  valuable  and  steady  market  for  large 
portions  of  the  agricultural  product. 

The  whole  of  this  district  is  tolerably  well  watered;  but  the  streams  are  neither 
large  nor  rapid,  and  are  remarkable  for  the  depth  of  their  beds,  which  cause,  indeed, 
almost  the  only  inequalities  of  its  surface.  Those  of  the  northern  part  of  the  penin- 
sula interlock  their  sources  in  various  ways ;  some  flow  N.  and  N.  E.  as  the  Mill- 
stone and  the  South  Rivers,  with  their  many  tributaries;  some  E.  to  the  Atlantic,  as 
the  Swimming,  Shark,  Manasquan,  Metetecunk  and  Tom's  Rivers;  whilst  others  seek 
the  Delaware,  as  the  Assunpink,  the  Crosswicks,  the  Rancocus,  Cooper's,  Big 
Timber,  Mantua  and  Oldman's  Creeks.  Those  on  the  south  either  flow  S.  E.  to 
the  ocean,  as  the  Mulliea,  Great  Egg  Harbour  and  Tuckahoe  rivers,  or  run  S.  W. 
into  the  bay,  as  Salem,  Stow  and  Cohansey  creeks  and  Maurice  River.  Most  of 
the  streams  have  a  crooked  course,  and  flowing  through  a  flat  country,  are  com- 
monly navigable  some  miles  from  their  mouth.  Unlike  the  rivers  of  hilly  countries, 
they  are  steady  in  their  volumes,  and  uniform  supplies  of  water  can  be  more  confi- 
dently relied  upon. 

IV.  The  second  of  our  divisions  of  the  State  is  included  by  a  line  drawn  from 
Hoboken,  running  S.  of  New  Brunswick  to  Trenton,  and  another  from  the  Ramapo 
Mountains,  on  the  boundary  of  New  York,  curving  by  the  Pompton  Mountain  or 
Highlands,  Morristown,  Baskingridge  and  Flemington,  to  the  Delaware,  between 
Alexandria  and  Milford.  This  section,  from  N.  E.  to  S.  W.  has  about  70  miles  in 
length,  and  an  average  breadth  of  about  twenty  miles.  It  possesses  considerable 
variety  of  surface  and  soil,  but  is  strikingly  distinguished  by  its  geological  formation, 
which  is  chiefly  secondary  or  old  red  sandstone,  upon  which  rest  hills  of  greater  or 
less  elevation,  crowned  with  trap  or  greenstone  rock.  Its  area  includes  four-fifths  of 
Bergen  county,  the  whole  of  Essex,  a  small  portion  of  Morris,  nearly  all  of  Somerset, 
one-half  of  Middlesex,  and  one-half  of  Hunterdon  counties.  The  sandstone  base  is 
found  in  various  states  of  induration  and  aggregation.  Generally,  on  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  section,  from  the  Palisades,  on  the  North  River,  westerly  to  Hunterdon 
county,  it  is  compact,  hard,  and  well  adapted  for  building,  frequently  assuming  the 
form  of  puddingstone  and  wacke.  and  occasionally  affording  considerable  organic 
remains.  Between  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan  and  Delaware,  still  underlaying 
mountain  and  valley,  the  red  rock  assumes  a  slaty,  shaly  form,  has  more  clay  in 
its  composition,  and,  taken  from  whatever  depth,  readily  disintegrates  into  loam 
more  fertile  than  that  formed  from  the  harder  stone.  But  for  the  trap  hills  which 
have  been  thrown  upon  it,  the  whole  of  this  section  would  be  a  vast  plain,  whose 
only  inequalities  would  be  formed  by  the  excavations  made  by  the  streams  in  their 
tortuous  and  generally  sluggish  passage  to  the  Ocean. 

From  this  general  formation,  however,  we  must  admit  the  following  exceptions. 
The  alluvial  borders  the  first  south-eastern  trap  ridge,  known  as  the  first  Newark 
Mountain,  from  Boundbrook  to  Springfield,  and  westward  it  approaches  the  Ra- 
ritan within  two  miles,  forming  the  bed  of  that  river  a  little  below  Brunswick. 
Wherever  excavations  have  been  made  in  this  alluvial  tract,  strata  of  sand,  gravel, 
and  clay  are  disclosed,  but  no  rocks  in  place.  Ochres  of  jjood  quality  have  been 
found  in  many  parts  of  it,  and  at  Uniontown,  near  Springfield,  compact  peat  of  su- 
perior quality,  resting  on  marl,  supposed  to  extend  through  a  morass  of  five  hundred 
acres.  Bones  of  the  mastodon  were  discovered  a  few  years  since  in  this  swamp. 
Extensive  beds  of  white  pipe  clay,  composed  principally  of  alumine,  and  infusible, 
have  been  observed  between  Woodbridge  and  Amboy,  and  marine  shells  in  various 
parts  of  the  district. 

The  alluvial  section  we  have  just  described,  is  connected  with  another  five  miles 
in  breadth  by  twenty  in  length,  formed  of  the  deposits  of  the  Hackensack  and  Passaic 
Rivers,  between  the  secondary  valley  and  the  Bergen  ridge.  In  this  tract,  the 
depth  of  the  deposit  is  from  12  to  20  feet,  its  basis  sand  and  shells  like  the  shore  of 
the  sea.  The  whole  was  formerly  covered  with  wood,  of  which  some  groves  of 
cedar  still  remain,  and  bodies  of  trees  but  little  decayed  are  frequently  found  at  va- 
rious depths.  Indeed,  so  abundant  and  sound  are  the  logs  on  these  marshes,  that 
they  are  used  for  the  foundation  of  the  New  Jersey  Rail-road,  now  being  constructed 


MIDDLE  DIVISION.  7 

here.  In  this  bog,  N.  of  the  turnpike  road,  between  Newark  and  Jersey  City,  rises 
an  island  (Secaucus)  about  four  miles  long  by  one  wide,  composed,  like  the  adjacent 
shores,  of  red  and  grey  sandstone,  and  having  a  promontory  at  either  end.  That 
on  the  south  known  as  Snake  Hill,  has  a  conical  form,  is  of  trap  rock  on  sand- 
stone rising  into  mural  precipices,  and  having  cubical  masses  of  the  trap  piled  at 
its  southern  base.  From  its  wood  clad,  rocky  and  precipitous  summit,  the  spectator 
may  behold  the  Hackensack  and  Passaic  Rivers  almost  at  his  feet,  and  for  several 
miles  dragging  their  slow  length  through  a  sea  of  verdure;  on  the  west.,  populous  vil- 
lages and  ranges  of  mountains;  on  the  east  the  great  city  of  New  York,  and  on  the 
south  the  wide  expanded  ocean.  Through  the  grey  sandstone  of  this  island,  mi- 
caceous iron  ore  is  abundantly  dispersed;  and  pectenites  and  other  marine  shells  are 
found  on  its  elevated  parts. 

The  trap  ridges  which  traverse  this  division  excite  much  interest.  Trapstone  is 
known  in  many  cases  to  have  an  igneous  origin.  Whether  it  may  be  ascribed  to 
the  same  cause  in  all,  is  still  a  vexed  question.  That  it  has  been  found  here  subse- 
quently to  the  sandstone  on  which  it  reposes,  is  most  obvious ;  but  when  or  how  it 
has  been  poured  over  its  base,  throughout  such  great  extent  of  country,  in  Connec- 
ticut, New  York,  and  Pennsylvania,  will  probably  never  be  discovered.  We  observe 
the  first  mountainous  range  of  this  district,  on  the  eastern  border  adjacent  to  the 
Hudson  River.  It  rises  gradually  from  Bergen  Point,  bounds  the  State  for  about 
28  miles,  and  runs  a  greater  distance  into  the  State  of  New  York.  In  this  State 
this  ridge  has  an  average  width  of  two  and  a  half  miles,  with  a  summit  of  table  land. 
From  its  western  brow  there  is  a  gradual  descent  into  the  valley  of  the  Hackensack 
and  Passaic.  On  its  eastern  side  it  is  uniformly  precipitous.  At  Weehawk,  four 
miles  N.  of  the  City  of  Jersey,  the  mountain  presents  a  perpendicular  wall,  elevated 
200  feet  above  the  Hudson,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country. 
From  Weehawk  to  Fort  Lee,  a  distance  of  about  7  miles,  there  is  an  alternation  of 
precipitous  ledges  and  steep  declivities,  mostly  clothed  with  various  verdure.  The 
hills,  retiring  at  intervals  from  the  shore,  give  room  for  narrow  but  fertile  and  well 
cultivated  strips  of  ground,  adorned  with  neat  dwellings,  environed  by  fruit  trees 
and  diversified  crops.  From  Fort  Lee  to  the  state  line,  the  mountain  has  a  uniform 
appearance.  The  eastern  front  rises  perpendicularly  from  200  to  550  feet;  nu- 
merous vertical  fissures  cross  each  other  at  various  angles,  forming  basaltic  columns, 
from  which  the  name  of  Palisades  has  been  derived,,  The  face  of  the  ledge  is  bare, 
but  vegetation  is  occasionally  seen  in  the  crevices.  From  the  base  of  the  precipice 
to  the  edge  of  the  water,  a  distance  of  3  or  400  feet,  there  is  a  steep  declivity  co- 
vered with  angular  blocks  of  stone  fallen  from  the  heights,  and  shaded  with  trees. 
The  summit  of  the  mountain  is  slightly  undulating  table  land,  gradually  rising  to 
the  north,  with  an  average  width  of  about  two  miles,  generally  covered  with  wood  in 
all  the  wildness  of  nature.  The  western  side  of  the  mountain  has  a  very  gradual  de- 
scent, is  cleared  and  well  cultivated,  and  neat  farm  houses  of  freestone  line  its  base, 
like  a  village  street,  for  near  20  miles.  The  prospect  is  one  of  the  most  delightful;  nu- 
merous farms,  rich  in  luxuriant  vegetation,  and  extensive  alluvial  meadows  through 
which  the  Hackensack  and  its  tributaries  flow,  are  bounded  by  the  mountain  ranges 
of  the  west.  The  greenstone  of  this  mountain,  resting  on  sandstone,  is  not  so  dark 
as  that  of  New  Haven,  and  is  an  aggregate  of  hornblende,  feldspar,  and  epidote, 
with  which  prehnite  compact  and  radiated  is  sometimes  associated.  At  the  base  of 
the  mountain  bordering  the  river,  in  many  places,  secondary  argillaceous  shist, 
conglomerate,  red,  white,  yellow  and  purple  sandstone,  and  indurated  clay,  alternate, 
exhibiting  a  stratification  nearly  horizontal,  the  underlaying  inclination  being  from 
8  to  10  degrees.  These  layers  are  sometimes  visible  on  the  mountain's  side,  at  con- 
siderable elevations  above  the  river.  The  sandstone  is  generally  a  coarse  aggre- 
gate of  quartz  arid  feldspar,  often  friable,  but  sometimes  very  firmly  combined  ;  ex- 
hibiting winding  vertical  fissures.  In  this  base  may  be  observed,  in  some  few 
places,  a  compact  white  sandstone,  resembling  the  Portland  stone  of  England. 

A  metallic  vein  was  worked,  at  Fort  Lee.  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  under  the  impression  that  it  contained  gold;  but  Dr.  Torrey  has  deter- 
mined, that  the  ore  is  pyritous  and  green  carbonate  of  copper;  and  the  matrix 
quartz,  dipping  under  the  greenstone. 

Two  other  prominent  mountain  ranges  intersect  the  country  now  under  view. 
They  rise  near  the  primitive  highlands,  two  miles  north  of  Pompton,  and  run  about 
sixty  miles  in  an  almost  semicircular  course.  The  first  ridge,  at  its  commencement, 
is  about  twenty  rnilea  E.  from  the  Palisades;  but  at,  and  south  of  Patterson,  it  is  not 


8  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

more  than  twelve,  from  the  North  River.  The  most  elevated  point  of  these  moun- 
tains is  six  miles  N.  W.  from  Patterson,  where  a  sugar-loaf  peak  rises  near  1000 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean.  Its  trap  rock  is  generally  covered  with  a  thin 
mould  and  verdant  surface  ;  and  a  walnut  grove,  without  underwood,  occupies, 
exclusively,  about  forty  acres  upon  the  summit,  from  which  there  is  a  very  exten- 
sive view,  towards  the  E.  N.  E.  and  N.  over  a  tolerably  level  country.  On  the  N. 
W.  the  waving  tops  of  the  Preakness  ridge  are  observed,  extending  for  several 
miles,  indented  by  ponds  of  considerable  magnitude  and  depth.  North  of  this  ridge 
is  another  high  and  detached  hill,  sweeping  in  a  semicircle,  rising  and  terminating 
near  the  Highlands.  Many  of  the  summits  are  under  cultivation,  and  afford  fine 
views  of  the  great  secondary  valley,  bounded  by  the  Highlands,  the  Hudson  and 
the  Preakness  ridge.  On  the  east  of  the  last  chain  is  another  section  of  the  trap 
ranges,  called  the  Totoway  mountain.  It  rises  near  the  Preakness  mountain,  six 
miles  from  Patterson,  and  unites  with  the  Newark  chain,  at  the  Great  Falls.  It  is 
in  many  places  free  from  rocks,  but  on  the  east  side  are  precipices  of  considerable 
height  and  extent,  with  waving  or  denticulated  mural  faces,  presenting  columns  of 
basaltic  regularity.  An  insulated  semicircular  wall  of  greenstone,  with  projecting 
columns,  bearing  some  resemblance  to  a  castle  or  fort  in  ruins,  occupies  a  summit  of 
the  Totoway  ridge.  Sandstone  quarries  are  opened  in  several  places  at  the  base 
of  the  greenstone;  and  one,  three  miles  from  Patterson,  on  the  Preakness  moun- 
tain, affords  the  best  freestone  of  New  Jersey.  Fine  red  and  grey  sandstone  sprin- 
kled with  mica,  alternates  with  argillaceous  strata,  dipping  under  the  greenstone, 
with  a  western  inclination  of  about  12°.  Bituminous  coal,  in  layers  two  inches 
thick,  has  frequently  been  found  in  this  and  other  parts  of  the  Preakness  ridge,  in 
connexion  with  sandstone  and  shale,  and  the  neighbourhood  is  supposed  to  exhibit 
indications  of  more  valuable  beds  of  this  combustible.  Gneiss,  granite,  pudding 
and  sandstone,  in  rolled  masses,  abundantly  cover  the  surface,  in  many  parts  of 
this  region.  The  greenstone  of  the  Preakness  range  rarely  offers  interesting  im- 
bedded minerals;  but  prehnite,  agate,  chalcedony,  and  a  mineral  resembling  cach- 
elong,  have  been  discovered  in  it. 

At  the  falls  of  the  Passaic,  in  Patterson,  perpendicular  mural  precipices  of  green- 
stone, with  wide  vertical  fissures  and  amorphous  masses  at  their  base,  may  be  ob- 
served. The  lower  strata  of  this  rock  contain  much  argillaceous  matter,  which  par- 
tially takes  the  place  of  hornblende.  The  ledges  rest  on  porous  rocks,  horizontally 
posited,  resembling  the  toadstone  of  Derbyshire.  Carbonate  of  lime  and  other  mi- 
nerals, subject  to  decay,  are  imbedded  in  it ;  and  by  their  decomposition  give  a  cel- 
lular and  volcanic  appearance.  A  friable  amygdaloid,  with  an  argillaceous  base,  en- 
closing nodules  of  carbonate  of  lime  of  a  spheroidal  oval  or  almond  shape,  from  the 
size  of  a  pea  to  that  of  a  walnut,  may  also  be  noticed.  The  nodules,  easily  disen- 
gaged from  the  base,  exhibit  a  smooth  dark  green  surface  of  chlorite.  The  layers 
beneath  the  amygdaloid,  are  red  and  grey  conglomerate,  connected  with  red  sand- 
stone, too  porous  for  use,  absorbing  much  moisture  and  breaking  by  the  expansive 
power  of  frost.  Good  freestone  in  nearly  a  horizontal  position,  is  the  basis  layer, 
and  forms  the  bed  of  the  Passaic.  In  many  places  the  greenstone  occupying  the 
summit  appears  but  a  few  feet  in  thickness;  and  it  is  not  arranged  in  columns  of  ba- 
saltiform  regularity.  Prehnite,  calcareous  spar  and  carbonate  of  copper,  zeolite, 
stilbite,  analcime  and  datholite,  have  been  found  here. 

Mural  precipices  of  dark  fine  grained  fissile  greenstone,  are  observed  at  the  Little 
Falls  of  the  Passaic,  five  miles  above  Patterson.  Vertical  seams  cross  each  other 
here,  at  various  angles,  in  the  ledges,  giving  to  detached  pieces  a  regular  prisma- 
tic form,  with  three  or  four  sides,  often  truncated  on  one  or  more  of  the  lateral 
edges — the  tabular  form  is  common.  Rock  of  similar  character  is  observable  in 
other  parts  of  the  Preakness  ridge.  Marine  organic  remains,  such  as  orthocerites , 
madrepores,  tubipores,  pectenites,  terebratulas,  encrinites,  bilabites,  serpulites, 
and  other  species,  generally  in  an  argillaceous  base,  in  mountain  and  valley,  have 
been  observed  here,  as  in  other  parts  of  this  region. 

From  Patterson  to  Springfield,  the  trap  ridges  are  called  first  and  second  New- 
ark mountains,  and  Caldwell  mountain.  Their  direction  is  nearly  south,  with 
great  uniformity  of  altitude;  their  eastern  declivity  steep,  their  western  descent 
gradual,  as  is  common  with  mountains  of  North  America.  Mural  precipices  are 
rarely  seen,  except  at  Patterson  and  Springfield.  Wherever  ledges  appear,  the 
mountain  side  is  covered  with  small  amorphous  stones.  The  red  sandstone  appears 
in  place,  both  upon  the  sides  and  base.  Much  of  the  eastern  side  is  under  cultiva- 


MIDDLE  DIVISION.  9 

lion;  the  summit  and  western  declivity  are  generally  covered  by  coppice  of  small 
oak,  chesnut,  walnut,  butternut  and  cedar.  The  second  Newark  mountain  runs 
a  parallel  course  with,  and  is  distant  from,  the  first,  about  a  mile.  It  is  less  ele- 
vated and  rocky,  and  has  a  more  gradual  ascent  than  the  other.  The  view  from 
the  first  embraces  the  thickly  settled  and  highly  cultivated  valley,  whose  surface 
appears  like  a  plain,  painted  with  meadows,  grain  fields  and  orchards,  and  studded 
with  the  villages  of  Bloomfield.  North  and  South  Orange,  and  the  large  towns  of 
Newark  and  Elizabeth; — beyond  which  we  have  in  sight  the  salt  meadows,  the  city 
and  harbour  of  New  York,  parts  of  Long  and  Stateri  Islands  and  the  distant  ocean. 
In  this  valley,  fine  red  and  grey  freestone  alternates  with  shale.  Bituminous  coal, 
in  thin  layers,  is  associated  with  argillaceous  shale,  in  freestone  quarries,  adjacent 
to  the  Passaic.  At  the  termination  of  the  Newark  Mountain,  at  Springfield,  and 
in  many  parts  of  the  trap  ranges,  smoke,  and  in  some  instances,  flame  issuing 
from  the  crevices  of  the  rock,  have  been  observed  by  the  inhabitants;  proceeding 
probably  from  carbonated  hydrogen  gas  indicating  coal  below.  Animal  and  vegeta- 
ble organic  remains  have  been  observed  in  this  freestone.  Near  Belleville  a  tooth, 
almost  two  inches  in  length,  was  discovered,  some  years  since,  fifteen  feet  below 
the  surface. 

The  Newark  Mountains  terminate  at  Springfield,  where  the  continuity  of  the 
trap  range  is  broken.  From  this  place  the  greenstone  ridges  take  a  S.  W.  direc- 
tion of  seventeen  miles  to  the  vicinity  of  Boundbrook,  and  thence,  N.  W.  about  ten 
more  to  Pluckernin  :  the  second  mountain  following  the  curvature  of  the  first.  Se- 
condary greenstone  is,  exclusively,  the  rock,  in  place,  of  the  summits  and  sides  of 
both  ridges,  but  it  seldom  appears  in  ledges  of  magnitude.  Sandstone  is  as  usual 
the  base,  and  has  been  observed  under  the  greenstone,  in  nearly  a  horizontal  posi 
tion,  with  a  small  dip,  sometimes  alternating  with  secondary  compact  limestone,  in 
layers,  from  two  inches  to  two  feet  in  thickness.  Prehnite  is  found  in  considera- 
ble quantities,  near  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  in  amygdaloid  with  a  greenstone 
base,  much  of  it  partly  decomposed.  It  is  sometimes  imbedded  in  the  rock,  in 
long  parallel  columns  in  various  directions,  its  fibres  radiating  from  the  centre.  Ze- 
olite, stilbite,  crystals  of  quartz,  and  carbonate  of  lime,  are  frequently  seen  in  the 
valley  between  the  mountains.  North  of  Scotch  Plains,  sulphat  of  barytes  appears 
associated  with  carbonate  of  lime.  A  small  portion  only  of  these  ranges  is  cleared 
and  cultivated. 

The  mountain,  running  a  S.  W.  course  from  Springfield,  has  been  termed,  by 
some  geologists,  the  Granite  Ridge.  It  is  described  as  passing  through  the  State, 
bordering  the  oceanic  alluvial,  and  having  its  highest  point  near  Hoboken — alluding, 
doubtless,  to  the  height  near  Weehawk.  The  Greenstone  Ridge  would  be  the  more 
appropriate  name.  For  excepting  the  serpentine,  at  Hoboken,  there  are  no  primi- 
tive rocks  in  place,  between  the  Hudson  and  Highland  chains;  the  summit  rock  of 
all  the  ranges  being,  uniformly,  secondary  greenstone.  The  Highland  chain  runs 
from  S.  E.  to  N.  W.,  the  general  direction  of  the  primitive  strata;  but  none  of  the 
secondary  ranges  of  New  Jersey  pursues  a  course  parallel  with  the  primitive.  The 
latter,  in  many  places,  preserve  for  miles  an  even  summit  of  table-land,  whilst  the 
Highland  ridges  display  sugar  loaf  eminences,  and  a  waving  profile,  characteristic 
of  the  primitive.  The  extensive  secondary  range  commencing  near  Pompton, 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  Highlands,  and  extending  in  a  semi-circular  course  until 
it  again  approaches  them,  corroborates,  by  its  direction  and  the  character  of  its  sum- 
mit, the  correctness  of  these  positions.  The  broad  valley,  encircled  by  the  Green- 
stone ridge  and  the  Highlands,  contains  much  fresh  water  alluvial.  Many  of  its 
small  hills  have  no  rock  in  place.  The  plain  bordering  the  Passaic  is  generally  ex- 
tensive— in  some  places  four  miles  wide.  Peat  is  observed  in  several  places  be- 
tween the  source  of  the  river  and  Little  Falls;  and  a  considerable  quantity  has  been 
cut,  adjacent  to  the  Newark  and  Morristown  turnpike,  and  the  bed  discovered  to  be 
more  than  six  feet  deep. 

Pompton  Plain,  near  twenty  miles  in  circumference,  and  environed  by  mountains, 
presents  a  decided  fresh  water  alluvion — strata  of  gravel,  sand,  and  c'ray,  without 
rocks  in  place,  have  uniformly  been  found  wherever  wells  have  been  dug;  and  it 
was,  probably,  at  a  remote  period,  the  bed  of  a  lake.  The  waters  of  the  Pequannock 
Long  Pond  and  Ramapo  Rivers  pass  through  it  The  southern  and  much  of  the 
western  part  of  the  plain  is  marshy,  and  embraces  about  1500  acres  of  peat  ground, 
apparently  of  good  quality,  judging  by  a  ditch  of  four  miles  in  length  which  has  been 
dug  through  it.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  plain,  good  granular  argillaceous  oxide 

B 


10  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

of  iron,  or  pea  ore,  is  found  over  a  space  of  about  200  acres.  The  Highlands  form 
the  west  and  north-west  boundary  of  the  plain,  which  in  other  directions  is  skirted 
by  the  Pacganack  Mountain,  pursuing  a  serpentine  course  from  North  Pompton,  to 
the  vicinity  of  Morristown,  separating  the  wide  alluvial  plains  watered  by  the  Pomp- 
ton  and  Passaic  Rivers.  Upon  this  range,  the  summit  rock,  in  place,  is,  uniformly, 
a  fine  grained  dark  secondary  greenstone,  often  in  a  state  of  partial  decomposition, 
exhibiting  mural  precipices  of  considerable  height  and  extent,  with  sandstone  at  the 
sides  and  base.  The  first  contains  prehnite,  zeolite,  analcime,  chalcedony,  agate, 
amethyst,  jasper,  crystals  of  quartz,  and  narrow  veins  of  satin  spar,  in  jasper.  The 
part  of  this  range  adjacent  to  Pompton  Plains,  may,  perhaps,  from  the  abundance  of 
these  minerals,  be  useful  to  the  lapidary,  as  well  as  to  the  mineralogist.  The  agates 
are  from  the  size  of  a  pin's  head  to  three  pounds  weight,  mostly  chalcedony — The 
eyed  and  fortification  agate  has  been  observed  here  in  a  few  instances.  A  mineral 
specimen  was  found  in  this  mountain  by  Judge  Kinsey,  of  near  16  pounds  weight, 
containing  agate,  amethyst,  and  white  quartz. 

Another  greenstone  range,  of  minor  extent,  called  Long  Hill,  is  situate  in  the 
great  valley,  under  review,  rising  near  Chatham,  and  running  westerly  about  ten 
miles.  The  trap  of  this  ridge  is  in  such  state  of  decay,  that  rocks  seldom  appear  in 
place.  The  Passaic  pursues  a  winding  course  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  some- 
times concealed  in  groves,  at  others  glancing  sheen  in  the  verdant  meadows.  About 
the  centre  of  Long  Hill  are  mural  precipices,  composed  of  what  the  farmers  call 
shell  rock,  resembling  the  stone  on  the  banks  of  the  Raritan. 

This  secondary  formation  accompanies  the  Highlands  to  the  Delaware,  and  is 
pierced  in  several  places  by  broken  ridges  of  the  same  trap  character  we  have  de- 
scribed. Such  is  the  Rocky  or  Nashanic  Mountain,  the  heights  near  Rocktown, 
Lambertville,  Belmont,  Herberttown,  and  Woodville^aJid  Rocky  Hill,  immediately 
north  of  Princeton.  The  sandstone,  generally,  in  this  portion  of  the  section,  differs 
materially  from  that  of  the  Passaic.  It  extends  northerly  to  the  first  primitive  ridge, 
north  of  Flemington,  and  forms  the  soil  of  the  broad  red  shale  valley,  spreading 
from  that  ridge  to  the  Rocky  Hills,  underlays  the  last,  and  extends  south  of  Pening- 
ton.  Its  colour  is  of  a  darker  red  than  the  Newark  stone — it  appears  to  be  without 
grain,  yields  a  strong  argillaceous  odour  when  breathed  upon,  and  is  readily  decom- 
posed by  exposure  to  air  and  moisture.  It  is,  probably,  composed  of  iron,  alumine, 
and  silex,  with  a  small  portion  of  sulphur,  and  may  be  termed  ferruginous  shist. 
The  rock  is  stratified,  splitting  readily  into  thin  brittle  laminae,  and  is  said  to  rest  in 
some  places  on  good  freestone.  But  on  the  S.  E.  near  Princeton,  are  quarries  of 
excellent  red  and  white  freestone,  similar  to  that  of  the  Preakness  ridge. 

Sandy  Hill,  an  elevation  of  the  secondary  region,  situate  between  Kingston  and 
Brunswick,  is  alluvial,  like  the  Nevisink  Hills,  composed  of  sand,  white  and  co- 
loured clay,  containing  beds  of  ferruginous  sand  and  puddingstone. 

Upon  the  south-western  angle  of  this  district,  and  particularly  at  and  around 
Trenton,  there  is  a  small  portion  of  primitive,  rising  through  the  secondary,  into 
abrupt  rocks  of  granitic  character,  varying  from  loose  micaceous  shale  to  massive 

franite,  but  composed  chiefly  of  hard  and  compact  gneiss.  This  rock  forms  the 
alls  of  the  Delaware  at  the  head  of  tide,  and  stretches  away  in  a  S.  W.  direction 
through  Pennsylvania.  From  a  mass  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  large  and  beautiful 
specimens  of  zircon  have  been  taken. 

The  portion  of  New  Jersey  which  we  have  now  described,  is  the  most  populous, 
and  perhaps  the  most  wealthy  of  the  State.  Its  soil  is  not  so  productive  as  the  lime- 
stone of  the  primitive  and  transition  regions;  but  there  is  less  of  it  waste,  than  in 
those  regions,  and  it  is  divided  into  smaller  farms,  and  more  assiduously  laboured, 
under  the  excitement  of  proximity  to  the  markets  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
and  that  created  in  the  eastern  portion  by  its  own  manufacturing  towns ;  as  Pat- 
terson, Little  Falls,  Godwinsville,  New  Prospect,  Bloomfield,  Belleville,  North  and 
South  Orange,  Springfield,  Plainfield,  Newark,  Elizabethtown,  Rahway,  Wood- 
bridge,  New  Brunswick,  Princeton,  Trenton,  &c. 

Besides  the  minerals  already  mentioned,  large  deposits  of  copper  ore  have  been 
discovered  in  this  section,  at  Belleville,  at  Griggstown,  near  Brunswick,  Wood- 
bridge.  Greenbrook,"Somerville,  and  Pluckemin  ;  and  it  would  seem  probable  that  a 
vein  of  this  metal  extends  S.  W.  across  the  secondary  region  from  Fort  Lee. 

The  following  account  of  the  mine  near  New  Brunswick  is  extracted  from  Morse's 
Gazetteer: — 

"  About  the  years  1748,  1749,  1750,  several  lumps  of  virgin  copper,  from  5  to  30 


MIDDLE  DIVISION.  11 

Ibs.  weight,  (in  the  whole  upwards  of  200  Ibs.)  were  ploughed  up  in  a  field  belong- 
ing to  Philip  French,  Esq.,  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  town.  This  circum- 
stance induced  Mr.  Elias  Boudinot  to  take  a  lease  of  the  land  of  Mr.  French,  for  99 
years,  with  a  view  to  search  for  copper  ore.  A  company  was  formed,  and  about  the 
year  1751,  a  shaft  was  commenced  in  the  low  ground  300  yards  from  the  river. 
The  spot  selected  had  been  marked  by  a  neighbour,  who,  passing  it  in  the  dark,  had 
observed  a  flame  rising  from  the  ground,  nearly  as  large  as  the  body  of  a  man.  At 
about  15  feet,  the  miners  struck  a  vein  of  blue  stone,  about  two  feet  thick,  between 
loose  walls  of  red  sand  stone,  covered  with  a  sheet  of  pure  copper,  somewhat  thicker 
than  gold  leaf.  The  stone  was  filled  with  grains  of  virgin  copper,  much  like  copper 
filings,  and  occasionally  lumps  of  virgin  copper  of  from  5  to  30  pounds  were  found 
in  it.  This  vein  was  followed  about  thirty  feet,  when  the  accumulation  of  water 
exceeded  the  means  of  the  company  to  remove  it.  A  stamping  mill  was  erected, 
where,  by  reducing  the  ore  to  powder,  and  washing  it,  many  tons  of  pure  copper 
were  obtained  and  exported  to  England.  Sheets  of  copper  of  the  thickness  of  two 
pennies,  and  three  feet  square,  have  been  taken  from  between  the  rocks,  within  four 
feet  of  the  surface,  in  several  parts  of  the  hill.  At  about  fifty  or  sixty  feet  deep,  a 
body  of  fine  solid  ore  was  struck  in  the  same  vein,  but  between  rocks  of  white  flinty 
spar,  which  was  soon  worked  out." 

Some  efforts  were  made  to  renew  the  mining  operations  here,  at  various  periods, 
but  never  with  encouraging  success.  The  excavations  have  been  extensive.  A  shaft 
of  great  depth  is  yet  visible  ;  an  adit,  it  is  said,  was  driven  several  hundred  yards  be- 
neath the  bed  of  the  river,  and  hydraulic  pumps  were  worked  by  Ly ell's  Brook  to  free 
the  mine  from  water.  The  stones  around  the  vicinage  are  every  where  coloured  by 
the  oxide  of  copper,  and  beautiful  copper  pyrites  are  obtained  from  the  neighbour- 
ing quarries. 

The  Schuyler  copper  mine,  near  Belleville,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Passaic,  seven 
miles  from  Jersey  City  and  Hoboken,  was  discovered  about  the  year  1719,  by  Arent 
Schuyler.  The  ore  cropping  out  on  the  side  of  a  hill  was  easily  raised  ;  and  as  the 
policy  of  Great  Britain  prohibited  every  species  of  manufacture  in  the  colonies,  it 
was  exported  in  the  crude  state  to  England.  From  the  books  of  the  discoverer,  it 
appears  that  before  the  year  1731,  he  had  shipped  1,386  tons  to  the  Bristol  copper 
and  brass  works.  His  son,  Col.  John  Schuyler,  prosecuted  the  work  with  more  nume- 
rous and  skilful  hands;  but  the  quantity  of  ore  raised  by  him  is  unknown,  his  books 
having  been  lost  during  the  war. 

In  1761,  the  mine  was  leased  to  a  company,  who  erected  a  steam  engine,  of  the 
imperfect  construction  then  in  use,  and  worked  the  mine  profitably  for  four  years. 
In  1765,  however,  a  workman,  who  had  been  dismissed,  having  set  fire  to  the  engine- 
house,  the  works  were  discontinued.  Several  gentlemen  in  England,  acquainted 
with  the  superior  quality  of  the  ore  of  this  mine,  obtained  permission  from  the 
crown  to  erect  works  for  smelting  and  refining  copper  in  America,  and  offered  to 
purchase  the  estate  of  Mr.  Schuyler,  containing  the  mine,  at  £100,000  sterling. 
This  offer  he  refused,  but  agreed  to  join  them  in  rebuilding  the  engine  and  working 
the  mine.  But  the  revolutionary  war,  and  the  deranged  state  of  the  country  subse- 
quent thereto,  and  other  circumstances,  caused  the  mine  to  be  neglected  until  1793, 
when  a  new  company  undertook  the  work  with  much  vigour,  but  it  would  seem  with 
little  prudence.  They  collected  miners  from  England  and  Germany,  purchased  a 
freehold  estate,  convenient  for  the  erection  of  furnaces  and  manufactories,  with  an 
excellent  stream  of  water,  rebuilt  the  engine,  and  commenced  and  partly  completed 
other  works.  Their  labours  were  interrupted  by  the  death  of  the  principal  share- 
holder in  the  company,  the  whole  interest  of  which  soon  after  was  vested  in  Mr. 
Nicholas  I.  Roosevelt,  whose  many  engagements  debarred  him  from  prosecuting  this 
enterprise. 

Another  company,  organised  in  1825,  procured  some  Cornish  miners,  and  cleared 
out  two  adit  levels,  three  old  shafts,  and  sunk  one  new  one  about  60  feet  deep ; 
erected  a  new  steam  engine,  and  prepared  most  of  the  necessaries  for  working  the 
mine  in  the  deep  levels.  But,  when  they  were  ready  to  break  out  ore,  some  ineffi- 
cient machinery  designed  to  pump  the  water  from  the  vein  to  the  great  shaft,  gave 
way,  and  the  funds  or  patience  of  the  company  were  insufficient  to  prosecute  the 
enterprise  further.  Their  lease,  conformable  to  its  terms,  was  forfeited.  We  under- 
stand that  during  the  present  year  (1833),  a  new  association  has  been  formed  for 
working  this  mine. 

There  are  many  veins  well  worth  working,  particularly  those  near  the  surface, 
containing  what  is  termed  stamp  ore.  The  principal  vein,  which  has  proved  very 


12  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

profitable,  is  imbedded  in  a  stratum  of  freestone,  from  20  to  30  feet  thick,  and  is 
called  a  pipe  vein.  It  dips  about  12  degrees  from  the  horizon,  rather  by  steps  than 
a  straight  line,  and  increases  in  richness  with  its  depth.  It  has  been  followed  212 
feet  below  the  surface,  and  about  112  feet  beneath  the  adit  cut  for  draining  ;  hence, 
the  water  must  be  pumped  to  that  level.  A  large  shaft  has  been  sunk  140  feet 
below  the  adit,  30  feet  of  which  have  been  filled  with  mud  and  rubbish.  The  engine 
at  the  mine  has  a  cylinder  31^  inches  in  diameter,  and  eight  feet  stroke,  and  has 
ample  power  to  free  the  mine  from  water.  Excellent  cast  iron  pumps  are  fixed  from 
the  level  of  the  vein  to  the  adit,  and  from  the  adit  to  the  surface,  for  supplying  the 
engine.  The  vein  has  been  worked  about  150  feet,  horizontally,  from  the  shaft,  de- 
clining from  the  entrance  a  few  feet :  hence,  though  the  leakage  is  inconsiderable, 
some  method  is  required  to  carry  it  into  the  shaft,  which  may  be  readily  done  if  the 
shaft  be  cleared  to  the  bottom. 

The  ore  of  the  principal  vein,  it  is  said,  yields  from  60  to  70  per  cent,  of  copper  ; 
and  the  vein  will  produce,  it  is  supposed,  from  100  to  120  tons  of  ore  annually, 
which  yields  from  four  to  seven  ounces  of  silver  to  the  hundred  pounds;  and,  like 
most  copper  ores,  a  small  portion  of  gold.  When  pure  copper  was  sold  in  England  at 
£75  sterling  the  ton,  the  ore  of  this  mine  was  shipped  from  New  York  for  that  mar- 
ket at  £70  the  ton.  The  quality  of  the  ore,  and  condition  of  the  mine,  are  attested 
by  several  respectable  persons,  who  have  skill  and  proper  means  to  judge  of  them. 

If  the  statement  respecting  the  proportion  of  silver  in  this  ore  be  correct,  it  is 
more  productive  than  many  of  the  much-worked  and  highly  valued  mines  of  Mexico. 
The  mines  of  Biscayna,  of  Royas,  of  Tehuilotepec,  and  of  Gautla,  do  not  yield 
more  than  three  ounces  of  pure  silver  to  one  quintal  of  the  ore ;  whilst  the  remarka- 
ble rich  mines  of  the  Count  de  la  Valenciana,  at  Guanaxuato,  gave  only  5.1-10 
ounces  the  quintal.  The  mean  product  of  the  whole  Mexican  mines,  when  in 
their  best  condition,  did  not  exceed  2|  ounces  the  quintal ;  and  that  of  the  ores  of 
Peru  was  still  less;  giving  at  most  at  Potosi,  53-100,  and  atPasco,  1.3-50  ounces,  the 
quintal.  If  the  ores  of  the  Schuyler  mine  give  from  four  to  seven  ounces  of  silver 
the  quintal,  and  are  abundant,  they  must  be  better  worth  working  for  the  silver  alone 
than  most  of  the  silver  mines  of  the  world;  and  the  copper  product  must  add  enor- 
mously to  their  value. 

The  copper  mine  in  the  trap  ridge,  two  miles  north  of  Somerville,  commonly 
known  as  Cammam's,  has  been  wrought  at  intervals  for  many  years,  but  without 
profit;  more,  it  is  said,  because  of  the  want  of  capital,  and  public  confidence  in  the 
operators,  than  from  the  poverty  of  the  ores.  The  following,  according  to  Dr. 
Torrey,  are  the  principal  minerals  found  here,  viz  :  native  copper  in  irregular  masses, 
weighing  from  one  ounce  to  eight  pounds,  and  one  block  has  been  obtained  of  23 
pounds ;  phosphate  of  copper,  massive,  and  of  a  verdigris  colour,  generally  accom- 
panying native  copper ;  carbonate  of  copper,  green,  in  connexion  with  the  phos- 
phate; red  oxide  of  copper;  the  massive  variety  of  which  is  the  common  ore  of  the 
mine,  found  crystallized  in  octahedra,  whose  surfaces  are  extremely  brilliant  and 
beautiful;  native  silver,  in  small  masses,  disseminated  through  the  phosphate  and 
crystallized  oxide;  green  quartz,  in  tabular,  partly  noded  masses,  a  beautiful  mine- 
ral, resembling  chrysoprase;  prehnite,  in  cavities  in  the  greenstone,  very  fine;  and 
mountain  leather,  in  thin  plates,  very  tenacious  when  moistened.  Drifts  have  been 
made  in  various  directions  in  this  mine,  and  the  ore  is  said  to  be  abundant,  yielding 
from  25  to  75  per  cent,  of  pure  metal. 

North  of  the  village  of  Greenbrook,  in  the  same  ridge,  a  vein  of  copper,  many 
years  since,  was  wrought  to  a  considerable  extent;  but  it,  too,  has  been  long  aban- 
doned. 

To  these  locations  of  copper,  we  are  now  to  add  another,  lately  discovered,  near 
Flemington,  in  a  vein  remarkably,  but  not  yet  extensively,  explored. 

V.  The  third  section,  into  which  we  have  divided  the  State,  and  which  we  have 
called  the  mountainous,  is  in  breadth  from  10  to  40  miles,  measured  at  right  angles 
with  the  direction  of  the  mountains.  This  district  is  the  most  interesting,  as  it  is 
the  most  varied,  in  its  geological  formation,  surface,  soil,  mineral  and  vegetable  pro- 
ductions. 

The  geological  formations  here  are  much  blended  and  confounded  ;  and  the  most 
we  can  attempt  is  to  designate  and  describe  the  strongly  marked  divisions.  The 
secondary  section  we  have  above  noticed,  is  bounded  on  the  N.  W.  throughout  its 
range  by  a  broad  district  of  primitive ;  containing,  however,  a  large  proportion  of 
transition.  The  southern  limits  of  this  district  are  marked  by  the  chain  of  highlands 
running  S.  W.  from  the  Ramapo  and  Pompton  Mountains,  on  the  line  of  New  York, 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  IS 

by  Morristown,  Baskingridge  and  Flemington  to,  and  across,  the  Delaware,  near  Sax- 
tonville.  The  extension,  northward,  is  limited  to  a  line  running  west  of  the  Wallkill 
Mountains,  and  thence  crossing  the  Delaware  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Belvidere.  A 
belt  of  transition,  having  an  average  breadth  of  about  six  miles,  including  Long 
Pond,  Raffenberg  and  Greenpond  Mountains,  continues,  we  believe,  along  the  eastern 
foot  of  Musconetcong  and  Schooley's  Mountains,  across  the  State.  The  continuity  of 
the  eastern  ridges  of  the  primitive,  with  its  belt  of  transition,  is  interrupted  in  many 
places  by  the  streams;  yet  the  hills  form  few  valleys  of  considerable  extent,  and  are 
generally  less  elevated  in  this  State  than  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Hudson  River,  where 
they  rise  to  1600  feet.  They  are  usually  crowned  by  sugarloaf  eminences,  forming 
a  waving  profile,  characteristic  of  primitive  regions.  The  summits  are  commonly 
covered  with  masses  of  rock,  which  render  them  unfit  for  culture. 

The  primitive  ridges  contain  rocks  of  pretty  uniform  character;  in  general  coarse, 
well  crystallized  aggregates  of  quartz  and  feldspar;  often  enclosing  shorl,  garnets, 
hornblende  and  epidote,  with  little  mica ;  and  in  many  places,  for  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, none.  These  simple  materials,  variously  combined,  form  granite,  gneiss  and 
sienite.  Primitive  greenstone  is  observable  also  in  some  cases. 

In  the  transition  section,  grauwacke  and  grauwacke  slate,  are  the  most  common 
rocks.  The  extensive  ranges  in  Bergen  and  Morris  counties,  of  Long  Pond,  RafTen- 
berg,  and  Green  Pond  Mountains,  for  miles  present  stupendous  mural  precipices, 
facing  the  east,  of  a  reddish  brown  grauwacke,  composed  of  red  and  white  quartz, 
red  and  grey  jasper,  and  indurated  clay.  The  rocks  are  stratified,  inclining  to  the 
north-west  at  an  angle  of  about  40°.  They  are  scattered  in  abundance  on  the  banks 
of  the  Pequannock,  from  Newfoundland  to  Pompton.  Grauwacke,  in  place,  is  some- 
times observed,  resting  on  sienite  adjacent  to  the  Pequannock.  Extensive  beds  of 
magnetic  iron  ore  are  found  on  these  ranges  at  Ringwood  and  Mount  Pleasant,  and 
at  Suckasunny,  at  the  mines  of  General  Dickenson,  being  on  the  strata  which  ex- 
tends 300  miles  from  the  White  Hills  of  Newhampshire,  to  the  end  of  the  primitive 
ridge  near  Black  River.  These  beds  are  from  8  to  12  feet  thick;  and  the  ore  from 
the  mine  of  General  Dickenson  produces  the  best  iron  manufactured  from  highland 
ore.  Calcareous  spar  and  asbestos  are  frequent,  and  sulphuret  of  iron  abounds  in 
various  parts  of  the  Highlands.  Probably,  the  most  extensive  bed  of  the  last  is  in 
Morris  county,  near  the  eastern  base  of  Copperas  Mountain,  and  opposite  to  Green 
Pond.  Copperas  was  manufactured  here  extensively  during  the  late  war  with  Great 
Britain.  Many  rich  beds  of  iron  ore  in  this  region,  are  rendered  useless  for  the  forge 
by  sulphur.  Graphite  or  black  lead,  in  various  stages  of  purity,  is  common. 

At  Monro  Iron  Works,  (N.  Y.)  on  the  River  Ramapo,  large  plates  of  black  mica, 
crystallized  in  hexaedral  form,  are  seen  sometimes  a  foot  in  diameter.  Compact 
feldspar  and  epidote,  are  in  the  elevated  primitive  ranges  west  of  the  transition  dis- 
trict, and  compact  limestone  at  various  parts  of  the  transition  range;  and  in  the  vici- 
nity of  New  Germantown,  and  on  a  line  running  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  from  that  point, 
pudding  limestone,  not  inferior  in  beauty  to  that  employed  in  the  capitol  of  Wash- 
ington, is  abundant,  and  frequently  converted  into  lime.  In  the  primitive  range  of 
Morris  county,  west  of  Pompton  Plains,  called  Stony  Brook  Mountains,  chlorite 
slate  is  common,  and  granular  limestone  has  recently  been  found  in  the  same  moun- 
tain. The  latter  is  in  colour  clear  white,  admits  of  good  polish,  and  is  often  asso- 
ciated with  beautiful  amianthus  and  talc,  alternating  in  narrow  veins.  In  the  same 
vicinity  there  is  a  greyish  white  marble,  rendered  porphyritic  by  grains  of  noble  ser- 
pentine disseminated  through  it.  It  is  hard  and  receives  a  fine  polish.  In  the  talc, 
metallic  crystals  supposed  to  be  chromate  of  iron,  have  been  observed.  From  the 
last  mentioned  mineral  an  acid  is  extracted,  which,  united  with  lead,  forms  chromate 
of  lead,  a  valuable  pigment.  Galena  has  been  observed  in  the  grauwacke  range^ 
adjacent  to  Green  Pond,  and  beautiful  tremolite  is  connected  with  the  white  granu- 
lar limestone  of  Stoneybrook. 

North-west  of  the  transition,  the  primitive  resumes  its  empire,  and  includes  the 
Wallkill  and  Hamburg  Mountains,  which  are  continued  in  Schooley's  and  the  Mus- 
conetcong Mountains,  from  the  line  of  New  York  to  the  line  of  Pennsylvania,  un- 
divided by  any  stream.  In  this  ridge  and  the  portion  of  the  primitive  sections  west 
of  it,  the  primitive,  the  transition,  and  the  secondary  formations  seem  combined. 
This  region  also  includes  Marble  Mountain,  Scott's  Mountain,  Jenny  Jump,  Furnace 
Mountain,  Pimple  Hill,  Pochuck  Mountain,  and  other  innominate  hills.  This,  also, 
is  a  remarkable  mineral  district.  Schooley's  Mountain  and  the  Musconetcong, 
abound  with  highly  magnetic  iron  ore,  blended  however  with  foreign  substances, 


14  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

which  render  liquefaction  difficult.     Along  the  valleys  and  hill  sides  of  this  moun- 
tain there  is  an  abundance  of  excellent  flints  suitable  for  guns. 

West  of  the  Hamburg  Mountain  lies  the  valley  of  the  Wallkill,  or,  as  it  is  some- 
times called,  the  Valley  of  Sparta;  running  east  of  north  twenty  miles  to  the  State 
of  New  York,  much  noted  for  the  number  and  variety  of  its  minerals.  A  white 
crystalline  limestone  and  marble  occupies  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  and  rises  on  the 
west  into  a  low  subsidiary  ridge  following  the  course  of  the  stream  eight  or  nine  miles. 
The  metalliferous  deposits,  however,  claim  the  greatest  interest.  The  first  or  eastern 
bed,  which  at  Franklin  appears  like  a  black  mountain  mass,  contains  an  ore  of  iron 
commonly  little  magnetic,  and,  as  a  new  metalliferous  combination,  has  received  the 
name  of  Franklinite,  and  is  composed  of  66  per  cent,  of  iron,  16  of  zinc,  and  17  of 
the  red  oxide  of  manganese.  On  its  supposed  richness  the  great  furnace  of  Frank- 
lin was  built,  but  it  was  soon  discovered  that  this  ore  was  not  only  irreducible  to 
metallic  iron,  but  that  it  obstructed  the  fusion  of  other  ores.  If  employed  in  quan- 
tity exceeding  one-tenth  of  the  magnetic  oxide  of  iron  with  which  it  was  economi- 
cally mixed,  there  resulted  what  the  smelters  term  a  salamander ;  an  alloy  of  iron 
with  manganese,  which  resisted  fusion  and  crystallized  even  under  the  blast,  so  that 
all  the  metal  was  lost,  the  hearth  demolished,  and  10  or  12  yoke  of  oxen  required 
to  drag  away  the  useless  mass.  At  Franklin,  it  is  but  sparingly  intermixed  with 
the  red  oxide  of  zinc.  About  two  miles  north,  the  bed  ceases  to  be  apparent  at  the 
surface,  but  may  be  traced  seven  miles  to  the  south-east.  Three  miles  from  the  fur- 
nace, at  Stirling,  is  another  huge  mass  of  this  mineral,  but  so  combined  with  the  red 
oxide  of  zinc,  that  the  crystals  of  Franklinite  are  imbedded  in  the  zinc,  forming  a 
metalliferous  porphyry.  This  ore,  merely  pounded  and  mixed  with  copper,  was 
profitably  employed  during  the  late  war  for  forming  brass.  Often,  within  a  few  feet 
west  of  the  Franklinite,  appear  beds  of  well  characterized  magnetic  oxide  of  iron, 
but  always  accompanied  by  hornblende  rock.  A  species  of  this  last  ore,  found  near 
the  furnace,  is  intimately  blended  with  plumbago.  Here,  also,  are  curious  beds  of 
yellow  garnet,  imperfect  sienitic  granite,  in  which  are  beautiful  opaque  blackish 
brown  masses  of  garnet  of  a  high  resinous  lustre,  and  crystallized  on  the  surface, 
accompanied  with  laminated  epidote;  white  and  compact  massive  or  minutely  lami- 
nated augite,  in  some  parts  intimately  blended  with  specks  of  violet,  granular  feld- 
spar, resembling  petrosilex;  sphene,  brown  garnet,  dark  green  granular  augite,  like 
the  cocolite  of  Lake  Champlain ;  phosphate  of  lime ;  spinelle  and  black  spinelle  or 
fowlerite,  from  Dr.  Fowler,  of  Franklin,  its  discoverer;  specular  iron  ore  ;  brucite, 
bronzite,  pargazite  and  idocras,  zircon,  tremolite,  imbedded  in  crystals  of  white  au- 
gite; actynolite,  short  crystals  of  augite  almost  black,  like  those  of  volcanic  rocks; 
apatite,  a  beautiful  apple  green  feldspar,  in  crystalline  carbonate  of  lime,  accom- 
panied with  perfect  crystals  of  mica,  and  hexagonal  plates  of  plumbago,  soft  and 
almost  as  fusible  as  hornblende  ;  a  very  brilliant  pale  green  hornblende,  passing  into 
actynolite,  which  has  been  denominated  maclureite,  in  honour  of  him  who  has  done 
so  much  for  American  geology,  and  natural  science  in  general; — blue  and  white 
sapphire,  enormous  green  crystals  of  augite,  at  least  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diame- 
ter, presenting  hexaedral  or  octahedral  prisms,  with  almost  equal  faces,  and  termi- 
nated by  oblique  tetrahedral  pyramids,  accompanied,  near  the  junction  of  granite 
and  crystallized  carbonate  of  lime,  with  large  crystals  of  feldspar;  scapolite,  or  \ver- 
nerite  ;  arsenical  pyrites,  mixed  with  others  resembling  the  sulphuret  of  cobalt,  or 
nickel,  with  a  substance  like  blende,  accompanied  by  dendrodite,  and  argillaceous 
fluate  of  lime. 

The  crystalline  calcareous  rock  which  here  alternates  with  grani tines  of  feldspar 
and  quartz,  or  with  beds  of  sienitic  granite,  at  other  places,  disappears,  and  a  conflu- 
ent grauwacke,  almost  porphyritic,  and  contemporaneous,  apparently,  with  the  other 
formations,  is  observed,  directly  overlaid  by  a  bed  of  leaden,  minutely  granular,  se- 
condary limestone,  containing  organic  remains  of  the  usual  shells  and  corallines, 
and  layers  of  blackish  hornstone  or  petrosilex.  This  rock,  as  well  as  the  grau- 
wacke beneath  has  disseminated  crystals  of  blue  fluate  of  lime.  In  the  limestone 
the  cavities  are  sometimes  very  numerous,  and  lined  both  with  pseudomorphous 
masses  and  cubes,  and  white  fluate  and  quartz  crystals.  Thus  we  have  here  before 
us,  as  at  Lake  Champlain,  the  rare  and  interesting  spectacle  of  an  union  of  every 
class  of  rocks,  but  passing  decidedly  into  each  other,  a.s  if  almost  contemporaneous. 
This  singular  formation,  to  which  slate  should  be  added,  extends  into  Orange  coun- 
ty, State  of  New  York.  Immense  masses,  some  miles  in  length,  of  the  red  oxide 
of  zinc,  lie  in  the  mountains,  near  Sparta;  and  as  this  ore  may  be  easily  converted 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  15 

into  metal,  they  will  probably  one  day  add  greatly  to  the  wealth  of  this  portion  of 
the  State.  The  white  crystalline  limestone,  which  is  so  interesting  a  feature  of 
this  region,  has  been  distinctly  traced  from  Mounts  Adam  and  Eve,  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  to  Byram  township  of  Sussex  county,  in  an  uninterrupted  line  of  twen- 
ty-five miles,  with  a  width  varying  from  two  and  a  half  miles,  to  that  of  a  few  rods, 
its  greatest  breadth  being  at  the  state  line.  Its  inclination,  except  at  Mounts  Adam 
and  Eve,  is  low,  often  falling  below  the  adjoining  limestone  of  more  recent  date. 
It  crops  out,  only  here  and  there,  in  large  masses;  and  its  continuity  is  to  be  ob- 
served, solely,  by  boulders  and  loose  stones,  scattered  over  the  surface.  It  most 
probably  extends,  with  occasional  breaks,  to  Easton  on  the  Delaware.  Silver 
and  gold  are  asserted  to  have  been  found  in  several  places  of  the  primitive  re- 
gion, and  attempts  have  been  made  at  various  times,  by  the  ignorant,  who  have 
been  self-deceived,  and  by  the  knavish  who  have  deceived  others,  to  work  veins  of 
pyrites,  which  have  a  resemblance  to  those  metals. 

Among  these  primitive  ridges,  we  must  notice,  upon  the  S.  W.,  Scott's  Moun- 
tain, and  Jenny  Jump,  in  both  of  which,  are  extensive  deposits  of  magnetic  iron 
ore,  and  other  interesting  minerals.  In  the  first,  near  Oxford  furnace,  the  mining 
of  iron  was  many  years  ago  very  extensively  conducted,  and  shafts  of  great  depth, 
and  drifts  of  great  length,  are  still  visible.  The  works,  h6wever,  had  been  long 
abandoned,  when  Messrs.  Henry  and  Jordan,  from  Pennsylvania,  with  praisewor- 
thy enterprise  recommenced  them  in  1832.  They  are  now  prosecuting  a  vein  of 
productive  magnetic  ore,  blended  with  carbonate  of  lime,  from  10  to  12  feet  wide, 
enclosed  by  parietes  of  mica  shale.  Throughout  these  mountains,  the  elements  of 
primitive  rock  may  be  found  variously  and  curiously  combined  ;  but  we  are  not 
aware,  that  they  have  been  subjected  to  minute  examination  by  the  naturalist. 

N.  W.  of  the  primitive  hills  we  have  described,  there  lies  a  valley,  having  an 
average  breadth  of  about  10  miles,  but  broadest  near  the  Delaware,  extending  over 
the  northern  parts  of  Sussex  and  Warren  counties.  It  is  drained  for  the  greatest 
part  by  Paulin's  Kill,  flowing  to  the  Delaware,  and  may,  therefore,  properly  be 
termed  Paulin's  Kill  Valley.  It  is  bounded  on  the  N.  W.  by  the  Blue  Mountain. 
The  valley  is  covered  with  knolls  and  low  ridges,  at  first  view  apparently  in  much 
confusion,  but  which  may  be  traced  on  the  inclination  of  the  mountains.  Transi- 
tion limestone  alternates  here  with  slate.  A  notable  ridge  of  the  latter  bounds  the 
Paulin's  Kill  on  the  S.  E.  side,  from  near  its  mouth  to  Newton,  whilst  the  N.  W. 
side  is  as  strikingly  distinguished  by  its  range  of  limestone,  which  may  be  traced 
to  Orange  county,  New  York.  North  of  the  limestone,  there  is  another  ridge  of 
slate,  of  a  character  well  adapted  for  roofing  and  ciphering  slate,  quarries  of  which 
are  extensively  worked  on  the  Delaware.  Between  this  slate  and  the  Blue  Moun- 
tain lies  a  bed  of  grauwacke.  The  mountain  contains  the  usual  species  of  transition 
rocks,  grauwacke,  in  every  variety  of  aggregation,  slate,  mountain  limestone,  and 
greenstone,  and  rising  from  1400  to  1600  feet  high,  is  covered  with  wood,  in  which 
the  deer,  bear,  wolf,  and  most  wild  animals,  indigenous,  still  roam.  N.  W.  of  the 
mountain,  bounded  by  the  Delaware  River,  lies  a  fertile  tract  of  transition  lime- 
stone land,  watered  by  the  Flat  Kill,  and  varying  in  width  from  one  to  seven  miles. 

The  mountains  of  this  third  section  are,  generally,  in  a  state  of  nature.  There 
are,  however,  some  cultivated  spots,  which*reward  the  husbandman.  But  the  val- 
leys form  the  most  fertile  portions  of  the  State.  They  are  generally  based  on  lime- 
stone; and  since  lime  has  been  extensively  adopted  as  manure,  they  have  rapidly 
improved.  This  is  especially  the  case  among  the  Highlands,  at  Clinton,  New  Ger- 
mantown,  in  the  valleys  of  the  north  and  south  branches  of  the  Raritan  and  of  La- 
mington  rivers,  in  the  valleys  of  the  Musconetcong,  the  Pohatcong,  the  Pequest 
and  its  tributaries,  and  valleys  of  Paulin's  Kill  and  Flat  Kill.  All  these  produce 
wheat  in  abundance,  and  where  wheat  abounds  and  finds  a  ready  way  to  market, 
no  other  good  thing  is  absent.  Wheat  and  iron  are  the  staples  of  the  country,  which 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  section,  seek  the  market  by  the  Morris  canal.  There  were, 
in  1832,  by  the  report  of  the  assessors,  fifteen  furnaces  and  eighty-seven  forge  fires 
in  operation  in  the  counties  of  Sussex,  Warren,  Morris  and  Bergen.  By  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Morris  canal,  the  iron  mines  are  growing  into  vast  importance;  great 
demand  for  the  ores  having  been  created  in  West  Jersey,  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York.  From  the  valley  of  the  Musconetcong  immense  quantities  of  wheat  are 
exported,  individual  farmers  raising  from  one  thousand  to  three  thousand  bushels 
per  annum. 

Marble  for  ornamental  architecture  is  abundant  in  this  district.     At  Mendham, 


16  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

Morris  county,  it  occurs  with  dendritic  impressions  in  which  it  resembles  the  beau- 
tiful marble  of  Florence.  White  marble  and  noble  serpentine,  we  are  told,  are 
found  in  large  masses  on  the  Pompton  Mountain,  and  also  near  Phillipsburg.  Man- 
ganese, too,  is  said  to  be  abundant  in  various  parts  of  the  section,  and  a  water 
lime,  similar  to  that  of  New  York,  has  been  discovered  at  Mendham  and  other 
places. 

South-east  of  the  Musconetcong  Mountain,  this  district  is  drained  by  the  Rama- 
po  River,  which  divides  the  primitive  formation  from  the  secondary,  in  Bergen 
county;  by  Longpond  or  Ringwood  River,  which  rises  in  Longpond  or  Greenwood 
Lake;  by  the  Pequannock,  which  has  its  source  in  the  Wallkill  Mountains  :  these 
streams  uniting  in  Pompton  and  Saddle  River  townships,  Bergen  county,  form  the 
Pompton  River,  which  joins  the  Passaic,  about  four  miles  N.  W.  of  the  Little  Falls. 
The  Passaic  receives  also  the  Rockaway,  Whippany  and  Dead  Rivers.  The  re- 
mainder of  this  part  of  the  section  is  tributary  to  the  Raritan  River,  which  receives 
from  it,  three  of  its  main  branches;  the  North,  the  Lamington  and  the  South;  each 
of  which  has  a  tortuous  course,  and  waters  a  great  extent  of  surface,  bat  all  hav- 
ing their  source  S.  W.  of  the  Musconetcong  and  Hamburg  Mountains,  which  sepa- 
rate entirely  the  whole  of  the  section. 

There  are  several  lakes,  of  from  four  to  six  miles  in  compass,  and  others  larger. 
The  principal  is  Greenwood  Lake,  upon  the  confines  of  New  York,  about  16  miles 
in  circumference ;  lying  in  a  narrow  valley  of  the  Highlands,  scarce  a  mile  wide. 
Mackepin,  in  the  southern  part  of  Pompton  township,  covers  less  surface,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  600  feet  above  the  waters  of  an  adjacent  mountain  valley.  Green- 
pond,  on  the  south  of  the  Hamburg  turnpike  and  near  the  valley  of  Newfoundland, 
is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  about  eight  miles  in  circumference,  bounded  E.  by 
the  woodclad  Copperas  Mountain,  and  W.  by  a  high  and  savage  hill,  which  bears 
its  name.  Two  or  three  farm  houses,  pleasantly  situated,  on  a  sandy  beach,  on  its 
northern  bank,  serve  as  an  hostelrie,  for  the  sportsmen  of  Morris  and  Bergen  coun- 
ties, when  resorting  to  this  their  favourite  spot.  Some  of  the  lakes  in  the  transition 
region  have  their  borders  girded  by  lofty  walls  of  grauwacke,  and  rival  in  their  ro- 
mantic scenery  the  celebrated  sheets  of  Cumberland  and  Westmoreland.  Budd's 
Pond  upon  Schooley's  Mountain  is  also  remarkable  for  its  fish,  as  were  Hurds  and 
Hopatcong  Lakes  ;  but  the  last  is  now  celebrated  as  the  perennial  source  of  the  sup- 
ply of  water  for  the  Morris  Canal,  being  on  the  summit  level,  and  the  principal 
feeder.  In  its  natural  state  the  Hopatcong  poured  forth  its  waters  to  the  Delaware, 
only,  by  the  Musconetcong  Creek,  which  courses  the  north- western  base  of  the 
Musconetcong  Mountain. 

The  streams  that  drain  the  interval,  between  the  Musconetcong  and  the  Blue 
Mountain,  westwardly,  are.  the  Musconetcong,  Pohatcong,  Lapatcong,  Pequest, 
and  Paulinskill;  and  eastwardly,  the  Wallkill.  In  this  valley  there  are  also  several 
small  lakes,  the  most  curious  of  which  are  the  White  Ponds,  near  Marksboro',  and 
Pimple  Hill,  both  noted  for  the  quantity  of  the  shells  of  the  small  white  fresh  water 
snail,  which  covers  the  bottom  and  banks.  At  the  first,  the  mass  of  these  shells  is 
enormous,  covering  the  sides  and  bottom  of  the  pond  many  feet  thick.  North  of  the 
Blue  Mountain  the  only  stream  worth  special  notice  is  the  Flatkill. 

Oak,  walnut,  beach,  birch,  ash,  elm  and  sugar  maple,  are  the  predominant  timber 
of  the  third  section.  Pine,  hemlock,  and  cedar,  are  scattered  through  the  forest,  adja- 
cent to  the  lakes  and  streams.  On  the  high  points  of  ground,  walnut  and  oak  are 
the  most  common  trees.  Shrub  oak  is  the  most  frequent  in  the  transition  highland 
district  which  passes  through  Morris  county.  It  occupies  almost  exclusively  an  ex- 
tensive level  interval  on  the  north  of  Suckasunny  Plain,  attaining  the  height  of  six 
or  eight  feet,  and  forming  an  entangled  thicket,  beneath  which  the  ground  is  co- 
vered with  loose  stones. 

We  have  already  mentioned  the  number  of  peach  orchards  in  the  alluvial  of  the 
State,  and  we  may  observe  here,  that  the  apple  orchards  of  the  secondary,  primitive, 
and  transition  sections,  are  not  less  worthy  of  notice.  The  cider  of  New  Jersey  is 
justly  preferred  to  any  other  of  the  United  States,  and  the  quantity  of  ardent  spirit 
distilled  from  it,  may  be  conjectured  by  a  glance  at  the  list  of  distilleries  in  the  ge- 
neral statistical  table. 

For  a  more  particular  notice  of  the  rivers  of  the  State,  and  of  the  bridges  which 
cross  them,  we  refer  the  reader  to  the  names  of  the  streams,  respectively,  in  the 
subsequent  part  of  the  work.  But  we  will  conclude  this  physical  sketch  by  a  view 
of  the  turnpike  roads,  rail  roads,  and  canals,  which  traverse  the  State. 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  17 

VI.  Turnpikes.  Since  March,  1801,  authority  has  been  given  for  making  54 
turnpike  roads.  The  object  of  these  improvements  seems  threefold.  1.  The  facili- 
tating the  communication  between  the  great  cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 
2.  The  more  ready  approach  from  the  interior  to  the  markets  of  New  York  and  Eas- 
ton,  for  the  products  of  agriculture  and  the  mines;  and  3.  The  drawing  the  produce 
of  the  Delaware  river,  to  the  waters  of  East  Jersey  and  New  York,  all  which  has 
been  much  aided  by  the  capital  of  that  great  city.  The  following  list  gives  the  titles 
of  these  acts,  the  dates  of  their  enactment,  with  their  respective  supplements. 
Those  marked  with  an  asterisk,  (*)  have  been  wholly,  or  partially,  carried  into  ef- 
fect. 

1801,  March  9.  *1.  Morris  Turnpike,  from  Elizabethtown,  through  Morristown  and 

Newton,  over  the  Minisink  Mountain,  at  Culver's  Gap,  to 
the  Delaware,  opposite  Milford.     Supplement,  Nov.  10, 1803. 

1802,  Nov.  30.  *2.  Hackensack  and  Hoboken.     Supplement,  Nov.  16,  1807. 
1804,  Feb.  23.  *3.  Union,  from  Morristown  to  Sparta. 

1806,  Nov.  11.   *4.  Union  continued  from   Sparta,  through  Culver's  Gap,  to  the 

Delaware.     Supplement,  Feb.  4,  1815. 
1804,  Nov.  14.  *5.  Trenton  and   New  Brunswick.     Supplement,  Nov.  28,  1806. 

Feb.  1,  1814. 
1804,  Dec.     1.  *6.  City  of  Jersey  and  Hackensack.     To  which  the  state  subscribed 

$12,500.     Supplement,  Nov.  4,  1808. 
1806,  Feb.  24.  *7.  Newark  and  Pompton.     Supplement,  Nov.  28,  1806.     Jan.  28, 

1830. 

„  27.  *8.  Newark  and  Mount  Pleasant.     Supplement,  May  9,  1820. 

,,  *9.  Jersey,  from  New  Brunswick  to  Easton  Bridge,  on  the  Dela- 

ware.    Supplement,  Nov.  28,  1806.    Feb.  22,  1811.    Feb.  14, 
1815.     Feb.  15,  1816.     Feb.  16,  1831. 

,,  March  3.  *10.  Essex  and  Middlesex,  from4  New  Brunswick  to  Newark.     Sup- 
plement, Nov.  17,  1821. 
„         ,,          *11.  Washington,  from  Morristown  to  the  Delaware,  opposite  to  Eaa- 

ton.     Supplement,  Nov.  15.  1809. 

„  „  *12.  Patterson  and  Hamburg,  from  Acquackanonck  landing  to  Deck- 
ertown.  Supplement,  Nov.  26,  1806.  Nov.  23,  1822. 

1806,  March  3.   14.  Springfield  and  Newark. 

„  *15.  Franklin,  from  New  Prospect  to  the  New  York  line. 

,,    March  12.  16.  Hunterdon  and  Sussex. 

1807,  Dec.    3.  *17.  Princeton  and  Kingston — branch  of  Trenton  and  New  Bruns- 

wick turnpike. 

„  „  18.  Jefferson,  through  Berkshire  valley  to  the  Patterson  and  Ham- 

burg road. 

,,  Nov.  16.  19.  Belleville,  from  Belleville  bridge  to  the  Newark  and  Pompton 
road,  between  Bloomfield  and  Cranetown. 

1808,  Nov.  22.  *20.  Perth  Amboy,  to  Boundbrook.     Supplement,  Feb.  18,  1820. 

,,  ,,         *21.  Woodbridge,  from  New  Brunswick,  through  Piscataway  and 

Woodbridge,  to  Railway. 
,,     Nov.  24.    22.   Burlington,  through  Bordentown,  to  intersect  the  Trenton  and 

New  Brunswick  turnpike.     Supplement,   November,  1809. 

Feb.  6,  1811. 
„     Nov.  28.    23.  Jersey  and  Acquackanonck,  from  Aoquackanonck  to  Belleville 

turnpike. 
„  28.  *25.  Deckertown  and  Milford.     Supplement,  Feb.  10,  1813.     Dec. 

7.  1825.     Dec.  16,  1826. 

1809,  Nov.  28.  *13.  Patterson  and  Hamburg,  continued  from  Deckertown  over  the 

Blue  Mountain,  to  the  Delaware  opposite  to  Milford.     Sup- 
plement, Feb.  11,  1815.     Feb.  15,  1816.     January  23, 1818. 

„  29.  *24.  Parsippany  and  Rockaway,  from  Vanduyns,  through  Rockaway, 

to  the  Union  turnpike. 

1811,  Feb.  8.  26.  Water  Gap,  from  the  Morris  and  Sussex  turnpike,  near  the  34 
mile  post,  through  Milton  and  Hope,  to  the  Delaware,  near 
the  Water  Gap.  Supplement,  Feb.  3,  1813. 

,,  9.  "27.  Ringwood  and  Longpond,  and  division  line  between  the  29th 

and  3Qth  mile  stones.     Supplement,  Feb.  10,  1813.     Feb.  6, 
1819. 

C 


18  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

1811,  Feb.    9.     28.  Farmers,  from   Springfield,    through  New  Providence,  Long 

Hill,  Pluckemin,  to  the  Jersey  turnpike  near  Potterstown. 
11.  *29.  Newark  and  Morris,  from  Newark,  through  S.  Orange  to  Bot- 
tle Hill  or  Morristown.     Supplement,  Feb.  1'2,  1817.     Jan. 
15,  1818.     Feb.  7,  1820.     Dec.  5,  1823. 
„  14.    30.  Vernon,  from  the  division  line,  near  Decay's,  to  the  Patterson 

and  Hamburg  turnpike. 

„  31.  New  Milford,  from  the  division  line  between  the  29th  and  30th 

mile  stones. 

1813,  Jan.   12.  32.  Dover,  to  Suckasunny. 

,,  *33.  Spruce  Run,  from  Clinton,  in  Hunterdon  county,  to  the  Wash- 

ington turnpike  road,  near  Sherard's  mill,  in  Sussex  county. 
Supplement,  Jan.  26,  1814.  Jan.  27,  1818. 

„     Feb.  11.     34.   Hope  and  Hackettstown. 

,,  *35.  New  Germantown,  from  Bayle's  Mill  and  White  House  to  New 

Germantown. 

1814,  Jan.  27.  *36.  Deckertown  and  Newton.     Supplement,  Feb.  4,  1817.    Feb.  4, 

1831. 
„  37.  Vernon  and  Newton,  from  Decay's,  in  the  division  line,  by 

Hamburg,  to  Sussex  Court  House. 
,,     Feb.  11.     38.   New  Brunswick  and  Middleburg. 

1815,  Jan.  18.  *39.  Hackensack  and  Hoboken.     Supplement,  Jan.  21,  1818. 

„     Feb.    6.  *40.  Patterson  and  Hackensack.    Supplement,  Feb.  27, 1824.    Nov. 
6,  1827. 

41.  Mount  Hope  and  Longwood.     Feb.  7,  1820. 

42.  New  Providence,  from  Morristown  to  Scotch  Plains. 

1816,  Feb.   15.    43.   Georgetown  and  Franklin.     Supplement,  Jan.  20, 1819.    Dec. 

12,  1823.     Feb.  25,  1828. 
,,     Feb.  16.  *44.  Bordentown   and    South    Amboy.     Supplement,    January   20, 

1817.     Nov.  6,  1819.     Dec.  8,  1826.. 

„  45.  Belleville,  to  the  Newark  and  Pompton  road,  at  the  Little  Falls. 

„  46.  Woodbridge,  to  the  New  Blazing  Star. 

,,  47.  Patterson  and  Hamburg,  to  the  Hudson,  from  Acquackanonck 

Bridge,   to    the  Hackensack  and   Hoboken  roads  near  the 

Three  Pigeons.     Supplement,  Dec.  7,  1824. 

1817,  Feb.  12.  *48.  Pochuck,  from  Hamburg  to  Goshen,  N.  Y. 

1819,  Jan.  21.    49.  Columbia  and  Walpack,  to  intersect  the  Sussex  and  Morris 

turnpike. 

,,     Feb.    6.     50.  Newton,  from  near  Andover  furnace,  through  Newton,  to  the 
third  district  of  the  Morris  and  Essex  turnpike,  near  the  Blue 
Mountain. 
1825,  Nov.  23.  51.  Patterson  and  New  Prospect. 

„  52.  Patterson  and   New   Antrim,  from  Patterson  through  Saddle 

River  and  Franklin  townships. 
1828,  Jan.  23.  53.  Hackensack  and  Fort  Lee. 

„  54.  Passaic,  from  Patterson  to  Little  Falls. 

Not  more  than  half  the  projects  for  roads,  which  have  received  legislative  sanc- 
tion, have  been  executed ;  but  in  some  instances  the  new  laws  were  wholly,  or 
partly,  substituted  for  others,  of  which  the  designated  routes  had  been  abandoned. 
There  have  been  made,  however,  about  550  miles  of  turnpike  road,  principally  of 
earth  and  gravel.  We  do  not  recollect  to  have  seen,  in  any  direction,  five  conti- 
nuous miles  of  road  paved  with  stone.  The  main  highways  of  the  State  are  pre- 
served in  pretty  good  condition,  and  generally  during  the  summer  and  fall  seasons 
may  be  travelled  with  pleasure,  in  every  direction.  Some  of  them  are  preferable  to 
the  turnpikes,  particularly  such  as  pass  over  the  slate  and  sandstone  regions,  where 
the  hard  rock  approaches  the  surface. 

VII.  Up  to  the  year  1833,  nine  companies  have  been  chartered  for  making  rail- 
roads, with  authority  to  employ  the  sum  of  $7,140,000  towards  these  objects.  The 
Camden  and  Amboy  Rail-road  Company  was  incorporated  under  the  act  of  February 
4th,  1830,  authorizing  a  capital  stock  of  $1,000,000,  with  privilege  to  increase  it 
$500,000,  divided  into  shares  of  $100  each,  to  be  employed  in  the  construction  of 
rail-road  or  roads,  with  all  necessary  appendages,  from  the  Delaware  River,  at  some 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  19 

point  between  Cooper's  and  Newton  Creeks,  in  the  county  of  Gloucester,  to  some 
point  on  the  Raritan  Bay  ;  the  road  to  be  one  hundred  feet  wide,  with  as  many  set 
of  tracks  as  may  be  necessary,  with  a  lateral  road  to  Bordentown  ;  reserving  to  the 
legislature  the  right  to  subscribe  one-fourth,  or  less,  of  the  capital  stock,  within  a  limi- 
ted time — which  right  was  not  exercised — with  condition,  also,  that  the  road  should 
be  commenced  within  two,  and  be  completed  within  nine,  years;  and  that  the  com- 
pany should  make  quarterly  returns  of  the  number  of  passengers,  and  tons  of  mer- 
chandise, transported  upon  the  road,  to  the  state  treasurer ;  and  pay  a  transit  duty 
of  ten  cents  for  each  passenger,  and  fifteen  cents  for  each  ton  of  merchandise,  in 
lieu  of  all  other  taxes.  The  company  was  empowered  to  decide  upon  the  descrip- 
tion of  carriages  to  be  used  on  the  road,  the  weight  to  be  transported  on  each,  the 
times  of  starting  and  rates  of  travelling,  and  to  regulate  the  tolls  ;  and  was  required 
to  provide  suitable  steam  or  other  vessels,  at  either  extremity  of  the  road,  for  the 
transportation  of  passengers.  The  State,  also,  reserved  to  itself  the  right  to  pur- 
chase the  road  at  and  after  the  expiration  of  thirty  years,  at  a  valuation  to  be  made 
according  to  law ;  stipulating,  that  if  the  legislature  shall  authorize  the  construc- 
tion of  any  other  rail-road  for  the  transportation  of  passengers  across  the  State  from 
New  York  to  Philadelphia,  which  road  shall  be  constructed  and  used,  and  which 
shall  commence  and  terminate  within  three  miles  of  the  commencement  and  termi- 
nation of  the  road  authorized  by  the  act,  then  the  transit  duties  shall  cease  ;  and 
that  such  other  rail-road  shall  be  liable  to  a  tax  not  less  than  the  amount  payable  to 
the  State  by  this  company. 

By  an  act  passed  4th  February,  1831,  it  was  further  stipulated  between  the 
State  and  the  company,  that  the  latter  should  transfer  to  the  former  1000  shares  of 
the  capital  stock,  the  instalments  thereon  to  be  paid  by  the  company  ;  the  State  to 
appoint  one  director,  on  condition,  that  it  should  not  be  lawful  to  construct  any  rail- 
road for  the  transportation  of  passengers  across  the  State,  within  three  miles  of  the 
road  of  the  company,  until  after  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  nine  years  from  the 
date  of  the  act  of  incorporation,  (Feb.  4th,  1830.)  And  that  when  any  other  rail- 
road for  the  transportation  of  passengers  and  property  between  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia shall  be  constructed  and  used,  by  virtue  of  any  law  of  this  State  or  of  the 
United  States,  authorizing  or  recognising  such  road,  that  the  dividends  on  the  stock 
should  cease,  and  the  stock  be  relransferred  to  the  company. 

By  the  act  of  15th  February,  1831,  the  Camden  and  Amboy  Rail-road  and  the 
Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal  Companies  were  consolidated,  for  the  purposes  of  com- 
pleting the  canal  and  road,  subject  to  the  provisions,  reservations  and  conditions  of 
their  respective  charters ;  the  directors  appointed  under  which  are  empowered  to 
manage  the  affairs  of  the  companies  in  joint  meeting  ;  and  the  companies  are  jointly 
liable  on  the  contracts  made  by  either ;  and  are  prohibited  from  charging  more  than 
three  dollars  for  the  transportation  of  passengers  from  and  to  the  cities  of  New 
York  and  Philadelphia.  This  act  further  provides  that  the  canal  and  rail-road  shall 
be  completed  within  the  time  specified  in  the  respective  charters ;  and  that  if  one  of 
the  works  at  the  expiration  of  such  time  be  completed  without  the  other,  that  the 
work  completed  shall  be  forfeited  to  the  State. 

By  the  act  of  2d  March,  1832,  1000  shares  of  the  joint  capital  stock  are  transfer- 
red to  the  State;  and  the  companies  contract  that,  if  within  one  year  from  the  time 
that  the  rail-road  shall  be  completed,  the  transit  duty  received  by  the  acts  incorpora- 
ting such  companies,  and  the  dividends  on  the  stock  so  transferred,  shall  not  amount 
to  $30,000,  the  companies  shall  pay  the  deficiency  to  the  State  :  and  so,  annually, 
out  of  the  joint  funds,  and  before  any  dividend  be  made  to  the  stockholders,  so  as  to 
secure  to  the  State  the  sum  of  $30,000  at  least,  annually,  during  the  charter ;  and 
that  the  State  may  appoint  one  director  to  represent  the  stock,  but  shall  not  vote 
thereon  at  any  election  of  the  stockholders.  The  state  directors  are  appointable  by 
the  governor.  The  companies  further  covenant  to  construct  a  lateral  rail-road  from 
the  village  of  Spottswood  to  the  city  of  New  Brunswick,  to  be  completed  so  soon  as 
any  rail-road  shall  be  made  from  that  city  to  the  Hudson  River ;  and  that  they  will 
not  charge  more  than  $2.50  for  every  passenger  carried  to  and  from  the  cities  of 
New  Brunswick  and  Philadelphia.  The  condition  of  these  grants,  however,  is,  that 
it  shall  not  be  lawful  at  any  time  during  the  rail-road  charter,  to  construct  any  other 
rail-road  in  the  State,  without  the  consent  of  the  companies,  which  shall  be  intended 
or  used  for  the  transportation  of  passengers  or  merchandise  between  the  cities  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  or  to  compete  in  business,  with  the  Camden  and  Amboy 
Rail-road. 


20  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

The  united  companies  have  completed  one  track  of  rail-road  from  a  point  below 
Bordentown,  on  the  Delaware  River,  to  South  Amboy,  passing  through,  or  rather 
over,  Right's  Town  and  by  Spottswood,  a  distance  of  35  miles,  at  an  expense,  it  is 
said,  of  more  than  $18,000  the  mile.  Upon  this  road  passengers  and  merchandise 
have  been  carried  since  February,  1833.  It  is  constructed  in  a  very  substantial  man- 
ner of  cast  iron  rails,  supported  upon  blocks  of  stone,  or  wooden  sleepers,  placed 
three  feet  distant  from  each  other  in  the  line.  Until  September,  1833,  the  carriages 
were  commonly  drawn  by  horses ;  at  that  time  steam  locomotives  were  applied  to 
one  of  the  three  daily  lines  which  traverse  it. 

The  remainder  of  the  road  from  Bordentown  to  Camden  is  in  progress,  and  is 
being  constructed  of  wood,  faced  with  iron  bars ;  it  being  supposed  that  it  will  not 
be  employed  more  than  two  or  three  months  in  the  year,  and  will  therefore  not  re- 
quire the  strength  of  the  portion  between  Bordentown  and  New  York. 

By  the  power  which  this  company  has  to  regulate  the  tolls  on  the  road,  they  are 
enabled  to  exclude  all  other  persons  from  its  use,  and  to  secure  to  themselves  a  mo- 
nopoly thereof;  and  this  they  have  effected. 

The  West  Jersey  Rail-road  was  designed  to  be  connected  with  the  Camden  and 
Amboy  Rail-roads,  at  Camden ;  and  to  run,  thence,  to  any  point  upon  the  Delaware 
River,  in  the  township  of  Penn's  Neck,  in  the  county  of  Salem.  The  company  was 
authorized  to  have  a  capital  of  half  a  million,  and  to  increase  it  to  one  million  of 
dollars;  and  the  road  was  to  be  commenced  within  two  years  from  the  passage  of 
the  act,  (12th  February,  1831,)  and  to  be  completed  within  five  years.  The  road 
not  having  been  commenced,  the  charter  may  be  deemed  void. 

The  Patterson  and  Hudson  River  Rail-road  Company,  was  incorporated  under  the 
act  of  21st  January,  1831,  with  a  capital  of  $250,000,  and  the  privilege  to  extend  it 
to  half  a  million;  and  was  authorized  to  make  a  rail-road  or  lateral  roads  from  one 
or  more  suitable  places  in  the  town  of  Patterson,  one  at  least  of  which  to  commence 
at  or  pass  in  its  course  within  50  feet  of  the  corner  of  the  present  lower  race-way 
in  the  town  of  Patterson,  at  the  intersection  of  Congress  and  Mill  streets,  near  the 
Catholic  Chapel,  to  Weehawkin ;  and  from  thence  to  any  other  suitable  place  or 
places  on  the  Hudson  River  opposite  to  the  city  of  New  York,  within  50  feet  of 
high- water  mark,  not  exceeding  66  feet  wide,  with  as  many  tracks  as  they  may  deem 
necessary,  crossing  the  Hackensack  River  upon  or  near  the  bridge  of  the  New  Bar- 
badoes  Company.  By  act  18th  November,  1831,  the  company  was  empowered  to 
locate  the  road  from  the  east  side  of  Berry's  Hill,  in  the  county  of  Bergen,  to  the 
Hudson  River,  and  on  making  a  tunnel  through  Bergen  Hill,  to  charge  additional 

toll. 

The  company  are  empowered  also  to  purchase  and  employ  all  means  necessary  in 
the  transportation  of  merchandise,  passengers,  &c.  upon  the  road,  but  the  road  is 
declared  a  public  highway,  free  to  all  persons  paying  the  prescribed  toll,  and  may  be 
purchased  by  the  State  after  the  expiration  of  fifty  years  from  its  completion.  The 
treasurer  of  the  company  is  required  to  make  to  the  State  treasurer  annual  returns 
of  the  number  of  passengers,  and  tons  of  merchandise,  &c.  transported  on  the  road, 
and  after  the  expiration  of  five  years  from  the  passing  of  the  act,  to  pay  to  the  State, 
annually,  one-quarter  of  one  per  cent.,  and  after  the  expiration  of  ten  years,  one-half 
per  cent,  on  the  capital  stock  paid  in,  in  lieu  of  all  taxation. 

By  an  act  of  3d  February,  1831,  the  Patterson  Junction  Rail-road  Company  was 
incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $20,000,  which  may  be  increased  to  $40,000,  and 
a  power  to  construct  a  rail-road  or  lateral  roads  from  the  Morris  Canal,  distant  not 
more  than  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  corner  of  Congress  and  Mill  streets,  in  the 
town  of  Patterson,  to  intersect  the  Patterson  and  Hudson  River  Rail-road,  within 
the  town  of  Patterson.  This  is  also  declared  a  public  highway,  and  the  company 
are  required,  when  the  road  shall  be  completed,  to  file  a  statement  of  its  cost  in  the 
office  of  the  secretary  of  state,  and  annually  thereafter  to  report  to  the  legislature 
the  proceeds  of  the  road,  until  they  shall  amount  to  seven  per  cent,  upon  its  cost, 
and  afterwards  annually  to  pay  to  the  State  a  tax  of  one-half  per  cent,  on  such  cost 
in  lieu  of  all  taxes.  And  the  legislature  have  reserved  the  right  to  purchase  such 
road  upon  terms  similar  to  those  annexed  to  the  charter  of  the  Patterson  and  Hud- 
son River  Rail-road  Company;  and  the  charter  of  this,  as  of  that  company,  is  de- 
clared void,  if  the  road  be  not  commenced  in  one  year,  and  finished  in  five  years  from 
the  4th  July,  1831. 

The  Patterson  and  Fort  Lee  Rail-road  Company,  incorporated  by  the  act  of 
8th  March,  1832,  has  authority  to  employ  a  capital  of  $200,000  in  making  a  road 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  21 

from  the  town  of  Patterson  to  Fort  Lee,  on  the  Hudson  River,  not  further  than  50 
feet  from  high- water  mark;  to  be  commenced  within  one  year  from  the  4th  July, 
1832,  and  completed  within  six  years  from  that  time,  under  penalty  of  forfeiture  of 
the  charter ;  and  subject  to  be  purchased  by  the  State  at  the  expiration  of  thirty 
years  from  the  completion  of  the  road,  and  to  a  transit  duty  of  the  one-quarter  of 
one  per  cent,  yearly,  after  the  expiration  of  six  years  from  the  passage  of  the  act, 
and  the  half  of  one  per  cent,  after  the  expiration  of  ten  years,  upon  the  capital  stock, 
in  lieu  of  all  other  taxes. 

The  Elizabethtown  arid  Somerville  Rail-road  Company,  by  the  act  of  9th  Fe- 
bruary, 1831,  was  empowered  to  construct  a  road  from  the  village  of  Somerville  to 
Elizabethtown,  passing  as  near  as  practicable  by  Boundbrook,  Plainfield,  Scotch 
Plains  and  Westfield,  subject  to  a  tax  of  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  upon  the  cost,  an- 
nually, after  the  proceeds  of  the  road  shall  yield  seven  per  cent,  thereon,  arid  to  the 
avoidance  of  the  charter  in  case  the  road  be  not  completed  within  seven  years  from 
the  4th  July,  1831.  This  road  is  to  be  a  public  highway,  and  may  be  purchased 
by  the  State  on  the  terms  established  in  the  case  of  the  Patterson  and  Hudson  road, 
and  the  State  may  subscribe  $25,000  to  the  stock  of  the  company,  at  any  time  before, 
or  within,  twelve  months  after  the  road  shall  be  completed. 

The  capital  stock  originally  permitted  to  the  company,  was  $200,000,  with  the 
privilege  of  increase  to  $400,000;  but,  by  the  act  of  8th  February,  1833,  authority 
was  given  to  add  $500,000  immediately  to  the  stock,  and,  eventually,  should  it  be 
found  necessary,  $500,000  more;  and  to  extend  the  road  from  the  village  of  Somer- 
ville, by  the  village  of  Clinton,  in  the  county  of  Hunterdon,  to  the  Delaware  River, 
opposite  to  the  village  of  Belvidere,  in  the  county  of  Warren,  with  a  branch,  if  the 
company  deem  it  expedient,  to  the  Delaware  River,  between  the  mouth  of  the  Mus- 
conetcong  Creek  and  the  Easton  Delaware  Bridge ;  subject  to  all  the  restrictions 
and  reservations  made  by  the  original  act.  The  great  object  of  this  extension  of  the 
road,  is  to  unite  it  with  the  North-western  Rail-road,  which  it  is  proposed  to  com- 
mence at  the  Delaware,  opposite  Belvidere,  and  to  run  through  the  Blue  Mountain 
at  the  Water  Gap,  and  by  Stroudsburg,  through  a  densely  wooded  country  to  Pittston, 
on  the  Susquehanna;  being  located  for  about  18  miles  upon  an  inexhaustible  coal 
bed.  From  this  coal  region,  the  road  may  be  connected  with  several  authorized 
roads  into  western  New  York.  If  this  road  be  executed,  it  will  open  a  convenient 
way  to  the  New  York  market,  not  only  from  one  of  the  most  fertile  and  interesting 
portions  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  but  will  give  a  direction  to  the  produce  of  a 
portion  of  New  York  territory,  otherwise  destined  to  reach  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
A  portion  of  the  stock  for  this  route  has,  we  understand,  been  subscribed. 

The  New  Jersey  Rail-road  and  Transportation  Company  was  incorporated  by  the 
act  of  7th  March,  1832,  with  a  capital  of  $750,000,  and  the  privilege  to  double  it, 
divided  into  shares  of  $50  each;  with  power  to  make  a  rail-road  not  more  than  66 
feet  wide,  with  as  many  tracks  as  they  may  deem  proper,  from  such  point  in  the 
city  of  New  Brunswick,  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  by  them  and  the  corporation  of 
that  city,  through  or  near  the  villages  of  Rahway  and  Woodbridge,  within  half  a 
mile  of  the  market  house,  in  Elizabethtown,  and  through  Newark,  by  the  most 
practicable  route,  and  thence  contiguous  to,  or  south  of  the  bridges,  over  the  Hack- 
ensack  and  Passaic  River;  crossing  Bergen  Ridge,  south  of  the  turnpike  road  to 
some  convenient  point  not  less  than  50  feet  from  high-water  mark,  on  the  Hudson 
river,  opposite  to  the  city  of  New  York  :  and  to  make  a  branch  road  to  any  ferry 
on  the  Hudson  opposite  to  New  York,  which  shall  join  the  main  road  within  100 
yards  of  the  Hackensack  River,  if  the  main  road  cross  that  river  within  100  yards 
of  the  present  bridge:  but  if  more  than  100  yards  from  that  bridge,  then  the  branch 
to  join  it,  at  such  point,  west  of  the  river,  as  shall  best  give  to  the  ferries  equal  fa- 
cilities of  communication  with  Newark.  And  if  the  company  do  not  construct  such 
branch,  as  soon  as  the  main  road  from  Newark  to  the  Hudson  shall  be  made,  then 
the  law  authorizes  the  owner  of  the  ferry  so  to  do,  with  the  same  power  and  liabi- 
lities as  the  company.  The  act,  also,  empowers  the  company  to  regulate  the  time 
and  manner  of  transporting  goods  and  passengers,  the  description  and  formation  of 
carriages;  and  the  rates  and  modes  of  collecting  toll  within  the  following  limits;  viz. 
for  empty  carriages,  weighing  less  than  a  ton,  two  cents;  more  than  one,  and  less  than 
two  tons,  four  cents;  above  three  tons,  eight  cents  per  raile  ;  and  in  addition  thereto, 
six  cents  per  ton  for  goods,  and  three  cents  lor  each  passenger,  per  mile.  Provided, 
that  no  farmer  of  the  State  shall  pay  toll  for  carrying  the  produce  of  his  farm,  in 
his  own  wagon,  not  weighing  more  than  a  ton,  when  such  produce  does  not 


22  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

weigh  more  than  1000  Ibs. :  but  shall  pay,  only,  for  carriages,  as  if  empty.  It  also 
authorizes  the  company  to  construct  branches  to  any  landing,  on  or  near  the  Pas- 
saic,  not  north  of  Belleville,  and  to  any  place  in  the  township  of  Newark;  and 
requires  them  to  commence  the  road  at  Jersey  City  and  New  Brunswick,  within 
one  year,  and  to  complete  the  whole  route  in  five  years,  under  penalty  of  forfeiture 
of  their  charter.  The  company  are  further  empowered  to  purchase  any  turnpike 
road  and  bridges  on  the  route;  but  the  act  reserves  to  the  State  and  individual 
stockholders  of  the  Newark  Turnpike  Company,  the  right,  at  any  time,  within  two 
years  from  the  opening  of  the  books,  to  take  stock  of  the  company  in  exchange,  or 
to  sell  to  the  company,  at  market  value;  but  the  Newark  turnpike  and  the  bridges 
over  the  Raritan,  Passaic  and  Hackensack,  are  to  be  kept  as  public  roads,  without 
obstruction :  to  build  or  purchase  carriages  for  the  transportation  of  persons  or  pro- 
perty ;  but  not  to  charge  more  than  six  cents  a  mile  for  transporting  passengers  and 
each  ton  of  goods,  nor  more  than  $1.25  for  carrying  passengers  from  New  York 
to  New  Brunswick  :  to  hold  real  estate,  at  the  commencement  and  termination  of 
their  roads,  not  exceeding  three  acres  at  each  place  ;  and  to  build  thereon,  ware- 
houses, stables,  machine  shops,  &c.  and  over  the  Hackensack  and  Passaic  Rivers, 
such  bridges,  piers,  &c.  as  may  be  necessary.  The  State  has  reserved  the  right  to 
purchase  the  road  after  the  expiration  of  the  charter,  (30  years)  and  of  subscribing 
one-fourth  of  the  stock,  and  has  imposed  an  annual  tax  of  1-4  per  cent,  upon  the 
capital  paid  in  ;  and  should  the  road  be  continued  across  the  State,  a  transit  duty  of 
8  cents  for  each  passenger  and  12  cents  for  every  ton  of  goods  transported  over  the 
whole  road.  By  a  supplement  to  the  act  relative  to  the  Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal, 
and  Amboy  Rail-road,  the  companies  are  required  to  construct  a  lateral  rail-road 
from  the  village  of  Spottswood  to  the  city  of  New  Brunswick,  as  soon  as  a  rail-road 
shall  be  made  from  New  Brunswick  to  the  Hudson  River;  consequently,  when  the 
Camden  and  Amboy  Rail-road  and  the  New  Jersey  Rail-road  shall  be  completed, 
there  must  be  a  rail-road  through  the  state,  from  Jersey  City  to  Philadelphia. 

The  New  Jersey  Rail-road  Company  commenced  operations  in  the  summer  of 
1832,  and  have  confident  expectations  of  completing  the  road  from  Hackensack 
River,  through  Newark  to  Elizabethtown,  by  the  fall  of  1833;  and  from  the  Hud- 
son to  Elizabethtown  in  the  summer  of  1834;  and  the  whole  line,  from  the  Hudson 
to  New  Brunswick,  within  two  years.  The  estimated  cost  of  the  whole  road  for 
one  track,  with  suitable  passing  places,  including  the  purchase  from  the  Bridge  and 
Newark  Turnpike  Companies,  the  bridges  over  the  Hackensack,  Passaic  and  Rari- 
tan, and  the  moving  power,  cars,  &c.  as  per  report  of  N.  Beach,  the  engineer, 
is  $718,912 

Cost  of  superstructure  for  a  second  track  on  the  whole  line,  30  miles, 
at  $4,710  80  per  mile,       -  141,324 

Total,  $860,236 

Upon  this  capital,  the  company,  after  paying  for  annual  repairs,  cost  of  moving 
power,  cars,  &c.  the  sum  of  $35,640  per  annum,  anticipate  to  receive  a  profit  of 
$134,775,  equal  to  15^  per  cent. 

By  an  arrangement  with  the  Patterson  Rail-road  Company,  the  road  for  both 
companies,  from  the  west  side  of  Bergen  Ridge,  through  the  Deep  Cut,  and  across 
the  heavy  embankments,  on  the  east  of  the  Ridge,  and  to  the  Hudson  River,  is  to 
be  constructed  under  the  charter  of  this  company,  as  joint  property  of  the  two  com- 
panies ;  the  Patterson  company  paying  two-fifths,  and  this  company  three-fifths  of 
the  expense  of  construction,  each  company  using  the  road  without  accounting  to 
the  other.  This  arrangement  reduces  the  expense  of  the  New  Jersey  Company 
$55,171. 

The  company,  in  order  to  avoid  litigation,  has  purchased  of  the  United  Passaic 
and  Hackensack  Bridge  Companies  their  stock,  at  $150.000,  equal  to  $150  per 
share,  upon  which  amount  it  had,  for  some  years,  paid  seven  per  cent,  and  created 
a  surplus  fund  of  $30,000.  With  this  stock,  they  obtained  also  all  the  right  which 
the  bridge  company  possessed,  to  pass  the  Passaic  and  Hackensack  Rivers,  by  bridges, 
for  sixty  years  to  come.  A  very  large  majority  of  the  stockholders  of  the  bridge 
companies  used  the  right  of  election  stipulated  for,  to  take  rail-road  stock,  and  have 
thus  become  identified  in  interest  with  the  company. 

The  New  Jersey,  Hudson  and  Delaware  Rail-road  Company  was  incorporated  by 
an  act  of  8th  March,  1832,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $1,000,000,  and  authority  to  in- 
crease it  to  $2,000,000,  to  be  employed  in  making  a  rail-road  and  public  highway, 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  23 

commencing  at  any  point  on  the  Delaware  River,  between  the  New  York  state  line 
and  the  mouth  of  Paulin's  Kill,  (and  constructing  a  bridge  over  said  river,)  and  to 
run  thence  to  Snufftown,  in  the  county  of  Sussex,  and  thence  to  the  Hudson  River, 
opposite  the  city  of  New  York;  or  to  join  any  rail-road  chartered  or  to  be  chartered, 
leading  to  or  terminating  at  the  Hudson  River,  opposite  the  city  of  New  York  :  but 
if  extended  to  the  Hudson,  not  to  cross  the  Passaic  south  of  the  village  of  Belle- 
ville, nor  to  approach  any  point  within  three  miles  of  the  present  bridge  over  the 
Passaic,  at  Newark,  nor  to  run  south  of  the  turnpike  road,  a  causeway  leading  from 
Newark  to  Jersey  City  ;  such  road  to  be  commenced  within  two  and  finished  within 
twenty  years  ;  and  when  the  dividends  upon  its  stock  shall  amount  to  seven  per 
cent,  to  be  subject  to  a  tax  of  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  per  annum  on  the  cost  of 
the  road  and  appendages,  in  lieu  of  all  taxes  ;  reserving  to  the  State  the  right,  at 
any  time  within  three  years  after  the  expiration  of  ninety-nine  years,  of  taking  the 
road  and  appendages  at  cost. 

The  Delaware  and  Jobstown  Rail  or  Macadamized  Road  Company,  was  incorpo- 
rated under  the  act  of  llth  February,  1833,  with  a  capital  of  $60,000,  and  liberty 
to  increase  it  to  $200,000,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  public  road  from  the  mouth  of 
Craft's  Creek,  upon  the  Delaware  River,  by  the  villages  of  Columbus,  Jobstown  and 
Juliustown,  to  New  Lisbon,  a  distance  of  13  miles;  the  road  to  be  commenced  within 
three  and  completed  within  ten  years  from  the  passage  of  the  act,  on  penalty  of  for- 
feiture of  the  charter  :  and  when  the  annual  net  proceeds  shall  amount  to  more 
than  seven  per  cent,  to  pay  half  per  cent,  tax  annually  to  the  State ;  reserving  the 
right  to  the  State  to  purchase  the^road  upon  appraisement  after  the  expiration  of  fifty 
years.  The  stock  of  this  road,  we  are  told,  is  subscribed. 

VIII.  There  are  four  canals  in  the  State  completed  or  about  to  be  completed,  viz. 
the  Morris  Canal,  the  Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal,  the  Salem  Creek  Canal,  and  the 
Manasquan  Canal. 

The  Morris  Canal  is  among  the  most  original  and  boldest  efforts  of  the  spirit  of 
internal  improvement.  The  idea  of  making  it  was  first  conceived  by  George  P. 
M'Culloch,  Esq.  of  Morristovvn,  whilst  on  a  fishing  party  at  the  Hopatcong  Lake, 
near  the  summit  of  the  Musconetcong  Mountain,  more  than  900  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea,  and  the  enterprise  was  commenced  through  his  zealous  and  active  exer- 
tions. This  lake,  the  source  of  the  Musconetcong  River,  in  its  original  state  covered 
an  area  of  about  five  square  miles.  To  dam  up  its  outlet,  husband  the  spring  fresh- 
ets, tq  double  its  capacity,  and  by  leading  its  accumulated  waters  to  the  eastern  de- 
clivity and  valley  of  .the  Rockaway,  to  pursue  the  western  descent  until  a  practical 
route  could  be  obtained  across  the  country  to  Easton,  were  the  means  he  proposed  to 
open  the  way  to  market  for  the  rich  mineral  products  and  the  iron  manufactured  at 
the  many  furnaces  and  forges  of  this  mountainous  district.  At  one  period,  81 
forges  and  12  furnaces  flourished  in  the  district,  but  when  the  canal  was  proposed, 
30  of  the  former  and  9  of  the  latter  had  fallen  into  ruins;  whilst  the  remainder 
were  greatly  limited  in  their  operations  by  the  growing  scarcity  of  fuel  and  increas- 
ing cost  of  transportation.  A  ton  of  iron  might  have  been  brought  to  New  York 
from  Archangel  on  the  White  Sea,  at  nearly  the  same  price  it  could  have  been  trans- 
ported from  Berkshire  valley  ;  and  thus,  this  great  branch  of  manufacture,  alike  inte- 
resting to  the  State  and  the  Union,  was  in  imminent  danger  of  perishing. 

But  how  might  a  canal  penetrate  from  the  Delaware  to  the  Hudson,  100  miles, 
through  the  mountainous  chain  repeatedly  crossing  its  path  ?  How  might  the  eleva- 
tion, rapid  and  unavoidable,  be  surmounted,  and  how  should  the  pecuniary  sources  be 
provided  for  an  enterprise  vast,  novel,  hazardous  and  expensive  ?  The  lake  at  the 
summit  level  would  supply  water  to  be  sure  ;  but  to  raise  boats  900  feet  high,  and 
again  to  lower  them  to  their  first  level  of  lockage,  would  have  required  an  amount 
of  money  for  the  construction,  and  of  time  in  the  passage,  alike  fatal  to  the  enter- 
prise. Mr.  M'Culloch,  therefore,  adopted  the  expedient  of  inclined  planes  for  the 
greater  lifts,  and  locks  for  the  less.  Such  planes  had  never  before  been  applied  to 
boats  of  much  magnitude,  nor  to  an  operation  so  extensive. 

Mr.  M'Culloch  endeavoured  to  induce  the  State  to  adopt  the  enterprise;  and  at 
the  instance  of  him  and  others,  the  legislature,  by  act  15th  November,  1822,  ap- 
pointed G.  M'Culloch,  Charles  Kinsey,  of  Essex,  and  Thomas  Capner,  Esqrs.  com- 
missioners, with  authority  to  employ  a  scientific  engineer  and  surveyor  to  explore, 
survey  and  level  the  most  practicable  route  for  this  canal ;  and  to  report  an  estimate 
of  the  expense  thereof,  with  such  information  relative  to  the  minerals  along  its 
lines  as  they  could  obtain,  and  to  deposit  specimens  thereof  in  the  state  library.  "The 


24  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

commissioners  reported,  in  1823,  and  received  the  thanks  of  the  legislature  for  the 
intelligence,  industry  and  zeal  displayed  in  the  execution  of  their  commission.  But 
that  cautious  and  prudential  policy  which  has  hitherto  prevented  the  State  from 
yielding  her  treasury  and  resources  to  the  blandishment  of  projectors,  charm  they 
ever  so  wisely,  deterred  her  from  making  the  Morris  Canal  a  state  enterprise.  A 
private  company  was  therefore  formed,  and  incorporated  under  the  act  of  31st  De- 
cember, 1824,  with  a  capital  of  $1,000,000,  and  the  right  to  increase  it  to  $1,500,000, 
for  canal  purposes;  and,  likewise,  to  employ  in  banking  operations,  additionally,  the 
sum  of  $200,000,  for  every  $200,000  actually  expended  on  the  canal,  so  that  the 
banking  capital  did  not  exceed  a  million  of  dollars. 

The  route  of  the  canal  was  selected,  and  the  estimate  of  cost  made,  by  Major 
Ephraim  Beach,  under  whose  direction  the  work  was  executed.  This  route,  and 
the  estimate  of  cost,  were  approved  by  General  Bernard  and  Major  Totten,  of  the 
engineer  corps  of  the  United  States,  and  by  Judge  Wright ;  and  the  plan  of  inclined 
planes,  suggested  by  professor  James  Renwick,  of  Columbia  College,  New  York, 
also  received  the  sanction  of  the  like  authority ;  but  much  modification  was  after- 
wards found  necessary  in  this  particular. 

In  1825,  the  excavations  were  prosecuted  with  alacrity,  while  the  planes  were  de- 
ferred; an  arrangement  which  experience  proves  should  have  been  reversed,  since 
the  latter  could  be  perfected  only  by  many  and  tedious  experiments.  The  erection 
of  the  planes,  too,  was  entrusted  to  ordinary  mechanics,  who,  deficient  in  scientific 
knowledge  and  manual  skill,  caused  much  disappointment,  which  was  aggravated  by 
great  and  useless  expenditure;  but,  finally,  proper  engineers  were  employed,  and 
the  planes  have  become  effectual  to  establish  a  regular  intercourse  along  the  line  of 
the  canal  with  the  Delaware  and  Lehigh  Rivers,  and  with  the  Hudson  The  ma- 
chinery of  the  inclined  plane,  so  far  as  we  have  examined  it,  consists  of  a  double  rail- 
way connecting  the  upper  and  lower  portions  of  the  canal,  up  which  a  carriage  sup- 
porting a  boat  is  drawn  by  means  of  iron  chains,  wound  round  a  cylinder,  set  in  mo- 
tion by  a  water  wheel  turned  by  a  stream  from  the  upper  level ;  whilst  another  chain 
regulates  the  descent  of  another  boat  to  the  lower  level,  if  there  be  one  to  pass,  or  if 
none,  of  the  empty  cradle. 

The  cost  of  the  canal,  originally  estimated  at  $817,000,  has  been  about  $2,000,000. 
The  length  completed  is  about  90  miles  from  the  Passaic  River,  at  Newark,  to  the 
Delaware,  at  Philipsburg,  opposite  to  Easton;  11|  miles  between  Jersey  City  and 
Newark  remain  to  be  executed,  and  are  estimated  to  cost  $100,000;  but  the  cost 
will,  as  usual,  probably  exceed  the  estimate.  This  excess  of  cost  over  the  estimate 
is  not  peculiar  to  the  Morris  Canal,  but  is  common,  perhaps  unavoidable,  in  all  the 
public  works  of  the  country.  The  engineer  can  judge  only  from  an  imperfect  know- 
ledge of  the  surface  of  the  ground  through  which  he  is  to  make  his  way :  an  unex- 
pected bed  of  stone,  a  limestone  sink,  a  quicksand,  a  sudden  freshet  or  frost,  may 
mock  his  calculations.  Adventurers,  therefore,  in  canals  and  rail-roads,  should  be 
content  when  their  agents  display  reasonable  intelligence  and  full  fidelity.  The 
canal  was  completed  to  Newark  in  August,  1831.  It  is  deeply  in  debt,  and  pays 
no  dividend  to  the  stockholders ;  but  its  use  has  been  most  beneficial  upon  the  busi- 
ness of  the  country  through  which  it  passes,  and  its  portage  will  increase  with  popu- 
lation and  business;  and  should  the  anthracite  coal  be  successfully  applied  to  the  ex- 
traction of  iron  from  ore,  the  consumption  of  that  article  alone  will  add  greatly  to 
the  tolls.  The  transportation  of  the  Lehigh  coal  to  the  New  York  market,  originally 
counted  on  by  the  projectors  of  this  canal,  will  be  effected  by  the  Delaware  and  Ra- 
ritan  Canal.  The  Morris  Canal  was  adapted  to  boats  of  25  tons  only,  which  in  many 
cases  have  proved  too  heavy  for  the  chains  of  the  inclined  planes.  The  passage  from 
Easton  to  Newark  has  been  performed  in  less  than  five  days. 

The  width  of  the  canal  is  32  feet  at  top,  and  20  feet  at  bottom,  four  feet  deep. 
The  locks  are  75  feet  long  between  the  mitre  sills,  and  nine  feet  wide.  The  line  is 
naturally  divided  into  two  divisions,  the  Eastern  and  Western.  The  first  has  12 
planes,  whose  united  elevations  make  748  feet,  and  18  locks  rising,  together,  166 
feet,  making  the  whole  rise,  914  feet.  The  highest  lift  by  planes  is  80  feet.  There 
are  two  of  that  height,  one  at  Boontoon  Falls,  and  another  at  Drakeville ;  and  the 
highest  lift  of  the  locks  is  10  feet.  This  division  now  ends  at  the  Passaic  River, 
near  Newark — the  section  designed  to  connect  it  with  the  Hudson,  11$  miles,  has 
not  yet  been  commenced.  The  length  of  the  division  is  51  miles  32-100ths.  The 
western  division  has  11  planes  rising  691  feet,  and  7  locks,  whose  aggregate  lifts 
are  69  feet — total,  760  feet.  Its  length  from  the  summit  level  to  the  Delaware,  is 


NORTHERN  DIVISION. 


25 


38  miles,  91-100ths,  making  the  length  of  the  whole  line  90  miles  23-100ths.  The 
annexed  table  shows  at  one  view  the  number  of  the  planes  and  locks,  their  location, 
elevation,  grade  of  the  planes,  and  lift  of  the  locks;  and  is,  perhaps,  the  best  expo- 
sition that  can  be  given  of  the  work  short  of  an  engraved  profile. 


EASTERN  DIVISION. 


Plane. 

Lock. 

No.  of 
the  plane 
or  lock. 

LOCATION. 

No.  of 
the  sec- 
tion. 

Elevation 
of  piano 
in  feet. 

Inclina- 
tion of  the 
plane. 

Lift  of  the 
Lock  in 
feet. 

1 

1 

Summit. 

2 

50 

1-12 

1 

2 

Drakeville. 

4 

80 

1-10 

1 

3 

Near   do. 

5 

38 

1-12 

2 

land  2 

do.     do. 

6 

20 

1 

4 

Baker's  Mills. 

12 

52 

1-8 

1 

3 

Near     do. 

13 

8 

1 

5 

Above  Dover. 

15 

66 

1-9 

1 

4 

do. 

16 

9 

1 

5 

do. 

17 

9 

2 

6  and  7 

At     do. 

19 

18 

1 

6 

Rockaway. 

25 

52 

1-12 

1 

8 

Near  do. 

29 

7 

2 

9  and  10 

Powerville. 

34 

15 

1 

11 

Booneton. 

36 

10 

7 

Booneton  Falls. 

37 

80 

1-10 

I 

12 

Near    do. 

38 

12 

1 

8 

Montville. 

40 

76 

1-11 

1 

9 

do. 

41 

74 

1-11 

1 

10 

Near  Pompton. 

48 

56 

1-12 

1 

13 

do. 

42 

8 

11 

Bloomfield. 

84 

54 

1-12 

1 

14 

Near  do. 

86 

10 

1 

15 

Above  Newark. 

95 

10 

1 

12 

Newark. 

96 

70 

1-12 

3 

16,17,18 

do. 

97 

30 

748 

12 

17 

/  *iO 

166 

166 

Planes  and  Locks. 

914 

WESTERN  DIVISION. 


Plane. 

Lock. 

No.  of 
the  plane 
or  lock. 

LOCATION. 

No.  of 
the  sec- 
tion. 

Elevation 
of  plane 
in  feet. 

Inclina- 
tion of  the 
plane. 

Lift  of  the 
Lock  in 
feet. 

1 
1 

1 

1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

1 

2 
1 
3 
4 
2 
5 
6 
3 

Great  Meadow. 
Stanhope. 
Near  Sayers. 
do.         do. 
Old  Andover. 
Guinea  Hollow. 
Near  Anderson. 
Monte  Rose. 
Near       do. 

3 
5 
6 
6 
10 
16 
38 
41 
43 

58 
70 

55 
80 

64 
50 

1-10 
1-11 

1-12 

1-8 

1-12 
1-10 

12 
10 
10 

D 


26 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 


Western  Division,  continued. 


Plane. 

Lock. 

No.  of 
the  plane 
or  lock. 

LOCATION. 

No.  of 
the  sec- 
tion. 

Elevation 
of  plane 
in  feet. 

Inclina- 
tion of  the 
plane. 

Lift  of  the 
Lock  in 
feet. 

1 

7 

Pobatcono-. 

47 

75 

1-10 

1 

4 

Near  N.  Village. 

61 

10 

1 

8 

Hulzesers. 

63 

62 

1-11 

1 

9 

Near  Bridleman's 

Brook. 

67 

100 

1-10 

1 

10 

Nr.  Green's  mills. 

70 

44 

1-12 

1 

5 

do.            do. 

71 

9 

land  2 

6  and  7 

do.             do. 

72 

18 

1 

11 

Delaware  River. 

74 

33 

1-12 

11 

691 

69 

69 

Planes  and  Locks. 

760 

RECAPITULATION. 


PLANES.     Eastern  Division, 
Western  Division, 


LOCKS.     Eastern  Division, 
Western  Division, 


12 
11 

22 


748 
691 


17 

7 

24  locks. 


166 
69 


1439  feet. 

235 
1674  feet. 


Of  the  interesting  works  on  the  line  of  the  canal,  our  limits  permit  us  only  to  no- 
tice, the  aqueduct  of  stone  of  a  single  arch,  80  feet  span,  50  feet  above  the  river, 
over  the  Passaic  at  the  Little  Falls,  built  of  beautiful  dressed  freestone,  in  the  most 
substantial  and  durable  manner — and  the  wooden  aqueduct  236  feet  long,  supported 
by  nine  stone  piers,  over  the  Pompton  River. 

The  State  is  indebted,  as  we  have  already  observed,  for  the  inception  of  this  great 
work,  to  the  genius  and  zeal  of  George  M'Culloch,  Esq.,  and  she  is  not  less  indebted 
to  the  skill  and  perseverance  of  Cadwallader  D.  Golden,  Esq.,  the  actual  president 
of  the  company,  for  its  completion. 

The  Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal,  one  of  the  great  links  of  the  chain  of  internal 
navigation,  which  is  to  give  to  the  domestic  trade  of  the  country  the  greatest  fa- 
cility and  security,  has  for  years  been  a  subject  of  deep  interest  to  all  who  have  re- 
flected on  the  means  of  increasing  our  prosperity.  The  construction  of  this  canal 
has  been  a  favourite  project, — with  speculators  desirous  to  deal  in  a  marketable  com- 
modity; with  capitalists  seeking  for  safe  and  profitable  investments;  and  with  many 
statesmen  of  New  Jersey,  who  believed  they  saw,  in  it,  the  means  of  creating  a  per- 
manent and  large  revenue  for  the  State,  which  would  forever  relieve  her  citizens 
from  taxation,  for  the  ordinary  support  of  government. 

So  early  as  the  year  1804,  the  project  of  a  canal  to  connect  the  waters  of  the  De- 
laware and  Raritan  Rivers,  was  earnestly  considered.  A  route  was  then  examined 
by  a  company  of  experienced  and  intelligent  gentlemen,  and  a  law  passed  autho- 
rizing its  construction  by  a  private  company ;  but  the  state  of  our  trade,  and 
our  inexperience  in  works  of  this  character,  prevented  its  execution.  In  1816 
and  in  1823,  commissioners,  appointed  by  the  legislature,  explored  the  route,  and 
by  accurate  examination  demonstrated  its  practicability.  At  a  subsequent  pe- 
riod, a  second  joint-stock  company  was  authorized  to  make  this  canal,  and  paid  to 
the  State  treasury,  for  the  privilege  so  to  do,  the  sum  of  $100,000;  but  failing  to 
obtain  the  sanction  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  use  of  the  waters  of  the 
Delaware,  they  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  receiving  back  from  New 
Jersey  the  premium  they  had  paid.  Many  citizens  of  the  State  rejoiced  in  this 
failure,  by  which  the  power  of  making  the  canal  reverted  to  her ;  anticipating  that 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  27 

she  would  immediately  use  it.  To  this  end,  many  petitions  were  presented  to  the 
legislature,  at  their  session  of  1828-9;  and  a  committee  appointed  thereon,  made  an 
able  and  elaborate  report,  accompanied  by  a  bill,  authorizing  the  canal  to  be  con- 
structed by  the  State.  But  the  settled  policy  of  the  State,  safe  at  least,  if  not  emi- 
nently prosperous  or  sagacious,  which  carefully  eschews  all  prospective  advantages  to 
be  purchased  by  loans,  or  by  the  taxation  of  her  citizens,  marred  this  measure.  Fi- 
nally, by  the  act  of  4th  February,  1830,  the  enterprise  was  again  committed  to  a 
joint-stock  company,  with  certain  beneficial  reservations  to  the  State.  The  act 
provides,  that  a  capital  stock  be  created  of  $1,000,000,  which  may  be  enlarged  to 
$1,500,000,  divided  into  shares  of  $100  each,  and  that  the  company  have  all  the 
powers  necessary  to  perfect  an  expeditious  and  complete  line  of  communication  from 
Philadelphia  to  New  York  :  That,  if  the  capital  were  not  subscribed  within  one 
year,  or  the  canal  and  feeder  not  commenced  within  two,  and  completed  within  eight, 
years,  the  charter  should  become  void  :  That,  the  company  might  make  the  canal 
between,  and  improve  the  rivers  below,  where  the  canal  shall  empty  into  them;  the 
canal  to  be  at  least  50  feet  wide  at  the  water  line,  and  at  least  five  feet  deep,  and 
the  feeder  not  less  than  30  feet  wide  and  four  feet  deep  :  That  they  may  charge 
tolls  for  the  transport  of  persons  and  merchandise,  not  exceeding  five  cents  per 
mile  for  the  first,  nor  four  cents  per  ton  per  mile  for  the  second,  nor  more  than 
half  those  rates  respectively  on  the  feeder  :  That  they  may  alter  the  route  of  the 
canal ;  that  it  shall  be  a  public  highway  ;  and  that,  no  other  canal  shall  be  con- 
structed within  five  miles  of  any  point  of  the  canal  or  feeder,  without  the  assent  of 
the  company  :  That  at  the  expiration  of  thirty  years  from  the  completion  of  the 
canal  and  feeder,  a  valuation  of  them  shall  be  made  by  six  appraisers,  appointed  by 
the  company  and  State  ;  who.  in  case  of  difference,  may  choose  an  umpire ;  that 
such  appraisement  shall  not  exceed  the  first  cost,  with  the  lands  and  appendages, 
and  that  the  State  shall  have  the  privilege  for  ten  years  of  taking  the  canal  and 
feeder  at  the  appraisement,  upon  payment  of  the  amount  thereof:  That  the  trea- 
surer of  the  company  shall,  on  oath,  make  quarterly  returns  of  the  number  of  pas- 
sengers and  tons  of  merchandise  transported  on  the  canal  across  the  State,  and  pay 
to  the  treasurer  of  the  State,  eight  cents  for  each  passenger,  and  eight  cents  for  each 
ton  of  merchandise  so  transported  thereon,  except  for  coal,  lumber,  lime,  wood,  ashes, 
and  similar  low  priced  articles,  for  which  two  cents  only  per  ton  shall  be  paid;  and 
that  no  other  impost  shall  be  levied  upon  the  company. 

By  the  act  of  3d  February,  1831,  in  consideration,  that  the  company  would  make 
the  canal  75  feet  wide  on  the  water  line,  seven  feet  deep  throughout,  and  the  locks 
at  least  100  feet  in  length,  by  24  feet  in  width  in  the  clear,  the  State  extended  the 
time  after  which  the  appraisement  should  be  made,  to  50  instead  of  30  years,  and 
engaged  that  neither  the  company,  nor  any  other  person,  should  construct  any  rail- 
road across  the  State,  between  the  Delaware  and  Raritan  Rivers,  within  five  miles 
of  any  point  of  the  canal,  until  after  the  expiration  of  the  period  allowed  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  canal,  reserving  existing  rights. 

As  we  have  already  mentioned,  when  speaking  of  the  Camden  and  Amboy  Rail- 
road, the  Canal  and  Rail-road  Company  were  consolidated  pursuant  to  the  act  of 
15th  February,  1831.  By  act  2d  March,  1832,  the  united  company,  in  considera- 
tion, that  no  other  rail-road  should  be  constructed  which  might  compete  with  that 
road,  covenanted  to  convey  to  the  State  one  thousand  shares  of  the  joint  stock,  and 
guaranteed  to  the  State  an  annual  income  of  $30,000  at  least,  should  not  the  divi- 
dends on  stock  and  the  transit  duties  amount  to  that  sum;  and  engaged  that  they 
would  annually  divide  the  whole  of  the  net  profits,  except  such  surplus  fund  as 
might  be  necessary,  not  exceeding  $100,000. 

Under  these  provisions  the  canal  was  commenced,  and  has  progressed  nearly  to 
its  completion.  (Oct.  1833.)  It  begins  at  the  confluence  of  the  Crosswicks  Creek 
and  the  Delaware,  at  Bordentown,  and  runs  thence,  through  the  city  of  Trenton  and 
the  valley  of  the  Assunpink,  crossing  the  creek  by  a  noble  stone  culvert,  to  Law- 
rence's Meadows,  whence  it  passes  into  the  valley  of  Stony  Brook;  thence  down 
the  right  side  thereof,  one  mile  S.  of  Princeton,  to  the  junction  of  Stony  Brook  with 
the  Millstone  River;  thence  across  the  river  by  an  aqueduct  of  eight  arches,  and  by 
the  right  bank  of  the  river  to  the  Raritan  River;  thence  along  the  right  bank  of  the 
Raritan  to  New  Brunswick,  where  it  unites  with  the  tide.  It  passes  through  or 
near  Bordentown,  Lamberton,  Trenton,  Princeton,  Kingston,  Griggstown,  Millstone, 
Somerville,  and  Boundbrook.  Its  whole  length  is  42  miles,  within  which  there  are 
116  feet  lockage,  viz:  58  between  Trenton  and  the  Delaware  River,  overcome  by 


28  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

seven  locks ;  one  at  Trenton  of  seven  feet ;  one  at  the  State  Penitentiary  of  seven 
feet;  three  at  Lamberton  of  nine  feet  each;  one  below  Lamberton  of  seven  feet,  and 
one  at  Bordentown  of  10  feet,  lift.  The  last,  by  reason  of  the  badness  of  the  foun- 
dation, has  cost  an  extraordinary  portion  of  time,  labour  and  money,  in  its  construc- 
tion. The  lockage  between  Trenton  and  New  Brunswick  is  also  58  feet,  and  is  over- 
come by  seven  locks;  one  at  Kingston,  one  at  Griggstown,  and  one  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Millstone,  each  of  eight  feet;  two  opposite  to  Boundbrook,  seven  feet  each  ;  one 
two  miles  below  Boundbrook,  of  eight  feet,  where  a  dam  has  been  constructed  across 
the  river  to  use  it  as  a  feeder,  and  one  at  New  Brunswick,  of  twelve  feet,  lift.  At 
this  city,  there  is  also  a  tide  lock  sufficiently  capacious  to  admit  a  steamboat,  and  a 
basin  extending  the  whole  front  of  the  town,  formed  by  an  embankment  in  the  river. 
By  turning  the  river  into  the  canal,  a  water  power  will  have  been  gained  at  Bruns- 
wick, equal,  it  is  supposed,  to  400  horse  power.  Upon  the  line  of  the  main  canal, 
there  are  17  culverts,  some  of  them  very  large;  one  aqueduct,  and  29  pivot  bridges. 
The  canal  is  75  feet  wide  on  the  water  line,  and  seven  feet  deep,  and  the  depth  may 
be  increased  to  eight  feet  should  it  be  found  necessary.  To  avoid  bridging,  the 
company  have  purchased  a  large  quantity  of  land,  in  many  cases  whole  farms,  at 
great  expense. 

The  feeder  commences  at  Bull's  Island,  in  the  Delaware  River,  and  runs  thence 
along  the  left  bank  of  the  river  to  Trenton,  where  it  intersects  the  canal,  a  distance 
of  23  miles,  with  an  inclination  of  two  inches  in  the  mile.  The  works,  beside  the 
excavation,  consist  of  a  lift  lock  of  10  feet  at  Lambertsville;  two  guard  locks,  one 
at  Bull's  Island,  and  the  other  at  Prallsville  ;  15  culverts,  and  37  pivot  bridges.  The 
width  of  the  excavation  is  throughout  50  feet;  at  the  water  line,  its  depth  six  feet; 
but,  where  it  could  be  effected  without  great  expenditure,  the  width  has  been  in- 
creased to  60  feet,  and  thus  three-fourths  of  the  distance  will  afford  good  sloop  navi- 
gation. A  large  basin  has  been  constructed  by  the  company,  upon  the  feeder  near 
the  centre  of  Trenton,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  city. 

The  canal  is  adapted  to  vessels  exceeding  150  tons  burden,  and  has  been  exe- 
cuted in  the  most  substantial  manner.  Its  cost  is  now  estimated  at  two  millions  of 
dollars.  The  estimate,  when  the  proposition  was  made  to  the  State  to  undertake  the 
enterprise,  was  stated  at  $1,142,741;  but  the  present  canal  is  every  way  larger  than 
that  originally  proposed. 

The  Manasquan  River  and  Barnegat  Bay  Canal  Company,  was  authorized  under 
the  act  of  21st  February,  1833,  with  a  capital  of  $5,000,  to  make  a  canal  40  feet 
wide  and  five  feet  deep,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Manasquan  River  to  the  head  waters 
of  Barnegat  Bay,  at  Lay  ton's  pond  or  ditch,  in  the  county  of  Monmouth;  to  erect 
tide  gates,  and  to  take  toll  for  passing  through  the  canal  for  every  scow,  eight  cents 
per  ton;  sail  boat  or  small  craft  10  cents  per  ton;  and  for  every  fish  boat  or  skiff, 
25  cents  per  ton;  provided  that  the  canal  be  commenced  within  two,  and  finished 
within  five  years. 

A  short  canal  of  about  four  miles  in  length,  in  Upper  and  Lower  Penn's  Neck 
Township,  Salem  County,  connects  the  Salem  Creek  with  the  Delaware  River, 
about  four  miles  above  Kinseyville,  and  saves  to  sloops  that  ply  in  the  creek,  from 
15  to  20  miles  of  the  distance  to  Philadelphia. 

IX.  The  population  of  New  Jersey,  derived  from  European  ancestry,  is  composed 
chiefly  of  the  descendants  of  the  Dutch,  Swede,  English,  and  New  England  settlers. 
For  nearly  half  a  century,  the  country  was  in  the  undisturbed  possession  of  the 
Dutch,  who,  in  that  period,  spread  themselves  extensively  over  East  Jersey;  not, 
however,  without  an  intermixture  of  their  New  England  neighbours,  who  very  early 
displayed  a  disposition  to  abandon  their  sterile  soil  for  more  fertile  lands  and  milder 
skies;  and  who  had  also  found  their  way  to  the  shores  of  the  Delaware,  and  made 
one  attempt,  at  least,  to  colonize  them.  After  the  year  1664,  the  English  authority 
was  established  over  the  province,  and  the  settlement  of  West  Jersey  was  then  zea- 
lously commenced  by  English  emigrants,  chiefly  of  the  sect  called  Quakers.  The 
liberality  of  the  provincial  government  must  necessarily  have  drawn  population 
from  other  European  sources  ;  but  such  acquisitions  were  not  great,  inasmuch  as  her 
aspiring  and  successful  neighbours,  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  possessed  greater 
attractions. 

These  attractions,  too,  have  operated  to  prevent  that  increase  of  population  in  the 
State,  which  must  otherwise  have  taken  place  from  natural  causes.  Abounding  in 
all  that  is  necessary  to  the  comfortable  enjoyment  of  life,  and  stimulated  to  industry 
by  the  growth  of  the  neighbouring  cities,  whose  wants  she  in  no  inconsiderable  de- 


NORTHERN  DIVISION. 


29 


»—*  ^*-*     Q)     t*    CQ    <C       "     >-* 


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GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 


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Tf  ^  TJ<  CO  CO  CO"CO  CO  CS  <N  of  1-1 


NORTHERN  DIVISION. 


31 


l^0£ 


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f-i  ?  m  «  ao-eq  f-i  o  o  a»  « 


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32 


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GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 


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. 

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1-11-1  l-<  0*    T-l 


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33 


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58 


OOJt^»O(MCiOOOXO?TfrHT-i 

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34 


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35 


CENSUS,  1830  (continued). 


WHITE  PERSONS 

SLAVES  &COLOURED 

INCLUDED    IN    THE    FOREGOING. 

Included  in  the  foregoing. 

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<   * 

Q 

Q 

Q 

« 

Bergen 

6 

2 

2 

12 

213 

3 

5 

Essex 

7 

11 

9 

22 

1176 

1 

Morris 

2 

6 

12 

11 

497 

2 

1 

1 

1 

Sussex 

1 

2 

3 

14 

89 

Warren 

2 

2 

1 

12 

286 

5 

2 

Somerset 

4 

4 

6 

17 

118 

3 

Middlesex 

5 

4 

3 

7 

174 

3 

Hunterdon 

11 

11 

12 

19 

210 

2 

Burlington 
Monmouth 

5 

8 

7 
5 

8 
6 

41 
14 

129 
81 

1 

1 
1 

2 
1 

Gloucester 

11 

13 

5 

22 

357 

2 

Cape  May 

1 

Salem 

2 

2 

2 

7 

8 

Cumberland 

1 

3 

7 

27 

64 

71 

72 

205 

3365 

5 

2 

8 

22 

36  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

The  vice  of  slavery  was  early  introduced  into  the  State,  and  took  deep  root,  par- 
ticularly, in  the  eastern  portion.  In  the  county  of  Bergen,  in  1790,  the  slaves 
amounted  to  near  one-fifth  of  the  population;  and  in  Essex,  Middlesex,  and  Mon- 
mouth,  they  were  very  numerous,  the  counties  having  most  Dutch  population  being 
most  infected.  In  the  counties  settled  by"  Friends,"  Burlington,  Gloucester,  Sa- 
lem, Cumberland,  and  Cape  May,  there  were,  comparatively,  few  slaves:  the  first,  at 
that  period,  had  only  227:  the  second,  191 :  the  third,  120  ;  and  the  last,  141.  The 
whole  number  in  the  State  was  then,  11,423.  At  the  subsequent  census,  the  num- 
ber had  increased  to  12,422.  The  small  increase  of  999,  in  ten  years,  proves  that 
the  inhabitants,  generally,  had  discovered  the  moral  and  physical  evils  of  slavery, 
and  had  applied  themselves  to  diminish  them.  This  became  more  apparent  by  the 
act  of  15  Feb.  1804,  entitled  "  An  Act  for  the  gradual  Abolition  of  Slavery,"  under 
which  the  number  of  slaves  was  reduced,  in  1810,  to  10,851;  and  in  1820,  to 
7,557.  This  act  is  supplied  by  the  act  of  24th  February,  1820,  which  embraces 
and  extends  its  principles,  and  provides,  that  every  child,  born  of  a  slave,  within 
the  State,  since  the  4th  of  July,  1804,  or  which  shall  be  thereafter  born,  shall  be 
free ;  but  shall  remain  the  servant  of  the  owner  of  the  mother,  as  if  it  had  been 
bound  to  service  by  the  overseers  of  the  poor;  if  a  male,  until  the  age  of  25 ;  if  a 
female,  to  the  age  of  21  years:  that  the  owner  shall,  within  9  months  after  the  birth 
of  such  child,  deliver  to  the  clerk  of  the  county,  a  certificate,  subscribed  by  him, 
containing  the  name  and  addition  of  the  owner;  the  name,  age  and  sex  of  the  child, 
and  the  name  of  the  mother ;  which  certificate,  whether  delivered  before  or  after 
the  nine  months,  must  be  recorded  by  the  clerk.  The  owner  neglecting  to  file  such 
certificate,  within  the  nine  months,  is  liable  to  a  fine  of  five  dollars,  and  the  sum 
of  one  dollar  per  month  afterward  ;  but  not  exceeding  in  the  whole  $100,  to  any 
one  suing  therefor,  one  half  to  the  prosecutor,  and  the  other  half  to  the  poor  of  the 
township;  and  for  delivering  a  certificate  containing  a  false  relation  of  the  time  of 
the  birth  of  such  child,  $100,  recoverable  in  the  same  manner:  one-half  in  favour 
of  the  child,  and  the  other,  of  the  township.  The  time  of  birth  may  be  inquired 
into,  notwithstanding  the  certificate. 

The  traffic  in  slaves,  between  this  and  other  states,  was  prohibited  by  the  act  of 
14th  March,  1798,  and  by  act  of  1820,  last  recited,  under  the  forfeiture  of  ves- 
sels, and  severe  penalties  on  persons  concerned  therein.  But  slaves  may  still  be 
brought  into  the  State,  by  persons  removing  thereto,  with  a  view  to  settled,  or 
temporary  residence ;  during  the  stay  of  the  master  only,  in  the  latter  case.  By 
these  acts,  also,  the  manumission  of  slaves  was  permitted  under  certain  formalities 
therein  preseribed.  And  such  has  been  the  beneficial  operation  of  these  provisions, 
that  in  1830,  the  State  contained  2,254  slaves  only;  the  counties  'of  Gloucester 
and  Cumberland,  none;  the  county  of  Cape  May,  2;  and  Salem,  1.  So  that  it 
is  probable,  that  in  another  20  years,  this  pest  will  be  entirely  eradicated  from  the 
State. 

We  may  remark,  as  a  curious  fact,  and  one  that  may  prove  most  encouraging  to 
the  southern  states,  in  an  attempt  at  the  abolition  of  slavery,  that  the  coloured  po- 
pulation, under  the  system  of  manumission  adopted  by  this  State,  has  increased  in 
40  years  only,  about  44  per  cent,  including  the  free  and  the  slaves;  whilst  the  whites 
have  increased  in  the  ratio  of  nearly  75  per.  cent.  In  considering  this  subject,  it 
must  be  observed,  on  one  hand,  that  the  coloured  population  has  uniformly  been 
treated  with  humanity  and  indulgence;  and  upon  the  other,  that  the  great  cities 
have  absorbed  a  portion  of  their  increase.  But  yet,  the  white  population  of  the 
State  has  been  kept  down  in  a  much  greater  degree  by  emigration.  Indeed,  New 
Jersey  has  received  a  large  and  unwelcome  increase  of  coloured  population  from  the 
fugitive  slaves  of  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  the  southern  states. 

To  complete  our  view  of  the  physical  condition  of  the  State,  we  annex  a  table, 
framed  from  abstracts  returned  by  the  assessors  of  the  several  counties,  showing  the 
species  and  the  amount  of  taxable  property,  and  the  amount  of  tax  raised  for  state, 
county  and  township  purposes.  The  returns  from  several  counties  have  not  been 
as  full  as  they  should  have  been,  for  our  purpose;  particularly,  in  respect  to  town- 
ship charges ;  and  we  have  been  compelled,  in  some  cases,  to  estimate  the  amount 
of  road  and  poor  tax,  in  some  townships,  by  the  ratio  of  population  compared  with 
that  of  others. 


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38  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

XI.  It  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  preceding  table,  that  the  State  is,  in  the 
aggregate,  agricultural ;  and  such  is  the  character  of  all  the  counties,  except  Es- 
sex, part  of  Bergen,  and  part  of  Morris.  The  glass  and  iron  manufactures  of  the 
counties  of  Burlington,  Gloucester,  and  Cumberland,  are  not  sufficient  to  exempt 
them  from  this  classification.  Of  the  agricultural  products  of  the  several  por- 
tions, we  have  already  spoken,  and  will  observe,  only,  generally,  here,  that  the 
valleys  of  the  two  northern  sections  are  well  adapted  to  wheat,  and  that  under  the 
improved  mode  of  culture  they  may  become  equally  productive  with  any  lands  east 
of  the  mountains.  The  southern  district,  composed  of  the  alluvial  country,  is  pro- 
ductive, chiefly  of  corn,  rye,  fruits,  grass,  and  vegetables;  and  sends  to  market 
large  quantities  of  pork,  cured  in  a  manner  that  can  scarcely  be  surpassed.  New 
Jersey  hams,  bacon,  and  barrelled  pork,  bear  the  highest  prices  in  all  markets.  Nor 
is  the  reputation  of  the  farmers  of  this  district,  much  less  for  their  beef,  and  espe- 
cially for  their  veal.  Its  gardens  and  orchards  supply  the  Philadelphia  markets  with 
the  best  fruits.  Indeed  the  whole  state  is  remarkable  for  the  abundance  and  quality 
of  its  peaches  and  apples,  and  the  quantity  of  cider,  and  brandy  made  from  the  lat- 
ter. Notwithstanding  the  influence  of  Temperance  Societies  upon  distilling, 
and  it  has  been  confessedly  great,  there  are  yet  in  the  State  388  cider  distilleries. 
The  counties  of  Burlington,  Gloucester,  Monmouth,  Hunterdon,  Warren,  and  Sus- 
sex, are  renowned  for  the  number  and  quality  of  the  horses  which  they  breed. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  this  agricultural  character  of  the  State,  she  claims  no  mean 
rank  in  manufactures.  By  the  preceding  table,  28  furnaces  are  given;  but  12  of 
these,  only,  we  believe,  are  blast  furnaces,  employed  in  making  iron  from  the  ore; 
the  remainder  are  cupola  furnaces,  used  in  the  reduction  of  pig  and  other  metal  to 
castings.  The  furnaces  of  New  Jersey,  by  the  report  of  the  committee  of  the  ta- 
riff convention,  holden  in  New  York,  October,  1831,  produced  in  1830,  1,671  tons 
of  pig  iron,  and  5,615  tons  of  castings;  and  her  108  forges,  3000  tons  of  bar  iron. 

The  first  valued  at  $30  the  ton,  yields $50,130 

The  second,  at  $60, 336,900 

The  third,  at  $90  the  ton,     -         - 270,000 

Making         -          -  -       $657,030 

for  her  manufacture  of  iron  in  pigs,  castings  and  bars.  This  iron,  however,  is  fur- 
ther improved  in  value  by  the  aid  of  10  rolling  and  slitting  mills,  16  cupola  furnaces, 
and  the  extensive  machine  shops  of  Patterson.  And  we  shall  not,  we  presume, 
underrate  the  annual  value  of  the  iron  manufacture  of  the  State,  when  we  state  it 
at  one  million  of  dollars;  all  of  which  is  obtained  from  her  mines,  her  forests,  and 
her  labour,  not  one  cent  of  fojeign  matter  entering  into  the  composition. 
There  are  in  the  State, 

1  flint  glass  manufactory,  producing  annually,         ....         $80,000 
12  glass  houses,  employed  on  hollow  ware  and  window  glass,  estimated 

each  to  produce  annually  $30,000,  -          -          -          360,000 

440,000 
And  1  delf  ware  establishment,  whose  product  may  exceed  $  50,000 

$490,000 

Beside  several  extensive  clay  potteries. 

We  may  set  down,  therefore,  the  annual  product  of  glass  and  pottery  ware  at  full 
half  a  million. 

Of  the  25  woollen  manufactories  most  are  small;  and  having  no  data  for  determin- 
ing their  respective  products,  we  conjecturally  average  them  at  $10,000  per  annum. 

From  the  Abstracts  of  the  Assessors,  we  obtain  but  45  cotton  manufactories  in  the 
State;  but  the  Committee  of  the  New  York  Convention,  of  1831,  return  51 — of 
which  they  give  the  following  interesting  results  : 

Capital  employed  $2,027,644  Pounds  of  cloth  1,877,418 

Number  of  spindles  62,979  Males  employed  2,151 

Number  of  power-looms  815  Wages  per  week,  each  $600 

Pounds  of  yarn  sold  3,212,184  Females  employed  3,070 

Yards  of  cloth  5,133,776  Wages  per  week,  each  $1   90 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  39 

Children  under  1 2  years  of  age          217  Bushels  of  charcoal 

Wages  per  week,  each                      $1  40  Gallons  of  oil  13,348 

Pounds  of  cotton  used                5,832,204  Value  of  other  articles  18,208 

Bbls.  of  flour,  for  sizing                        975  Spindles  building  11,000 

Cords  of  wood                                         671  Hand  weavers  1,060 

Tons  of  coal                                         1,007  Total  dependants  12,750 

The  price  of  the  raw  material,  viz.  5,832,204  Ibs.  at  11  cts.  was  $641,542 

Price  of  yarn  sold,  3,212,184  Ibs.  at  30  cts.  the  Ib.  average,  was     $963,655 
Price  of  cloth,  5,133,776  yards,  at  15  cts.  770,066 

Gross  return  of  cotton  manufacture  $1,733,721 


The  six  calico  bleaching  and  printing  establishments,  belong  to  the  cotton  manu- 
facture. Some  of  these,  as  at  Patterson,  Belleville,  and  Rahway,  are  very  exten- 
sive, but  we  have  not  the  means  to  give  their  results. 

The  four  machine  factories  at  Patterson  alone,  employ  above  400  hands  ;  and  the 
Phoenix  Manufacturing  Company,  in  addition  to  their  cotton  establishment,  have 
1,616  spindles  employed  in  spinning  flax,  consuming  493,000  Ibs.,  and  employing 
196  hands.  The  flax  is  manufactured  into  duck  and  bagging.  In  the  cotton  esta- 
blishment of  Mr.  John  Colt,  there  were  manufactured  in  1831-2,  460,000  yards  of 
cotton  duck. 

The  29  paper  mills  produce  large  returns.  Some  of  these  mills,  as  at  Patterson, 
Springfield,  Mount  Holly,  &c.  are  built  on  the  best  models,  and  employ  the  most 
improved  machinery. 

The  manufacture  of  leather  from  the  hide  into  the  various  articles  of  its  use,  is 
very  extensively  conducted.  There  are  2,876  tan  vats ;  and  the  fabric  of  shoes, 
boots  and  harness,  gives  employment  and  wealth  to  many  individuals  in  Newark, 
Bloomfield,  Rahway,  Burlington,  &c.  &c. ;  and  its  product  forms  a  large  item  in  the 
exports  of  the  commonwealth.  Hats  and  clothing  for  the  southern  market,  are  also 
made  in  the  first  three  towns  last  mentioned;  and,  also,  in  large  quantities  in  the 
thriving  village  of  Plainfield. 

Coaches,  cabinetware  and  chairs,  form  also  large  articles  of  export  both  from  East 
and  West  Jersey,  from  Camden,  and  from  Newark  and  Rahway. 

Unfortunately,  we  do  not  possess  the  means  of  giving  in  detail,  or  in  gross,  the 
results  of  many  of  these  valuable  branches  of  business ;  for  we  want,  in  relation  to 
this  state,  the  usual  data  for  determining  the  quantum  of  surplus  production,  which 
an  account  of  her  exports  would  afford.  Her  whole  foreign  trade,  and  the  far 
greater  proportion  of  her  domestic  business,  centers  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
to  swell  the  business  tables  of  these  two  great  marts.  But  we  are  assured  that,  from 
Rahway  alone,  the  amount  furnished  to  the  general  coasting  trade  is  not  less  than  a 
million  of  dollars  annually  ;  whilst  the  products  of  the  manufactures  of  Belleville 
and  its  vicinity,  are  valued  at  2,000,000,  and  those  of  Patterson  at  more  than  double 
that  amount.  By  the  treasury  report  of  1832,  the  whole  tonnage  was  573  90.100, 
registered,  and  32,499  24.100,  enrolled  and  licensed.  And  the  whole  amount  of 
exports,  foreign  and  domestic,  $11,430;  but  of  the  tonnage  of  the  State,  5,000  are 
said  to  be  enregistered  in  the  New  York  districts. 

We  confess,  that  the  view  we  have  thus  given  of  the  condition  of  the  State  is  very 
imperfect;  but  it  suffices  to  show,  that,  in  agriculture,  in  manufactures,  in  the  great 
improvements  by  canals  and  rail-roads,  she  nobly  maintains  a  course  of  emulation 
with  her  great  adjacent  sister  states.  By  the  Morris  and  Raritan  Canals,  and  by  the 
rail-way  of  the  Trenton  Falls  Company,  new  and  great  acquisitions  of  water  power 
for  machiney  have  been  attained,  with  increased  facilities  of  communication  with  the 
best  markets;  and  there  remain  unemployed  upon  the  mountain  streams,  now  cheaply 
accessible,  a  vast  number  of  mill  sites,  among  which  we  may  mention  those  at  Bel- 
videre  and  Clinton  as  entitled  to  great  attention.  The  Musconetcong  river  through- 
out its  course  may  also  be  profitably  employed,  since  ready  communication  may  be 
had  with  the  Morris  Canal  from  all  points.  The  upper  falls  of  the  Passaic,  the 
waste  waters  of  the  Rockaway,  the  Pequannock  and  Ramapo  Rivers,  will  all,  pro- 
bably, be  brought  into  use  by  the  improvements  already  made  and  projected.  Her 
mines,  her  limestones,  her  marbles,  her  marls,  nay  her  very  sands  and  clay,  will  be 
shortly  all  better  known  and  more  highly  valued,  and  will  greatly  increase  her 
wealth ;  her  copper  profusely  scattered  over  a  large  area,  accessible  as  any  in  the 


40  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

world ;  her  inexhaustible  and  unsurpassed  beds  of  iron  j  her  stupendous  veins  of 
zinc  will,  at  no  distant  day,  give  employment  te  additional  thousands  of  intelligent 
and  contented  labourers,  and  instead  of  pouring  forth  her  population  to  fertilize, 
enrich,  and  bless  other  lands,  she  will  give  to  her  sons  full  employment,  and  the 
means  of  wealth,  within  her  own  limits.  Already  has  the  reflux  of  population  com- 
menced. Newark,  Patterson,  Bloomneld,  Trenton,  Boonton  and  Rahway  will  in 
ten  years,  have  doubled  their  population;  and  New  Jersey  will,  we  believe,  at  the 
census  of  1840,  have  increased  her  inhabitants  in  a  ratio  equal  to  that  of  any  of  the 
original  states ;  and  among  the  stars  which  form  the  bright  constellation  of  the 
Union,  though  small,  she  will  not  be  the  least  brilliant. 

CLIMATE. — It  is  supposed  that  the  climate  of  our  country  has  undergone,  and  is 
still  undergoing,  a  material  change;  that  thunder  and  lightning  are  less  frequent: 
the  cold  of  our  winters,  and  heat  of  our  summers,  less,  and  more  variable  ;  the  springs 
colder,  and  the  autumns  more  temperate.  It  is  possible,  but  we  think  doubtful,  that 
the  variability  of  the  climate  has  increased ;  but  the  average  severity  of  heat  and 
cold  has  not  been  diminished.  The  following  description  of  the  weather,  by  a  settler 
of  East  Jersey,  in  1683,  will  be  recognised  as  true  at  the  present  day.  "  As  for 
the  temperature  of  the  air,  it  is  wonderfully  suited  to  the  humours  of  mankind;  the 
wind  and  weather  rarely  holding  in  one  point,  or  one  kind,  for  ten  days  together.  It 
is  a  rare  thing  for  a  vessel  to  be  windbound  for  a  week  together,  the  wind  seldom 
holding  in  a  point  more  than  48  hours ;  and  in  a  short  time  we  have  wet  and  dry, 
warm  and  cold  weather,  which  changes  we  often  desire  in  England,  and  look  for  be- 
fore they  come/'*  Alternations  of  cold  and  mild  winters,  of  hot  and  cool  summers, 
of  early  and  late  commencements  of  frosts,  of  drought  and  superabundant  rain,  have 
been  continued,  from  the  earliest  period  to  which  our  knowledge  of  the  country  ex- 
tends. A  review  of  the  seasons  from  1681,  shows  no  less  than  39  years  in  which 
the  navigation  was  obstructed  by  ice,  in  the  month  of  December.  On  the  10th  of 
that  month,  1678,  the  good  ship  The  Shield,  moored  to  a  tree  before  the  town  of  Bur- 
lington ;  and,  on  the  following  morning,  her  passengers  walked  to  the  shore  upon  the 
ice,  so  hard  had  the  river  suddenly  frozen.  In  1681,  December  10th,  the  Bristol 
Factor  arrived  at  Chester ;  and,  on  the  next  day,  her  passengers,  also,  went  on  shore 
on  the  ice.  On  the  19th  December,  1740,  the  navigation  was  stopped,  and  the  river 
remained  closed  until  the  13th  March.  In  1790,  it  closed  on  the  8th,  and  in  1797, 
on  the  1st  of  that  month.  In  1831,  rigorous  cold  weather  began  in  November  ;  and 
the  Delaware  was  frozen  fast  on  the  7th  December.  In  1780,  in  the  month  of 
January,  the  mercury  stood,  for  several  hours,  at  5°  below  0,  F. ;  and,  during  the 
month,  except  on  one  night,  never  rose  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  to  the  freezing 
point.  In  1817,  February  7,  the  water  froze  in  most  of  the  hydrant  plugs,  and  some 
of  the  street  mains,  in  that  city.  The  earliest  notice  we  have  seen  of  the  weather, 
on  the  shores  of  the  Delaware,  is  in  the  Journal  of  De  Vries.  He  left  the  Texel  on 
the  12th  December,  1630,  and  arrived  in  the  Delaware  at  the  close  of  January,  or 
commencement  of  February,  the  period  of  our  coldest  weather;  when,  unimpeded 
by  the  season,  which  he  reports  as  so  mild  that  his  men  could  work  in  the  open  air, 
in  their  shirt  sleeves,  he  erected,  on  Lewis's  Creek,  the  fortress  of  Oplandt. 
The  winter  of  1788-9,  was  also  uncommonly  mild;  but  there  was  ice  sufficient  to 
obstruct  the  navigation.  On  the  22d  March,  the  orchards  were  in  full  bloom,  and 
the  meadows  as  green  as  ordinarily  in  the  month  of  June  ;  but,  on  the  23d,  snow  fell 
two  feet  deep,  destroying  nearly  all  the  fruits  of  the  year.  In  1827-8,  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  Delaware  was  altogether  unobstructed.  The  atmosphere  was  filled  with 
dense  fog,  in  the  months  of  December,  January  and  February;  during  which,  in- 
cluding days  when  the  sun  was  apparent  for  some  hours,  there  were  not  more  than 
17  days  of  clear  weather.  By  a  table  for  January,  during  20  years,  from  1807  to 
1827,  the  mean  temperature  of  the  month  varied  from  42°  to  27° ;  and  the  mean  of 
the  whole  period  was  39°  of  Fahrenheit. 

There  are  seldom  more  than  from  20  to  30  days,  in  summer,  in  which  the  mercury 
rises  above  80°,  or,  in  winter,  falls  below  30°.  The  warmest  part  of  the  day  is  from 
2  to  3  o'clock  ;  from  which  time  the  heat  gradually  diminishes  until  the  ensuing 
morning.  The  coldest  part  of  the  four-and-twenty  hours  is  at  the  break  of  day. 
There  are  seldom  more  than  three  or  four  nights  of  the  summer,  in  which  the  heat 
of  the  air  is  nearly  the  same,  as  in  the  preceding  day.  After  the  hottest  days,  the 
evenings  are  generally  agreeable,  and  often  delightful.  The  higher  the  mercury 

*  Smith's  N.  J.  169. 


NORTHERN  DIVISION.  41 

rises  in  the  day,  the  lower  it  falls  the  succeeding  night.  From  80°,  it  commonly 
falls  to  66°  5  but  from  60°  only  to  50°.  This  disproportion  between  the  temperature 
of  the  day  and  night,  in  summer,  is  always  greatest  in  the  month  of  August,  when 
the  dews  are  heavy  in  proportion  to  the  coolness  of  the  evening.  They  are  some- 
times so  considerable  as  to  wet  the  clothes;  and  marsh  meadows  and  creeks,  drained 
by  the  heat,  have  been  supplied  with  their  usual  water  from  this  source,  in  this  month 
and  the  first  weeks  of  September.  The  violent  heats  of  summer  seldom  continue 
more  than  two  or  three  days,  without  intermission.  They  are  generally  broken  by 
showers  of  rain,  sometimes  accompanied  by  thunder  and  lightning,  arid  succeeded 
by  a  north-west  wind,  which  produces  an  agreeable  and  invigorating  coolness  in 
the  air. 

The  warmest  weather  is  generally  in  July ;  but  intensely  hot  days  are  often  felt 
in  May,  June,  August  and  September,  and  the  mean  heat  of  August  has  been 
greater  than  that  of  July.  The  transitions  from  heat  to  cold  are  often  sudden,  and 
sometimes  to  very  distant  degrees.  After  a  day  in  which  the  mercury  has  been  at 
86°  and  even  at  90°,  it  has  fallen  in  the  course  of  a  single  night  to  60*,  and  fires 
have  been  found  necessary  the  ensuing  morning,  especially  if  the  change  in  the 
temperature  of  the  air  has  been  accompanied  by  rain  and  a  S.  E.  wind.  In  a  sum- 
mer month,  the  mercury  has  been  known  to  fall  20"  in  an  hour  and  a  half.  There 
are  few  summer  months  in  which  fires  are  not  agreeable  in  some  part  of  them. 
Mr.  Rittenhouse  informed  Dr.  Rush,  that  there  was  not  a  summer  during  his  resi- 
dence in  the  country,  in  which  he  did  not  discover  frost  in  every  month. 

The  weather  is  equally  variable  during  the  winter.  The  mercury  has  fallen  from 
37  to  4£°  below  0  in  24  hours.  In  this  season,  nature  seems  frequently  to  play  at 
cross-purposes.  Heavy  falls  of  snow  are  often  succeeded  by  a  thaw,  which,  in  a 
short  time,  wholly  dissolves  them.  The  rivers  are  frozen  sufficiently  hard  to  bear 
horses  and  carriages,  and  thawed  so  as  to  be  navigable,  several  times  in  the  course 
of  the  winter.  Ice  is  commonly  formed  gradually,  and  seldom  until  the  rivers  have 
been  chilled  with  snow.  Yet,  sometimes  its  production  is  sudden,  and  the  Dela- 
ware has  frequently  been  frozen  over  in  a  night,  so  as  to  bear  the  weight  of  a  man. 

In  the  alluvial  district  of  New  Jersey,  frost  and  ice  appear  in  the  latter  end  of 
October,  or  beginning  of  November.  But  intense  cold  is  rarely  felt,  until  about 
Christmas.  Hence  the  vulgar  saying,  "as  the  day  lengthens,  the  cold  strengthens." 

The  coldest  weather  is  from  the  middle  of  January,  to  the  middle  of  February.  As 
in  summer  there  are  often  days  in  which  fires  are  agreeable,  so  in  winter  they  some- 
times are  incommodious.  Vegetation  has  been  observed  in  all  the  winter  months. 
Garlic  was  tasted  in  butter  in  January,  1781;  the  leaves  of  the  willow,  the  blossom 
of  the  peach,  and  the  flowers  of  the  dandelion,  were  all  seen  in  February,  1779,  and 
Dr.  Rush  says,  that  60  years  since,  he  saw  an  apple  orchard  in  full  bloom,  and  small 
apples  on  many  of  the  trees  in  the  month  of  December.  In  February,  1828,  we 
gathered  flowers  from  the  unprotected  garden,  and  saw  cattle  cropping  good  pas- 
turage in  the  fields.  A  cold  day  is  often  the  precursor  of  a  moderate  evening.  The 
greatest  degree  of  cold  recorded  in  Philadelphia,  is  5°  below  zero,  and  of  heat  95C 
F.  The  standard  temperature  of  Southern  Jersey  may  be  52°,  which  is  that  of  our 
deepest  wells  and  the  mean  heat  of  common  spring  water. 

The  spring  is  generally  unpleasant.  Ir^  March,  the  weather  is  stormy,  variable 
and  cold ;  in  April,  and  sometimes  far  in  May,  moist  and  raw.  From  the  variable- 
ness of  the  spring,  vegetation  advances  with  unequal  pace  in  different  seasons. 
The  colder  the  spring,  the  more  favourable  the  prospect  of  fruit.  The  hopes  of  the 
farmer  from  his  fruit-trees,  are,  in  a  warm  spring,  often  blasted  by  frost  in  April  or 
May,  and  sometimes  even  by  snow,  at  a  later  period.  The  colder  the  winter,  the 
greater  is  the  delay  of  the  return  of  spring.  Sometimes  the  weather,  during  the 
spring  months  is  cloudy  and  damp,  attended  occasionally  with  gentle  rain  resem- 
bling the  spray  from  a  cataract. 

June  is  the  only  month  of  the  year  which  resembles  the  spring  in  .the  southern 
countries  of  Europe.  Then,  generally,  the  weather  is  temperate,  the  sky  serene, 
and  the  verdure  of  the  country  universal  and  delightful. 

The  autumn  is  the  most  agreeable  season  of  the  year.  The  cool  evenings  and 
mornings,  which  begin  about  the  middle  of  September,  are  attended  with  a  mode- 
rate temperature  of  the  air  during  the  day.  This  kind  of  weather  continues,  with  an 
increase  of  cold  scarcely  perceptible,  till  the  middle  of  October,  when  it  is  closed  by 
rain,  which  sometimes  falls  in  such  quantities  as  to  produce  destructive  freshets;  at 
others,  in  gentle  showers,  which  continue,  with  occasional  interruption  by  a  few  fair 

F 


42  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

days,  for  two  or  three  weeks.  These  rains  are  the  harbingers  of  winter,  and  the  In- 
dians long  since  taught  us,  that,  the  cold  of  that  season  is  proportionate  to  the  quan- 
tity of  rain  which  falls  during  the  autumn.  From  this  account,  it  is  apparent,  that 
there  are  seldom  more  than  four  months  of  the  year  in  which  the  weather  is  agree- 
able without  fire. 

In  winter  the  winds  generally  come  from  the  N.  W.  in  fair,  and  from  the  N.  E. 
in  foul  weather.  The  N.  W.  winds  are  dry  and  cold.  The  winds,  in  fair  weather 
in  the  spring,  and  in  warm  weather  in  the  summer,  blow  from  the  S.  W.  and 
W.  N.W.  The  S.  W.  winds  usually  bring  with  them  refreshing  showers  of  rain  in 
spring  and  summer,  which  moderate  the  heat  when  succeeded  by  a  N.  W.  wind. 
Sometimes  showers  come  from  the  W.  and  N.  W. 

The  moisture  of  the  air  is  said  to  be  greater  than  formerly;  occasioned,  probably, 
by  the  exhalations  which  fell  in  the  form  of  snow,  now  descending  in  rain.  The 
depth  of  the  snow  is  sometimes  between  two  and  three  feet;  in  1828-9,  it  was  near 
four,  but  in  general  it  is  from  six  to  nine  inches.  Hail  frequently  falls  with  snow 
in  the  winter.  At  intervals  of  years,  heavy  showers  of  hail  fall  in  the  spring  and 
summer,  running  commonly  in  veins  from  40  to  50  miles  long,  and  from  half  a  mile 
to  two  miles  in  breadth.  On  such  occasions,  destruction  of  grain,  grass  and  win- 
dows, to  great  value,  is  not  unfrequent.  From  sudden  changes  of  the  air,  rain  and 
snow  often  fall  together,  forming  what  is  commonly  called  sleet.  In  the  northern 
parts  of  the  State,  in  protected  spots,  snow  sometimes  lies  until  the  first  of  April. 
The  backwardness  of  the  spring  has  been  ascribed  to  the  passage  of  the  air  over  the 
ice  and  snow  which  remain,  after  the  winter  months,  on  the  plains  and  waters  of  the 
north-west  country. 

The  dissolution  of  the  ice  and  snow  is  sometimes  so  sudden,  in  the  spring,  as  to 
swell  the  creeks  and  rivers  to  such  a  degree  as  to  lay  waste  the  hopes  of  the  hus- 
bandman, and  in  some  instances  to  sweep  his  barns,  stables,  and  even  his  dwelling 
into  their  currents.  Of  this  power  of  the  flood,  the  years  1784  and  1832,  afford 

memorable  examples.     The  wind,  during  a  general  thaw,  comes  from  the  S.  W.  or 

S™ 
.  fj. 

The  air,  when  dry,  has  a  peculiar  elasticity,  which  renders  the  heat  and  cold 
less  insupportable  than  the  same  degrees  of  both  in  moister  countries.  It  is  only 
when  summer  showers  are  not  succeeded  by  N.  W.  winds,  that  the  air  becomes  op- 
pressive by  combination  with  moisture.  With  the  removal  of  the  forest  the  waters 
have  decreased  considerably. 

The  average  quantity  of  water  which  falls  yearly,  is  from  24  to  26  inches,  ac- 
cording to  the  statement  of  Dr.  Rush  :  but  this  would  seem  much  too  small,  since 
a  table  of  20  years,  from  1810  to  1829,  inclusive,  14  of  which  were  kept  by  P.  Le- 
geaux,  Esq.  at  Springmills,  and  6  at  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  give  35.16  inches; 
and  a  table  for  10  years,  ending  1827,  kept  by  Dr.  Darlington,  of  West  Chester, 
gives  49.92.  In  the  first  table,  the  highest  was  43.135  inches,  in  1814;  and  the 
lowest,  23.354,  in  1819.  In  the  last  table  the  highest  was  54.1  inches  in  1824,  and 
the  lowest  39.3  inches  in  1822. 

From  the  foregoing  remarks  we  may  justly  conclude  that,  in  New  Jersey  no  two 
successive  years  are  alike;  that  even  the  successive  seasons  and  months  differ  from 
each  other  every  year.  Perhaps  there  is  but  one  steady  trait  in  the  character  of  our 
climate,  and  that  is,  that  it  is  never  steady,  but  uniformly  variable.  The  foregoing 
remarks  apply  generally  to  the  whole  State,  yet  with  some  variation.  Thus,  in  the 
low  flat  country  in  the  alluvial  district,  the  climate  is  warmer  in  winter  and  hotter 
in  summer,  than  in  the  more  northern  and  elevated  lands  of  the  other  sections.  The 
heat  of  the  summer  and  the  cold  of  the  winter  are,  however,  tempered  by  the  wa- 
ters which  bound  it  on  three  sides.  In  summer,  upon  the  ocean  and  bay,  the  sea 
breeze  prevails,  and  with  the  prostration  of  the  forest,  it  finds  its  way  yearly  further 
interior.  As  the  country  north  of  Trenton  rises  in  aerial  height,  as  well  as  in  lati- 
tude, its  temperature  necessarily  decreases  from  both  causes.  The  change,  however, 
is  not  very  considerable  until  we  reach  the  mountains,  where  the  diminution  of  heat 
is  apparent  in  the  difference  of  the  seasons.  Vegetation  in  the  spring  is  from  one 
to  two  weeks  later  than  in  the  lower  country,  and  the  approach  of  winter  is  so 
much  earlier.  It  is  to  their  altitude  more  than  latitude,  that  the  mountains  owe  their 
cool  and  invigorating  breezes  which  render  them  attractive  in  the  summer  season. 


PREFATORY  CHAPTER. 

PART  II. 

Containing  a  Moral  View  of  the  State. 

Division  of  the  Political  Power  into  Three  Great  Branches.— I.  Legislative  Council  and 
Assembly — by  whom  Elected — Nominations — Form  of  Elections — Legislative  Council 
— how  Composed — Powers — Assembly — hoio  Constituted — Powers. — II.  Executive 
Branch — What — Governor — his  Powers  and  Duties — Secretary  of  State — Powers  and 
Duties — Treasurer — Powers  and  Duties — Revenue  and  Expenditures  of  the  State — 
Burden  on  the  Citizens — Attorney  General — Sheriff — Coroner — Officers  of  Slate  Prison 
— Political  Division  of  Counties  and  Townships — of  Township  Officers — Services  in 
Taxation — Relief  of  the  Poor — Making  and  Repairing  Roads — Executive  Duties  of 
County  Clerk — Militia  System. — III.  Judiciary — Courts  for  Trials  of  Small  Causes — 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions — Common  Pleas — Orphans'  Court — Supreme  and  Circuit 
Courts — Court  of  Chancery — Court  of  Appeals — Compensation  of  Officers. — IV.  Pro- 
visions for  Religious,  Moral,  and  Intellectual  Improvement — Religious  Societies — Li- 
terary Institutions  established  by  Individual  Largess — Common  Schools  established 
by  the  State — Publication  of  the  Laws — Newspapers  in  the  State. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Commonwealth,  the  political  power  here,  as  elsewhere 
in  well  constituted  States,  has  been  divided  into  three  great  branches;  the  Legisla- 
tive, Executive,  and  Judicial.  But,  in  the  existing  constitution,  these  divisions 
have  not  been  well  preserved,  the  first  having  received  the  greater  proportion  of  the 
province  of  the  second,  and  having  the  third  wholly  dependent  upon  it. 

I.  The  legislative  power  is  vested  in  a  council  and  assembly,  chosen  by  qualified 
electors,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  and  the  day  succeeding,  annually.  The 
election  is  then  holden  for  State  officers,  and  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  November,  when 
occasion  requires,  for  members  of  congress  and  electors  of  president  and  vice  president. 
Such  electors  must  be  free  white  citizens,  of  full  age,  who  have  resided  within  the 
county  in  which  they  claim  to  vote,  for  twelve  months  immediately  preceding  the  elec- 
tion, and  who  have  paid  a  tax  or  been  enrolled  on  any  duplicate  list  of  the  last  State  or 
county  tax,  and  possess  fifty  pounds,  clear  estate.  But,  from  the  requisite  of  taxation 
or  enrolment,  as  the  case  may  be,  are  exempted  persons  who  may  have  arrived  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  since  the  date  of  the  last  duplicate;  persons  removing  from 
the  township  where  they  have  paid  tax,  to  another  in  the  same  county  ;  and  persons 
who  have  been  inadvertently  overlooked  by  the  assessor;  the  names  of  the  last 
being  immediately  entered  upon  the  tax  list.  The  property  qualification,  though 
demanded  by  the  constitution,  has  been  virtually  annulled  by  the  act  of  1st  June, 
1820,  providing  that  every  person  paying  a  State  or  county  tax,  whose  name  shall 
be  enrolled  on  such  duplicate  list,  shall  be  taken  to  be  worth  fifty  pounds  clear  es- 
tate;  and  thus  by  the  omnipotence  of  the  legislature,  things  essentially  different  are 
made  the  same. 

The  electors  vote  only  in  the  township  in  which  they  reside.  An  attempt  to  vote 
a  second  time,  is  punishable  by  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  to  the  use  of  the  poor,  recover- 
able by  the  overseer  of  the  township.  The  assessor  or  collector  enrolling  one  under 
age,  or  non-resident  in  the  township,  with  intent  to  admit  him  to  vote,  is  subject  to 
the  penalty  of  $100  to  the  like  use,  and  recoverable  in  like  manner. 

Such  elections  are  conducted  after  the  following  mode.  The  clerks  of  the  re- 
spective courts  of  Common  Pleas,  attend  at  the  court  house,  on  the  first  Mondays  of 
September,  annually,  to  receive  from  voters,  lists  of  candidates  for  public  suffrage, 
signed  by  the  nominator,  and  transmitted  by  letter  or  delivered  in  person.  From 
these,  the  clerk  makes  a  general  list  of  the  nominees  for  the  several  offices,  a  copy 
whereof  he  sends,  within  a  week  from  the  nomination,  to  the  clerks  of  the  several 
precincts  of  the  county;  and,  in  case  of  nominations  for  congress  or  electors  of  pre- 
sident, a  copy  to  the  governor,  who  transmits  a  copy  of  all  the  nominations  to  the 
clerk  of  every  county,  who  sends  these  also  to  the  township  clerks.  At  the  elec- 
tion, no  vote  can  be  given  unless  for  such  nominee. 

The  precinct  clerks,  by  public  advertisement  fourteen  days  before  that  of  the 
election,  make  known  the  time  and  place  of  holding  it,  and  the  names  of  the  candi- 
dates, when  and  where  the  election  officers,  viz.  the  judge,  assessor,  collector,  and 
town  clerk,  attend.  The  clerk  posts  on  the  door  of  the  house  where  the  election  is 


44  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

holden,  the  list  of  the  nominees,  and  the  other  officers  open  the  polls  at  10  o'clock  of 
the  day.  If  any  one  of  such  officers  be  in  nomination,  he  is  disqualified  from  assist- 
ing at  the  election,  unless  before  its  commencement  he  publicly  decline  ;  and  should 
he  assist,  and  be  elected,  his  election  is  void.  The  town  clerk,  with  the  approba- 
tion of  his  fellow  officers,  may  appoint  -a  substitute ;  or,  if  he  be  absent,  dead,  or 
otherwise  disqualified,  and  no  substitute  have  been  appointed,  such  officers  may  no- 
minate a  clerk  for  the  occasion.  And  if  the  judge,  assessor,  or  collector  be  absent 
or  disqualified,  his  place  may  be  filled  by  the  voters  present,  and  the  absentee  is 
subject  to  punishment  by  fine,  unless  he  satisfactorily  excuse  himself  to  the  court  of 
common  pleas.  Malfeasance  by  an  officer  of  the  election,  is  punishable  by  a  fine  of 
$100  for  the  use  of  the  poor.  Each  officer  swears  or  affirms  to  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  his  duty,  and  may  administer  like  oath  or  affirmation  to  his  fellows.  For  the 
preservation  of  order,  the  judge  and  inspectors  may  commit  riotous  or  disorderly 
persons  either  to  the  charge  of  the  constable,  or  to  the  common  gaol  for  any  time 
not  exceeding  twenty-four  hours. 

The  poll  is  open  for  two  days ;  but  may  be  adjourned  for  short  periods,  as  occasion 
may  require,  in  case  no  voters  appear.  On  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  it  is  closed  at 
9  o'clock;  and  opened  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  at  8  ;  and  is  finally  closed  at  7 
o'clock  of  the  evening  of  the  second  day. 

All  elections,  for  representatives  in  Congress,  electors  of  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  members  of  council  and  assembly,  sheriffs  and 
coroners,  are  by  ballot,  which  may  be  written  or  printed,  or  partly  both,  and  must 
be  delivered  by  the  voter  to  the  judge  or  either  of  the  inspectors  ;  and  the  name  of 
such  voter,  being  pronounced,  by  the  officer,  in  an  audible  voice,  and  being  unob- 
jected  to,  is  entered  upon  the  poll-list,  and  the  ballot  deposited  in  the  ballot-box. 

When  the  poll  is  closed,  the  poll-list  is  signed  by  the  officers,  the  ballots  read, 
registered,  and  filed.  If  there  be  a  greater  number  of  ballots  than  names  on  the 
list,  no  more  ballots  are  enumerated  than  names:  if  two  or  more  ballots  be  folded, 
or  rolled  together,  or  a  ballot  contain  more  names  than  it  ought,  or  otherwise  appear 
to  be  fraudulent,  it  is  rejected,  and  as  many  numbers,  deducted  from  the  poll-list 
as  there  are  ballots,  cast  away.  The  number  of  votes  being  ascertained,  the  election 
officers,  or  any  two  of  them,  certify  the  number  for  each  candidate,  after  a  prescribed 
form  ;  a  duplicate  of  which,  duly  attested,  is  filed  in  the  office  of  the  town  clerk,  with 
the  poll-list;  and  the  original  is  transmitted  to  the  clerk  of  the  pleas,  on  or  before  the 
Saturday,  next  after  the  day  of  election  ;  who  makes  a  list  of  the  votes  for  each  can- 
didate, from  the  several  certificates,  and  ascertains  who  are  duly  elected,  by  a  plu- 
rality of  votes;  files  the  certificates  and  list  in  his  office,  and  makes  a  certificate  of 
the  election  of  each  officer,  a  copy  of  which,  with  a  copy  of  the  list  filed,  he  trans- 
mits to  the  governor. 

In  case  the  election  be  for  members  of  Congress,  or  electors  of  President,  the 
governor,  within  five  days  of  the  receipt  of  the  list,  before  a  privy  council,  deter- 
mines the  persons  elected,  whom  the  governor  commissions  under  the  seal  of  the 
State. 

In  case  two  or  more  candidates,  nominated  for  council,  assembly,  sheriff,  or  coro- 
ner, have  an  equal  number  of  votes,  there  not  being  a  sufficient  number  having  a 
plurality,  the  county  clerk  proclaims,  by  advertisement,  that  he  will  attend  at  the 
county  court-house,  at  a  day  certain,  to  receive  nominations  of  persons  to  supply  the 
vacancy;  and  the  nomination  and  the  election,  holden  thereon,  are  conducted  in 
the  manner  already  described  ;  except  that,  the  nominations  are  made  ten  days,  only, 
previous  to  the  election. 

In  case  of  vacancy  in  the  council,  or  assembly,  the  vice-president  of  council,  or 
speaker  of  the  house,  as  the  case  may  be;  or  in  case  there  be  no  vice-president  or 
speaker,  the  governor,  causes  the  vacancy  to  be  filled ;  unless  it  be  probable  that 
the  services  of  the  member  will  not  be  required  during  the  remainder  of  the  unex- 
pired  legislative  year.  But  if  the  board  of  freeholders,  of  the  county  in  which  the 
vacancy  happens,  desire  that  the  vacancy  be  filled,  it  is  done  without  delay.  Thus, 
if  a  member  refuse  to  take  his  seat  pursuant  to  his  election,  or  to  send  a  satisfactory 
excuse  within  twenty  days  after  the  meeting  of  the  legislature,  die,  remove  from  the 
state,  or  be  expelled,  the  vice-president,  or  speaker,  as  the  case  may  be,  issues  his 
warrant,  to  the  clerk  of  the  county,  who  takes  measures  similar  to  those  above  de- 
scribed, for  filling  the  vacancy. 

The  legislative  council  consists  of  the  governor,  who  is  its  perpetual  president, 
having  a  casting  voice  ;  of  a  vice-president  elected  by  the  members,  who  presides  in 


LEGISLATIVE  POWER.  45 

the  absence  of  the  president;  and  a  member  from  each  county,  elected  annually. 
It  has  powers  co-ordinate  with  the  assembly,  except  in  the  preparation  or  alteration 
of  money  bills,  which  is  reserved  to  the  latter.  It  is  convened,  from  time  to  time, 
by  the  governor,  or  vice-president,  and  must  be  convened  at  all  times,  when  the 
assembly  sits  ;  its  members  must  be,  and  have  been,  for  one  whole  year,  next  before 
election,  inhabitants  and  freeholders  in  the  county  for  which  they  are  respectively 
chosen,  and  worth  at  least  one  thousand  pounds  of  real  and  personal  estate,  within 
such  county.  Seven  members  form  a  quorum  for  business.  This  property  qualifi- 
cation, in  practice,  is  scarce  more  respected  than  that  of  the  voters. 

The  assembly  is  composed  of  such  number  of  delegates,  from  each  county,  as  the 
legislature  may,  from  time  to  time,  direct ;  making  together,  not  less  than  thirty- 
nine.  The  delegate  must  be,  and  have  been,  for  one  whole  year  next  before  his 
election,  an  inhabitant  of  the  county  he  represents,  and  worth  five  hundred  pounds, 
in  real  and  personal  estate,  therein.  The  assembly  have  power  to  choose  a  speaker, 
and  other  their  officers;  to  judge  of  the  qualifications  and  election  of  their  own 
members;  sit  on  their  own  adjournments;  prepare  bills  to  be  passed  into  laws;  and 
to  empower  their  speaker  to  convene  the  members  when  necessary. 

No  judge  of  the  Supreme,  or  other  court,  sheriff,  or  person  holding  any  post  of 
profit  under  the  government,  other  than  justices  of  the  peace,  may  sit  in  the  assem- 
bly. On  the  election  of  such  person  his  office  becomes  vacant. 

On  the  second  Tuesday  next  after  the  day  of  election,  the  council  and  assembly 
meet,  separately,  and  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  all  the  representatives  in  each 
body,  is  requisite  to  the  enactment  of  a  law.  At  their  first  meeting,  after  each  annual 
election,  the  council  and  assembly,  jointly,  by  a  majority  of  votes,  elect  the  governor; 
they  appoint  the  field,  and  general  officers  of  the  militia ;  the  judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  for  seven  years,  the  judges  of  the  inferior  courts  of  Common  Pleas,  justices  of 
the  peace,  clerks  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  of  the  Common  Pleas  and  Sessions,  the 
attorney  general  and  secretary  of  state,  for  five  years;  and  the  state  treasurer,  for 
one  year;  all  of  whom  are  commissioned  by  the  governor;  are  capable  of  reap- 
pointment,  and  are  liable  to  be  dismissed,  when  convicted  by  the  council  on  the  im- 
peachment of  the  assembly.  Each  member  of  council  and  assembly  makes  oath,  that 
he  will  not  assent  to  any  law,  vote,  or  proceeding  which  shall  appear  to  him  injurious 
to  the  public  welfare,  nor  that  shall  annul  or  repeal  that  part  of  the  third  section  of 
the  constitution  which  makes  the  election  of  members  of  the  legislature,  annual ; 
nor  that  part  of  the  twenty-second  section,  which  provides  for  trial  by  jury ;  nor  the 
eighteenth  and  nineteenth  sections  which  relate  to  religion.  And  such  oath  may 
be  administered  to  the  members  by  any  member  of  the  respective  houses.  The  oath 
of  the  legislators  being  to  preserve  a  part  only  of  the  constitution,  sound  construc- 
tion warrants  the  induction,  that  they  have  a  constitutional  authority  to  change  all 
other  parts  of  that  instrument;  and  thus,  their  power  is  unrestrained,  as  much  as 
that  of  the  British  Parliament,  which  may,  by  a  simple  act  of  legislation,  remodel 
the  State,  as  has  been  lately  done  in  Great  Britain. 

II.  The  executive  power  is  vested  in  the  governor,  secretary  of  state,  treasurer,  the 
attorney  general,  and  county  prosecutors,  and  in  the  officers  of  the  several  town- 
ships, counties,  and  other  precincts,  viz  :  in  the  township  clerks,  assessors,  collectors, 
commissioners  of  appeals,  surveyors  and  overseers  of  the  highways,  pound  keepers, 
overseers  of  the  poor,  judges  of  elections,  township  committees,  and  constables: 
and  in  the  chosen  freeholders  of  the  county,  the  county  clerk,  collector,  sheriff1, 
coroners,  and  the  militia. 

By  the  8th  article  of  the  constitution,  the  governor  is  said  to  have  the  supreme 
executive  power ;  but  his  executive  duties  are  circumscribed  by  very  narrow  limits 
and  in  their  performance  he  may  be  aided,  perhaps  controlled,  by  any  three  or  more 
of  the  council,  whom  he  is  authorized  to  call  as  his  privy  council.  Before  entering 
on  his  office  he  swears  faithfully  and  diligently  to  execute  his  office,  and  to  promote 
the  peace  and  prosperity,  and  to  maintain  the  lawful  rights  of  the  State  to  the  best 
of  his  ability.  He  is  captain-general,  and  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  militia,  and 
other  military  force  of  the  State,  and  is  by  special  act  of  assembly,  trustee  of  the 
school  fund.  He  is  empowered,  when  the  post  of  vice  president  of  council,  or 
speaker  of  assembly  is  vacant,  to  cause  vacancies  in  the  respective  chambers  to  be 
filled.  He  may  proclaim  rewards  of  not  more  than  $300  for  one  offender,  for  the 
apprehension  of  any  person  charged  with  murder,  burglary,  robbery,  or  other  dan- 
gerous outrage  upon  the  person  or  property  of  the  citizen,  for  the  apprehension  of 
their  accessories,  and  for  the  arrest  of  any  unknown  perpetrator  of  such  offences ; 


46  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

may  demand  fugitives  from  justice  from  this  State,  and  draw  his  warrant  for  the 
expenses  of  their  reclamation;  may  remit  costs  of  prosecution  and  debts  due  to  the 
State,  from  any  criminal,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  inspectors  of  the  State 
prison ;  may  suspend  the  execution  of  the  sentence  of  death  against  any  criminal 
until  the  rising  of  the  next  meeting,  thereafter,  of  the  governor  and  council;  and  in 
conjunction  with  the  legislative  council,  may  grant  pardon  for  any  offence  after 
condemnation ;  he  may  authorize  the  owner  of  a  slave  condemned  for  certain 
offences,  to  send  him  from  the  State;  distribute  copies  of  the  laws  to  the  United 
States  and  other  States ;  license  pedlars ;  appoint  notaries,  who  hold  their  offices 
during  good  behaviour ;  appoint  inspectors  of  flour  in  certain  cities,  removable  at  his 
pleasure ;  order  out  the  militia  in  case  of  invasion  or  other  emergency,  when  and  so 
long  as  he  may  deem  necessary,  not  exceeding  two  months;  and  perform  other  du- 
ties specially  imposed  upon  him  by  the  legislature. 

The  secretary  of  state,  as  we  have  seen,  is  elected  by  the  assembly  in  joint  meet- 
ing, for  five  years.  Before  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  he  makes  oath  that 
he  will  faithfully  perform  them,  and  gives  bond  conditioned  to  like  effect.  He  must 
reside  at  Trenton.  He  must  file  in  his  office  the  laws  of  the  State  as  they  are 
enacted,  so  that  those  of  each  session  be  kept  in  separate  bundles,  and  give  copies  of 
them  when  required,  under  his  hand  and  seal  of  office;  and,  within  four  weeks  from 
the  end  of  every  session,  deliver  a  copy  of  the  laws  therein  passed,  to  the  printer 
thereof,  assist  him  in  comparing  the  proof  sheets  with  the  laws,  and  make  marginal 
notes  thereto.  He  must  record  all  papers  which  come  to  his  hands  pertaining  to 
his  office  ;  and  tri-monthly  report  to  the  governor,  an  account  of  the  business  done 
in  his  office,  relating  te  the  record  of  wills,  letters  of  administration  and  guardian- 
ship, and  of  the  unfinished  business  therein ;  and  must  lay  a  general  statement  of 
the  business  in  his  office  before  the  legislature  at  their  first  session,  annually;  must 
keep  the  books  and  papers  of  the  late  auditor's  office,  and  settle  the  accounts,  if  any 
be  unsettled,  of  any  of  the  agents  of  forfeited  estates  ;  must  record  all  deeds  delivered 
to  him  for  record,  duly  acknowledged  and  proved,  and  must  index  such  deeds;  must 
in  all  cases,  where  money  is  paid  into  the  public  treasury,  and  the  receipt  of  the 
treasurer  therefor  is  brought  to  him,  enter  the  same  in  the  public  books  in  his  office, 
in  an  account  with  the  treasurer,  and  indorse  such  entry  upon  the  receipt,  without 
which  it  is  not  available  against  the  State.  He  must  prosecute  clerks  of  courts,  on 
the  report  of  the  treasurer,  who  fail  to  return  the  abstracts  of  fines,  amercements 
and  judgments  on  forfeited  recognizances  for  use  of  the  State.  He  is  register  of 
the  prerogative  office  and  court,  and  is  required  to  record  the  names  of  testators  of 
all  wills,  and  of  intestates,  the  inventories  of  whose  estates  he  may  receive,  and  to 
file  such  wills  and  inventories.  He  must  record  bonds  given  by  the  keeper  of  State 
prison ;  and  the  partition  lines  of  townships  and  counties,  as  returned  by  the  com- 
missioners of  survey.  He  is  also  clerk  of  the  court  of  appeals,  and  trustee  of  the 
school  fund ;  and  he  must  keep  suspended  for  public  view  a  list  of  the  fees  payable 
in  his  several  offices. 

The  treasurer,  before  entering  on  his  office,  is  required  to  take  and  subscribe  an 
oath  of  office,  and  give  bond  with  sufficient  sureties  approved  by  the  legislature,  in 
the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties 
and  for  the  fidelity  of  those  employed  by  him;  which  oath  and  bond  are  to  be  made 
before  the  vice  president  or  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  to  be  deposited  in  the 
office  of  the  secretary  of  state.  His  duty  is  to  receive  and  keep  the  monies  of  the 
State,  and  to  disburse  them  agreeably  to  law;  to  take  receipts  for  all  payments;  to 
keep  accounts  of  receipts  and  expenditures,  and  of  all  debts  due  to,  and  from  the 
State;  to  make  reports  and  give  information  to  either  branch  of  the  legislature  in 
person  or  in  writing,  as  he  may  be  required,  respecting  matters  referred  to  him  by 
the  council  or  assembly,  or  appertaining  to  his  office;  and  generally  to  perform  all 
services  relative  to  the  finances  which  he  may  be  directed  to  perform  ;  to  state,  in 
books,  the  account  of  monies  which  he  shall  receive  for  taxes,  or  other  account  in 
behalf  of  the  State,  or  which  he  shall  pay,  in  pursuance  of  the  acts  and  resolutions 
of  the  legislature,  so  that,  the  net  produce  of  the  whole  revenue,  as^ell  as  of  each 
branch  thereof,  and  the  amount  of  disbursements,  may  distinctly  appear;  and  to  lay 
such  accounts,  from  time  to  time,  before  the  legislature;  to  receive  reports  of  clerks 
of  courts,  of  fines,  amercements  and  judgments  on  forfeited  recognizances,  and  within 
two  days  after  the  first  day  of  November,  annually,  to  return  the  name  of  every  de- 
linquent clerk,  to  the  secretary  for  prosecution  ;  to  cause  to  be  set  up  in  his  office, 
that  clause  of  the  act  of  19th  Nov.  1799,  which  requires  the  treasurer's  receipt  for 


EXECUTIVE  POWER. 


47 


monies  paid  him,  to  be  entered  in  the  office  of  the  secretary,  and  endorsed  by  him; 
to  receive  taxes  collected  for  the  State  from  the  county  collector,  and  to  prosecute 
for  the  same  when  wrongfully  withheld ;  to  prosecute  for  the  recovery  of  the  tax 
upon  bank  stock,  when  not  paid  according  to  law;  to  sue  for  all  sums  of  money 
which  may  become  due  to  the  State,  and  receivable  in  his  office,  and  to  make  dis- 
tribution, annually,  of  the  laws  of  the  State  according  to  law ;  he  is  also  a  trustee 
of  the  school  fund. 

The  following  abstract  from  the  report  of  the  State  Treasurer  made  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, Oct.  1832,  exhibits  the  condition  of  the  Treasury,  and  the  sources  of  its  revenue, 
with  the  exception,  that  $30,000  at  least  is  to  be  added  to  receipts  of  the  current  and 
future  years,  for  the  annual  bonus  of  the  Catnden  and  Amboy  Rail-road,  and  the 
Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal.  It  will  also  be  observed,  that  besides  the  $40,000  tax 
levied  directly  upon  the  State,  there  is  a  further  sum  of  about  $11,000  annually,  but 
indirectly,  levied  upon  the  holders  of  Bank  stock,  and  appropriated  to  the  school 
fund.  We  append,  also,  the  treasurer's  report  on  the  banks,  exhibiting  in  detail  the 
income  derived  from  that  source,  and  the  actual  condition  of  this  branch  of  business 
in  the  State.  We  may  also  remark,  here,  that  the  only  property  possessed  by  the 
State,  save  a  small  tract  of  land  at  Patterson,  and  some  lots  and  buildings  at  Tren- 
ton, and  the  oyster  beds  in  her  rivers  and  on  her  coasts,  and  the  stocks  mentioned 
in  the  treasurer's  report,  consists  of  2000  shares  of  Camden  and  Amboy  Rail-road 
stock  and  Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal  stock,  valued  at  par  at  $200,000. 


DR. 
1832. 


Surplus  monies  loaned  $20,000  00 

Commissioners  for  negotiating  loan  50  00 

Deaf  and  Dumb,  amount  of  account  2,089  04 

State  Library,  do.  117  48 
Jurisdiction,  amount  of  account  for  defence 

of  suit  against  New  York  in  relation  to 

boundary  1,401  36 

Legislature,  amount  of  account  18,728  98 

Printing  account,  do.  2,253  00 

State  Prison,  do.  5,800  20 

Salaries,  do.  6,636  00 

Incidentals,  >  do.  1,716  91 
Transportation  of  Criminals,  do.  1,758  43 
Pensions,  do.  856  86 
Inquisitions,  do.  1,637  36 
Militia,  do.*  398  78 
State  account,  including  salaries  of  Gover- 
nor, Judges,  &c.  4,019  00 
Constable's  account  15  00 

Bills  receivable — 
Due  from  T.  G. 
Due  from  Presbyterian  Church  at  Patter- 


Dolls.     Cts. 


57,076  06 


$1000 
150 


Trenton  Bank, 

Due  from  Bank 

Due  from  State  Bank  at  Morris 

Due  from  State  Bank  at  Newark 

Due  from  George  Sherman 


Trenton,  October  23d,  1832. 


1,150  00 


9,779  91 

195  47 

87  45 

300  00 


10,552  34 


-    10,362  83 
$77,991  23 


*  The  annual  charge  for  militia  expenses  is  $620— viz:  $30  to  the  brigade  inspector  of 
each  county,  and  $200  to  the  quartermaster  and  inspector  generals. 


48 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 


1832. 


CONTRA. 

Bills  receivable  — 
Received  for  surplus  money  loaned 
Received  for  commissions  paid,  being 

part  of  interest 
Balance  on  hand,  October  25th,  1831 

Taxes  — 
Received  from  the  several  counties 

Debts  outstanding  — 

Amount  received  on  this  account         $    509  34 
Amount  due  this  account  1,150  80 

Fines  and  forfeitures  — 
Received  on  this  account 

Premiums  — 
Received  on  this  account 

Revised  laws  — 
Received  for  one  copy  sold 

Pedlar's  license  — 
Received  for  this  account 

Interest  account  — 

Received  balance  of  interest  for  use  of 
surplus  money  loaned 


CR. 
Dolls.  Cts. 


$20,000  00 

50  00 
14,819  66 

40,000  00 


1,659  34 
760  00 


306 


3  00 


585  00 


808  00 


Balance  due  as  above  per  contra — 
Deposited  in  Trenton  Bank 

Do.         State  Bank  at  Morris 

Do.         State  Bank  at  Newark 
Due  from  George  Sherman,  for  advance  made  for  printing 

law  reports  now  in  progress 

Balance  on  settlement 


77,289 


1,702  22 
78,991  23 

9,779  91 
195  47 

87  45 

300  00 
10,362  23 


49 


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EXECUTIVE  POWER.  51 

Perhaps  no  country  of  equal  territorial  extent  and  population,  in  the  world,  is 
governed  at  less  cost  than  the  State  of  New  Jersey;  and  if  the  happiness  of  the 
people  be  the  object  and  evidence  of  good  government,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say, 
that  none  is  better  governed.  The  sum  actually  levied  on  the  people  directly  and 
indirectly,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  State  government,  exclusive  of  the  township 
and  county  polity,  will  not  exceed  $  55,000,  and  is  more  likely  to  be  diminished 
than  increased.  The  whole  population,  at  the  present  period,  1833,  is  not  less  than 
330,000,  which  gives  to  each  individual  16  2-3  cents  tax;  or  dividing  the  number  of 
individuals  by  six,  for  the  number  of  families,  gives  one  dollar  for  every  head  of  a 
family  in  the  State.  This,  it  will  be  observed,  is  only  the  tax  levied  by  the  State, 
as  contradistinguished  from  township  and  county  taxes.  To  ascertain  the  burden 
actually  supported  by  the  people,  we  must  include  not  only  the  latter,  but  also  the 
sums  paid  for  the  maintenance  of  the  militia,  and  of  religious  instruction.  An 
opportunity  is  thus  afforded,  we  trust,  of  settling,  satisfactorily,  the  question  which 
has  lately  been  agitated,  relative  to  the  proportions  paid  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
North  American  republics,  and  the  subjects  of  European  kingdoms,  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  social  relations. 

By  the  singular  character  of  our  political  association,  each  citizen  contributes  to 
the  maintenance  of  two  governments.  The  sum  paid  to  the  general  government,  by 
the  whole  community  of  the  United  States,  is  the  net  amount  of  duties  after  the 
deduction  of  drawbacks. 

Taking  that  amount  at  twenty-five  millions,*  and  dividing  it  by  fourteen  millions, 
the  probable  population  of  the  United  States,  in  January,  1834,  we  have  a  charge  of 
$  1  78£  nearly.  But  a  more  favorable  view  may  be  taken  of  this  subject.  The 
extent  of  revenue,  required  for  a  liberal  administration  of  the  government,  is  esti- 
mated at  fifteen  millions  of  dollars,  and  it  is  highly  probable,  that  the  nation  will 
not,  for  many  years,  consent  to  pay  a  larger  sum  than  is  requisite,  and  which,  from 
accumulation,  may  become  dangerous  to  her  welfare.  This  sum  would  impose  a 
tax,  supposing  it  be  collected  from  commerce  alone,  and  the  proceeds  of  lands  to  be 
divided  among  the  states,  of  $1  06  and  a  fraction  upon  each  individual. 

From  the  general  statistical  table  of  the  State,  it  appears,  that  for  the  year  1832, 
there  were  levied,  for  State  purposes,  exclusive  of  the  tax  on  banks,       $40,366  71 
Tax  on  banks,  per  treasurer's  report,         .....          11,585  44 
County  tax,  as  per  return  of  assessors,     -----       104,166  00 
Township  taxes,  viz :  Poor,  -         78,131  00 

Road,   ---  -       192,859  00 

School,  -  1,366  00 

271,38(5  00 


427,504  15 

The  militia  expenses,  actually  paid  by  the  treasury  of  the  State,  are  included  in 
the  foregoing  amount;  but  the  time  devoted,  we  had  like  to  have  said,  wasted,  in 
militia  duties,  together  with  the  money  uselessly  expended,  cannot  be  estimated  at 
less  than  one  dollar  for  every  prescribed  day  of  service,  for  each  person  enrolled,  or 
placed  on  the  exempt  list.  There  are  three  training  days  in  the  year.  The  fine  for 
non-attendance  is  two  dollars  per  day,  and  the  sum  paid  by  the  exempt  is  five  dollars 
per  annum,  in  form  of  tax.  Every  officer  and  private  expends,  on  the  day  of  service, 
more  than  would  support  him  at  home.  The  military  force  of  the  State,  by  the 
adjutant  general's  report  for  1832,  amounted  to  $35,360;  that  number  multiplied 
by  four  dollars,  which  we  take  as  the  mesne  expense  of  each  officer,  private,  and 
exempt,  gives  a  total  annual  amount  of  .....  141,440  00 
The  annual  cost  of  religious  instruction,  according  to  the  statement 

hereinafter  given,  -  -  -  120,000  00 

General  government  for  duties  at  179  per  head,  -  -  590,700  00 

State  charges,  including  township  and  county  rates,  at  one  dollar 

twenty-nine  cents  and  five  mills  per  head,  nearly,  -         -         427,504  15 

$1,279,644  15 

*  The  receipts  of  the  treasury,  for  the  three  first  quarters  of  1832,  were  $21,730,717  19; 
and  the  treasurer's  estimate,  fo"r  18.33,  was  twenty-one  millions;  but  it  is  generally  supposed 
that  the  receipt  will  much  exceed  the  estimate. 


52  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

This  sum  divided  by  the  number  of  inhabitants,  (330,000,)  gives  a  charge  of 
$3  86,"  nearly,  upon  each  inhabitant, — for  the  payment  of  principal  and  interest 
of  the  public  debt — the  pension  list — for  the  support  of  the  General  and  State  go- 
vernments— for  the  maintenance  of  schools  in  part — for  the  support  of  the  clergy, 
and  the  founding  and  preservation  of  churches — for  the  support  of  the  poor — for 
making  and  repairing  all  other  than  turnpike  roads,  and  the  erection  of  bridges  by 
the  townships  and  counties — and  in  a  word,  for  all  kinds  of  public  expenditure. 

The  attorney  general  is  the  representative  of  the  State  in  all  the  courts  of  the 
commonwealth,  and  prosecutes  in  her  name  all  offenders  against  her  peace  and 
dignity,  and  sues  and  defends  all  suits  in  which  she  has  an  interest.  Deputy 
attornies  are  appointed  by  the  legislature  for  the  counties  respectively,  whose 
term  of  office  is  five  years;  they  are  vested  in  their  respective  districts  with  the 
same  powers,  entitled  to  the  same  fees,  and  subject  to  the  same  penalties  as 
the  attorney  general.  Yet,  notwithstanding  such  appointment,  he  may  act  in 
such  counties  when  present ;  and  any  court  is  empowered  to  appoint  a  special  sub- 
stitute, for  the  term,  in  case  neither  the  attorney  general  nor  the  general  deputy 
shall  attend.  For  neglect  of  duty,  in  prosecuting  forfeited  recognisances,  fines, 
debts,  &c.  due  to  the  State,  he  may,  on  conviction  before  council,  on  impeachment 
by  the  assembly,  be  disabled  to  act  as  attorney  or  solicitor  in  any  court  of  the  State, 
for  one  year.  The  attorney  general  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  school  fund. 

A  sheriff  is  annually  elected  by  each  county,  who  is  eligible  three  times  consecu- 
tively, but  who,  after  the  third  year,  cannot  be  again  re-elected,  until  after  the  lapse 
of  three  years.  He  must  be,  and  have  been,  an  inhabitant  and  freeholder  of  his 
county  for  at  least  three  years  next  preceding  his  election ;  must  give  bond  to  the 
State  with  five  sureties  in  the  sum  of  $20,000,  approved  by  the  judges  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty,  and  make  oath  or 
affirmation  to  like  effect;  both  of  which  are  filed  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk. 
If  he  fail  to  give  such  bond  and  take  such  oath,  a  new  election  may  be  had;  but  this 
done,  he  may  act  before  receipt  of  commission  from  the  governor.  When  occasion 
requires,  suits  may  be  instituted  on  his  bond,  by  order  of  that  officer.  He  is  par 
excellence  the  executive  officer  of  his  county,  is  the  chief  conservator  of  its  peace, 
and  has  authority  to  call  forth  and  direct  its  physical  force  to  maintain  the  laws. 
He  has  charge  of  the  jails  of  the  county,  and  is  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  their 
keepers.  He  summons  all  juries,  and  executes  all  process  civil  and  criminal  issuing 
from  the  courts,  and  carries  their  judgments  into  effect.  He  may  appoint  deputies, 
who  give  bond  and  make  oath  for  faithful  performance  of  their  duties,  and  have 
their  appointment  filed  with  the  county  clerk.  At  the  request  of  the  United  States, 
and  by  the  statute  of  this  State,  he  has  charge  of  prisoners  committed  by  authority 
of  the  general  government.  He  may  not,  during  the  continuance  of  his  office,  act 
as  justice  of  the  peace  or  keep  tavern ;  nor  become  bail  in  any  suit.  In  case  of  his 
death,  removal  or  disability,  a  new  election  is  had  upon  certificate  thereof  by  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  to  the  county  clerk ;  and  during  the  vacancy,  the  duties  of  his  office 
may  be  performed  by  the  coroner. 

Three  coroners  are  annually  elected  in  each  county,  must  be  inhabitants  and 
freeholders,  and  be  commissioned  by  the  governor ;  but  may  act  before  commis- 
sion; and  must  take  oath,  faithfully  to  execute  their  duties.  The  coroner,  as  we 
have  seen  above,  is  the  substitute  for  the  sheriff  where  the  office  of  the  latter  is  va- 
cant, or  where  under  particular  circumstances,  as  when  the  sheriff  is  interested  or 

*  The  Revue  Britarrique,  No  12,  for  1831,  avers,  that  notwithstanding  the  asserted 
economy  of  the  American  republic,  its  expenses  exceeded,  proportionably  to  its  popula- 
tion, those  of  the  French  monarchy.  The  charge  upon  each  individual  in  France  is  admit- 
ted, by  the  reviewer,  to  be  31  francs,  and  that~in  the  United  States  is  asserted,  to  be  35 
francs.  The  French  estimate  does  not  include  ecclesiastical  expenses,  the  sums  paid  for 
the  extinction  of  the  public  debt,  the  maintenance  of  the  poor,  the  charges  for  education 
and  other  expenses,  whilst  our  estimate  contains  all  these.  Valuing  the  dollar  at  5  francs 
33  centimes,  the  charge  on  each  individual  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey  would  be  20  francs 
69  cts.  But  if  we  include,  in  the  American  impost,  no  other  charges  than  those  of  the 
French  estimate,  the  American  citizen,  by  the  rate  paid  in  this  State,  does  not  pay  for 
every  species  of  taxation,  more  than  one-third  of  the  amount  of  the  French  subject,  whose 
burden  is  less  than  that  of  the  subject  of  any  other  of  the  principal  monarchies  in  Europe. 
The  burden  on  the  people  of  New  Jersey  is,  perhaps,  something  less  than  that  upon  the 
citizens  of  some  of  the  other  Slates,  which  may  have  contracted  considerable  debts;  but 
it  is  larger  than  is  imposed  in  most  of  the  Western  States,  and,  we  think,  may  be  taken 
as  a  fair  average  of  charges  throughout  the  Union. 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  53 

has  not  given  bond,  he  is  disqualified.  Where  any  writ  from  any  court  is  directed 
to  the  coroner,  the  return  made  and  signed  by  one  of  them  is  sufficient,  but  such  re- 
turn does  not  prejudice  or  affect  the  rest.  The  most  ordinary  duty  of  the  coroner, 
however,  is  to  take  inquests  relative  to  deaths  in  prison,  and  of  all  violent,  sudden 
or  casual  deaths  within  his  county ;  which  he  performs  through  a  jury  summoned 
on  his  writ,  by  the  constable,  and  over  which  he  presides. 

The  constable  is  the  next  in  grade,  but  is  not  the  least  important  of  the  executive 
officers.  He  is  annually  elected  by  the  qualified  voters  of  the  township,  of  which 
he  may  be  considered  the  sheriff.  He  makes  oath  or  affirmation,  and  gives  bond  to 
the  township,  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty.  He  executes  all  process 
from  the  justices'  courts,  and  that  issued  by  coroner  on  inquest  of  death ;  and  he  is 
charged  \yith  various  executive  duties,  the  performance  of  which  moves  from  him- 
self. Thus,  he  is  a  conservator  of  the  peace,  and  may  arrest  and  confine  persons 
found  in  breach  of  it,  or  contravening  the  act  for  the  suppression  of  vice  and  immo- 
rality; may  call  out  the  inhabitants  to  extinguish  fires  in  forests,  &c. ;  may  make 
proclamation  in  case  of  riots,  and  seize  rioters ;  may  arrest  and  disperse  slaves  meet- 
ing together  in  an  unlawful  manner,  and  the  like. 

All  officers  of  the  State  appointed  by  the  legislature  in  joint  meeting,  must  reside 
within  the  State,  and  execute  in  person  such  office;  except,  that,  the  surrogate  ge- 
neral may  appoint  deputies ;  officers  of  counties  must  reside  within  their  respective 
counties,  and  are  prohibited  from  farming  out  their  offices  to  others,  under  penalty  of 
five  hundred  pounds.  Such  officers  desirous  of  resigning,  must  make  their  resigna- 
tion during  the  sitting  of  the  legislature,  and  to  the  members  thereof  in  joint  meeting, 
attending  in  person  for  that  purpose,  or  by  letter.  And  every  officer  issuing  or 
executing  a  warrant  for  removing  a  prisoner  out  of  the  State,  an  inhabitant  thereof, 
as  prohibited  by  the  habeas  corpus  act,  is  disqualified  to  hold  office,  and  is  punish- 
able by  fine  and  imprisonment  at  hard  labour.  The  civil  office  of  any  person  held 
under  the  State,  is  vacated  by  election  and  acceptance  by  the  incumbent  of  a  seat 
in  congress;  the  office  of  governor  is  also  vacated,  if  incumbent  accept  of  any  office 
or  appointment  under  the  United  States,  except  such  as  may  be  for  defence  of  the 
State  or  adjoining  posts;  and  the  seat  of  a  member  of  council  or  assembly  is  also 
vacated  by  such  election  and  acceptance,  and  by  the  acceptance  of  any  appoint- 
ment under  the  government  of  the  United  States.  All  officers  elected  in  joint  meet- 
ing neglecting  or  refusing  to  qualify  themselves  for  the  space  of  two  months  after 
information  of  their  election,  make  void  their  posts.  No  alien  can  hold,  or  elect  to 
anv  office. 

The  officers  of  the  state  prison  are  essential  arms  of  the  executive  power,  since 
they  aid  in  executing  the  judgments  of  the  law.  They  consist  of  three  inspectors, 
two  of  whom  make  a  quorum,  appointed  annually,  in  joint  meeting  by  the  assem- 
bly ;  the  keeper  nominated  and  removable  by  the  inspectors,  and  his  deputies  and 
assistants  appointed  by  him  and  approved  by  the  inspectors.  The  inspectors  are 
empowered  to  examine  the  accounts  of  the  keeper,  and  any  witness  in  relation 
thereto,  including  the  keeper,  upon  oath  ;  to  appoint  annually  or  oftener,  one  of 
their  number  acting  inspector;  to  meet  as  often  as  shall  be  necessary,  and  at  least 
quarterly;  and  the  acting  inspector  is  required  to  attend  the  prison,  at  least  once  a 
week  to  inspect  the  management  thereof,  and  the  conduct  of  the  keeper  and  his  de- 
puties; to  make  regulations  to  give  effect  to  the  law,  for  the  punishment  of  crimes 
and  the  good  government  of  the  prison ;  to  punish  prisoners  in  case  of  refractory, 
disorderly  behaviour,  or  disobedience  to  the  rules  of  the  prison,  by  confinement  in 
the  cells  and  dungeons  on  bread  and  water  for  any  time  not  exceeding  twenty  days 
for  one  offence,  and  for  prevention  or  escapes,  to  put  prisoners  in  irons;  to  appoint 
an  agent  where  they  may  deem  proper,  for  the  sale  of  articles  manufactured  in  the 
prison.  If  any  vacancy  happen  in  the  board  during  the  recess  of  the  legislature,  it 
may  be  filled  by  the  governor.  The  inspectors  are  allowed  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  per  day,  for  every  day  necessarily  employed  in  the  duties  of  their  office. 

The  keeper,  before  entering  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  is  required  to  give  bond  to 
the  State  treasurer,  with  two  sureties  in  the  sum  of  $1,000,  conditioned  that  he,  his 
deputy  and  assistants,  shall  faithfully  perform  their  trusts,  to  be  filed  in  the  office  of 
the  secretary  of  state.  He  receives  a  salary  of  $1,000,  and  his  six  assistants  each 
$475.  per  annum.  The  keeper  is  required  to  receive  all  prisoners  duly  committed 
to  his  custody,  to  treat  them  as  directed  by  law  and  the  rules  of  the  prison ;  to  pro- 
vide, with  the  approbation  of  the  inspectors,  stock,  materials  and  tools  for  prisoners ; 
to  contract  for  their  clothing  and  diet,  and  for  the  sale  of  the  produce  of  their  la- 


54  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

bour;  to  keep  accounts  of  the  maintenance  of  offenders,  of  the  materials  furnished, 
and  manufactures  produced,  subject  to  the  inspection  of  inspectors,  and  to  furnish 
an  abstract  thereof  to  the  legislature.  He  may  punish  offenders  guilty  of  assaults, 
where  no  dangerous  wound  or  bruise  is  given,  of  profane  cursing  or  swearing,  inde- 
cent behaviour,  idleness,  negligence  or  wilful  mismanagement  in  work,  or  disobe- 
dience to  regulations,  by  confining  offenders  in  the  cells  or  dungeons  on  bread  and 
water,  for  a  time  not  exceeding  two  days;  and  in  case  of  offences  which  he  is  not 
authorized  to  punish,  he  is  required  to  make  report  to  the  inspectors.  The  keeper, 
his  deputy  or  assistant,  who  shall  obstruct  the  inspectors  in  the  exercise  of  their 
powers,  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  $30,  and  removal  from  office. 

It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  work  to  detail  the  system  of  criminal  jurispru- 
dence in  the  State.  But  we  may,  with  propriety,  observe,  that  so  early  as  1789, 
she  adopted  the  humane  principles  which  now  characterize  the  criminal  laws  of 
the  Union ;  abolishing  the  punishment  of  death  in  all  cases,  save  treason  and  mur- 
der, and  applying  imprisonment  and  hard  labour  to  the  correction  of  other  offences 
in  proportion  to  their  enormity,  and  seeking  to  reclaim  the  offender  from  the  evil  of 
his  ways.  With  these  views  she  has  constructed  and  regulated  her  penitentiary, 
and  advancing  with  the  improvements  of  the  age,  has,  in  the  year  1833,  directed  the 
building  of  a  new  State  prison  upon  the  latest  and  most  approved  models. 

The  first  steps  in  the  science  of  reforming  criminals  in  this,  as  in  other  States, 
have  been  unsteady,  uncertain,  and  tending  to  thwart,  rather  than  to  effect,  the  pro- 
posed object.  The  prisons  have  every  where  been  too  small,  and  have  not  been  con- 
structed upon  plans  which  would  admit  of  the  indispensable  separation  of  the 
prisoners;  and  have,  from  the  free  intercommunion  of  the  criminals,  been  converted 
into  schools  of  vice,  instead  of  asylums  for  repentance,  where  the  convict  might  se- 
curely and  unimpeded  by  ridicule  or  seduction,  pursue  the  work  of  his  own  regene- 
ration. The  effects  of  this  system  are  but  too  truly  stated  by  the  late  governor 
De  Vroom,  in  his  message  to  the  legislature  of  1832.  "  The  situation  of  our 
prison,"  he  says,  "is  such  as  to  invite  to  the  commission  of  crime  within  our  State. 
Its  condition  is  well  known  to  that  class  of  offenders  who  are  familiar  with  punish- 
ments. It  offers  to  them  all  the  allurements  of  that  kind  of  society  which  they  have 
long  been  accustomed  to,  freed  from  the  restraints  to  which  they  would  be  obliged 
to  submit  in  other  places  of  confinement,  and  at  the  same  time  holds  out  a  prospect 
of  speedy  escape.  To  this  may  be  attributed  the  great  number  of  our  convicts,  and 
as  long  as  it  continues,  we  may  expect  our  prisons  to  be  filled.  Within  the  last 
three  years,  the  number  has  increased  from  eighty-seven  to  one  hundred  and  thirty, 
being  an  increase  of  fifty  per  cent.  The  remedy  for  these  evils,  now  obvious,  was 
the  adoption  of  a  system  of  penitentiary  discipline,  combining  solitary  confinement 
at  labour,  with  instruction  in  labour,  in  morals,  and  religion."  This  system  has  been 
partially  adopted  by  the  act  of  13th  February,  1833,  authorizing  the  construction  of 
a  penitentiary  on  the  plan  of  the  Eastern  Penitentiary  of  Pennsylvania,  with  such 
alterations  and  improvements  as  the  commissioners  may  approve,  adhering  to  the 
principle  of  separate  confinement  of  the  prisoners,  with  hard  labour.  The  estimate 
of  the  cost  of  this  building  is  $150,000,  and  it  is  to  be  of  sufficient  capacity  for  the 
confinement  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons.  The  system  will  be  further  perfected 
by  modelling  the  criminal  law  to  the  new  species  of  punishment,  when  the  prison 
shall  have  been  completed.  That  the  reader  may  have  some  idea  of  the  plan  of  the 
penitentiary  now  being  erected  on  the  lot  belonging  to  the  State,  near  the  old  state 
prison,  we  give  the  following  description  of  its  model. 

"  The  Eastern  State  Penitentiary  is  situated  on  one  of  the  most  elevated,  airy, 
and  healthy  sites  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The  ground  occupied  by  it,  contains 
about  10  acres.  The  material  with  which  the  edifices  are  built  is  gneiss,  in  large 
masses;  every  room  is  vaulted,  and  fire  proof.  The  design  and  execution,  impart  a 
grave,  severe  and  awful  character  to  the  external  aspect.  The  effect  on  the  ima- 
gination of  the  spectator  is  peculiarly  impressive,  solemn  and  instructive.  The  ar- 
chitecture is  in  keeping  with  the  design.  The  broad  masses,  the  small  and  well 
proportioned  apertures,  the  continuity  of  lines,  and  the  bold  simplicity  which  cha- 
racterize the  facade,  are  happily  and  judiciously  combined.  This  is  the  only  edifice 
in  this  country,  which  conveys  an  idea  of  the  external  appearance  of  those  magnifi- 
cent and  picturesque  castles  of  the  middle  ages,  which  contribute  so  eminently  to 
embellish  the  scenery  of  Europe.  The  front  is  composed  of  large  blocks  of  hewn 
stone ;  the  walls  are  12  feet  thick  at  the  base,  and  diminish  to  the  top,  where  they 
are  2  3-4  feet  in  thickness.  A  wall  of  forty  feet  in  height,  above  the  interior  plat- 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  55 

form,  incloses  an  area  640  feet  square ;  at  each  angle  of  the  wall  is  a  tower,  for  the 
purpose  of  overlooking  the  establishment;  three  other  towers  are  situated  near  the 
gate  of  entrance.  The  facade  or  principal  front  is  670  feet  in  length,  and  reposes 
on  a  terrace,  which,  from  the  inequalities  of  the  ground,  varies  from  three  to  nine 
feet  in  height;  the  basement  or  belting  course,  which  is  10  feet  high,  is  scarped, 
and  extends  uniformly  the  whole  length.  The  central  building  is  200  feet  in 
length,  consists  of  two  projecting  massive  square  towers,  50  feet  high,  crowned  by 
projecting  embattled  parapets,  supported  by  pointed  arches,  resting  on  corbets  or 
brackets.  The  pointed,  munnioned  windows  in  these  towers,  contribute  in  a  high 
degree  to  their  picturesque  effect.  The  curtain  between  the  towers  is  41  feet  high, 
and  is  finished  with  a  parapet  and  embrasures.  The  pointed  windows  in  it  are  very 
lofty  and  narrow.  The  great  gateway  in  the  centre  is  a  very  conspicuous  feature ; 
it  is  27  feet  high,  and  15  wide,  and  is  filled  by  a  massive  wrought  iron  portcullis, 
and  double  oaken  gates,  studded  with  projecting  iron  rivets,  the  whole  weighing 
several  tons;  nevertheless,  they  can  be  opened  with  the  greatest  facility.  On  each 
side  of  this  entrance,  (which  is  the  most  imposing  in  the 'United  States,)  are  enor- 
mous solid  buttresses,  diminishing  in  offsets,  and  terminating  in  pinnacles.  A  lofty 
octangular  tower,  80  feet  high,  containing  an  alarm  bell  and  clock,  surmounts  this 
entrance,  and  forms  a  picturesque  proportional  centre.  On  each  side  of  this  main 
building,  (which  contains  the  apartments  of  the  warden,  keepers,  domestics,  &c.) 
are  screen  wing  walls,  which  appear  to  constitute  portions  of  the  main  edifice; 
they  are  pierced  with  small  blank  pointed  windows,  and  are  surmounted  by  a  para- 
pet; at  their  extremities  are  high  octangular  towers,  terminating  in  parapets, 
pierced  by  embrasures.  In  the  centre  of  the  great  court  is  an  observatory, 
whence  long  corridors,  eight  in  number,  radiate.  On  each  side  of  these  cor- 
ridors, the  cells  are  situated,  each  at  right  angles  to  them,  and  communicating 
with  them  only  by  small  openings,  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  prisoner 
with  food,  &c.,  and  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  his  movements  without  at- 
tracting his  attention ;  other  apertures,  for  the  admission  of  cool  or  heated  air, 
and  for  the  purpose  of  ventilation,  are  provided.  A  novel  and  ingenious  con- 
trivance in  each  cell,  prevents  the  possibility  of  conversation,  preserves  the  purity 
of  the  atmosphere  of  the  cells,  and  dispenses  with  the  otherwise  unavoidable 
necessity  of  leaving  the  apartment,  except  when  the  regulations  permit — flues 
conduct  heated  air  from  large  cockle  stoves  to  the  cells.  Light  is  admitted  by  a 
large  circular  glass  in  the  crown  of  the  arch,  which  is  raking,  and  the  highest  part 
16  feet  six  inches  above  the  floor,  (which  is  of  wood,  overlaying  a  solid  foundation 
of  stone.)  The  walls  are  plaistered,  and  neatly  whitewashed;  the  cells  are  11  feet 
nine  inches  long,  and  seven  feet  six  inches  wide ;  at  the  extremity  of  the  cell,  op- 
posite to  the  apertures  for  inspection,  &c.,  previously  mentioned,  is  the  door-way, 
containing  two  doors;  one  of  lattice  work  or  grating,  to  admit  the  air  and  secure  the 
prisoner ;  the  other,  composed  of  planks,  to  exclude  the  air,  if  required ;  this  door 
leads  to  a  yard  (18  feet  by  eight,  the  walls  of  which  are  ll£  feet  in  height,)  at- 
tached to  each  cell.  The  number  of  the  latter,  erected  on  the  original  plan,  was 
only  266,  but  it  may  be  increased  to  818  without  resorting  to  the  addition  of  second 
stories." 

For  the  better  administration  of  the  government,  the  State  has  been  divided  into 
counties,  townships,  cities  and  boroughs.  The  object  of  these  divisions  is  to  allocate 
and  circumscribe  the  duties  of  the  various  administrative  officers,  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  laws,  civil  and  criminal,  the  collection  of  the  revenues  required  by  the 
commonwealth  and  its  subdivisions,  and,  more  especially,  the  better  to  enable  the  ci- 
tizens to  promote  their  own  happiness  by  the  improvement  of  the  roads,  bridges, 
&c.,  the  education  of  their  offspring,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  indigent.  The 
division  into  counties  is  the  most  general,  and  embraces  the  others,  all  of  which  were 
readily  adopted  by  the  first  English  settlers,  upon  their  coming  hither,  from  models 
to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  in  Europe.  Several  of  the  counties  were  or- 
ganized before  the  year  1709;  but  many  inconveniences  having  arisen  from  the  im- 
perfect definition  of  their  boundaries,  the  limits  of  Bergen,  Essex,  Somerset,  Mon- 
mouth,  Middlesex,  Burlington,  Gloucester,  Salem,  and  Cape  May,  were  accurately 
designated  by  an  act  of  assembly,  passed  21st  January,  of  that  year.  These  limits 
have  been  since  modified,  in  the  erection  of  Hunterdon,  Morris,  Salem,  Sussex, 
Warren,  and  Cumberland  counties  (for  which  see  the  titles  respectively  of  these 
counties).  By  an  act  of  9th  March,  1798,  provision  has  been  made  for  ascertaining 
the  bounds  of  each  county  and  township,  in  case  of  any  dispute  in  relation  to  them. 


56  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

The  State  contains  at  present  14  counties  and  125  townships.  The  use  of  these 
divisions  will  be  better  understood  by  examining  first  the  constitution  of  the  town- 
ships. These  are  made  bodies  corporate  by  the  act  of  21st  February,  1798;  and 
new  ones  are  created,  and  so  constituted,  by  special  laws,  as  the  public  convenience 
requires.  They  are  thus  empowered  to  sue,  and  be  sued,  by  process  left  with  the 
county  clerks.  And  the  qualified  inhabitants  are  authorized  to  hold  town  meetings 
in  their  respective  townships,  upon  specified  days,  and,  also,  on  special  convocation, 
at  such  places  as  the  electors  may  from  time  to  time  appoint.  At  such  meetings, 
every  white  male  citizen  of  the  State,  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  having  re- 
sided within  the  township  six  calendar  months,  and  paid  taxes  therein ;  or  being 
seized  of  a  freehold,  or  having  rented  a  tenement,  of  the  yearly  value  of  five 
dollars,  for  the  term  of  one  year  therein,  is  entitled  to  vote.  A  presiding  officer, 
appointed  by  a  plurality  of  voices,  directs  the  business  of  the  meeting,  and  deter- 
mines who  have  or  have  not  the  right  to  participate  therein;  and  to  preserve 
order  he  may  expel,  and  fine  not  exceeding  one  dollar,  the  unruly,  and  even  im- 
prison an  offender  during  the  session  of  the  meeting.  The  voters  of  the  township 
may  make  regulations  and  by-laws,  from  time  to  time,  as  they  may  deem  proper,  for 
improving  their  common  lands  in  tillage  or  otherwise,  and  for  the  making  and  main- 
taining pounds;  and  may  enforce  such  regulations  by  fine,  not  exceeding  twelve 
dollars,  for  each  offence  ;  the  regulations  to  be  recorded  by  the  clerk  of  the  township, 
in  a  book  kept  for  the  purpose.  Such  meeting  may,  also,  provide  and  allow  rewards 
for  the  destruction  of  noxious  animals  ;  may  raise  money  for  the  support  of  the  indi- 
gent, and  education  of  poor  children ;  the  building  and  rearing  of  pounds,  the 
making  and  repairing  of  roads,  the  ascertaining  the  lines  of  the  township,  defending 
its  rights,  and  for  other  necessary  charges  and  legal  objects  and  purposes  as  the 
major  part  may  deem  proper ;  being  such  as  are  expressly  vested  in  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  several  townships,  by  some  act  of  the  legislature.  The  meeting  may 
elect  annually,  and  whenever  there  shall  be  a  vacancy,  one  clerk,  one  or  more  assess- 
ors, one  or  more  collectors,  who  must  give  bond,  with  surety,  for  the  faithful  per- 
formance of  their  duties  ;  three  or  more  freeholders,  to  determine  appeals  relative  to 
assessments  in  taxation  ;  three  school  committee  men ;  two  freeholders,  commonly 
called  chosen  freeholders;  two  surveyors  of  the  highways;  one  or  more  overseers  of 
the  poor;  one  or  more  constables;  so  many  overseers  of  the  highways,  and  pound- 
keepers,  as  they  shall  judge  necessary ;  one  reputable  freeholder  as  judge  of  elec- 
tions; and  five  freeholders,  denominated  the  township  committee — whose  duty  is 
to  examine  and  report  to  the  town  meeting  the  accounts  and  vouchers  of  the 
township  officers,  to  superintend  the  expenditure  of  monies  of  the  township,  and 
in  case  of  neglect  of  the  township  meeting  to  supply  vacancies,  to  fill  such  vacan- 
cies, among  the  township  officers  as  may  occur.  Service  in  a  township  office  for  one 
year,  or  payment  of  a  fine  for  refusal  to  serve,  excuses  the  party  from  services  in 
such  office  for  five  years  thereafter. 

The  townships  being  thus  empowered  to  select  their  officers,  and  to  provide  for 
their  wants,  are  made  responsible  for  the  proper  performance  of  duty  by  their  agents; 
and  may  be  fined  for  the  bad  condition  of  the  roads,  and  compelled  to  make  good 
any  loss  sustained  in  the  collection  of  state  and  county  taxes,  by  the  unfaithfulness 
of  the  collectors. 

The  chosen  freeholders  of  the  several  townships  of  each  county,  form  the  admi- 
nistrative council,  or  board  of  the  county.  They  are,  also,  incorporated,  by  the  act  of 
13th  February,  1798,  with  power,  to  sue  and  liability  to  be  sued;  to  hold  lands  and 
chattels,  &c.  in  trust  for  their  respective  counties,  and  for  such  uses  as  may  be  desig- 
nated by  law,  and  to  sell  and  dispose  of  the  same ;  to  make  and  enforce  such  regu- 
lations as  may  be  necessary  for  the  government  of  their  respective  corporations,  not 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  State;  to  raise,  at  their  annual  or  other  meeting  held  for 
the  purpose,  monies  for  the  building,  purchase  or  repairs  of  poor-houses,  gaols, 
court-houses  and  bridges;  the  surveying  and  ascertaining  the  lines,  the  prosecuting 
and  defending  the  rights,  defraying  the  public  and  other  necessary  charges,  and  ex- 
ecuting the  legal  purposes  and  objects  of  the  county,  as  the  major  part  of  them  shall 
deem  proper;  which  monies  are  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  corporation: 
to  elect,  annually,  and  pro  tempore  in  case  of  absence  or  refusal  to  act,  a  director  to 
preside  at  the  meeting  of  the  board  ;  to  meet,  annually,  upon  the  second  Wednesday 
in  May,  at  the  county  town  ;  to  elect  a  clerk  annually,  who  shall  record  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  board ;  and  a  county  collector,  a  freeholder  and  resident  of  the 
county,  who  shall  give  bond,  with  sureties,  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty  ; 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  57 

to  raise  monies  voted  by  the  board,  by  precepts  to  the  assessors  of  the  respective 
townships,  commanding  them  to  assess  such  amount  on  the  inhabitants  and  their  es- 
tates, agreeably  to  the  law  for  the  time  being,  for  raising  money  by  taxation  for  the 
use  of  the  State. 

When  the  lines  of  the  county  have  not  been  surveyed  and  distinctly  marked,  the 
freeholders,  by  prescribed  form,  may  apply  to  the  Supreme  Court  for  commissioners 
to  survey  them.  They  may,  also,  at  their  discretion,  build  or  purchase  a  workhouse 
within  their  county,  and  provide  for  its  government,  and  the  employment  of  its 
inhabitants;  and  may  establish  a  market,  once  or  oftener  in  every  year,  within  the 
county,  for  the  sale  of  live  stock,  to  continue  not  more  than  four  days,  and  establish 
laws  for  its  regulation. 

From  all  assessments,  an  appeal  lies  to  the  commissioners  of  appeal,  who  hold 
stated  and  special  meetings  at  the  usual  place  of  the  respective  town  meetings,  at- 
tended by  the  proper  assessor,  and  have  power  to  summon  and  qualify  witnesses, 
and  whose  decision  upon  the  case  is  final. 

The  township  collector  is  charged,  with  the  collection,  within  his  precinct,  of  all 
taxes,  whether  levied  by  the  township,  county  or  state;  to  make  return  of  default- 
ers in  payment,  on  oath,  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  who  is  required  to  issue  his  war- 
rant, to  the  constable  of  the  township,  for  levying  the  tax  by  distress  and  sale  of  the 
goods,  or  imprisonment  of  the  delinquent;  and  the  constable  must  account  with  the 
township  collector.  And  such  collector  and  constable  are  respectively  required  to 
render  to  the  people,  in  township  meeting,  an  account  of  monies  by  them  received, 
and  to  pay,  according  to  their  direction,  any  overplus  which  may  be  in  their  hands. 

All  monies  levied  for  county  use  are  to  be  paid  by  the  respective  township  collec- 
tors, on  or  before  the  22d  day  of  December,  annually,  to  the  proper  county  collector, 
who,  in  case  of  default,  may  proceed  summarily  against  them.  Monies  levied  for 
State  use,  are  to  be  paid  to  the  state  treasurer  by  the  county  collector  on  or  before 
the  30th  December,  annually  ;  and  such  tax  money,  as  he  may  receive  from  sheriffs, 
within  ten  days  after  the  same  shall  have  been  paid ;  and  in  case  of  the  default  of 
any  county  collector,  the  state  treasurer  may  recover  from  him,  for  the  use  of  the 
State,  the  penalty  of  fifty  dollars,  before  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  who  has  ex- 
clusive cognizance  thereof;  and  when  such  collectors  shall  not  have  paid  over 
monies  received  by  them,  the  same  may  be  recovered  by  the  state  treasurer  by  proper 
action  at  law.  The  counties  are  responsible  for  all  monies  belonging  to  the  State, 
received  by  the  county  treasurer,  and  not  paid  over  by  him  to  the  state  treasurer. 
And  it  is  (he  duty  of  the  latter  to  add  the  annual  deficiency  of  each  county,  to  the 
quota  of  the  county  for  the  subsequent  year ;  and  of  the  county  collector  to  charge 
such  deficiency,  and  also  deficiency  of  county  tax,  to  the  delinquent  township. 

The  county  collector  disburses  the  monies  of  the  county  upon  the  orders  of  the 
board  of  chosen  freeholders,  and  for  neglect  or  refusal  so  to  do,  or  to  perform  any  of 
the  duties  connected  with  the  levy  of  taxes  imposed  by  such  board,  he  is  subjected 
to  a  penalty  of  300  dollars. 

Thus,  in  these  subdivisions  of  the  State,  we  have  examples  of  a  pure  democracy 
and  simple  representative  government.  The  people  in  their  township  meetings,  (and 
the  word  township  comprehends  precincts  and  wards,)  discuss  their  common  wants, 
propose  the  remedies,  and  appoint  the  agents  to  give  them  effect.  In  the  larger  dis- 
tricts, where  legislation  in  their  proper  persons  would  prove  inconvenient,  as  well  by 
the  distance  of  the  people  from  each  other,  as  from  their  number  when  collected,  the 
citizens  have  devolved  the  necessary  legislative  power  upon  agents,  endowed  also 
with  an  adequate  executive  capacity.  This  system  works  well,  and  might,  possibly, 
be  beneficially  extended,  by  enlarging  the  sphere  of  action  of  the  chosen  freeholders, 
particularly,  in  giving  effect  to  a  general  and  uniform  system  of  education. 

Having  thus  incidentally  noticed  the  taxation  of  the  townships  and  counties,  we 
may  give  here  the  provisions  for  raising  revenues  for  the  State,  to  which  those  in 
other  cases  are  analagous.  [See  Note  A.] 

1.  The  legislature  annually  ascertains  what  sum  of  money  will  be  requisite  for 
State  expenses  during  the  succeeding  year,  and  passes  an  act  apportioning  such  sum 
among  the  several  counties,  in  a  ratio  of  their  wealth  and  population,  and  fixes  a 
day  for  the  payment  of  the  respective  quotas. 

2.  On  certain  subjects  of  taxation,  they  direct  specific  sums  to  be  levied,  viz:  on 
stud  horses  above  three  years  old,  any  sum  not  exceeding  10  dollars;  on  other  horses 
and  mules  of  like  age,  any  sum  not  exceeding  six  cents ;  and  on  neat  cattle  three 
years  old  and  upwards,  any  surn  not  exceeding  four  cents. 

H 


58  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

3.  The  following  subjects  of  taxation  are  valued  and  rated  at  the  discretion  of  the 
assessor,  viz  :  tracts  of  land  at  any  sum  not  exceeding  100  dollars  the  hundred 
acres.  But  houses  and  lots  of  ten  acres  and  under,  are  rated  with  regard  to  their 
yearly  rent  and  value.* 

Householders,  (under  which  description  all  married  men  are  included,  the  esti- 
mated value  of  whose  rateable  estate  does  not  exceed  30  dollars,)  three  dollars  over 
and  above  their  certainties  and  other  rateable  estate ;  merchants,  shopkeepers  and 
traders,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars ;  fisheries,  ten  dollars ;  grist  mills,  six  dollars  the 
run  of  stones ;  cotton  manufactories  thirty  dollars ;  sail  duck  manufactories,  ten 
dollars;  woollen  manufactories,  ten  dollars;  carding  machines,  unconnected  with 
cotton  or  woollen  manufactories,  and  propelled  by  water  or  steam,  three  dollars;  all 
furnaces,  (other  than  blast)  ten  dollars;  blast  furnaces,  thirty  dollars;  saw  mills,  for 
each  saw,  eight  dollars;  forges  that  work  pig  iron,  and  forges  and  bloomeries  that 
work  bar  iron  immediately  from  ore  or  cinders,  for  each  fire,  six  dollars ;  rolling  and 
slitting  mills,  ten  dollars ;  paper  mills,  eight  dollars;  snuff  and  oil  mills,  nine  dollars ; 
powder  mills,  fifteen  dollars;  fullingmills,  unconnected  with  woollen  manufactory,  four 
dollars ;  every  ferry  or  toll  bridge,  twenty  dollars;  tan  yards,  each  vat,  thirty  cents; 
every  single  man,  two  dollars;  but  if  he  possess  rateable  estate,  the  tax  whereof 
amounts  to  that  sum,  then  for  such  estate  only ;  no  person  taxed  as  a  single  man 
may  be  taxed  as  a  householder;  every  male  slave,  able  to  labour,  under  the  age  of 
sixty  years,  one  dollar ;  distillery  for  grain,  molasses  or  other  foreign  material,  thir- 
ty-five dollars;  other  distillery,  nine  dollars  ;  coach  or  chariot,  five  dollars;  phaeton, 
coachee  or  four-wheeled  chaise,  with  steel  or  iron  springs,  four  dollars;  four  horse 
stage  wagon,  five  dollars;  two  horse  stage  wagon,  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents; 
covered  wagon,  with  frame  or  fixed  top,  one  dollar;  two  horse  chair,  curricle,  and 
every  two  horse  riding  chair,  with  steel  or  iron  springs,  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents; 
riding  chair,  gig,  sulkey  or  pleasure  wagon,  dearborn  wagon,  with  steel,  iron  or 
wooden  springs,  seventy-five  cents;  printing,  bleaching  and  dying  company,  five 
dollars;  glass  factory,  five  dollars. 

The  assessor  is  required  to  enter  In  his  tax  book  and  duplicate,  a  valuation  of  the 
real  estate,  having  regard  to  the  yearly  rent  and  value  thereof,  and  the  amount  of 
tax  assessed  in  each  township,  above  that  raised  from  the  certainties,  is  to  be  levied 
by  a  per  centage  upon  such  valution. 

He  is  required  between  the  20th  of  June  and  20th  August,  annually,  to  make  an 
exact  list  of  the  persons,  lands,  chattels  and  estates,  including  certainties,  made 
rateable  by  law  in  that  year,  by  which  all  assessments  during  the  year  is  regulated ; 
and  persons  refusing  to  render  an  account,  or  rendering  a  false  one,  are  liable  to  be 
doubly  taxed. 

The  assessors  of  the  several  townships  of  the  county  meet  at  the  seat  of  justice, 
on  the  first  Monday  of  September,  annually,  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  the  certain- 
ties, and  to  estimate  the  estates,  real  and  personal,  taken  by  the  assessors  of  each 
tewnship,  at  such  valuation  as  a  majority  present  shall  think  just,  according  to  law, 
and  thereby  to  adjust  and  fix  the  quota  of  tax  to  be  levied  in  each  township ;  and  it 
is  their  duty  at  such  meeting  to  make  out  two  abstracts  of  the  rateables  in  each  town- 
ship, signed  by  the  assessors  present,  and  to  deliver  the  same  to  the  county  treasu- 
rer, who  is  required  to  lay  one  of  such  abstracts  before  the  legislature  during  the 
first  week  of  their  stated  annual  session ;  and  within  fifteen  days  after  their  meet- 
ing, a  duplicate  of  such  assessment  shall  be  delivered  by  the  assessors  to  the  town- 
ship and  county  collectors;  the  last  of  whom  is  required  also  to  lay  such  duplicate, 
at  the  time  abovementioned,  before  the  legislature. 

The  amount  of  the  certainties  being  deducted  from  the  quota  of  each  township, 

*  The  rationale  of  this  arbitrary  limitation  to  the  value  of  the  lands,  is  not  very  apparent.  It 
is  not  possible  in  any  case,  due  regard  to  relative  value  being  preserved,  that  the  valuation  can 
approximate  to  the  true  marketable  value  of  lands,  which  is  in  many  cases  more  than  fifty 
times  the  maximum  of  the  statutory  limitation.  The  assessor  must  make  his  valuation  by 
adopting  a  maximum  or  minimum/always  arbitrary,  from  which  to  commence  his  gradation, 
and  determine  the  value  of  the  several  classes  of  property  by  the  best  comparison  in  his  power. 
If  the  rule  for  valuation  be  uniform  in  all  the  counties,  the  taxation  will  be  equal  ?  But  how 
is  this  uniformity  to  be  obtained — to  what  standard  shall  an  appeal  be  made.  It  is  certain  that 
this  mode  of  valuation  affords  no  means  of  judging  of  the  wealth  of  the  several  counties,  nor 
of  comparing  the  value  of  lands  in  this  state  with  that  of  lands  in  other  states.  If  the  standard 
of  valuation  were  the  marketable  value  of  lands,  though  a  variable  one,  it  would  be  one  of  easy 
attainment  5  and  inequality,  designed  or  accidental,  could  be  detected  by  a  standard  that  was 
notorious. 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  59 

the  remainder,  with  the  fees  of  assessment,  collection  and  paying  over  to  the  trea- 
surer, is  assessed  on  the  other  taxable  property  within  the  township,  at  such  rate  per 
dollar  as  will  produce  the  sum  required.  Any  party  aggrieved  by  such  assessment, 
may  seek  redress  from  the  commissioners  of  appeal,  who,  for  that  purpose,  meet  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  November,  annually. 

The  township  collector  is  required,  within  thirty  days  after  receipt  of  the  dupli- 
cate, to  demand  payment  of  the  tax  from  each  individual  of  his  township,  in  person 
or  by  notice  left  at  his  place  of  residence,  and  also  to  give  notice  of  the  time  and 
place  of  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  appeal;  and  to  pay  the  taxes,  fines  and 
forfeitures  by  him  received,  by  virtue  of  any  law  of  the  State,  to  the  collector  of  the 
county,  by  the  22d  December,  annually;  and  such  sums  as  may  be  recovered  by 
prosecution,  thereafter,  as  soon  as  received.  If  the  taxes  be  not  paid  at  the  time 
appointed,  the  collector  is  to  make  return  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  on  the  22d  De- 
cember, annually,  of  delinquents,  with  the  sums  due  from  them,  declaring  on  oath 
that  he  had  in  relation  to  them,  respectively  performed  his  duty  according  to  law ; 
and  to  take  a  receipt  for  such  list  from  the  justice. 

Within  five  days  after  receipt  of  such  list,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  justice  to  deliver 
warrants  to  the  constables,  requiring  them  to  levy  the  tax  in  arrears,  with  costs,  &c. 
by  distress  and  sale  of  chattels  of  delinquent — or,  in  default  of  chattels,  to  imprison 
the  body  until  payment  be  made ;  giving  four  days  notice,  at  least,  by  advertise- 
ment, of  the  time  and  place  of  such  sale.  And  it  is  the  duty  of  the  constable  to 
pay  such  tax  to  the  township  collector,  within  forty-five  days  from  the  date  of  the 
warrant;  to  return  the  warrant  to  the  justice,  with  an  account  of  the  manner  of  his 
executing  the  same;  a  copy  of  which  warrant  and  return,  the  justice  shall,  if  de- 
manded, give  to  the  collector,  and  return  the  original  warrant,  if  not  fully  executed, 
to  the  constable. 

The  constable  is  liable  for  so  much  of  the  taxes,  which  by  such  warrant  he  was 
required  to  collect,  as  shall  not  be  paid  over  to  the  collector,  unless  the  deficiency 
happen  without  neglect,  fraud  or  default,  on  his  part,  in  suit,  by  township  collector, 
before  a  judge  of  the  Common  Pleas;  and  like  suit  may  be  brought  against  township 
collector,  by  the  county  collector,  for  monies  collected  by  him,  or  received  from 
constable,  and  not  paid  over,  according  to  law;  and  in  case  the  constable  be  prose- 
cuted, such  warrant,  on  cause  shown,  may  be  taken  from  him,  and  transferred  to 
another. 

Tenants  or  persons  having  charge  of  lands,  and  tenements  and  their  chattels,  are 
liable  for  taxes  imposed  on  such  lands;  and  on  payment,  may  deduct  the  amount  from 
their  rent,  or  recover  it  by  suit,  where  no  contract  prevents  ;  and  when  the  tax  is  on 
unimproved  or  untenanted  land,  or  the  tenant  is  unable  to  pay,  the  tax  may  be 
levied  by  the  constable  on  the  warrant  of  a  justice,  at  the  instance  of  the  collector, 
by  sale  of  timber,  wood,  herbage,  or  other  vendible  property  of  the  owner,  on  the 
premises. 

The  justices,  constables  and  township  collectors,  render  to  the  township  commit- 
tee, when  required,  an  account  of  the  monies  they  or  any  of  them  may  have  re- 
ceived on  any  assessment,  and  not  paid  to  the  county  collector,  and  must  pay  to  such 
committee,  on  demand,  such  monies;  and  in  default,  are  liable  to  suit  by  the  clerk 
of  the  township,  in  the  name  of  the  inhabitants  thereof. 

Due  provision  is  made  for  the  compensation  of  the  respective  township  and  county 
officers,  for  enforcing  performance  of  their  duties  by  proper  sanctions,  and  for  levy- 
ing monies  becoming  due  from  them  by  virtue  of  their  official  stations. 

Another  prominent  use  made  of  the  township  and  county  division,  is  in  the  system 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor. 

The  provisions  for  this  purpose,  like  the  political  subdivisions  themselves,  have, 
in  their  principal  features,  been  copied  from  Great  Britain.  The  wisdom  of  this 
system  is  less  than  equivocal,  but  the  genius  of  legislation  has  not  yet  been  able  to 
substitute  a  better.  Each  township,  or  precinct,  is  required  to  maintain  the  poor 
settled  within  it.  A  settlement  is  gained  by  the  acquisition  of  a  freehold  estate  of 
fifty  pounds  value,  and  residence  of  a  year;  apprenticeship,  or  servitude  by  inden- 
ture, for  a  year;  residence  of  one  year  by  a  mariner,  or  a  person  arriving  directly 
from  Europe;  and  such  residence  and  notice  to  the  overseer,  recorded  by  the  town 
clerk,  in  case  of  other  persons.  From  these  provisions  are  excepted  servants  pro- 
cured from  gaols  and  hospitals  in  other  states.  Bastard  children  have  the  settlement 
of  the  mothers.  Penalties  are  inflicted  upon  such  inhabitants  as  receive  into  their 
houses,  vagabonds,  vagrants,  sturdy  beggars,  and  idle  strolling  aad  disorderly  per- 


60  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

sons ;  and  they  are  liable  to  maintain  such  wanderers,  and  to  pay  the  expenses  of 
their  funerals  in  case  of  death.  A  person  may  remove  from  one  precinct  to  another, 
bearing  the  certificate  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  precinct  in  which  he  has 
a  settlement,  attested  and  allowed  by  two  justices  of  the  peace,  declaring  such  set- 
tlement, and  delivering  such  certificate  to  the  overseers  of  the  district  into  which 
he  shall  remove.  But  such  person,  becoming  chargeable,  may  be  returned  to  his 
place  of  settlement;  residence  under  the  certificate  not  giving  settlement;  and  ex- 
penses incurred  by  the  township  for  maintenance,  relief  or  burial  of  such  resident, 
must  be  paid  by  the  precinct  in  which  he  has  a  legal  settlement. 

Relief  is  granted  to  paupers,  on  me  order  of  a  justice,  at  the  application  of  the 
overseers;  the  order  fixing  the  amount,  and  serving  as  the  voucher  for  expenditure. 
And,  as  a  check  upon  the  overseers,  they  are  required  to  register  the  name  and  de- 
scription of  the  pauper,  and  such  order,  in  the  township  book,  together  with  the 
account  of  monies  received  or  disbursed  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  and  registry  of 
transactions  of  their  office,  and  to  lay  such  book  before  the  inhabitants  in  town 
meeting. 

Before  relief  granted,  the  goods  of  the  applicant  are  to  be  inventoried,  and  in  case 
of  death,  sold;  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  reimburse  the  expenditure  for  the  pauper. 

Poor  children,  who  have  no  parents,  or  whose  parents  are  applicants  for  relief, 
and  children  of  paupers  brought  up  in  sloth  and  ignorance,  may,  by  the  overseers, 
with  the  assistance  and  application  of  two  justices,  be  bound  apprentices  for  such 
number  of  years  as  they  may  think  proper,  males  until  21,  and  females  until  18  years; 
inserting  in  the  indenture,  a  clause  binding  the  master  to  cause  such  apprentice  to 
be  instructed  to  read  and  write.  And  the  overseers  and  justices  continue  the  guar- 
dians of  the  apprentice. 

Where  the  father  deserts  his  family,  or  a  widow  her  children,  leaving  them  a 
public  charge,  and  leaving  estate,  real  or  personal,  such  estate  may  be  taken  by  the 
overseers,  upon  the  warrant  of  two  justices,  and  the  rents  of  the  land,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  of  the  chattels,  applied  to  the  maintenance  of  the  deserted  family. 

The  overseers,  with  the  assent  of  the  town  meeting,  may  purchase  or  rent  a 
workhouse,  in  which  to  employ  and  maintain  the  poor  of  the  precinct,  applying  the 
proceeds  of  their  labour  to  the  poor  fund ;  and  such  house  may  be  erected  by  two 
or  more  townships  conjointly.  Or  the  overseers  of  the  township  may  contract  with 
the  overseers  of  any  other  place,  for  the  maintenance  and  employment  of  the  poor 
of  such  other  place ;  or  the  chosen  freeholders  of  tlie  county  may  purchase  or  build 
a  poorhouse  for  the  whole  county.  Persons  claiming  relief  and  refusing  to  be  lodged, 
kept  to  work,  and  maintained  in  such  house,  are  rejected. 

When  the  overseers  have  reason  to  believe,  that  any  person  not  having  a  settle- 
ment in  their  precinct  is,  or  is  likely  to  become,  chargeable,  they  may  bring  him,  by 
warrant  from  two  justices,  directed  to  and  served  by  the  constable,  before  such  ma- 
gistrates, who  shall  examine  such  person  on  oath  touching  his  last  place  of  settle- 
ment, and  direct  him  to  remove  thither  by  a  stated  time;  and  on  his  neglect  or  re- 
fusal to  comply  with  such  order,  may  issue  their  warrant  to  the  constable,  command- 
ing him  to  convey  such  person  to  the  constable  of  the  next  precinct;  and  so,  from 
precinct  to  precinct,  until  he  reach  the  place  of  his  legal  settlement.  And  in  case 
such  person  return  to  the  place  from  which  he  was  removed,  and  does  not  depart 
therefrom,  within  24  hours  after  notice  given,  such  person,  if  male,  is  liable,  on 
the  order  of  a  magistrate,  to  receive  fifteen  lashes;  if  female,  in  the  discretion  of 
the  magistrate,  to  be  sent  away  again,  or  committed  to  close  confinement,  and  fed,  at 
the  expense  of  the  township,  on  bread  and  water  only ;  and  both  to  be  sent  back  to 
the  place  to  which  they  may  have  been  first  ordered.  But  if  any  person  complained 
of,  as  a  pauper,  give  bond  with  two  sufficient  sureties,  conditioned  to  indemnify  the 
precinct  against  the  charge  of  his  maintenance,  he  shall  not  be  removed. 

The  overseers  of  the  township,  to  which  such  pauper  shall  be  legally  removed, 
are  required  to  receive  him,  under  penalty  of  five  pounds,  on  conviction  of  refusal, 
before  a  justice,  to  the  use  of  the  place  from  which  the  removal  was  made.  An  ap- 
peal from  the  order  of  removal  lies  by  the  pauper,  or  other  person  aggrieved,  to  the 
sessions. 

An  idle  vagrant,  vagabond,  or  beggar,  strolling  and  begging  through  the  country, 
may  be  apprehended  by  the  constable,  or  any  inhabitant,  and  carried  before  a  jus- 
tice, who  is  required  to  examine  him  on  oath;  and  if  it  appear  that  he  have  a  set- 
tlement, to  grant  a  warrant  for  removal  as  abovementioned,  but  if  he  have  no  set- 
tlement in  the  State,  then  to  direct  by  such  warrant  that  he  be  conveyed  back  by 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  61 

every  precinct  through  which  he  had  wandered,  until  he  be  transported  out  of  the 
State  :  and  such  vagrant  returning  into  the  State,  is  liable  to  punishment  by  whip- 
ping. These  provisions  respecting  the  removal  of  indigent  persons,  though  in 
force,  are  not  often  executed. 

The  fund  for  maintenance  of  the  poor  is  augmented  by  fines  imposed  for  breach 
of  the  laws,  and  by  the  personal  estates  of  such  persons  as  may  die  intestate,  with- 
out any  representative.  The  pauper  may  sue  without  costs,  and  have  counsel  ap- 
pointed him  by  the  court,  who  shall  conduct  his  cause  without  fee  or  reward. 
Authority  is  given  to  the  respective  townships  to  raise,  as  for  other  township 
purposes,  such  sum  of  money  as  may  be  deemed  proper  for  the  education  of  pauper 
children  and  children  of  paupers. 

The  father  and  grandfather,  mother  and  grandmother,  child  and  grandchild,  when 
competent,  are  liable  to  maintain  the  pauper. 

A  third  essential  benefit,  promoted  by  the  territorial  subdivision  of  townships  and 
counties,  is  the  formation  and  preservation  of  roads.  The  common  roads  of  the 
country  are  either  public  or  private.  When  ten  or  more  freeholders  deem  a  new 
public  road  necessary,  or  one  existing,  unnecessary  or  proper  to  be  altered,  they  may 
by  petition,  after  giving  ten  days  public  notice  in  the  townships  through  which  the 
road  is  intended  to  pass,  obtain  from  the  court  of  Common  Pleas  the  appointment  of 
six  surveyors  of  the  highways,  having  regard  to  those  of  the  township  in  which  the 
road  lies  or  is  to  be  made.  When  the  road  is  to  be  on  the  county  line,  the  applica- 
tion must  be  made  to,  and  the  surveyors  appointed  by,  the  Supreme  Court,  three 
being  taken  from  each  county.  The  surveyors,  after  a  prescribed  notice  has  been 
given,  meet  and  view  the  road  or  ground  proposed  for  the  road,  and  lay  out,  vacate 
or  alter  it,  as  the  case  may  require ;  and  return  a  map  thereof,  with  the  time  when 
the  same  may  be  opened,  to  the  clerk  of  the  Common  Pleas,  or  to  the  clerk  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  as  the  case  may  be,  who  records  the  return,  and  the  road  so  laid  out 
and  opened  becomes,  or  if  vacated  ceases  to  be,  a  public  highway ;  unless  a  caveat  be 
entered  thereto  within  fifteen  days,  which  operates  as  a  supersedeas  of  proceedings 
until  the  succeeding  court. 

Upon  the  complaint  of  any  one  alleging  himself  aggrieved,  the  court  will  appoint 
six  of  the  chosen  freeholders  of  the  county,  who,  after  due  notice  as  prescribed  by 
law,  also  view  the  road  proposed  to  be  made,  vacated  or  altered,  and  concurring  in 
report  with  the  surveyors,  it  is  definitively  confirmed,  so  that  no  further  proceedings 
may  be  had  thereon  for  one  year.  But,  if  their  report  differ  from  that  of  the  sur- 
veyors, the  latter  becomes  void,  and  the  road  or  alteration  may  be  again  applied  for 
under  a  year.  If  no  caveat  have  been  entered,  or  the  person  entering  it  do  not  pro- 
secute it  according  to  law,  or  the  freeholders  make  no  unfavourable  report,  or  be 
equally  divided  in  their  opinions,  the  proceedings  of  the  surveyers  become  valid.  If 
the  application  for  review  be  in  Cape  May  county,  and  the  proposed  or  actual  road 
run  through  lands  of  any  of  the  chosen  freeholders,  one  or  more  justices  of  the  peace 
may  be  appointed  on  the  review.  And  where  the  application  relative  to  the  road  is 
in  the  Supreme  Court,  three  such  freeholders  from  each  county  are  appointed  to  re- 
view, and  like  proceedings  are  had  in  regard  to  their  report,  as  in  the  former  case. 
Any  neglect  of  the  officers  in  regard  to  these  proceedings,  is  punishable  by  a  fine  of 
sixteen  dollars,  to  the  use  of  the  prosecutor.  Four  of  the  surveyors  or  freeholders, 
where  the  road  proposed  to  be  made  or  altered  is  in  one  county,  and  two  from  each 
of  the  counties,  where  there  are  more  than  one,  are  necessary  to,  and  sufficient  for, 
the  return. 

The  proceedings  for  making,  vacating,  or  altering  private  roads,  are  similar  in 
most  respects,  to  those  in  the  case  of  public  ones.  Such  roads,  however,  are  made 
and  preserved  at  the  expense  of  those  interested  in  them,  who  may  hang  gates 
thereon,  which  are  protected  by  a  penalty  against  those  injuring  them.  By-roads, 
if  shut  up,  may  be  laid  out  by  three  of  the  chosen  freeholders,  and  remain  as  private 
roads  until  vacated,  or  altered  in  the  manner  abovementioned. 

For  the  purpose  of  making  or  repairing  roads,  the  township  committee  assign,  in 
writing  to  the  overseers  of  the  roads  respectively,  their  several  limits  of  the  high- 
ways within  the  township.  And  it  is  the  duty  of  such  overseers  to  provide  la- 
bourers, animals,  implements  and  materials  for  the  work,  and  to  erect  such  bridges 
as  can  be  built  by  common  labourers ;  the  monies  for  which  are  raised  by  order  of 
the  town  meeting,  as  in  other  cases  of  township  expense,  and  the  overseer  accounts 
with  the  town  meeting. 

If  the  township  be  fined  upon  the  presentment  of  the  grand  jury,  or  information 


62  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

of  attorney  general,  for  the  bad  condition  of  the  roads,  the  overseer  within  whose 
limits  the  cause  arose,  is  responsible  therefor  with  costs,  or  he  may  be  proceeded 
against  in  the  first  instance.  The  road  tax  payable  by  any  individual,  may  be  paid 
in  labour  on  the  road  by  himself  or  substitute;  and  the  roads  over  mill-dams  are  to 
be  kept  in  good  and  safe  condition  by  the  owners  of  the  mills  respectively,  so  long 
as  they  shall  be  upheld. 

The  town  meeting  may  determine  whether  the  highways  shall  be  maintained  by 
hire  or  by  labour.  But  if  the  resolution  be  to  maintain  the  roads  by  labour,  the 
township  committee  divide  the  highways,  in  their  township,  into  convenient  districts, 
and  assign  the  inhabitants  to  them,  in  equitable  proportions.  And  whatever  mode 
be  thus  adopted,  must  be  continued  for  three  years.  Inhabitants  who  neglect  to 
perform  their  quota  of  work,  are  each  finable  one  dollar  per  day,  for  absence  them- 
selves ;  one  dollar  and  a  half  for  a  horse  and  cart,  and  two  dollars  for  wagon  or  cart 
with  two  horses  or  oxen,  which  have  been  warned  out  and  shall  be  absent.  If  the 
township  vote  to  maintain  the  roads  by  hire,  but  do  not  supply  the  money  therefor, 
the  overseers  must  resort  to  the  labour  system.  If  the  overseer  neglect  his  duty,  he 
is  liable  to  an  action,  and  the  magistrate  on  complaint  of  three  freeholders,  may  issue 
his  precept  against  overseer,  and  on  conviction,  fine  him  any  sum  not  over  twenty, 
nor  under  five  dollars.  The  board  of  freeholders  is  authorized,  at  the  county's  ex- 
pense, to  erect  guide  posts  and  mile  stones,  where  they  may  deem  expedient. 

When  bridges  are  required  in  a  township,  or  between  two  townships,  they  are 
built  at  the  county  expense,  and  if  between  two  counties,  at  their  joint  expense. 
Where  the  cost  does  not  exceed  thirty  dollars,  the  overseer  and  chosen  freeholders 
of  the  township,  are  competent  to  order  its  execution;  where  the  cost  does  not  ex- 
ceed one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  the  approbation  of  the  overseers  of  the  township, 
and  of  the  chosen  freeholders  of  that,  and  of  the  two  adjacent  townships,  are  neces- 
sary ;  and  where  the  expense  will  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  the  assent 
of  the  overseers  of  the  highway,  and  of  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders  of  the  county, 
is  required. 

In  addition  to  his  services  as  register  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Circuit  Courts,  the 
Court  of  Sessions  and  Common  Pleas,  the  county  clerk  performs  many  other  execu- 
tive duties.  We  have  already  noticed  his  ministry  in  general  elections.  He  is  the 
recorder  of  deeds,  mortgages,  and  other  conveyances  of  lands  in  his  county,  and  re- 
gister of  marriages  returned  to  him  by  justices  of  the  peace  and  ministersof  the 
gospel ;  the  receiver  of  monies  for  tavern  licenses,  which  he  pays  over  to  the  county 
freeholders;  and  is  the  depository  of  the  dockets  of  the  justices  of  his  county,  after 
their  deaths.  He  is  forbidden  to  act  as  surrogate,  or  practice  as  an  attorney,  within 
his  county. 

The  township  clerk  records  the  proceedings  of  the  town  meetings,  registers  es- 
trays,  and  receives  for  the  use  of  the  township  its  share  of  money  produced  by  the 
sale  of  unclaimed  beasts  impounded  for  damage  feasance ;  and  registers  all  births 
and  deaths  in  his  township  duly  communicated  to  him. 

The  present  militia  system  of  the  State,  is  founded  on  the  act  of  18th  February, 
1815,  and  the  supplements  of  1818,  1819,  and  1830  ;  which  require,  that  every  free 
able  bodied  white  male  inhabitant,  of  the  age  of  18,  and  under  45,  years,  shall  be  en- 
rolled by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  company  within  whose  bounds  he  may  reside. 
From  this  requisition  are  exempted,  ministers  of  the  gospel ;  the  vice  president  of 
the  United  States;  the  officers,  judicial  and  executive,  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States;  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State;  the  members  of  both 
houses  of  congress,  and  their  respective  officers;  all  custom  house  officers,  with 
their  clerks;  all  post  officers  and  stage  drivers  employed  in  the  transit  of  the  mail; 
ferrymen ;  inspectors  of  exports ;  pilots ;  mariners  actually  employed  in  the  sea  ser- 
vice of  any  merchant  within  the  United  States;  all  students  of  divinity  and  students 
of  the  two  colleges  in  this  State,  except  in  cases  of  actual  invasion  ;  and  persons  who 
shall  have  served  ten  years  in  any  uniform  corps  of  the  State  ;  and,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  brigade  board,  an  officer  who  has  held  a  commission  for  one  year  in  the  army 
of  the  United  States,  or  under  the  authority  of  any  one  of  the  States,  and  any  sol- 
dier who  may  have  faithfully  served  18  months  in  the  late  war. 

A  brigade  is  formed  in  each  county,  except  Cape  May ;  in  that,  there  is  an  inde- 
pendent regiment,  under  the  command  of  a  lieutenant  colonel,  whose  field  officers 
form  a  regimental  board,  with  the  power  of  a  brigade  board,  in  many  particulars. 
The  brigades  are  formed  into  four  divisions,  of  which  those  of  Burlington,  Glouces- 
ter, Salem  and  Cumberland,  with  the  Cape  May  regiment,  make  the  first ;  those  of 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  63 

Bergen,  Essex,  and  Morris,  the  second;  those  of  Somerset,  Middlesex,  and  Mon- 
mouth,  the  third;  and  those  of  Hunterdon  and  Sussex,  the  fourth. 

The  governor  is  commander  in  chief.  There  is  a  general  staff,  of  which  he  ap- 
points his  four  aids-de-camp,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel ;  one  quartermas- 
ter and  one  adjutant  general,  with  the  rank  of  brigadier;  and.  when  the  service 
may  require  it,  one  deputy  adjutant,  and  one  deputy  quartermaster  general,  to  each 
brigade  or  division,  with  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel.  To  each  division  there  is  one 
major  general,  and  two  aids-de-camp  appointed  by  him,  with  the  rank  of  major;  to 
each  brigade,  one  brigadier  general,  with  a  brigade  inspector,  acting  also  as  brigade 
major,  one  aid-de-camp  taken  from  the  line,  appointed  by  the  general,  judge  advo- 
cate, paymaster  and  quartermaster  ;  to  each  regiment,  one  colonel ;  to  each  battalion 
or  squadron,  one  major;  to  each  company  of  infantry,  light  infantry  and  grenadiers, 
one  captain,  one  lieutenant,  one  ensign,  four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  drummer, 
and  one  fifer;  to  each  troop  of  horse,  one  captain,  two  lieutenants,  one  cornet,  four 
sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  saddler,  one  farrier,  one  trumpeter,  and  the  foot  and 
cavalry  companies  contain  not  more  than  64,  nor  less  than  40,  privates.  Compa- 
nies of  horse  can  be  raised  only  by  permission  of  the  commander  in  chief.  To  each 
company  of  artillery  there  are  a  captain,  two  lieutenants,  four  sergeants,  four  cor- 
porals, one  drummer,  one  fifer,  not  more  than  six,  nor  less  than  three,  gunners  and 
bombardiers,  nor  more  than  62,  nor  less  than  15,  matrosses.  The  regimental  staff 
consists  of  one  adjutant  and  quartermaster,  ranking  as  lieutenants,  taken  from  the 
subalterns  of  the  regiment,  a  paymaster  to  each  battalion ;  a  surgeon,  surgeon's 
mate,  chaplain,  sergeant  major,  drum  major,  fife  major,  and  quartermaster  sergeant; 
all  of  whom,  except  the  paymasters,  are  appointed  by  the  field  officers.  To  each 
company  of  riflemen  there  belong  a  captain,  three  lieutenants,  four  sergeants,  four 
corporals,  and  drummer,  fifer,  or  bugler.  Such  companies  are  attached  to  the  bat- 
talion in  whose  bounds  a  majority  of  the  members  reside.  To  each  troop  of  horse 
artillery,  there  are  a  captain,  four  lieutenants,  one  quartermaster  sergeant,  four  ser- 
geants, four  corporals,  one  saddler,  one  farrier,  one  bugler,  one  trumpeter,  and  not 
more  than  100,  nor  less  than  40,  privates. 

All  officers  take  rank  from  the  date  of  their  commissions,  except  when  they  are  of 
the  same  date,  and  then  by  lot.  The  captains,  and  all  other  inferior  officers  of  the 
militia,  are  chosen  by  the  companies ;  but  field  and  general  officers  by  the  council 
and  assembly,  and  all  are  commissioned  by  the  governor.  The  brigade  and  regi- 
mental staff  officers,  are  commissioned  by  him  on  certificates  of  their  appointment  by 
the  officers  making  them ;  non-commissioned  officers  and  musicians,  are  appointed 
by  the  captains  and  subalterns.  The  uniform  is  that  worn  by  officers  of  the  United 
States. 

The  commanding  officers  of  each  regiment,  independent  battalion,  and  squadron, 
are  required  to  convene  their  respective  officers  twice  a  year;  and  at  one  of  such 
meetings,  the  orderly  sergeants;  and  at  the  meeting  not  attended  by  the  non-com- 
missioned officers,  may  direct  the  attendance  of  one  of  the  companies  under  their 
command,  for  the  purpose  of  military  improvement.  The  attendance  of  such  com- 
pany is  in  lieu  of  company  training,  and  absence  is  punishable  as  in  other  cases  of 
neglect  of  military  service.  And  the  non-commissioned  officers  attending  such  drill, 
is  entitled  to  fifty  cents  per  day. 

The  militia  meet  three  times,  annually,  for  improvement  in  discipline  and  martial 
exercise ;  once  by  companies  or  troops,  on  the  3d  Monday  in  April ;  once  by  batta- 
lion or  squadron,  and  once  by  regiment  or  independent  battalion.  The  fine  for  non- 
attendance  on  days  of  exercise,  absence  from  roll  call,  or  leaving  parade  without 
permission,  is,  on  a  field  officer,  eight  dollars ;  every  other  commissioned  officer, 
four  dollars;  on  every  non-commissioned  officer  and  private,  two  dollars  per  day; 
and  for  appearance  on  parade  without  appropriate  arms,  fifty  cents,  where  the  soldier 
is  able  to  provide  them.  When  called  into  active  service,  every  militiaman  must 
appear  fully  equipped,  with  every  article  required  by  act  of  congress,  under  penalty, 
if  an  officer,  of  ten  dollars;  and  if  a  private,  two  dollars.  No  militiaman  having  a 
substitute  in  actual  service,  is  thereby  excused  from  duty  on  parade  days.  But  no 
militiaman  is  finable  more  than  two  dollars  in  one  year,  for  neglect  of  duty,  if  he 
have  attained  thirty-five  years;  provided,  that  when  he  shall  attend  at  any  one  of  the 
days  required  by  law,  and  perform  military  duty,  he  shall  be  fined  one  dollar  for 
every  other  day's  absence  therefrom.  And  when  the  brigade  board  shall  disband 
any  company,  its  officers  may  be  exempted  from  military  duty. 

Delinquents  are  marked  at  roll  call  by  the  orderly  sergeant,  and  reported  to  the 


64  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

company  court,  composed  of  the  officers  of  the  company  or  troop,  of  which  the  of- 
ficer first  in  rank  is  president.  Sueh  court  is  empowered,  to  hear  and  decide  on, 
the  excuse  of  delinquents  reported,  and  the  president  is  required  to  make  return 
within  ten  days,  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  battalion,  of  all  delinquents,  and 
the  sum  imposed  on  each.  The  battalion  court  of  appeal,  consists  of  the  command- 
ing officer  of  the  tfittalion,  the  surgeon,  or  surgeon's  mate,  and  the  senior  captain, 
or,  in  his  default,  of  the  captain  next  in  rank  ;  and  is  empowered  to  hear  excuses  on 
appeal,  and  to  remit  fines ;  and  in  case  of  permanent  inability,  by  certificate,  to  dis- 
charge from  military  duty.  The  president  of  this  court,  makes  returns  of  delin- 
quents and  the  fines  imposed,  to  the  battalion  and  brigade  paymasters.  Failure  to 
attend  such  court  by  its  members,  or  the  president  to  make  return,  is  punishable,  in 
the  first  case,  by  a  fine  often,  and  in  the  second,  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  thirty,  nor 
less  than  fifteen,  dollars. 

The  battalion  paymaster,  on  receipt  of  the  return,  and  such  fines  as  may  have 
been  collected  by  the  battalion  commandant,  after  efforts  to  collect,  and  after  the 
first  Monday  in  September,  delivers  the  list  of  delinquents  to  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
who  issues  execution  against  them,  as  in  case  of  taxation ;  the  constable  being  re- 
quired to  levy  the  same  on  the  goods  of  the  delinquent,  or  in  default  of  goods,  to 
commit  him  to  prison,  until  payment,  &c.  But  the  brigade  board,  or  any  three  of 
them,  may  discharge  delinquent  unable  to  pay.  If,  upon  levy  and  sale,  there  be  a 
balance  in  the  hands  of  the  constable  which  the  delinquent  will  not  receive,  he  pays 
it  to  the  paymaster  of  the  battalion,  to  be  accounted  for  in  his  settlement  with  the 
brigade  board,  and  certifies  the  same  to  the  judge  advocate,  or  brigade  board. 
The  fines  and  penalties  imposed  on  minors,  are  payable  by  the  parent,  guardian,  or 
master. 

The  battalion  paymaster  returns  to  the  brigade  board  the  list  of  delinquent  com- 
missioned officers  certified  by  the  orderly;  keeps  a  journal  of  their  proceedings;  an 
account  of  fines  and  the  modes  of  their  payment,  whether  voluntary  or  involuntary, 
and  of  such  as  may  not  be  recovered,  with  the  reason  thereof;  all  which  is  submitted 
to  the  brigade  board.  The  battalion  and  brigade  paymasters  are  appointed  by  such 
board,  and  give  bond  with  sureties,  the  first  in  five  hundred,  and  the  second  in  two 
thousand  dollars,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  duties ;  to  which 
effect,  they,  also,  make  oath  before  the  county  clerk.  The  brigade  paymaster  re- 
ceives all  vouchers  and  returns,  and  keeps  distinct  accounts  of  the  monies  arising 
from  fines  and  forfeitures  in  the  several  regiments  and  battalions  in  the  brigade,  and 
of  monies  received  and  paid  by  him,  subject  to  the  examination  of  the  brigade  board  ; 
collects  the  fines  imposed  by  the  board  on  delinquent  officers,  and,  in  case  of  non- 
payment for  sixty  days,  puts  the  list  into  the  hands  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  which 
is  then  proceeded  upon-as  above  stated. 

The  brigade  board  is  composed  of  the  brigadier  general,  brigade  major  and 
commandants  of  regiments,  independent  battalions,  and  squadrons  of  the  re- 
spective brigades  ;  a  majority  of  whom  form  a  quorum,  meeting  annually  on  the 
third  Monday  in  December,  at  a  place  of  their  own  appointment,  within  the  brigade. 
The  officer  of  first  grade  and  seniority  presides,  and  the  board  has  power  :  To  com- 
pel the  attendance  of  its  members  by  fine,  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars — to  ar- 
range the  regiments,  battalions,  squadrons,  troops,  and  companies,  as  they  may 
deem  expedient — to  authorize  the  formation  of  new  uniform  companies,  and  to  at- 
tach them  to  such  battalion  or  regiment  as  they  may  deem  proper — to  draw  orders 
on  the  brigade  paymaster  for  lawful  expenses — to  make  a  reasonable  compensation 
to  the  brigade  and  battalion  paymasters  for  their  services;  adjust  their  accounts,  re- 
move them  in  case  of  malfeasance,  and  to  appoint  a  successor  who  in  case  of  bri- 
gade paymaster  shall  prosecute  his  predecessor  for  monies  of  the  brigade  in  his 
hands — and  also  the  battalion  paymasters  who  may  be  in  arrears — to  allow  adju- 
tants for  extra  services — to  compensate  brigade  judge  advocates — to  assess  fines  on 
delinquent  officers,  returned  by  the  brigade  major  or  battalion  paymaster — to  pre- 
serve order  at  their  meetings  by  imposition  of  fines  not  exceeding  ten  dollars,  upon 
transgressors,  and  to  erect  a  covering  for  the  protection  of  field  artillery — to  keep 
an  account  of  all  sums  by  them  received  from  their  several  battalion  paymasters,  and 
disbursements,  with  an  account  of  the  expenses  of  the  militia  system,  and  the  ap- 
propriations made  for  arms,  &c. — and  make  reports  thereof,  annually,  to  the  legis- 
lature. 

The  judge  advocate  is  appointed  by  the  brigade  board,  of  which  he  is  ex  officio 
clerk,  and  is  required  to  attend  its  meetings  and  record  its  proceedings. 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  65 

The  adjutant  general  distributes  all  orders  of  the  commander  in  chief,  to  the  se- 
veral corps,  attends  public  reviews,  if  required,  when  the  commander  in  chief  re- 
views the  troops, — obeys  all  orders  from  him,  executing  or  perfecting  the  military 
system  established  by  law, — furnishes  blank  forms  of  the  different  returns  directed 
by  the  commander  in  chief, — receives  from  the  several  officers  returns  of  all  militia 
under  their  command,  together  with  reports  of  the  state  of  the  arms,  ammunition, 
&c.  from  which  he  reports  proper  abstracts  to  the  commander  in  chief,  who  lays 
them  before  the  legislature.  He  annually  reports  all  the  militia  of  the  State  to  the 
president  of  the  United  States — Keeps  a  record  of  all  orders,  returns  names  of  com- 
missioned officers,  and  proceedings  relative  to  the  details  of  the  military  force  ordered 
out  by  the  commander  in  chief  upon  requisitions  of  the  president  or  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  in  cases  of  invasion,  or  other  emergency — Records  all  certificates 
of  election  of  officers  before  commissioned  by  the  commander  in  chief — and  lays 
his  accounts,  annually,  before  the  legislature,  who  appropriate,  annually,  one  hun- 
dred dollars  for  his  services. 

The  brigade  inspectors  attend  the  brigade,  regimental  and  independent  battalion 
meetings  of  the  militia  composing  their  several  brigades,  during  the  time  of  their 
being  under  arms,  to  inspect  their  arms,  &c. — makes  returns,  annually,  to  the  ad- 
jutant general  of  the  militia  of  his  brigade,  reporting  particularly  the  name  of  the 
reviewing  officer,  the  state  of  the  arms,  &c.  and  every  thing  which,  in  his  judg- 
ment, may  advance  good  order  and  military  discipline.  He  receives  for  ordinary 
duty,  thirty  dollars  per  annum,  and  for  extra  duty,  such  allowance  as  the  brigade 
board  may  direct;  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  for  malfeasance,  and  the 
forfeiture  of  his  annual  salary,  unless  he  produce  the  acknowledgment  of  the  adju- 
tant general  for  his  returns.  In  the  absence  of  the  brigade  inspector,  the  command- 
ing officer  appoints  some  one  to  perform  his  duties. 

Company  officers  report  their  acceptance  of  office  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
battalion,  within  ten  days  after  notice  of  their  election,  otherwise  the  election  is 
deemed  void.  Resignations  are  made  to  the  brigade  commander;  and  where  vacan- 
cy happens  in  the  company,  by  death,  removal  or  resignation,  such  commander  di- 
rects his  warrant  to  the  battalion  commandant,  to  hold  an  election  to  supply  the  va- 
cancy. 

Persons  enrolled  in  a  uniform  company  are,  upon  the  certificate  of  the  command- 
ing officer,  excused  from  service  in  the  militia  :  but  such  certificate  may  not  be 
given  until  such  persons  have  appeared  in  uniform,  under  penalty  of  ten  dollars 
upon  the  officer. 

The  majors  are  charged  with  organizing  the  several  companies  under  their  respec- 
tive commands.  Where  the  militiamen  of  any  company  or  district,  fail  to  choose  offi- 
cers, the  major  may  appoint  a  sergeant,  to  take  command  of  the  company  until  pro- 
per officers  are  duly  qualified;  and  to  constitute  his  company  cpurt,  such  sergeant 
may  appoint  persons  from  the  list  of  the  company,  who  may  elect  one  of  their  num- 
ber president. 

No  officer  or  private,  on  his  way  to,  or  return  from,  militia  service,  may  be 
charged  toll  or  ferriage,  and  refusal  to  permit  his  passage  is  punishable  by  fine  of 
eight  dollars;  nor  can  he  be  arrested  on  civil  process  on  any  legal  day  for  training, 
nor  can  his  arms,  &c.  be  levied  on  and  sold  under  execution. 

The  commander  in  chief  may,  in  case  of  invasion  or  other  emergency,  order  out 
any  proportion  of  the  militia  of  the  State,  to  march  to  any  part  thereof,  and  conti- 
nue so  long  as  he  may  think  necessary,  not  exceeding  two  months.  In  such  case, 
substitutes  may  be  received  for  any  person  called  on  to  do  a  tour  of  duty,  but  no 
substitute  is  admissible  at  ordinary  training,  under  penalty  on  the  officer,  of  ten 
dollars.  Horses  of  militiamen,  taken  into  service,  are  registered  and  appraised, 
and  their  value  paid  to  the  owner,  in  case  the  horse  be  killed  or  taken  by  the  ene- 
my. The  accounts  of  the  quartermaster,  for  rations  or  ammunition,  must  be  ap- 
proved by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  regiment  or  independent  battalion,  and  by 
the  governor,  before  payment  at  the  treasury. 

Courts  martial  are  appointed,  for  the  trial  of  officers  above  the  rank  of  field  offi- 
cers, by  the  commander  in  chief, — for  field  officers,  by  the  major  generals,  in  their 
respective  divisions, — for  captains  and  subaltern  commissioned  officers,  by  the  bri- 
gadier generals,  each  in  his  own  brigade.  And  the  commandant  of  regiments  and 
independent  battalions  may  institute  a  regimental  court  martial  whenever  they  shall 
find  it  necessary.  Officers  appointing  such  court  must,  in  all  cases,  approve  or  dis- 
approve its  sentence,  and  may  mitigate  or  remit  the  punishment,  except  where  the 


66  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

offence  is  of  a  personal  nature,  when  the  sentence  is  conclusive.     And  such  officer 
may,  in  case  of  emergency,  appoint  a  judge  advocate,  pro  tempore. 

The  regimental  court  martial  is  composed  of  five  members,  the  president  of  whom 
shall  riot  be  under  the  rank  of  captain.  The  general  court  martial  consists  of  thir- 
teen commissioned  officers,  not  under  the  rank  of  captain,  the  senior  of  whom  is 
president.  The  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the  court  is  necessary,  in  every  sen- 
tence for  inflicting  punishment;  and  each  member,  with  the  judge  advocate,  swears 
to  determine  the  case  according  to  the  evidence,  that  he  will  not  divulge  the  sen- 
tence until  it  have  been  approved  or  disapproved  ;  and  will  at  no  time,  discover  the 
vote  or  opinion  of  any  member,  unless  required  to  give  evidence  thereof  in  a  court 
of  justice. 

The  expense  of  a  court  martial,  trying  an  officer  of  the  general  staff,  is  payable 
from  militia  fines  in  the  State  treasury  ;  trying  an  officer  above  the  grade  of  major, 
by  the  paymaster  of  the  brigade ;  trying  a  major,  or  inferior  officer,  by  the  battalion 
paymaster.  Members  of  courts  martial  receive  $1  50  per  day,  and  witnesses  fifty 
cents — payable  011  certificates  of  the  judge  advocate. 

Commissioned  officers  guilty  of  unofficer-like  conduct,  may  be  cashiered  by  the 
court,  or  punished  by  fine,  not  exceeding  fifty  dollars.  The  commanding  officer  of 
a  regiment,  battalion,  or  squadron,  failing  to  give  orders  for  assembling  his  command, 
as  directed  by  his  brigadier,  or  in  case  of  invasion,  may  be  cashiered,  and  punished 
by  a  fine  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars:  and  a  commissioned  officer  of  a  com- 
pany, guilty  of  like  offence,  under  the  orders  of  the  commandant  of  the  regiment, 
&c.,  is  subject  to  like  punishment;  and  a  non-commissioned  officer,  to  a  fine  not 
exceeding  thirty  dollars.  The  commanding  officer  of  a  company,  &c.,  failing  to 
return  a  list  of  persons,  notified  to  perform  a  tour  of  duty,  to  the  colonel,  &c.,  may 
be  cashiered,  or  fined  in  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars. 

Non-commissioned  officers,  or  privates,  appearing  drunk  upon  parade,  disobeying 
orders,  using  reproachful  or  abusive  language  to  officers,  quarrelling  or  promoting 
quarrels  among  fellow-soldiers,  may  be  disarmed  and  put  under  arrest,  until  the 
company  be  dismissed,  and  be  fined  by  court  martial,  not  exceeding  eight  dollars.  A 
militiaman  deserting  whilst  on  a  tour  of  duty,  may  be  fined  not  exceeding  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  imprisoned  not  more  than  two  months;  and  if  a  non-commissioned 
officer,  shall  be  degraded  to  the  ranks.  Non-commissioned  officer,  or  private, 
bringing  on  parade,  or  discharging,  within  a  mile  thereof,  any  loaded  fire  arms,  on 
the  day  assigned  for  improvement  or  inspection,  without  permission  from  a  commis- 
sioned officer,  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  one  dollar. 

When  ordered  out  for  improvement  or  inspection,  the  militia  are  under  military 
discipline,  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  none,  during  such  time, 
may  be  arrested  on  civil  process :  on  days  of  exercise  they  may  be  detained  under 
arms,  on  duty,  in  the  field,  six  hours;  but  not  more  than  three  hours  without  time 
being  allowed  to  refresh  themselves.  The  retailing  of  spirituous  liquors,  on,  or 
within  a  mile  of  the  parade,  is  prohibited  under  a  penalty  of  forfeiture  of  such 
liquors.  The  rules  of  discipline  are  such  as  may  be  established  by  Congress  for  dis- 
ciplining the  regular  troops  of  the  United  States. 

By-standers  at  any  muster,  molesting  or  insulting,  by  abusive  words  or  behaviour, 
any  officer  or  soldier,  while  on  duty,  may  be  put  under  guard,  and  kept  at  the  discretion 
of  the  commanding  officer,  until  sundown;  and  if  guilty  of  like  misconduct,  before  a 
court  martial,  may  be  fined  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  and  costs  of  prosecution. 

Fines  imposed  by  courts  martial,  are  certified  by  the  judge  advocate  to  the  brigade 
board,  and  are  collected  by  the  brigade  paymaster,  in  the  manner  above  directed. 
The  surplus  money  in  the  hands  of  the  brigade  paymaster,  is  appropriated  to  the 
purchase  of  arms,  accoutrements,  colours,  instruments  of  music,  and  the  preserva- 
tion of  arms  (the  arms  being  subject  to  the  order  of  the  commander  in  chief,  in  case 
of  invasion,  insurrection,  or  war).  And  the  judge  advocate  is  required,  after  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  brigade  board,  to  transmit  to  the  adjutant  general,  a  statement 
of  the  disbursements,  and  arms,  &c.,  to  be  laid  by  him  before  the  legislature.  The 
commandants  of  regiments,  independent  battalions,  and  squadrons,  account  to  the 
brigade  board  for  the  monies  received  by  them  for  teaching  music,  and  other  pur- 
poses. 

The  commander  in  chief,  or  of  brigade,  when  the  militia  may  be  called  into  actual 
service,  may  receive  uniform  companies  from  any  brigade  in  the  State  as  volunteers, 
who  having  served  their  tour,  are  exempted  from  draft,  until  their  battalions, 
ment,  or  brigade  shall  have  performed  like  service ;  and  their  brigade  is  accredit 


egi- 

- 


EXECUTIVE  POWER.  67 

for  the  number  so  volunteering.  Due  authority  is  given  to  the  commander  in 
chief  for  organizing  companies  on  the  sea-board  when  necessary  for  its  protection: 
and  he  may  furnish  any  uniform  company  with  arms,  the  property  of  the  State;  the 
officers  giving  bond  for  keeping  them  in  repair,  and  returning  them  when  required. 
Uniform  companies  are  attached  to  the  battalion  within  the  bounds  of  which  a  major- 
ity of  the  company  resides- 

Any  person  desirous  to  be  exempt  from  militia  duty,  is  required,  on  or  before 
the  first  of  April,  annually,  to  report  himself  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  com- 
pany, in  the  bounds  of  which  he  may  reside.  Such  officer  returns  the  list  of  exempts 
to  the  township  collector,  on  or  before  the  twentieth  of  June,  annually,  who  taxes 
each,  the  sum  of  five  dollars,  in  addition  to  his  other  taxes ;  designating  it  in  his 
duplicate,  delivered  to  the  township  collector  ;  and  he,  also,  furnishes  the  collector 
of  the  county,  on  or  before  the  first  of  December,  annually,  two  certified  abstracts 
of  the  names  of  such  exempts.  The  township  collector  pays  to  the'county  collector, 
such  taxes,  and  his  certificate  of  the  death,  insolvency,  or  absconding  of  the  exempt, 
is  a  sufficient  voucher  against  the  tax  ;  and  the  county  collector  pays  to  the  State 
treasurer,  the  exempt  taxes,  with  other  State  taxes,  and  the  treasurer  carries  them 
to  the  credit  of  the  school  fund. 

The  commanders  of  the  respective  companies  enrol  all  persons  within  their 
bounds  liable  to  perform  militia  duty,  not  returned  as  exempts,  and  fine  them  for 
non-attendance  on  days  of  parade,  according  to  law,  under  the  penalty  of  thirty 
dollars  for  omission.  But  exempts  may  be  classed  as  enrolled  militia  when  called 
into  actual  service.  And  due  provision  is  made  by  law  for  classifyng  the  militia  for 
actual  service  when  required. 

The  following  is  the  state  of  the  militia,  apparent  from  the  last  return  of  the  ad- 
jutant general,  viz:  Commander  in  chief,  4  aids-de-camp;  1  quartermaster  general, 
4  deputies  ;  1  adjutant  general,  4  deputies;  4  nlajor  generals,  each  having  two  aids  ; 
13  brigades  and  brigadiers,  and  the  independent  battalion  of  Cape  May  county. 

BRIGADE  STAFF,  consisting  of  13  brigade  majors  and  one  adjutant,  13  paymas- 
ters, 11  quartermasters,  6  surgeons,  13  judges  advocate. 

CAVALRY  : — 1  brigadier  general,  4  colonels,  9  majors,  31  captains,  63  lieutenants, 
25  cornets,  86  sergeants,  73  corporals,  11  saddlers,  10  farriers,  36  trumpeters,  and 
1673  privates,  making  an  aggregate  of  1810.  CAVALRY  ARMS  :  sabres  734,  pairs  of 
pistols  609,  holsters  733,  cartridges  376,  cartridge-boxes  359,  horses,  saddles,  and 
bridles,  each,  963. 

ARTILLERY: — 30  captains,  54  lieutenants,  93  sergeants,  75  corporals,  40  bombar- 
diers, 68  gunners,  36  drummers,  25  fifers,  1802  privates, — total  1886.  Ordnance 
apparatus  and  equipments:  18  six  pounders,  8  four  pounders,  1  two  pounder,  1 
swivel,  18  tumbrels  and  wagons,  25  ramrods  and  screws.  16  port-fire  stocks,  33 
dragropes,  14  handspikes,  159  muskets,  19  bayonets,  329  swords,  39  cartouche 
boxes,  23  powder  horns  and  wires,  and  43  knapsacks. 

RIFLE  CORPS  : — 17  captains,  44  lieutenants,  48  sergeants,  16  corporals,  22  drum- 
mers, 16  fifers,  12  buglers,  1052  privates, — total  1115.  Arms  and  equipments:  54 
swords,  336  rifles,  132  fusees,  117  muskets,  17  powder  horns  and  pouches. 

INFANTRY: — Colonels  47,  majors  96,  adjutants  58,  paymasters  98,  quartermasters 
48,  surgeons  47,  surgeon's  mates  37,  drum  majors  20,  fife  majors  21,  sergeant- 
majors  33,  captains  406,  lieutenants  397,  ensigns  327,  sergeants  1065,  corporals 
664,  drummers  329,  fifers  263,  privates  28,882, — aggregate  30,456.  Arms  and 
equipments:  swords  796,  espontoons  57,  muskets  8268.  bayonets  3565,  iron  ram 
rods  5084,  firelocks,  other  than  muskets,  3373,  cartridge  boxes  1293. 


68 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


RECAPITULATION. 


2 

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COUNTIES. 

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1 

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1 

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S3    g 

- 

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a 

a 

11 

o 

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Burlington, 

46 

44 

3288 

3378 

Gloucester, 

37 

81 

1948 

2066 

Salem, 

88 

152 

120 

1508 

1868 

Cumberland, 

45 

187 

1746 

1978 

Cape  May, 

124 

424 

548— 

9838 

Bergen, 

93 

153 

21 

2074 

2341 

Essex, 

250 

422 

51 

4283 

,5006 

Morris, 

155 

123 

227 

2369 

2874— 

10,221 

Middlesex, 

238 

93 

37 

1443 

1811 

Monmouth, 

124 

50 

213 

3292 

3679 

Somerset,  - 

158 

107 

93 

1304 

1662— 

7152 

Hunterdon, 

327 

2584 

2911 

Warren, 

77 

198 

142 

1883 

2300 

Sussex, 

172 

152 

211 

2310 

2845— 

8056 

Grand  total 

15 

78 

1810 

1886 

1115 

30,456 

35,267 

35,267 

III.  The  judiciary,  as  established  under  the  colonial  government,  was  recognised 
by  the  constitution,  in  the  general  clause  continuing  the  laws  existing  at  the  time  of 
its  adoption,  and  in  that,  limiting  the  tenure  of  office  of  the  judges.  Some  modifi- 
cations and  enlargement  of  jurisdiction  have,  however,  since  been  made ;  and  the 
judiciary  power  is  now  vested  in  a  Court  of  Appeals,  Court  of  Chancery,  Supreme 
and  Circuit  Courts,  Courts  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  and  General  Jail  Delivery: 
Courts  of  Common  Pleas,  Quarter  Sessions  and  Orphan's  Court,  and  Courts  for  the 
trial  of  small  causes,  holden  by  Justices  of  the  Peace.  These  institutions  will  be 
best  viewed,  passing  from  those  of  the  lowest  to  those  of  the  highest  order ;  and  at- 
tempting an  outline  of  the  constitution  of  each. 

The  courts  for  the  trial  of  small  causes  or  Justices'  Courts,  now  depend  upon  the 
act  of  12th  of  February,  1818,  and  its  supplements.  By  these,  every  suit  of  a 
civil  nature,  at  law,  including  suits  for  penalties,  where  the  matter  in  dispute  does 
not  exceed  the  value  of  one  hundred  dollars,  is  cognizable  before  a  justice  of  the 
peace  of  any  county,  who  holds  a  court  of  record,  endowed  with  the  usual  pow- 
ers of  such  courts.  From  this  jurisdiction,  however,  are  excepted,  actions  of  re- 
plevin, slander,  trespass  for  assault,  battery,  or  imprisonment,  and  actions  wherein 
the  title  to  real  estate  may  come  in  question.  The  territorial  jurisdiction  of  the  jus- 
tice is  coextensive  with  his  county,  and  his  process  is  confined  to  it,  except  in  the 
case  of  the  subpoena  ad  testificandum,  which  may  run  into  other  counties.  The  con- 
stables of  the  several  townships  of  the  county  are  the  ministerial  officers  of  the  court, 
who  execute  its  process,  tested  on  the  day  it  is  issued,  and  signed  and  sealed,  by  the 
justice. 

The  initiatory  process  is  summons  or  warrant.  The  first  is  required  when  the  de- 
fendant is  a  freeholder,  and  resident  of  the  county  where  issued,  and  in  cases  where 
defendant  cannot  be  held  to  bail;  and  may  be  used  on  all  occasions,  at  the  election 
of  plaintiff;  the  warrant  may  issue  against  persons  not  freeholders,  or  against  free- 
holders about  to  abscond  from  the  county.  The  summons  is  returnable  in  not  less 
than  five,  nor  more  than  fifteen  days  from  its  date ;  and  must  be  served  at  least  five 
days  before  the  day  given  therein  for  appearance,  personally,  upon  the  defendant, 


JUDICIARY.  69 

or  by  a  copy  left  at  his  dwelling.  The  warrant  is  returnable  forthwith.  Upon  ar- 
rest the  defendant  either  gives  bond,  with  freehold  surety,  to  the  constable  for  his 
appearance  at  a  stated  day,  not  more  than  eight  from  the  service,  or  is  carried  be- 
fore the  justice,  where  he  enters  into  recognisance  with  like  security,  conditioned 
for  his  appearance,  or  is  committed  to  prison  to  await  the  time  of  hearing,  which 
must  not  be  more  than  three  days  from  the  return  of  the  warrant ;  or  he  is  held  by 
the  constable,  until  the  plaintiff  be  notified  and  have  time  to  proceed  to  trial. 

The  amount  of  the  sifrn  demanded  is  endorsed  upon  the  writ,  with  the  costs,  and 
may  be  paid  to  the  constable  in  full  discharge  of  the  debt  and  arrest. 

On  the  appearance  of  the  parties,  the  trial  is  had,  or  the  hearing  is  adjourned, 
by  the  justice  himself,  or  on  cause  shown  by  either  party,  not  longer  than  fifteen  days : 
but  if  the  defendant  do  not  appear,  judgment  may  be  rendered  by  default;  and  by 
consent  of  parties  may  be  entered,  without  process,  for  any  sum  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  justice. 

After  appearance  of  defendant,  and  plea  entered,  arid  before  inquiry  into  the  me- 
rits of  the  cause  by  the  justice,  either  party  may  demand  a  trial  by  jury;  upon 
which,  where  the  sum  claimed  does  not  exceed  sixteen  dollars,  six  jurymen,  and 
where  over  sixteen  dollars,  twelve  jurymen  may  be  summoned.  The  costs  of  the 
jury  of  twelve,  when  finding  for  the  applicant,  above  five,  and  not  exceeding  twenty- 
five  dollars,  are  paid,  in  part  by  him;  but  if  finding  for  him,  five  dollars,  or  under, 
then  the  whole  costs  are  paid  by  the  applicant;  the  costs  of  the  jury  of  six,  finding 
in  favour  of  the  applicant,  under  five  dollars,  are  wholly  payable  by  him. 

By  consent,  and  at  request  of  the  parties,  the  justice  may  enter  rules  of  refer- 
ence of  the  matters  in  difference  to  such  persons  as  shall  be  nominated  by  the  par- 
ties. 

Upon  judgment  rendered  before  the  justice,  no  execution  can  issue  against  a  fe- 
male, when  the  debt  is  under  two  dollars.  Where  the  debtor  is  a  freeholder,  and 
when  sued  by  summons,  he  is  to  be  taken  as  such,  unless  the  presumption  be  dis- 
proved, or  when  a  sufficient  freeholder  of  the  county  shall  join  with  him  in  confes- 
sion of  judgment  to  the  adverse  party,  stay  of  execution  may  be  had,  where  the 
judgment  is  over  five,  and  under  fifteen  dollars,  for  one  month;  when  over  fifteen, 
and  under  sixty  dollars,  for  three  months,  and  when  over  sixty  dollars,  for  six  months. 

The  execution  continues  in  force  for  one  year  from  the  time  it  is  issued ;  but  may 
be  renewed  upon  scire  facias,  and  judgment  thereon,  and  takes  priority  from  the 
time  of  levy  made,  and  the  surplus  proceeds  of  sale  under  the  first  execution  are 
applicable  to  the  satisfaction  of  others,  in  successive  order.  The  levy  is  made  on 
the  goods  and  chattels  of  defendant ;  and  if  another  claim  property  in  the  goods  le- 
vied upon,  the  constable  stays  the  sale  for  ten  days,  unless  indemnified  by  plaintiff; 
during  which,  the  claimant,  on  application  to  a  justice,  may  have  his  rights  tried  by 
a  jury  of  six  men,  and  if  the  application  be  not  made  within  that  time,  the  claim  is 
deemed  abandoned.  The  verdict,  if  against  the  claimant,  protects  the  constable  in 
making  sale  of  the  goods.  For  want  of  goods  whereon  to  levy,  the  body  of  the  de- 
fendant is  liable  to  imprisonment  until  the  debt  and  costs  be  paid,  or  until  delivered 
by  due  course  of  law :  and  where  there  are  no  personal  effects  an  action  may  be 
brought  in  the  Common  Pleas,  on  the  judgment  before  the  justice,  in  order  to  reach 
the  real  estate. 

From  the  judgment  of  the  justice,  on  default,  on  absence  or  confession  of  defen- 
dant, or  when  the  matter  in  dispute  does  not  exceed  three  dollars  in  value,  there  is 
no  appeal.  In  other  cases,  an  appeal  lies  by  either  party  to  the  Common  Pleas  to 
be  holdennext  after  rendition  of  judgment;  the  appellant  giving  bond,  with  surety, 
to  the  other  party  conditioned  for  the  prosecution  of  his  appeal.  The  justice  de- 
termining the  cause  is  excluded  from  sitting  upon  it  in  the  appellate  court. 

The  judgment  of  the  justice  may,  also,  be  revised  by  the  Supreme  Court,  by 
certiorari  (but  not  by  writ  of  error)  issued  within  eighteen  months  from  the  rendi- 
tion. Any  justice  is  authorized,  in  cases  in  a  Justice's  Court,  to  take  the  deposition 
of  infirm,  sick,  or  going  witnesses,  and  to  issue  commission  for  the  examination  of 
witnesses. 

The  justices  (among  whom  are  to  be  esteemed  the  mayor,  recorder,  and  alder- 
men of  any  city,  borough,  or  town  corporate,  within  their  respective  territorial  ju- 
risdictions) are  chosen  by  the  legislature  in  joint  meeting,  for  the  term  of  five  years, 
and  may  be  reappointed  for  such  terms,  indefinitely,  and  dismissed  upon  impeach- 
ment by  the  assembly,  and  conviction  by  the  council.  Such  justices  are,  by  the  act 
of  1794,  conservators  of  the  peace,  and  as  such,  are  charged  and  empowered  to 


70  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

cause  the  laws  to  be  observed,  and  to  apprehend  and  punish  offenders  as  the  laws 
may  direct.  They  exercise  also  many  ministerial  duties,  as  notaries  in  certain  cases) 
and  act  as  substitutes  for  the  coroner,  &c.  £c.  As  the  Justices'  Court  is  that  which 
disposes  of  the  major  part  of  the  disputes  among  the  citizens,  we  have  occupied 
more  space  in  relation  to  it  than  we  shall  give  to  the  courts  of  higher  order. 

The  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  in  each  county,  is  composed  of  the  justices  of  the 
county,  or  any  three  of  them  ;  and  is  a  court  of  record,  having  cognisance  of  all  in- 
dictable offences  perpetrated  in  the  county  :  and  authority  'by  its  precepts  to  the 
sheriff,  to  summon  grand  and  special  juries,  and  to  do  all  necessary  things  relative 
thereto,  as  directed  by  law ;  sending,  however,  all  indictments  found  for  treason, 
murder,  manslaughter,  sodomy,  rape,  polygamy,  arson,  burglary,  robbery,  forgery, 
perjury,  and  subornation  of  perjury,  to  be  tried  in  the  Supreme  Court,  or  Court  of 
Oyer  and  Terminer.  To  this  court  the  several  justices  of  the  county  send  their  re- 
cognisances for  keeping  the  peace  or  good  behaviour,  and  the  examination  of  of- 
fenders, taken  before  them  ;  and  generally  return  to  it  the  recognisances  of  witnesses 
and  of  bail  in  criminal  cases.  It  has  cognisance  of  cases  of  bastardy ;  may  grant 
tavern  licenses,  the  sums  payable  for  which,  not  less  than  $10  nor  more  than  $70, 
pertain  to  the  county  treasury;  may  recommend  to  the  governor  persons  for  license 
as  pedlars;  may  hear  appeals  from  the  order  of  justices,  between  master  and  ser- 
vant, and  in  pauper  cases,  and  from  conviction,  by  justices,  under  the  acts  for  sup- 
pressing vice  and  immorality,  &c.;  and  has,  generally,  the  powers  of  a  court  of 
record,  relative  to  the  subjects  of  its  jurisdiction. 

The  Common  Pleas  consist  of  judges  appointed  by  the  legislature,  in  joint  meet- 
ing, who  hold  their  offices  for  five  years.  The  number  in  each  county  is  unlimited, 
and  varies  from  time  to  time.  Any  one  of  the  judges  may  hold  the  court.  They 
choose  their  own  president  for  a  year,  and  receive  no  salary  or  compensation,  but 
certain  bench  fees,  divided  among  them,  rarely  amounting  to  their  expenses  at  the 
court.  Their  territorial  jurisdiction  is  only  coextensive  with  the  county,  but  they  may 
issue  subpoenas  for  witnesses  throughout  the  State.  The  court  has  unlimited  ori- 
ginal jurisdiction,  at  common  law,  in  all  personal  actions  where  the  freehold  does 
not  come  in  question,  with  some  restriction  as  to  costs,  in  cases  cognisable  before  a 
justice.  Its  proceedings  may  be  revised  on  writ  of  error  to  the  Supreme  Court. 

The  judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  the  several  counties,  or  any  three  of 
them,  constitute  the  Orphans'  Court ;  which  is  a  court  of  record,  and  is  holden  four 
times  a  year,  in  the  same  week  with  the  Courts  of  Quarter  Sessions,  and  at  such  other 
times  as  the  judges  may  deem  proper.  This  court  is  empowered  :  to  determine  all 
controversies  respecting  the  existence  of  wills,  the  fairness  of  inventories,  the  right 
of  administration  and  guardianship,  the  allowance  of  the  accounts  of  executors,  ad- 
ministrators, guardians,  or  trustees,  audited  and  stated  by  the  surrogate  ;  to  award 
process  to  bring  before  them  all  persons  interested,  or  witnesses,  in  any  pending 
cause;  or  who,  as  executors,  administrators,  guardians,  trustees,  or  otherwise,  are 
accountable  for  any  property  belonging  to  an  orphan,  or  person  under  age.  And 
the  ordinary,  his  register,  and  surrogates,  are  required  to  transmit  into  this  court, 
upon  application,  copies  of  all  bonds,  inventories,  accounts,  &c.,  relating  to  estates 
of  orphans,  &c.  Where  insufficient  surety  has  been  taken  on  granting  letters  of 
administration,  or  guardianship,  this  court  has  power  to  require  administrators  or 
guardians  to  give  further  security ;  and  upon  refusal,  or  malfeasance  in  their  trust, 
to  dismiss  them  and  substitute  others:  and  where  an  executrix  having  minors  of  her 
own,  or  is  concerned  for  other  minors,  or  is  like  to  marry  without  securing  the 
minors'  estates ;  or  where  an  executor,  guardian,  or  other  trustee  of  minors'  estates 
is  like  to  prove  insolvent,  refuses  or  neglects  to  account  for  such  estates,  to  order 
that  he  give  security  to  those  for  whom  he  is  concerned,  by  mortgage  or  bond,  in 
such  sum  as  the  court  may  deem  proper;  conditioned  for  the  performance  of  their 
respective  trusts  :  and,  where  the  surety  in  bond  given  by  an  administrator  or  guar- 
dian, alleges  that  such  officer  is  wasting  or  mismanaging  the  estate,  whereby  the 
complainant  is  liable  to  damage,  the  court  may  compel  such  officer  to  render  an  ac- 
count, and  if  the  malfeasance  be  apparent,  may,  on  pain  of  dismissal,  compel  him 
to  give  separate  security  to  his  surety  for  the  faithful  performance  of  duty :  and 
where  there  are  two  or  more  acting  executors,  guardians,  or  administrators,  the  court 
may,  from  time  to  time,  on  the  application  of  any  one  of  them,  and  sufficient  reason 
shown,  order  the  executor,  &c.,  to  account  with  his  coexecutor,  &c.,  and  compel 
him  to  give  separate  security  to  such  executor,  &c.,  and  on  refusal,  to  authorize  such 
coexecutor,  &c.,  to  sue  for  the  assets  in  the  hands  of  the  executors,  &c.,  refusing. 


JUDICIARY.  71 

The  court  has  also  authority,  to  make  partition  of  the  lands  of  an  intestate, 
among  his  heirs,  when  any  of  them  are  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  ;  and  also 
of  the  lands  devised  to  two  or  more  devisees,  under  such  age,  where  the  bounds  of 
each  devisee's  share  is  unascertained  ;  and  to  appoint  commissioners  for  the  ad- 
measurement of  dower.  But  where  the  lands  of  such  intestate  or  devisor  lie  in  two 
or  more  counties,  the  duty  of  partition  devolves  upon  the  surrogate  general.  The 
court  may  order  sale  of  lands  for  the  payment  of  debts  when  the  personalty  is  ex- 
hausted, either  upon  application  of  the  executor,  administrator,  or  creditor  ;  or  the  sale 
of  lands  of  orphans,  when  necessary  for  their  maintenance  and  education;  and  direct 
the  fulfilment  of  contracts  for  the  conveyance  of  real  estate,  made  by  the  testator  or 
intestate,  in  his  life  time:  and  may  also  compel  creditors  of  the  estates  of  decedents, 
to  render  their  accounts,  within  astated  time,  under  penalty  of  being  barred  of  their 
actions.  And  in  case  the  estate  prove  insolvent,  may  direct  distribution  of  pro- 
ceeds among  creditors;  and  where  the  debts  are  paid,  may  divide  the  balance  among 
the  representatives  of  decedent. 

This  court  has  jurisdiction,  also,  in  the  settlement  of  the  accounts  of  assignees, 
under  the  assign:-nent  of  a  debtor  for  the  benefit  of  creditors. 

By  the  8th  article  of  the  constitution  the  governor  is  ex  qfficio  ordinary,  or  sur- 
rogate general.  One  deputy  or  surrogate,  in  each  county,  is  appointed  by  the  legis- 
lature, for  five  years,  whose  power  is  confined  within  the  same,  and  whose  duty 
is — to  take  the  depositions  to  wills,  (ten  days  after  death  of  testator)  adminis- 
trations, inventories,  and  administration  bonds,  in  cases  of  intestacy,  and  issue 
thereon  letters  testamentary  and  of  administration;  but  where  doubts  arise  on 
the  face  of  the  will,  or  a  caveat  be  put  in  against  proving  it,  or  disputes  hap- 
pen respecting  the  existence  of  a  will,  the  fairness  of  an  inventory,  or  the  right  of 
administration,  he  is  to  issue  citations  to  all  persons  concerned,  to  appear  at  the 
next  Orphans'  Court,  of  the  county,  where  the  cause  is  determined  in  a  summary 
way,  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  Prerogative  Court,  to  which  all  other  proceedings 
of  the  surrogate  may,  also,  be  carried  directly  by  appeal:  To  record  all  wills  and 
inventories  proven  before  him,  or  the  Orphans'  Court,  with  the  proofs  ;  all  letters  of 
guardianship  and  letters  testamentary  by  him  granted,  a  copy  of  which,  under  his 
hand  and  seal,  is  evidence  in  any  court  of  the  State.  He  transmits  to  the  register 
of  the  Prerogative  Court,  on  the  first  Mondays  of  February,  May,  August,  and 
November,  annually,  all  wills  and  inventories  proved  by  him,  and  a  return  of  all 
letters  of  administration  granted  during  the  preceding  three  months,  to  be  filed  in 
the  register's  office.  Files  all  administration  and  guardianship  bonds,  and  other 
writings,  required  by  law,  in  conducting  the  business  of  his  office:  Gives  bond  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties,  with  sureties  in  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
dollars:  Audits  and  states  the  accounts  of  executors  and  administrators,  exhibited 
to  him,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Orphans'  Court,  giving  at  least  two  months'  no- 
tice of  his  intention,  in  at  least  five  of  the  most  public  places  of  the  county,  as  near 
as  may  be,  to  the  place  of  residence  of  the  parties  concerned.  He  is  required  to 
keep  up  in  his  office,  at  all  times,  in  some  conspicuous  place,  a  true  list  of  all  fees 
lawfully  demandable  by  him  as  surrogate,  or  as  clerk  of  the  Orphans'  Court;  and  he 
is  punishable  for  extortion  by  fine. 

The  jurisdiction  of  the  ordinary  or  surrogate  general  extends  only  to  the  grant- 
ing of  probate  of  wills,  letters  of  administration,  letters  of  guardianship  and  the 
hearing  and  finally  determining  all  disputes  that  may  arise  thereon.  For  the  last 
purpose,  he  holds,  at  stated  periods,  a  Prerogative  Court,  at  the  times  and  places 
for  holding  the  Court  of  Chancery,  where  he  hears,  and  finally  determines,  all 
causes  that  come  before  him,  either  directly  or  by  appeal  from  any  of  the  surrogates 
or  from  the  Orphans'  Court.  Of  this  court  the  secretary  of  state  is  register,  and  is 
required  to  record  the  names  of  the  testators  of  all  wills  he  may  receive,  in  alpha- 
betical order,  with  the  year  in  which  they  were  proved,  and  to  file  such  wills  in  his 
office,  the  wills  of  eacli  year  and  county  to  be  put  by  themselves  ;  and  in  like  man- 
ner to  record  the  names  of  all  intestates,  and  all  inventories  in  manner  aforesaid  ; 
and  transcripts  of  any  will  or  testament  registered  by  him  are  receivable  in  evidence 
in  all  courts  of  the  commonwealth. 

Supreme  and  Circuit  Courts. — The  first  consists  of  a  chief  justice  and  two  as- 
sociates, and  holds,  annually,  at  Trenton,  four  terms,  commencing  on  the  last 
Tuesday  of  February,  the  second  of  May,  the  first  of  September,  and  the  second 
of  November,  by  the  chief  justice  or  any  one  of  the  justices.  Issues  in  this 
court,  determinate  by  jury,  are  tried  in  the  county  where  the  lauds  in  question 


72  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

lie,  or  the  cause  of  action  arises;  unless  upon  motion  upon  behalf  of  the  State, 
when  the  State  is  party,  or  where  the  amount  in  dispute  is  three  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  either  party  order  the  trial  at  bar,  which  he  may  do,  receiving  only 
the  costs  of  a  Circuit  Court  if  he  do  not  recover  that  sum.  Transitory  actions, 
at  the  discretion  of  the  court,  are  tried  in  the  county  in  which  the  cause  of  action 
arose  ;  and  trials  by  foreign  juries  may  be  had  where  the  court  deem  it  proper. 
The  court  has  original  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  without  regard  to  amount,  but  the 
party  recovering  not  more  than  two  hundred  dollars,  exclusive  of  costs,  is  not  entitled 
to  costs,  unless  the  freehold,  inheritance  or  title  to  real  estate  may  come  in  question, 
or  the  suit  be  removed  into  this  court  by  the  defendant.  But  no  suit  may  be  re- 
moved from  an  inferior  court  by  habeas  corpus  unless  the  value  of  the  matter  in  con- 
troversy exceed  two  hundred  dollars.  It  has  power  to  appoint  commissioners  of  bail, 
and  to  make  rules  for  justifying  such  bail;  to  try  treason  committed  out  of  the  State; 
to  review  proceedings  of  justices  in  cases  of  landlords  and  tenants ;  to  authorize 
the  filing  of  an  information  in  the  nature  of  a  quo  warranto;  to  make  partition  of 
land  and  tenements  between  jointtenants  and  tenants  in  common ;  to  appoint  com- 
missioners to  ascertain  county  lines;  to  entertain  prosecutions  against  vessels  seized 
for  engaging  in  the  slave  trade;  to  issue  writs  of  dower,  and  admeasurement  of 
dower,  &c.;  and  writs  of  error  in  all  cases  to  the  Common  Pleas,  and  to  determine 
thereon,  and  also  to  determine  causes  removed  hither  by  certiorari  from  the  Or- 
phans' Court :  to  appoint  viewers  of  roads  in  certain  cases,  and  to  receive  and  de- 
termine on  their  report. 

The  chief  justice,  or  one  of  his  associates,  twice  in  a  year,  holds  a  Circuit  Court 
in  every  county  except  in  that  of  Cape  May,  for  the  trial  of  issues  which  have  been 
joined  in,  or  brought  into  the  Supreme  Court,  and  which  may  be  triable  in  the  county: 
but  the  same  judge  does  not  hold  the  court  twice  in  succession  in  the  same  county, 
unless  on  special  occasions ;  and  the  clerks  of  the  Common  Pleas,  in  the  several 
counties,  are  clerks  of  the  Circuit  Courts,  and  of  the  Courts  of  Oyer  and  Terminer 
and  General  Jail  Delivery. 

The  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  is  holden  semi-annually,  in  each  county,  except 
that  of  Cape  May,  where  it  is  holden  annually  only,  by  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  and  the  judges  of  the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas,  or  any  three  of  them. 
It  has  cognisance  of  all  crimes  and  offences  within  the  county;  and  authority  to  de- 
liver the  jails  of  the  prisoners  therein.  Its  process  runs  into  all  the  counties  of  the 
State,  and  it  may  direct  that  indictments  found  in  it  for  offences  indictable  in  the 
Quarter  Sessions  be  sent  to  the  sessions  for  trial. 

The  Supreme  Court  has  original  jurisdiction  in  criminal  cases,  and  appellate  ju- 
risdiction from  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  &c. 

The  governor  is,  by  the  constitution,  chancellor  of  the  State,  and  holds  at  Tren- 
ton, annually,  four  stated  terms  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  January,  the  first  in  April, 
the  second  in  July,  and  the  second  in  October,  and  such  stated  terms  as  he  may  from 
time  to  time  appoint.  If  the  court  be  not  opened  at  any  of  the  said  terms,  the  pro- 
cess returnable,  and  the  suits  pending  therein,  are  continued,  of  course,  until  the 
court  shall  sit.  This  court  is  considered  as  always  open  for  the  granting  of  injunc- 
tions, writs  of  ne  exeat  to  prevent  the  departure  of  defendants  from  the  State,  and 
other  writs  and  process  in  vacation.  The  chancellor  may  call  to  his  assistance  the 
chief  justice  or  other  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  or  one  or  more  masters  of  chan- 
cery, to  advise  with  on  the  hearing  of  a  cause,  argument,  or  motion ;  or  he  may  send 
any  matter  of  law  to  the  Supreme  Court  for  its  opinion  ;  or  if  a  matter  of  fact  ren- 
der the  intervention  of  a  jury  necessary,  he  may  send  an  issue  for  trial  to  such  court. 
The  masters  in  chancery  are  appointed  by  the  chancellor,  and  the  clerk  of  the  court 
formerly  named  by  him,  is  now,  by  virtue  of  the  act  of  14th  February,  1831,  ap- 
pointed by  the  legislature  in  joint  meeting,  and  continues  in  office  five  years. 

In  addition  to  the  subjects  of  jurisdiction  abovementioned,  we  may  add  here,  that 
of  foreclosure  of  mortgages  as  a  prominent  one.  But  the  jurisdiction  of  this  court 
is  extensive  and  complex,  embracing  those  many  subjects  on  which  the  law  cannot 
justly  operate,  by  reason  of  its  generality,  and  is  not  defined  by  the  statutory  law. 
A  knowledge  of  it  can  be  obtained,  therefore,  only  from  the  thousand  volumes  of 
English  and  American  law,  and  it  must  remain  a  mystery  to  all  but  the  erudite 
student. 

To  the  Supreme  and  Chancery  Courts  a  reporter  is  attached,  whose  duty  is,  to  re- 
port and  publish  their  decisions. 

The  governor  and  council,  seven  of  whom  make  a  quorum,  constitute  the  court  of 
appeals  in  the  last  resort,  in  causes  of  law  or  equity  removed  from  the  Supreme 


JUDICIARY.  73 

Court,  or  from  Chancery,  after  final  judgment;  and  possess  the  power  of  granting 
pardons  to  criminals  after  condemnation,  in  all  cases  of  offence.  This  court  holds 
annually  at  Trenton,  two  terms ;  one  commencing  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  May,  and 
the  other  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  November ;  but,  if  the  legislature  be  elsewhere  in 
session  at  either  of  the  said  terms,  the  court  is  holden  where  the  legislature  may  be ; 
and  the  governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  council,  or  three  of  them,  may  hold  ano- 
ther term,  at  Trenton,  annually.  The  secretary  of  state  is  the  elerk  of  the  court. 
The  members  of  council,  sitting  as  judges,  receive  the  same  pay  and  mileage,  as 
when  sitting  in  council ;  and  the  clerk,  as  when  acting  as  clerk  of  council.  If  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  members  do  not  attend  the  court,  on  the  first  day  of  term,  it  may 
adjourn  from  day  to  day,  or  until  the  next  term,  and  all  proceedings  therein  are  con- 
tinued, of  course. 

Compensation  of  Officers.  The  compensation  of  the  chancellor,  judges  of  the 
Common  Pleas,  Orphans'  Courts,  Quarter  Sessions,  and  justices,  and  of  the  clerks, 
sheriffs,  coroners  and  constables,  engaged  therein,  secretary  of  state,  attorney  gene- 
ral and  deputies,  is  by  fees,  respectively,  allotted  to  them  by  law. 

The  chief,  and  other  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  are  allowed  a  per  diem  com- 
pensation for  attending  the  Circuit  Courts,  in  addition  to  their  annual  salaries,  and 
certain  fees  on  law  proceedings,  and  an  allowance  for  travelling  expenses,  which  may 
increase  their  compensation  on  the  whole  to  $1,300  or  $1,400  per  annum.  The 
statutes  regulating  fees  are  perpetual ;  but  those  which  fix  salaries  are  annual  ;  and 
thus  the  chief  officers  of  State  are  kept  dependent  upon  the  legislature.  The  act  of 
2d  Nov.  1832,  allotted  for  the  then  next  succeeding  year,  to  the  governor,  at  the 
rate  of  $2,000;  chief  justice,  $1,200;  associate  justice  of  Supreme  Court,  $1,100; 
treasurer,  $1,000;  law  reporter  and  chancery  reporter,  each  $200;  attorney  gene- 
ral, $80;  quartermaster  general,  $100;  adjutant  general,  $100.  All  of  which  are 
payable,  on  warrants  signed  by  the  governor  or  vice  president.  The  salary  ceases 
on  the  removal  of  the  officer  by  death  or  otherwise. 

The  same  act,  allotted  to  the  vice  president  of  council  and  speaker  of  assembly, 
$3  50;  and  to  every  member  of  council  and  assembly,  $3  per  day;  and  $3  for 
every  twenty  miles  of  travel  to  and  from  the  seat  of  government ;  to  the  secretary 
of  council  and  clerk  of  assembly,  each  $3  50  per  diem  ;  and  eight  cents  per  sheet 
of  100  words,  for  recording  minutes,  and  the  like  for  copy  for  the  printer,  and  per 
sheet  to  engrossing  clerk.  To  the  sergeant  at  arms  and  door  keepers,  $2  per  day. 

IV.  Having,  as  fully  as  our  limits  will  permit,  pourtrayed  the  physical  and  poli- 
tical condition  of  the  State,  it  remains,  to  complete  our  view,  that  we  trace  an  out- 
line of  the  provisions  which  exist  for  religious,  moral,  and  intellectual  improvement. 
The  principal  religious  associations  are  the  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  Methodist,  Dutch 
Reformed,  Quaker,  and  Catholic.  Beside  these,  there  are  several  other  Christian 
denominations,  such  as  Universalists,  Chris-ti-ans,  &c.  &c.,  but  the  number  of  mem- 
bers pertaining  to  them,  are  inconsiderable.  We  have  sought  to  give  the  condition 
of  each  from  their  records,  and  where  such  documents  were  not  accessible,  from 
other  authentic  sources. 

The  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Jersey,  comprises  the  Presbyteries 
of  Newark,  Elizabethtown,  New  Brunswick,  Newton,  and  Susquehanna.  But  we 
do  not  note  the  latter.  The  reader  will  observe,  that  in  the  following  table,  P.  at- 
tached to  a  minister's  name,  denotes  that  he  is  pastor  of  some  church,  and  P.  at- 
tached to  a  church,  that  it  has  a  pastor.  W.  C.  stands  for,  without  charge;  S.  S. 
for  stated  supply;  O.  S.  for  occasional  supply;  V.  for  vacant;  Presl.  for  Presby- 
tery ;  Prest.  for  president  of  some  college ;  Prof,  for  professor  in  some  college  or 
theological  seminary  ;  Miss,  for  missionary ;  Chap,  for  chaplain  to  the  navy  or  some 
public  station ;  Ch.  for  church ;  Cong,  for  congregational.  The  expense  of  each 
church  will  not  exceed  $600. 


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78 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 


The  Baptists  in  New  Jersey  have  sixty-one  churches,  whose  location  and  condition, 
in  some  measure,  appears  from  the  following  table.  Their  general  affairs  are  directed 
by  a  state  convention,  which  assembles,  annually,  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  Novem- 
ber, at  such  place  as  may  be  fixed  at  the  prior  meeting.  It  maintains  six  missiona- 
ries, and  its  funds,  in  1832,  amounted  to  $1143  74.  The  cost  of  maintaining  each 
church,  including  the  funds  raised  for  all  kinds  of  ecclesiastical  purposes,  is  esti- 
mated at  $300,  making  in  the  whole,  $18,300. 

STATISTICAL  TABLES  OF  ASSOCIATIONS  AND  CHURCHES. 

NEW  JERSEY  ASSOCIATION.— "There  is  a  healthful  action  in  this  body.  Sabbath  schools,  tracts, 
temperance  and  missionary  operations,  are  encouraged  to  a  very  laudible  extent  by  the  churches;  and  in 
many  of  them  seasons  of  refreshing  have  been  enjoyed  during  the  year  past.  There  is  an  efficient  body  of 
ministers  belonging  to  the  association,  most  of  them  in  the  prime  of  manhood." 


CHURCHES. 

MINISTERS. 

POST  OFFICES. 

Bap. 

Total 

Consti. 

Cohansey, 

H.  Smalley,  W.  Sheppard,      - 

Roadstown,  - 

55 

188 

1900 

Cape  May, 

Samuel  Smith,       ... 

Cape  May,    - 

7 

80 

1712 

Salem, 

Charles  J.  Hopkins, 

Salem, 

5 

141 

1755 

Dividing  Creek, 

Thomas  Brooks,    - 

Dividing  Creek, 

5 

55 

1762 

Tuckahoe, 

William  Clark,      - 

Tuckahoe,     - 

20 

Pemberton, 

Clarence  W.  Mulford,    - 

Pemberton,   - 

28 

170 

1764 

Pittsgrove, 

William  Bacon, 

Pittsgrove,    - 

4 

34 

1771 

Upper  Freehold, 

James  M.  Challiss, 

Imlaytown,    - 

16 

196 

1766 

Manahawkin,    - 

C.  C.  Park,    -         --- 

Manahawkin, 

5 

25 

1770 

Jacobstown, 

—Ezekiel  Sexton, 

New  Egypt,  - 

6 

62 

1785 

West  Creek, 

..... 

- 

4 

33 

1792 

Burlington, 
Mount  Holly,  -^ 

—  G.  Allen,  P.  Powell,  J.  Boozer, 
J.  Sheppard,  J.  Maylin, 

Burlington,   - 
Mount  Holly, 

1 
7 

77 
92 

1801 
1801 

J.  E.  Welsh,  E.  W.  Dickerson, 

Evesham, 

—          

Evesham, 

12 

58 

1803 

Trenton  and  Lam- 

berton, 

Morgan  J.  Rhees, 

Trenton,  -     - 

20 

159 

1805 

Williamsburg, 

..... 

Princeton, 

2 

38 

1805 

Port  Elizabeth, 

_          . 

Millville,  -    - 

2 

H 

1805 

Haddonfield,     - 

John  Sisty,  S.  Hervey, 

Haddonfield, 

2 

54 

1818 

Canton,    - 

E.  M.  Barker;  J.  P.  Thompson, 

Canton,    -     - 

12 

64 

1811 

Bordentown,     - 

.           ..... 

Bordentown, 

36 

1821 

Woodstown, 

. 

. 

11 

43 

1821 

2d  Cohansey, 

J.  C.  Harrison, 

Bridgetown, 

5 

74 

Allowaystown, 
2d  Cape  May,  - 

Ambrose  Garrett, 

Allowaystown, 
Cape  May,    - 

3 

50 
42 

1830 

1828 

Churches  24. 

Ministers  24. 

Totals 

213 

1802 

NEW  YORK  ASSOCIATION. 


CHURCHES. 

MINISTERS. 

CLERKS. 

POST  OFFICES. 

Bapt. 

Total 

Consti. 

Middletown,  - 

" 

. 

Middletown.  - 

14 

132 

1688 

Piscataway,    - 
Scotch  Plains, 

John  Rogers, 

_ 

New  Brunswick, 
Scotch  Plains, 

18 
18 

129 
126 

1689 
1747 

E.  Frost,    -     - 

Morristown,   - 

P.  C.  Broome, 

. 

Morristown,   - 

1 

39 

1752 

Mount  Bethel, 

M.  R.  Cox,     - 

. 

. 

22 

83 

1767 

Lyon's  Farms, 

P.  Sparks,       - 

. 

- 

14 

58 

1769 

J.  Wilcox,       - 

Northfield,      - 

A.  Elliott, 

. 

_ 

Q 

72 

1785 

Samptown,     - 
Newark,     -    - 

L.  Lathrop,     - 
Daniel  Dodge, 

- 

Newark, 

30 

8 

133 
120 

1792 
1801 

Randolph, 
New  Brunswick, 

—  M.  Quin,  sup. 
G.  S.  Webb,  - 

P.  P.  Runyon, 

New  Brunswick, 

29 

20 
111 

1802 
1816 

Perth  Amboy, 
Plainfield, 

Jacob  Sloper, 
D.  T.  Hill,     - 

D.  Dunn,     - 

Plainfield, 

1 
24 

35 
113 

1818 
1818 

Pater  son, 

D.D.Lewis,  - 

Paterson, 

1 

48 

1825 

Churches  15. 

Ministers  14. 

Totals 

190 

1319 

WARWICK  ASSOCIATION. 


CHURCHES. 

MINISTERS. 

CLERKS. 

POST  OFFICES. 

Bap. 

Total 

Consti. 

1st  Wantage, 
2d  Wantage, 
Newfoundland, 
Hardiston,     - 
1st  Newton,    - 
Hamburg, 

Churches  6. 

Tim.  Jackson, 
A.  Harding,   - 

Henry  Ball,    - 
T.  Teasdale,  - 
John  Teasdale, 

Ministers  4. 

H.  Martin, 
Israel  Dillison, 
I.  Dean.      -     - 
T.  Beardsley, 
J.  B.  Maxwell, 
I.  H.  Wood, 

Deckertown, 
Newfoundland, 

Newton,     -     - 
Hamburg, 

Totals 

1 
4 
23 
11 

245 
39 
27 

63 
50 

88 

512 

1756 

1797 

39 

CENTRAL  ASSOCIATION. 


CHURCHES. 

MINISTERS. 

1 
POST  OFFICES. 

Bap. 

Total 

Consti. 

1st  Hopewell,     - 

John  Boggs, 

Hopewell, 

7 

172 

1715 

Hightstown, 
Arnwell,     - 

John  Seger, 
C.  Bartolett,  Thos.  Burrass, 

Hightstown, 

5 
23 

220 
164 

1745 

1798 

Wm.  Pollard,  E.  Burrass, 

2d  Hopewell,      - 

C.  Suydam, 

. 

1 

48 

1803 

Squan, 

— 

Manasquam, 

40 

Nottingham  Square, 

— 

Trenton,     - 

115 

Sandy  Ridge,     - 

Joseph  Wright, 

. 

7 

79 

Lambertsville,    - 

D.  B.  Stout, 

Lambertsville,    - 

4 

27 

Oxford,       - 

— 

. 

18 

30 

1831 

Washington, 

J.  C.  Goble,       - 

South  River, 

27 

129 

Churches  10. 

Ministers  10. 

Totals 

92  J1024| 

HUDSON  RIVER  ASSOCIATION. 


2d  Newark, 

P.  L.  Platt, 

Newark,     - 

15 

33 

1831 

PHILADELPHIA  ASSOCIATION. 

Kingwood, 

Wm  Curtis,  .#.  Williamson. 
W.  R.  Robinson, 

Kingwood, 

7 

198 

1742 

CENTRAL  UNION  ASSOCIATION. 

Carnden,   - 

—A.  Smith,  C.  Sexton, 

Camden, 

33 

1818 

UNASSOCIATED  CHURCHES. 


Schooly's  Mountain, 
Hackensack, 

—  Michael  Quin, 
Henry  Tonkin,   - 

Schooly's  Mountain, 
Hackensack, 

4 

14 

8 

1832 
1832 

SUMMARY  VIEW. 


ASSOCIATIONS. 

73 

U 

4 

c 
3 

„• 

"o 

T3 

"S. 

"H 

"o 

o> 
C 

o 

MEETINGS  IN  1833. 

u 

> 

0 

~1 

« 

H 

0 

New  Jersey,     - 

21 

9 

21 

3 

213 

1802 

1811 

Upper  Freehold,  Sept.  24. 

Central,       -     - 

10 

3 

9 

i 

92 

1024 

Washington,  Oct.  16. 

New  York, 

15 

3 

13 

i 

190 

1319 

1791 

1st.  Ch.  N.  Y.  city,  May  28. 

Warwick,    -     - 

6 

1 

4 

39 

512 

1791 

Orange,  N.  Y.  June  11. 

Hudson  River. 

1 

1 

15 

33 

1815 

Oliver  Street  Church,  June  19. 

Philadelphia,   - 

1 

1 

2 

7 

198 

1707 

Spruce  Street  Church,  Oct.  1. 

Central  Union, 

1 

2 

33 

1832 

Second  Street  Church,  May  28. 

Unassociated  chs. 

3 

1 

2 

4 

60 

Totals 

61 

17 

r>3|  7 

560 

3981 

SO  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

The  clergymen  report,  that  during  the  years  1831  and  1832,  1000  persons  have 
been  baptized  in  the  State,  and  that  a  spirit  of  enlightened  liberality  is  diffusing 
itself  among  the  churches. 

In  addition  to  what  is  done  for  the  objects  of  the  convention,  from  two  to  three 
hundred  dollars  are  annually  raised  for  foreign  missions. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  New  Jersey,  is  divided  into  three  districts, 
each  under  the  charge  of  a  presiding  elder,  always  a  minister,  appointed  by  the 
bishop,  and  changed  at  least  once  in  four  years.  Each  district  is  divided  into  cir- 
cuits and  stations  ;  thus,  the  district  of  West  Jersey,  comprehending  Burlington 
county,  and  the  country  south  thereof,  contains  eight  circuits  and  three  stations,  and 
supernumeraries  included,  twenty-three  ministers ;  the  district  of  East  Jersey,  in- 
cluding the  country  as  far  north  as  Flemington  and  Belleville,  four  circuits  and  ten 
stations,  and  twenty-three  ministers ;  and  Asbury  district,  comprehending  the  re- 
mainder of  the  State,  eight  circuits,  three  stations,  and  eighteen  ministers. 

Circuits  are  formed  of  territories  of  greater  or  less  dimensions,  including  several 
churches,  under  the  charge  of  one  pastor,  aided,  commonly,  by  one  or  more  assistants, 
who  serve  the  churches  in  rotation.  Stations  consist,  generally,  of  one  church,  but 
occasionally,  of  more,  confided  to  the  care  of  one  pastor,  who,  sometimes,  where 
there  are  more  churches  than  one,  has  an  assistant.  The  circuits  and  stations  de- 
pend, in  their  government,  upon  the  annual  conference  of  Philadelphia,  and  upon 
the  quarterly  conferences  held  in  them  respectively.  Disputes  among  the  members 
of  any  church,  may  be  considered,  in  the  first  instance,  by  a  committee  of  their 
church,  from  whose  decision  an  appeal  lies  to  the  quarterly  conference,  composed  of 
the  pastor,  local  preachers,  exhorters,  stewards,  and  class  leaders,  at  whose  head  is 
the  presiding  elder  of  the  district;  and  its  determination  is  conclusive,  unless  one  of 
the  parties  be  a  minister ;  in  such  case,  he  may  appeal  to  the  annual  conference  ;  and 
if  he  be  a  travelling  minister,  from  the  annual,  to  the  general,  conference. 

The  whole  number  of  clergymen  of  this  denomination,  in  the  State,  is  sixty-four ; 
the  cost  of  whose  maintenance,  including  donations  of  every  character,  together 
with  the  expenses  of  maintaining  the  churches,  is  estimated  at  about  $412  each,  per 
annum  ;  which,  distributed  among  the  whole  number  of  members,  (15,467,)  gives  an 
average  charge  of  $1  77,  annually,  upon  each  member.  And  the  annual  cost  of 
establishing  and  repairing  churches,  is  stated  at  twenty-five  cents,  each  member ; 
so  that  the  whole  average  annual,  charge,  for  religious  instruction,  upon  each  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church,  may  be  set  down  at  about  two  dollars. 

The  following  table  shows  the  circuits  and  stations  of  the  several  districts,  with 
the  number  of  communicants  and  clergymen,  in  each,  for  the  year  1832. 


WEST  JERSEY 

DISTRICT. 

EAST  JERSEY  DISTRICT. 

ASBURY  DISTRICT. 

Mem's.  Min's. 

Mem's.  Min's. 

Mem's.  Min's. 

Burlington,      - 
Pemberton, 

424        2 

878        4 

New  Brunswick  and  )      ORQ        0 
Somerville,              \      268 

Kingswood,     -        -        170        1 
Asbury,            -        -        698        2 

Tuckerton, 

848        2 

Freehold,         -        -        678 

Belvidere  and  Warrent.  167        4 

Baigaintown, 
Cumberland, 

989        2 
894        2 

Trenton,          -         -        360 
Crosswicks,     -        -        539 

Newton  and  Hamburg,    937        4 
Milford,           -        -          50 

Bridgeton, 

357        1 

Pennington,     -                156 

Haverstraw,    -        -        210        1 

Gloucester,     - 

955        2 

Plainfield,        -        -          32 

Paterson,         -        -        420        1 

Salem,    - 

1160        5 

Rahway,         -        -         152 

Essex,                              445        2 

Camden, 

713        2 

Elizabetbtown,        -         136 

Morristown,    -        -        178        1 

Presiding  Elder, 

1 

7218      23 

Woodbridge,            -          75 
Bloomneld  and  Orange,  450        2 
Belleville,                         160        1 

New  Providence,    -        150        1 
4425      18 

Newark,                            779        2 

3924      23 

Somerset  Mission,  -        106        4 

7218      23 

Bergen  Neck,  do.    -          33        1 

— 

Presiding  Elder,                            1 

15,567      64 

3924      23 

The  condition  of  the  Episcopalian  Church  is  drawn  from  the  report  of  the  gene- 
ral convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica, held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  October  1832,  and  from  the  report  of  the  50th 
annual  convention  of  the  church  in  the  diocese  of  New  Jersey,  held  at  Camden  in 
May  1833.  From  these  it  appears  that  during  the  year,  ending  October  1832,  there 
were  three  persons  admitted  to  the  order  of  the  priesthood,  and  one  to  that  of  dea- 
con: That  there  have  been  eleven  institutions  within  the  last  three  years;  that 
eight  clergymen  have  been  received  in  the  diocese,  and  there  were  therein  eighteen 
resident,  all  presbyters:  That  the  number  of  Episcopal  families  is  340 ;  ofcommu- 


RELIGIOUS  INSTITUTIONS. 


81 


nicants,  900;  baptisms  reported,  517;  persons  confirmed, 168;  candidates  for  the 
ministry,  2;  and  congregations,  33;  located  and  supplied,  as  mentioned  in  the  fol- 
lowing list. 


NAME. 

Christ, 

St.  Matthew's, 

St.  Paul's, 

Trinity, 

Christ  Chapel, 

St.  John's, 

St.  Mark's, 

St.  Peter's, 

Christ, 

St.  Luke's, 

St.  James's, 

St  John's, 

St.  Peter's, 

St.  Peter's, 

Christ, 

Christ, 

St.  Peter's, 

St.  James's, 

Trinity, 

St.  Thomas's, 

St.  Michael's, 

Trinity, 

St.  Mary's, 

St.  Andrew's, 

St.  Mary's, 

St.  Paul's, 

St.  Peter's, 

Trinity, 

St.  Thomas's, 

St.  John's, 

St.  Stephen's, 

St.  John's, 

St.  George's, 


PLACE. 

New  Brunswick, 

Jersey  City, 

Paterson, 

Newark, 

Belleville, 

Elizabeth  town, 

Orange, 

Morristown , 

Newton, 

Hope, 

Knowlton, 

Johnsonsburgh, 

Spotswood, 

Freehold, 

Shrewsbury, 

Middletown, 

Perth  Amboy, 

Piscataway, 

Woodbridge, 

Alexandria, 

Trenton, 

Princeton, 

Burlington, 

Mount  Holly, 

Colestown, 

Camden, 

Berkeley, 

Swedesborough, 

Glassborough, 

Chew's  Landing, 

Mullica  Hill, 

Salem, 

Penn's  Neck, 


INCUMBENTS. 

J.  Croes. 

E.  D.  Barry,  D.  D. 

R.  Williston,  Minister. 
M.  H.  Henderson. 

(Vacant.) 
B.  G.  Noble. 

B.  Holmes. 
H.  R.  Peters. 

C.  Dunn. 

P.  L.  Jaques,  dea.  M'y. 

P.  L.  Jaques,  dea.  M's. 

P.  L.  Jaques,  dea.  M'y. 

J.  M.  Ward. 

J.  M.  Ward,  Minister. 

H.  Finch. 

H.  Finch. 

J.  Chapman. 

W.  Douglass,  Minister. 

W.  Douglass,  Missionary. 

W.  Douglass,  Missionary. 

F.  Beasley,  D.  D. 

(Just  organized.) 
C.  H.  Wharton,  D.  D. 

G.  Y.  Morehouse. 

(Vacant.) 

(Vacant.) 

(Vacant.) 
N.  Nash,  Rector  Elect. 

(Vacant.) 

(Vacant.) 

(Vacant.) 
H.  M.  Mason. 
H.  M.  Mason. 


It  also  appears,  that  the  Sunday  schools  flourish,  and  are  gradually  connecting 
themselves  with  the  diocesan  Sunday  school  society ;  that  the  missionary  fund 
amounts  to  $4,500$  which  contributes  to  aid,  most  materially,  in  reviving  and  sup- 
porting old  and  decayed,  as  well  as  new  congregations;  the  episcopal  fund,  to 
$2,049.33 ;  that  the  fund  for  the  relief  of  widows  and  children  of  deceased  clergy- 
men, has  of  late  years  rapidly  increased,  and  now  amounts  to  almost  $15,000;  and 
that  the  Episcopal  Society  for  the  promotion  of  Christian  Knowledge  and  Piety  pur- 
sues the  even  and  noiseless  tenor  of  its  way,  doing  good  by  the  distribution  of  Bi- 
bles, prayer  books,  tracts,  and  aiding  the  missionary  fund,  and  candidates  for  orders. 
Its  permanent  fund  exceeds  $1,500.  Six  hundred  dollars  per  annum  is  estimated  as 
the  annual  expense  of  each  church. 

The  want  of  full  parochial  reports  renders  it  impracticable  to  give  an  accurate 
statement  of  the  actual  condition  of  the  respective  churches. 

The  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  New  Jersey  consists  of  three  classes,  attached 
to  the  particular  synod  of  New  York,  the  condition  of  which  is  apparent  from  the 
annexed  tables.  We  are  unable  to  furnish  a  detailed  account  of  the  cost  to  the 
members  of  maintaining  this  church,  but  we  are  instructed,  from  good  authority, 
that  $650  will  amply  cover  all  the  expenses  of  each  church.  There  are  36  churches, 
and  consequently  the  whole  charge,  about  $23,400,  annually,  including  theological 
and  missionary  contributions. 

L 


82 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 


CLASSIS  OF  NEW  BRUNSWICK. 


Census. 

Communicants. 

Bapt. 

A 

, 

bi 
O 

Rc'd. 

3 

fl 

o 

D, 



s 

ai 

od 

g  t 

05 

c 

s 

•H 

.2  o 

*j 

.£ 

o 

c  a- 

CHURCHES. 

PASTORS. 

O     03 

*""  a 

§£ 

•-C 

1 

-c 

•d 

w  c 

o 

SH  •"" 

~  tx 

art 

'^ 

yj 

c 

CJ 
"O 

c'c 

_g  *"" 

O    O 

s-8 

^S 

^C 

ii. 

z: 

"' 

03 

2 

S 

«j    SX 

§42 

<^ 

~ 

r- 

•d 

"rt 

C 

"^ 

3 

0 

c 

Q 

EC 

p 

.2 

"o 

t£ 

-a 

^ 

r* 

« 

O 

0 

^ 

Q 

-^ 

New  Brunswick, 

Samuel  B.  Howe, 

20 

24 

5 

2 

345 

25 

3 

Six  Mile  Run, 

Vacant, 

Hillsborough, 

J.  L.  Zabriskie, 

130 

279 

6 

14 

9 

8 

284 

26 

4 

Raritan, 

A.  Messier, 

310 

1700 

7 

12 

8 

11 

355 

10 

Bedminster, 

Isaac  M.  Fisher, 

North  Branch, 

A.  D.  Wilson, 

Rockaway, 

Jacob  I.  Shultz, 

78 

508 

101 

9 

1 

1 

108 

17 

2 

Lebanon, 

Do. 

110 

600 

100 

1 

3 

3 

1 

100 

12 

1 

Spotswood, 

Henry  L.  Rice, 

208 

1160 

15 

1 

115 

21 

5 

Freehold, 

S.  A.  Van  Vranken, 

Middletown, 

J.  T.Beekman, 

110 

600 

125 

17 

142 

8 

12 

Minisink, 

C.  C.  Eltinge, 

90 

2 

2 

2 

190 

11 

25 

Mahakkamak, 

Do. 

1 

29 

2 

3 

130 

4 

5 

Walpack, 

Vacant, 

1 

CLASSIS  OF  BERGEN. 


Bergen, 

B.  C.  Taylor, 

185 

1050 

195 

2 

12 

1 

10 

198 

24 

2 

Hackensack, 

J.  V.  C.  Roraeyn, 

90 

98 

E.  Neighbourhood,* 

Philip  Duryea, 

100 

12 

10 

1 

1 

8 

71 

32 

Belville, 

Gustavus  Abeel, 

120 

118 

9 

21 

1 

2 

145 

30 

Fairfield, 

Henry  A.  Raymond, 

170 

1000 

133 

2 

1 

2 

132 

18 

Pompton  Plains, 

James  R.  Talmage, 

170 

1060 

108 

(> 

114 

25 

Pompton, 

Isaac  S.  Demund, 

130 

100 

2 

11 

1 

1 

111 

8 

1 

Montville, 

Frederic  F.Cornell, 

100 

500 

50 

3 

17 

1 

70 

10 

1 

Ponds, 

Z.  H.  Kuypers, 

65 

353 

46 

16 

1 

65 

19 

Preakness, 

Do. 

55 

251 

48 

53 

10 

Wyckoff, 

Do. 

78 

457 

62 

67 

15 

Bergen  Neck, 

Ira  C.  Boice, 

64 

384 

35 

1 

5 

2 

39 

7 

Jersey  City, 

Vacant, 

56 

254 

63 

2 

1 

2 

3 

61 

9 

Schraalenberg, 

Vacant, 

166 

157 

Stonehouse  Plains, 

Vacant, 

1 

Minister  without  charge — Rev.  John  Duryea. 

*  N.  B.  The  Report  from  the  Church  at  English  Neighbourhood  is  for  four  years. 


CLASSIS  OF  PARAMUS. 


Tappan, 

N.  Lansino-, 

161 

617 

150 

1 

13 

4 

5 

155 

34 

3 

Clarkstown, 

Alex.  H.  Warner, 

159 

714 

3 

3 

5 

160 

11 

Saddle  river  and  7 

Stephen  Goetchius, 

147 

611 

248 

1 

5 

3 

2 

3 

250 

16 

Pasgack                5 

Do. 

72 

225 

51 

51 

8 

Paramus&lstRef.  ) 

W.  Eltinge, 

170 

1065 

286 

10 

3 

2 

291 

25 

D.  C.  ofTotowa,      5 

Do. 

130 

765 

112 

g 

121 

23 

2 

Warwick, 

J.  I.  Christie, 

2 

5 

7 

] 

3 

1 

2dRef.  D.C.Totowa. 

Isaac  D.  Cole, 

100 

450 

11 

•"> 

4 

90 

23 

Aquackinunck, 
West  New-Hamp-  ? 

Wm.  R.  Bogardus, 
J.  Wynkoop, 

200 

1068 

119 

3 

12 

2 

160 

29 

2 

stead  &  Ramapo,   £ 

Do. 

The  Quakers,  or  Society  of  Friends,  as  is  well  known,  have  been  divided  into 
two  great  parts,  each  claiming  to  hold  the  ancient  doctrines  of  the  church.  As  these 


RELIGIOUS  INSTITUTIONS.  83 

parts  do  not  concur  in  the  account  of  their  former  or  present  condition,  we  have 
deemed  it  proper  to  publish  the  statement  of  each.  Both  parties  claim  the  vene- 
rated name  of  "  Friends,"  but  we  are  compelled  to  distinguish  them  by  the  titles 
they  give  to  each  other.  The  first  of  the  following  statements  is  given  by  the 
Hicksite,  and  the  second  by  the  Orthodox  party. 

1st.  "Friends'  meetings  in  New  Jersey,  and  members. — Burlington  quarterly  meet- 
ing, before  the  division,  was  composed  of  five  monthly  meetings,  eighteen  meetings 
for  worship,  and  1849  members. 

Burlington  quarterly  meeting  of  Friends,  since  the  division,  is  composed  of  four 
monthly  meetings,  fourteen  meetings  for  worship,  and  1049  members. 

And  that  of  the  Orthodox  Friends,  four  monthly  meetings,  thirteen  meetings  for 
worship,  and  800  members. 

Haddonfield  quarterly  meeting,  before  the  division,  was  composed  of  five  monthly 
meetings,  ten  meetings  for  worship,  1686  members. — Haddonfield  quarterly  meet- 
ings of  Friends,  since  the  division,  is  composed  of  four  monthly  meetings,  six 
meetings  for  worship,  859  members.  That  of  the  Orthodox  Friends  consists  of  five 
monthly  meetings,  nine  meetings  for  worship,  and  827  members. 

Salem  quarterly  meeting,  before  the  division,  was  composed  of  five  monthly 
meetings,  ten  meetings  for  worship,  1536  members. — Salem  quarterly  meeting  of 
Friends,  since  the  division,  is  composed  of  five  monthly  meetings,  ten  meetings  for 
worship,  and  1238  members.  And  that  of  the  Orthodox  Friends,  three  monthly 
meetings,  four  meetings  for  worship,  and  298  members. 

Shrewsbury  quarterly  meeting,  before  the  division,  was  composed  of  four  monthly 
meetings,  eight  meetings  for  worship,  and  925  members. — Shrewsbury  quarterly 
meeting  of  Friends,  since  the  division,  is  composed  of  four  monthly  meetings, 
eight  meetings  for  worship,  and  750  members.  And  that  of  the  Orthodox  Friends, 
of  two  monthly  meetings,  three  meetings  for  worship,  and  175  members.  About 
6000  members,  in  New  Jersey,  in  all." 

2d.  "  The  following  statement  of  the  number  of  members  in  the  Society  of  Friends 
previous  to  the  late  division,  and  also  of  the  two  portions  into  which  it  has  been 
separated,  is  made  out  from  authentic  sources,  and  a  careful  examination  of  the 
state  of  the  respective  meetings. 

At  the  time  of  the  separation,  there  were  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey  four  quarterly 
meetings,  nineteen  monthly  meetings,  and  forty-six  meetings  for  divine  worship. 
Friends  now  hold  five  quarterly  meetings,  fourteen  monthly  meetings,  and  twenty- 
nine  meetings  for  divine  worship. 

The  quarterly  meetings  are  as  follow: — Burlington  quarterly  consisted,  before  the 
separation,  of  five  monthly  meetings,  and  eighteen  meetings  for  worship,  comprising 
two  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  members.  Since  the  separation,  it  has 
four  monthly  meetings,  twelve  meetings  for  worship,  and  one  thousand  one  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  members.  The  Hicksites,  in  this  quarter,  are  nine  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  in  number,  and  hold  four  monthly  meetings. 

Haddonfield  quarterly  meeting,  both  before  and  since  the  separation,  consisted 
of  five  monthly  meetings,  and  ten  meetings  for  worship,  embracing  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight  members,  of  whom  six  hundred  and  forty-four 
went  with  the  Hicksites,  and  forty-seven  remained  undivided,  leaving  one  thousand 
and  ninety-seven  Friends.  The  Hicksites,  in  this  quarter,  hold  four  monthly 
meetings. 

Salem  quarterly  meeting,  before  the  division,  had  five  monthly  meetings,  and  ten 
meetings  for  worship,  including  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  three  members. 
Since  the  separation,  Friends  hold  four  meetings  for  worship,  and  three  monthly 
meetings,  embracing  four  hundred  and  fifty-four  members.  The  Hicksites  have 
one  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-five  members,  and  hold  five  monthly  meetings. 

Shrewsbury  and  Rahway  quarterly  meeting,  at  the  time  of  the  separation,  was 
composed  of  four  monthly  meetings,  eight  meetings  for  worship,  and  eight  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  members.  Friends  now  hold  two  monthly  meetings,  and  three 
meetings  for  worship,  including  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  members.  The 
Hicksites,  in  this  quarter,  are  six  hundred  and  fourteen  in  number,  and  hold  four 
monthly  meetings.  There  were  forty-one  members  who  did  not  side  with  either 
party." 


84  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

The  whole  number  of  Friends  in  New  Jersey  is,     -                     ....     2,972 
Hicksites, 3,344 

Neutrals,        -  81 

Total,     -  6,404 

See  Foster's  Report,  vol.  II.  p.  p.  388  and  395. 

Of  the  forty-five  meeting  houses  in  which  meetings  of  Friends  were  held  previous 
to  the  separation,  there  are  now  jive  in  the  exclusive  possession  of  Friends — fifteen 
which  are  occupied  by  Friends  and  Hicksites,  jointly, — and  twenty-five  in  the  exclu- 
sive possession  of  the  Hicksites." 

RECAPITULATION. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  Presbyterians  have  85  churches. 
Baptists,    -     -     -     61       do. 
Methodists,    -     -     64  ministers. 
Episcopalians,     -     33  churches. 
Dutch  Reformed,     36       do. 
Quakers,  -     -     -     67  meetings. 
Other  denominations,  conjectural,  10 

Total  number, 356 

In  this  summary,  we  have  given,  we  believe  correctly,  the  number  of  churches  of 
each  denomination,  save  that  of  the  Methodist,  which  has  many  more  churches  than 
ministers;  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  the  number  of  churches,  although 
we  have  taken  much  pains  for  that  purpose.  In  the  circuits,  there  are  commonly 
not  less  than  two  churches  or  congregations  to  a  minister ;  but  in  such  cases  the 
congregations  consist  of  few  members.  Many  of  the  churches  have  no  pastors. 
The  Quakers,  it  is  well  known,  have  none;  and  of  the  289  churches  which  remain 
in  the  list  after  deducting  their  meeting  houses,  we  consider  that  39  may  continue 
constantly  vacant.  We  have  then  250  churches  whose  maintenance  may  be  deemed 
a  steady  charge  upon  the  people. 

In  the  maintenance  of  the  churches,  we  include  all  the  expenditures  for  religious 
purposes,  comprehending  the  suras  conventionally  paid  to  the  pastors,  the  donations 
of  every  kind,  made  directly  to  them  or  for  their  use,  the  amount  expended  in  the 
erection  and  repair  of  churches,  and  in  aids  to  bible  missionary  and  tract  societies ; 
and  we,  upon  consultation  with  distinguished  clergymen  of  various  denominations, 
set  down  as  an  average  expenditure  for  each  church,  the  sum  of  $480  per  annum, 
which,  multiplied  by  250  churches,  make  the  actual  charge  of  $120,000,  upon  the 
state  for  all  the  expenses  of  religion,  and  which  we  consider  sufficiently  liberal  to 
cover  the  expenses  of  the  Society  of  Friends  for  the  like  purpose.  The  Quakers, 
have  no  salaried  clergy ;  and  the  expenses  of  their  association  consist  of  the  very 
small  sums  requisite  to  keep  their  meeting  houses  and  grave  yards  inrepair,  and  the 
contributions  for  the  support  and  education  of  their  poor  members.  Demands  of  this 
kind  are  rare  and  occasional,  only;  and  the  interest  of  funds  vested  for  schools,  by 
Friends,  has  been  employed  in  the  education  of  the  poor  children  of  other  denomi- 
nations. 

In  addition  to  the  856  churches  of  all'denominations,  which  the  State  contains,  the 
inhabitants  have  exemplified  their  disposition  to  sustain  and  improve  their  moral 
condition,  by  the  establishment  of  bible  societies,  missionary  societies,  Sunday  school 
unions,  and  temperance  societies.  In  every  county  there  are  bible  societies,  in 
most,  considerable  sums  are  collected  for  the  missionary  cause,  and  almost  every 
thickly  settled  neighbourhood  has  its  Sunday  school.  Temperance  societies,  in 
many  districts,  have  effectually  bruised  the  head  of  the  icorm  of  the  still. 

The  cultivation  of  literature  and  science  has,  until  of  late  years,  been  too  little 
regarded ;  but  not  less,  than  in  the  adjacent  and  more  wealthy  states.  Yet  in  the 
higher  departments  the  "  College  of  New  Jersey,"  at  Princeton,  has  for  more  than 
eighty  years  maintained  a  reputation  unsurpassed  in  the  Union;  Rutger's  College, 
at  New  Brunswick,  has,  for  several  years,  been  in  successful  operation ;  academies 
have  been  established  in  most  of  the  county  towns  and  large  villages ;  and  common 
schools  are  every  where  seen  in  populous  districts.  The  "  School  Fund,"  which  has 
lately  been  established,  will  rapidly  increase,  and  will,  at  no  distant  day,  furnish 


I        LITERARY  INSTITUTIONS.  85 

means  to  teach  the  rudiments  of  science  to  the  whole  population.     We  proceed  to 
give  a  more  particular  notice  of  the  colleges  and  the  school  fund. 

The  "  College  of  New  Jersey"  was  first  incorporated  in  the  year  1746,  and  in 
1748  obtained,  through  the  aid  of  Governor  Belcher,  an  ample  and  liberal  charter 
from  George  II.,  which,  after  the  revolution,  was  confirmed  by  the  legislature  of  this 
State.  The  institution  was  located,  first,  at  Elizabethtown,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Rev.  Jonathan  Dickenson.  Upon  his  death,  in  1748,  it  was  removed  to  New- 
ark, and  the  Rev.  Aaron  Burr  became  its  president.  In  the  year  1756,  it  was  per- 
manently established  at  Princeton,  whither  president  Burr  removed  with  his  pupils, 
and  where  for  nearly  eighty  years  it  has  maintained  a  high  and  unvarying  repu- 
tation, as  a  seat  of  literature  and  science;  and,  with  occasional  diminution  of  num- 
bers, has  continued  to  command  a  large  share  of  public  confidence  and  patronage. 

The  present  number  of  under  graduates  (1833)  is  one  hundred  and  forty-four. 
The  faculty  consists  of  a  president,  seven  professors,  and  three  tutors. 

Provision  is  made  for  imparting  instruction  in  the  Greek,  Latin,  French,  Spanish, 
German,  Italian,  and  English  languages ;  in  mathematics,  (the  study  of  which  is 
pursued  to  an  extent,  not  excelled  by  any  college  in  the  country,)  in  natural  philoso- 
phy, in  chemistry,  and  the  various  branches  of  natural  history  ;  in  belles  lettres,  in 
mental  and  moral  philosophy,  in  logic,  political  economy,  natural  theology,  the  evi- 
dences of  Christianity,  and  the  exposition  of  the  holy  scriptures ;  in  anatomy  and 
physiology,  in  architecture,  and  civil  engineering.  The  libraries  of  the  college,  and 
two  literary  societies  connected  with  it,  contain  about  twelve  thousand  volumes.  The 
college  has  a  very  valuable  philosophical  and  chemical  apparatus,  a  museum  of 
natural  history,  a  small  anatomical  museum,  and  a  mineralogical  cabinet. 

The  principal  edifice,  called  Nassau  Hall,  is  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  feet  long, 
fifty  wide,  and  four  stories  high,  and  is  used  chiefly  for  the  lodging  of  students : 
another  building,  erected  for  the  same  purpose  in  1833,  is  one  hundred  and  twelve 
feet  in  length,  and  four  stories  high.  There  are  two  other  buildings,  each  sixty-six  feet 
in  length,  by  thirty-six  in  breadth,  and  three  stories  high.  One  of  them  contains  the  li- 
brary and  recitation  rooms  ;  the  other  the  refectory,  museum,  and  chemical  laboratory. 
There  are  also,  at  Princeton,  several  other  literary  institutions,  (see  Princeton,) 
among  which,  the  theological  seminary  claims  the  first  place. 

This  school  was  founded  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
the  United  States,  and  is  under  its  control  and  patronage.  The  plan  of  the  insti- 
tution was  formed  in  1811,  and  carried  into  effect  in  May,  1812,  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  trustees,  and  a  professor  of  didactic  and  polemical  theology.  The  latter 
was  inaugurated,  and  entered  upon  his  duties,  with  three  students  only,  on  the  12th 
August  following.  In  May,  of  1813,  a  professor  of  ecclesiastical  history  was 
named,  and  ten  years  afterwards,  the  plan  was  completed  by  the  nomination  of  a 
professor  of  oriental  and  biblical  literature. 

The  edifice  for  the  use  of  the  seminary,  commenced  in  1813  and  rendered  habit- 
able in  the  autumn  of  1817,  is  of  stone,  one  Imndred  and  fifty  feet  long,  fifty  wide,, 
and  four  stories  high,  including  the  basement;  and  is  regarded  as  a  model  of  econo- 
mical, neat,  and  tasteful  architecture.  Besides  the  apartments  for  the  library,  reci- 
tations, refectory,  and  the  steward,  there  are  accommodations  for  eighty  students. 

This  institution  is  conducted  on  very  liberal  principles ;  for,  though  founded  and' 
supported  by  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  primarily  intended  to  promote  the  train- 
ing of  a  pious  and  learned  ministry  for  that  church,  students  of  all  Christian  denomi- 
nations are  admitted  into  a  full  participation  of  its  benefits,  upon  equal  terms.  It  is 
wholly  unconnected  with  the  college,  but  enjoys,  by  contract,  the  free  use  of  the 
college  library. 

The  funds  of  the  institution,  though  considerable,  are  yet  inadequate  to  the  full 
support  of  its  officers.  The  endowment  of  four  professorships  has  been  commenced, 
but  none  is  fully  completed.  Twenty-three  scholarships  have  been  founded,  by  as 
many  benevolent  individuals,  and  maintain  that  number  of  poor  and  pious  youth,  in 
a  course  of  theological  study.  There  are,  here,  two  public  libraries;  one  called  after 
the  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  D.  D.  L.  L.  D.,  one  of  the  most  ardent  and  liberal  of  its 
contributors  ;  and  the  other  presented  by  the  synod  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church, 
and  named  the  "  Mason  Library,"  in  honour  of  the  Rev.  John  M.  Mason,  D.  D.  by 
whose  exertions,  chiefly,  it  was  collected.  The  former  contains  six,  and  the  latter 
four  thousand  volumes. 

The  course  of  study  is  extended  through  three  years.  The  first  is  devoted  to  the 
Hebrew  language,  exegetical  study  of  the  scriptures,  biblical  criticism,  biblical  anti- 


86  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

quities,  introduction  to  the  study  of  the  scriptures,  mental  and  moral  science,  evi- 
dences of  natural  and  revealed  religion,  sacred  chronology,  and  biblical  history. 
The  second  to  the  continued  exegetical  study  of  the  Hebrew  and  Greek  scriptures, 
and  to  didactic  theology  and  ecclesiastical  history.  The  third  to  polemic  theology, 
church  government,  pastoral  theology,  composition  and  delivery  of  sermons.  The 
classes  are  distinguished,  numerically,  into  First,  Second  and  Third.  The  members 
of  the  first,  or  highest  class,  are  required  to  exhibit  original  compositions,  once  in 
two  weeks ;  those  of  the  second  class,  once  in  three  weeks  ;  and  those  of  the  third 
class,  once  in  four  weeks. 

There  are  three  vacations  in  each  year.  The  first  of  six  weeks,  from  the  first 
Thursday  of  May  ;  the  second  of  six  weeks,  from  the  last  Wednesday  of  September ; 
and  the  third  of  two  weeks,  in  the  month  of  Feb.,  at  the  discretion  of  the  professors- 
Board  may  be  obtained  at  various  prices,  from  $1  25  to  $1  75  per  week  ;  fire- 
wood from  $4  to  $6  per  annum;  washing,  $7;  each  student  pays  to  the  seminary 
$10  per  annum,  towards  the  general  expense  fund;  but  there  is  no  charge  for  tui- 
tion, use  of  library,  &c.  The  number  of  students  on  the  catalogue  of  the  institution 
for  the  current  year  (1833)  is  132. 

Rutgers'  College,  located  at  New  Brunswick,  was  chartered  by  George  III.  in 

1770,  and  was  called  Queen's  College,  in  honour  of  his  consort.     The  present  name 
was  substituted  by  the  legislature  of  the  State,  in  1825,  at  request  of  the  trustees, 
in  honour  of  Col,  Henry  Rutgers,  of  New  York,  to  whom  the  institution  is  indebted 
for  liberal  pecuniary  benefactions.     The  charter  was  originally  granted  to  such  Pro- 
testants as  had  adopted  the  constitution  of  the  reformed  churches  in  the  Netherlands, 
as  revised  by  the  national  synod  of  Dordrecht,  in  the  years  1618  and  1619.     That 
synod,  composed  of  distinguished  delegates  from  almost  all  denominations  of  Protes- 
tant Europe,  formed  one  of  the  most  august  ecclesiastical  assemblies  of  modern 
times.     Their  doctrines  as  embodied  in  the  confession  of  faith  and  catechisms  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  America,  substantially  comports  with  the  39  articles  of 
the  church  of  England,  and  entirely  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  the  United  States ;  and  the  government  of  the  church  is  strictly  Presbyterian. 
This  denomination  of  Christians  is  established  chiefly  in  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
and  Pennsylvania.     In  the  city  of  New  York,  alone,  it  has  twelve  churches,  in 
which  divine  worship  has  long  been  exclusively  conducted  in  the  English  language. 

Dr.  Jacob  R.  Hardenburg,  an  American,  was  appointed  first  president  of  the  col- 
lege, in  1789 ;  he  was  distinguished  by  a  powerful  mind,  great  piety  and  industry, 
and  success  in  the  ministry.  He  died  in  1792. 

The  Theological  College  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  is  established  here,  and 
intimately  blended  with  the  literary  institution.  At  a  meeting  in  New  York,  Oct. 

1771,  of  Coetus  and  Confercntie,  until  then,  contending  parties  in  the  church,  peace 
was  restored,  and  a  plan  laid  for  the  organization  of  this,  the  first  theological  school 
in  America.     Its  completion,  however,  was  delayed  by  the  revolutionary  war,  until 
1784,  when  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Livingston,  was  chosen  professor  of  didactic  and 
polemical  theology,  who  performed  the  duties  of  this  office,  in  New  York,  in  con- 
nexion with  his  pastoral  services.     In  1807,  by  a  covenant  between  the  trustees  and 
the  synod,  the  professorate  was  united  with  the  college;  of  which,  in   1810,  Dr. 
Livingston  was  chosen  president,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Ira  Condict.     The  duties  of 
the  literary  institution  were  at  this  time  suspended,  for  want  of  funds.     Dr.  Li- 
vingston died,  20th  January,  1825,  in  the  79th  year  of  his  age,  the  55th  of  his  mi- 
nistry, and  the  41st  of  his  professorial  labours. 

At  a  general  synod,  convened  at  Albany,  in  February,  1825,  the  Rev.  Philip 
Milledoler.  D.  D.,  was  chosen  professor  of  didactic  and  polemical  theology  ;  and  in 
the  September  following,  was  elected,  by  the  trustees,  president  of  the  college,  and 
professor  of  the  evidences  of  Christianity  and  moral  philosophy.  At  the  same  time 
a  plan  was  matured  for  reviving  the  literary  institution;  by  which,  one  of  the  theo- 
logical professors  must  always  be  chosen  president  of  the  college,  and  each  of  such 
professors  must  hold  a  professorship  therein,  and  be  a  member  of  its  faculty. 

The  effect  of  this  amalgamation  of  theology  and  literature,  is  said  to  have  been 
highly  favourable  to  the  moral  character  of  the  institution,  and  not  to  have  imparted 
to  it  a  sectarian  influence. 

The  college  edifice,  of  dark  red  freestone,  is  a  handsome  spacious  building,  sur- 
mounted by  a  cupola.  It  is  reared  on  an  eminence  near  the  town,  a  site  of  great 
beauty,  presented  to  the  institution  by  the  honourable  James  Parker,  of  Amboy. 
The  views  from  thence,  embracing  great  variety  of  scenery,  of  mountain  and  valley, 


LITERARY  INSTITUTIONS.  87 

forest  and  river,  are  delightfully  picturesque,  and  the  country  is  as  healthy  as  it  is 
lovely.  The  institution  may  be  considered  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The  number 
of  students  in  September,  1833,  was  eighty,  with  the  prospect  of  much  increase 
during  the  session.  The  charge  for  board  and  tuition  is  about  $125  per  annum. 
The  students  board  in  respectable  private  families,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
faculty,  where  their  habits,  morals,  and  manners  are  duly  regarded.  The  number  of 
students  in  theology  has  varied  from  sixteen  to  thirty.  There  are  three  libraries; 
that  of  the  college  is  large  and  valuable,  and  those  pertaining  to  the  Peithesopian 
and  Philoclean  Societies,  are  respectable.  The  cabinet  of  minerals  is  considerable, 
and  increasing  ;  and  the  philosophical  and  chemical  apparatus'  extensive. 

The  faculty  (in  1833)  consists  of  the  Rev.  Philip  Milledolcr,  D.  D.,  president, 
professor  of  moral  philosophy  and  didactic  and  polemical  theology  ;  the  Rev.  Jacob  J. 
Janeway,  D.  D.  vice  president  and  professor  of  rhetoric,  evidences  of  Christianity, 
political  economy,  &c.;  the  Rev.  James  S.  Cannon,  D.  D.,  professor  of  metaphysics 
and  philosophy  of  the  human  mind,  of  ecclesiastical  history,  church  government, 
and  pastoral  theology;  Theodore  Strong,  A.  A.  S.,  C.  A.  S.,  professor  of  mathematics 
and  natural  philosophy;  the  Rev.  Alexander  McClelland,  D.  D.,  professor  of  oriental 
and  biblical  literature  ;  Lewis  Black,  M.  D.,  professor  of  chemistry  and  natural  his- 
tory ;  John  D.  Ogilby,  A.  M.,  professor  of  languages;  and  Frederic  Ogilby,  A.  B., 
assistant  instructor  of  languages. 

The  grammar  school  attached  to  the  college,  and  under  the  immediate  inspection 
of  the  trustees  and  faculty,  is  committed  to  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Cornelius 
D.  Weslbrook,  D.  D.,  assisted  by  Isaac  A.  Blauvelt,  A.  M.,an  alumnus  of  the  college. 

The  location  of  this  college  equidistant  from  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  the 
healthfulness  and  beauty  of  the  adjacent  country,  the  excellent  morals  which  prevail 
in  the  city  as  in  the  college,  the  high  character  and  capability  of  the  professors,  and 
the  cheapness  of  tuition  and  subsistence,  give  this  institution  strong  claims  to  the 
attention  of  the  public. 

The  first  step  towards  the  establishment  of  the  school  fund  of  this  State,  com- 
menced with  the  act  of  9th  February,  1816,  which  directed  the  treasurerto  in- 
vest in  the  public  six  per  cent,  stocks  of  the  United  States,  the  sum  of  $15,000, 
arising  from  the  payment  of  the  funded  debt,  and  from  the  dividends  on  the  stock 
held  by  the  State  in  the  Trenton  Bank ;  and  at  the  end  of  every  year,  to  invest  the 
interest  on  the  capital,  in  the  same  manner. 

On  the  12th  February  of  the  succeeding  year,  the  "  Act  to  create  a  fund  for  free 
schools"  was  passed,  setting  apart  the  stock  and  its  accumulations  vested  under  the 
act  of  1816  ;  the  dividends  on  the  stock  held  by  the  State,  in  the  Cumberland  Bank, 
and  in  the  Newark  Turnpike  Company,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  a  house  and  lot, 
in  New  Brunswick,  the  property  of  the  State,  and  one-tenth  part  of  all  monies,  there- 
after raised  by  tax  for  State  use ;  and  the  treasurer  was  instructed  to  vest  these  as 
they  came  to  his  hands,  in  the  public  stocks  of  the  United  States.  By  the  act  of  12th 
February,  1818,  the  governor,  vice-president  of  council,  speaker  of  assembly,  the 
attorney  general,  and  secretary  of  state,  for  the  time  being,  were  appointed  "  Trus- 
tees for  the  support  of  Free  Schools;"  and  the  treasurer  was  directed  to  transfer 
to  them  the  school  funds,  to  be  by  them  applied  in  the  mode  to  be  prescribed  by  the 
State,  reserving  to  the  legislature  the  authority  to  change  the  existing  fund,  and  to 
dissolve  the  trust  at  pleasure;  and  requiring  an  account  of  the  fund  to  be  annually 
laid  before  the  legislature.  This  act  made  the  following  additions  to  the  fund. — 
The  balance  of  the  old  six  per  cent,  stock,  due  12th  February,  1817,  with  the 
interest  and  reimbursement  thereof  since  9th  Feb.,  1816;  the  three  per  cent,  stock 
of  the  U.  States,  belonging  to  the  State  on  the  12th  February,  1817;  the  shares  of  the 
State  in  the  Trenton  and  Cumberland  Banks,  with  the  dividends  since  9th  February, 
1816;  all  monies  receivable  from  the  foregoing  items,  future  appropriations,  and 
such  gifts  and  grants,  bequests  and  devises,  as  should  be  made  for  the  purposes  con- 
templated by  the  act:  and  one-tenth  part  of  the  State  tax  for  the  year  1817.  The 
last  appropriation,  being,  specifically,  one-tenth  of  the  tax,  has  been  construed  as 
repealing  the  general  appropriation  on  the  tax  under  the  act  of  1817. 

The  fund  thus  augmented  and  transferred  to  the  trustees  amounted  to  $  113,238  78, 
and  consisted  of  the  following  sums  : — 

1st.  Six  per  cent,  stock  U.  States,  purchased  under  the  law  of  1816,  $15,000  00 

2d.  Six  percent,  stock  United  States,  purchased  under  act  1817,  16,224   15 

3d.  Stock  in  Newark  Turnpike  Company,  -         -         -          12,500  00 

4th.  Three  per  cent,  stock  of  United  States,        ....  7,009  12 


88  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 

5th.  Interest,  and  reimbursement,  of  the  principal  of  the  deferred  six 

per  cent,  stock  of  United  States,  7,810  73 

6th.  Twelve  hundredjshares  Trenton  Bank  stock,         -         -         -  36,000  00 

7th.  Forty  shares  in  the  Cumberland  Bank,         ....  2,000  00 

8th.  Interest  and  dividends  from  the  several  stocks  since  9th  Feb.  1816,  10,429  66 

9th.  Cash  and  one-tenth  of  State  tax  for  1817,    -  6,26512 
Since  1818,  there  have  been  added  to  the  principal  of  the  fund  the  following 
items  by  legislative  appropriation  : — 

1st.  Proceeds  of  sale  of  the  State  House  in  Jersey  City,         -         -  $4,907  64 

2d.  Twenty-two  shares  in  Sussex  Bank,      .....  1000  00 

3d.  Donation  from  William  J.  Bell  &  Co.             ....  2315 

4th.  Bonus  of  People's  Bank  at  Paterson,  reed.  26th  Sept.  1825,  4,000  00 

5th.  Bonus  from  Monmouth  Bank,  9th  June,  1825,      -         -         -  800  00 

6th.  Sale  of  part  of  a  lot  in  Trenton,  1,061  00 
7th.  Under  the  act  28th  December,  1824,  one-tenth  of  State  tax,  and 

tax  on  Monmouth  bank  for  the  year  1826,              -         -         -  2,200  00 

Same,  1827, 2,200  00 

Same,  1828, 3,200  00 

8th.  Under  the  act  5th  March,  1828,  repealing  act  of  28th  December, 
1824,  and  in  lieu  of  one-tenth  of  the  State  tax,  giving  all  the  tax 
from  banking,  insurance  and  other  incorporated  companies,  which, 

in  the  year  1829,  amounted  to  11,709  58 
And  estimated  to  produce,  annually,  $10,000. 

$31,101  37 


Making  whole  amount  of  appropriations  by  legislature,  in  1830,         $144,240  15 

In  the  management  of  the  fund,  great  advantage  has  arisen  from  the  act  of  18th 
Feb.  1829,  directing  the  investment  of  the  annual  income  in  advance,  by  which  the 
trustees  were  empowered,  to  invest  on  or  before  the  first  of  March,  annually,  an 
amount  equal  to  the  estimated  receipts  of  the  fund  during  the  year,  to  be  advanced 
by  the  State  treasurer,  and  to  be  replaced  by  him  as  the  monies  accruing  from  the 
fund  shall  be  received ;  thus  enabling  the  trustees  to  invest  at  one  time  all  the  in- 
come of  the  year. 

The  sources  of  income  of  the  school  fund,  are  now,  the  dividends  on  the  various 
stock  which  the  trustees  hold,  and  which,  in  October  1832,  amounted  to  $228,611  75. 
And  the  annual  tax  of  half  per  cent,  upon  the  dividends  of  the  several  bank  and  in- 
surance companies  of  the  State,  which  amounts  annually  to  near  $11,000. 

The  first  expenditure  which  has  been  directed  out  of  the  fund,  was  by  the  "  act 
establishing  common  schools,"  passed  21st  February,  1829,  appropriating  annually 
$20,000  from  the  income  of  the  fund,  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 
schools.  This  act  was  altered  and  amended  by  the  act  of  1st  March,  1830.  But  both 
acts  were  repealed  by  that  of  16th  February,  1831,  by  which  the  system  of  common 
schools  is  now  regulated.  That  act  appropriates  $20,000  annually,  from  the  in- 
come of  the  school  fund,  to  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  such  schools;  and 
directs,  in  case  such  annual  income  shall  not  have  been  received  in  full  on  the  first 
Monday  of  April,  or  shall  be  insufficient  to  cover  the  appropriation,  the  trustees  to 
draw  from  the  State  treasury  for  the  deficiency ;  such  amount  to  be  replaced  from 
the  annual  receipts  of  the  school  fund.  The  act  further  provides,  that  the  trustees 
shall  apportion  the  sum,  so  appropriated,  among  the  several  counties,  in  the  ratio  of 
their  taxes  paid  for  the  support  of  government,  and  shall  file  a  list  of  such  apportion- 
ment with  the  treasurer,  that  he  may  notify  the  collectors  of  the  several  counties,  to 
draw  for  the  same ;  that  the  boards  of  chosen  freeholders,  of  the  respective  coun- 
ties, shall  at  their  annual  meetings,  apportion  among  the  several  townships,  the  mo- 
nies received  by  the  collectors,  in  the  ratio  of  the  county  tax  paid  by  the  several 
townships,  a  list  of  which  apportionments,' the  clerk  of  the  freeholders  is  required,  to 
file,  to  deliver  a  copy  thereof,  to  the  county  collector,  and  to  notify  the  collectors 
of  the  several  townships  of  the  amounts  so  apportioned,  suce  collectors  report  such 
amounts  to  the  inhabitants,  at  their  next  annual  town  meeting ;  thatjmay,  (and  they 
are  recommended  so  to  do,)  at  such  meetings,  raise,  by  tax  or  otherwise,  such  addi- 
tional sum  for  the  same  object,  as  they  may  deem  proper ;  and  may  authorize  the 
township  collector,  to  draw  on  the  county  collector,  for  the  amount  apportioned,  and 


LITERARY  INSTITUTIONS.  89 

may  apply  the  sum  received  from  the  State,  to  schooling  the  Indigent  poor  of  the  town- 
ship, if  they  so  elect;  that  the  inhabitants  at  their  town  meetings,  annually,  shall 
choose,  as  other  town  officers  are  chosen,  three  or  more  persons,  who  shall  constitute 
the  school  committee,  and  whose  duty  is  to  recognise  and  ascertain  the  number  of 
common  schools  within  their  respective  townships ;  that  the  patrons,  supporters,  or 
proprietors  of  the  several  common  schools  in  the  respective  townships,  be  authorized  to 
organize  such  schools,  by  the  appointment  of  a  board  of  trustees,  in  such  form,  and 
consisting  of  such  number,  as  they  may  deem  proper  ;  and  any  board  of  trustees  so  or- 
ganized shall  transmit  to  the  school  committee,  of  the  proper  township,  a  certificate  of 
its  organization,  and  shall  thereon  be  recognised  by  the  committee  as  entitled  to  an  ap- 
portionment of  the  monies  assigned  to  such  township  from  the  school  fund.  And 
such  trustees  are  required  to  render  to  the  school  committees,  on  or  before  the  first 
Monday  of  April,  annually,  a  statement  of  the  average  number  of  scholars  resident 
in  the  township,  taught  in  such  school  during  each  quarter  of  the  preceding  year, 
and  where  from  convenience,  scholars  from  an  adjoining  township  attend  such 
school,  to  report  their  number  &c.  to  the  school  committee  of  such  adjoining  town- 
ship; to  visit  and  inspect  the  affairs  of  their  respective  schools,  to  apply  the  mo- 
nies received,  at  discretion,  for  their  benefit,  and  at  the  end  of  every  year,  to  exhibit 
to  the  school  committee,  a  correct  account  of  the  expenditure  of  such  monies;  that 
the  school  committees,  at  or  before  the  end  of  their  term  of  service,  shall  apportion 
the  whole  of  the  monies  assigned  to  their  respective  townships,  and  raised  therein, 
among  such  common  schools,  in  the  ratio  of  the  number  of  scholars  reported  to 
them,  respectively,  during  the  preceding  year;  or  where  any  township  may  elect  to 
appropriate  such  funds  exclusively  to  the  education  of  the  poor,  to  apportion  the 
same  among  the  several  schools,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  poor  children  taught; 
and  shall  draw  in  favour  of  the.  boards  of  trustees  respectively,  for  the  amount 
of  their  several  dividends,  on  the  town  collector;  and  shall  on  or  before  the  first 
Wednesday  of  May,  yearly,  transmit  to  the  clerk  of  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders 
of  their  respective  counties,  a  written  statement,  embracing  the  number  of  common 
schools  duly  organized  within  their  respective  townships,  the  number  of  scholars 
taught  therein,  the  amount  of  the  monies  received  by  them  from  the  township  col- 
lector, and  raised  by  the  township,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  same  has  been  ap- 
plied ;  that  such  clerk  shall  condense  such  statements  into  a  report,  in  writing,  and 
transmit  the  same  to  the  trustees  of  the  school  fund,  to  be  laid  before  the  legislature, 
in  a  condensed  form.  No  compensation  is  allowed  under  this  act. 

It  will  be  observed,  that  in  framing  this  system,  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  co- 
erce the  respective  townships  into  raising  monies,  in  addition  to  their  allotted  share 
of  the  sum  appropriated  from  the  school  fund ;  but,  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of 
the  government  of  the  State,  which  considers  the  townships  as  integral  corporations, 
whose  inhabitants  are  competent  to  judge  of  their  wants,  and  possess  the  means  to 
supply  them,  the  legislature  has,  we  think,  wisely  left  with  each  township,  the  li- 
berty to  tax  itself  for  the  purposes  of  education,  as  to  it  may  seem  meet;  whilst 
it  has  promptly  offered  all  the  aid  which  it  has  to  bestow.  It  is  possible,  that  learn- 
ing may  advance  less  rapidly,  than  if  urged  by  a  forced  culture;  but  we  are  not  sure, 
that  the  happiness  of  the  people  will  be  less  promoted.  We  would  not  be  under- 
stood to  mean  that  literature  is  not  a  source  of  happiness;  but  it  is  not  the  only  one. 
He  who  is  compelled  to  a  diet  which  is  unacceptable  to  his  appetite,  will  not  boast 
of  his  enjoyment;  and  we  have  no  difficulty  in  determining,  which  is  the  most  hos- 
pitable host,  he  who  forces  manna  upon  the  revolting  stomach  of  his  guest,  or  he, 
who,  placing  the  dish  before  him,  permits  him  to  eat  at  pleasure,  whilst  he  expa- 
tiates upon  its  agreeable  and  nourishing  properties.  None,  properly  instructed, 
would  reject  the  joys  of  paradise;  but,  were  paradise  a  prison,  we  should  long  to 
leap  its  crystal  walls.  Emulation,  we  think,  will  soon  be  -awakened  among  the 
townships  of  each  county,  and  among  the  counties,  upon  this  all-important  subject; 
and  although  the  sum  of  $20,000  is  a  small  one  to  distribute  among  a  population  of 
330,000  souls,  it  will  have  one  excellent  effect;  it  will  turn,  periodically,  the  at- 
tention of  the  people  to  the  means  of  mental  improvement,  will  set  them  to  com- 
pare their  condition  with  that  of  their  neighbours,  and  when  inferior,  to  improve  it. 
For  it  may  be  taken  as  a  truism,  that  when  the  people  are  at  liberty  to  consider  and 
improve  their  condition,  they  will,  when  dissatisfied,  amend  it. 

Among  the  provisions  for  enlightening  the  public  mind,  we  may  justly  include 
those  for  publishing  the  laws,  not  only  of  the  State,  but  also  of  the  general  govern- 

M 


90 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION. 


ment.  The  act  of  7th  June,  1820,  directs  :  1st,  That  the  aecretary  of  state  shall 
cause  the  laws  of  the  State  to  be  published  immediately  after  the  passing  thereof, 
in  one  of  the  public  newspapers,  of  the  city  of  Trenton;  and  that  they  shall  also  be 
published  in  a  pamphlet  form,  together  with  the  votes  and  proceedings  of  assembly, 
the  journals  of  council,  and  minutes  of  joint  meetings,  and  delivered  by  the  printer 
within  sixty  days  from  the  rising  of  the  legislature,  to  the  State  treasurer,  who  shall 
distribute  them  in  the  following  manner,  at  the  expense  of  the  State,  viz : — to  him- 
self, two  copies  ;  to  the  governor,  for  himself,  three  copies,  and  also  to  be  forwarded 
by  him,  and  presented  to  the  secretary  of  state  of  the  United  States,  four  copies  ;  to 
the  executive  of  each  state,  and  territory  of  the  United  States,  for  the  use  of  the 
executives  and  legislatures,  three  copies ;  to  each  of  the  senators,  and  representa- 
tives of  this  State,  in  congress,  one  copy;  to  the  president  of  the  American  Anti- 
quarian Society,  one  copy  ;  to  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  the  attorney  ge- 
neral, secretary  of  state,  clerk  of  council,  assembly,  Courts  of  Chancery  and  Su- 
preme Court,  each  one  copy ;  to  the  clerk  of  the  council,  for  the  use  of  council 
and  assembly,  sixty  copies;  and  the  remainder  among  the  several  counties  in  the 
ratio  they  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  government,  directed  to  the  county 
collector.  The  county  collector,  retaining  a  copy  for  himself,  transmits,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  county,  one  set  of  the  laws  and  proceedings,  to  each  of  the  following 
officers: — the  judges  and  clerk  of  the  Common  Pleas,  the  justices  of  the  peace,  the 
magistrates  of  corporate  towns,  the  sheriff,  surrogate,  clerk  of  the  board  of  chosen 
freeholders,  and  the  representatives  of  the  county  in  the  legislature,  and  each  incor- 
porated library  company  ;  and  divides  the  remainder  among  the  several  townships 
of  the  county,  transmitting  equal  proportions  to  the  clerk  of  each  township,  who, 
retaining  one  copy  for  the  use  of  the  township,  causes  the  residue  to  be  distributed 
among  the  officers  of  the  township,  giving  preference  in  the  following  order  : — to 
the  assessor,  collector,  chosen  freeholders,  and  overseers  of  the  poor,  each  one  set. 

The  laws  of  the  United  States,  apportioned  to  this  State  by  Congress,  are  distributed 
by  the  treasurer,  at  the  expense  of  the  State ;  to  himself,  to  the  governor,  attorney 
general,  justices  of  Supreme  Court,  secretary  of  state,  members  of  the  legislature, 
each  one  set ;  to  the  clerk  of  council,  and  the  clerk  of  the  assembly,  four  sets ;  to  the 
librarians  of  Princeton  college,  and  to  the  two  library  societies  in  the  college,  each 
one  set ;  and  the  remainder,  among  the  counties  in  proportion  to  their  quota  of  State 
taxes,  to  be  transmitted  to  the  collectors,  and  by  them  distributed  to  the  clerk  and 
judges  of  the  court  of  Common  Pleas,  each  one  set,  and  to  every  public  library  one 
set;  and  the  residue,  as  may  be  directed  by  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders. 

Reports  of  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  and  Chancery  Courts  are  annually  pre- 
pared by  officers  appointed  by  the  legislature  for  a  term  of  five  years,  who  re- 
ceive a  compensation  of  .$200  per  annum.  Such  reports  are  printed,  and  distri- 
buted, annually,  with  the  pamphlet  laws. 

Lastly,  and  certainly  not  least,  among  the  agents  of  moral  improvement,  we  must 
rank  the  periodical  journals  of  the  State.  The  commonwealth  partakes  largely  in 
the  benefits  flowing  from  the  press,  in  the  cities  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  and 
we  therefore  might  suppose  would  not  extensively  encourage  newspapers  within  her 
own  boundaries ;  yet  she  has  not  less  than  thirty-one  weekly  papers,  engaged  in 
sowing  broadcast  the  germs  of  literature  and  science.  Of  these  useful  auxiliaries 
we  annex  the  following  table. 


NEWSPAPERS. 
Bergen  County  Courier, 
Sussex  Register, 
N.  J.  Herald, 
Belvidere  Apollo, 
Warren  Journal, 
Palladium  of  Liberty, 
Jerseyman, 
Rah  way  Advocate, 
Fredonian, 
Times, 

Sentinel  of  Freedom, 
Daily  Advertiser, 
Newark  Monitor, 
Do.     Eagle, 


Hall, 

Grant  Fitch, 
Franklin  Ferguson, 
Fitch  &  Co. 
John  R.  Eyres, 
Robbins, 
Thomas  Green, 
Randolph  and  Carman, 

George  Bush  &  Co. 

S.  L.  B.  Baldwin, 
Bartlett  and  Crowell, 


WHERE  PUBLISHED. 

Jersey  City.  Bergen  Co. 
Newton,  Sussex  Co. 

Do.         do. 
Belvidere,  Warren  Co. 

Do.  do. 

Morristown,  Morris  Co. 

Do.  do. 

Rahway,  Middlesex. 
New  Brunswick,  do. 

Do.  do. 

Newark,  Essex. 

Do.         do. 

Do.         do. 

Do.         do. 


LITERARY  INSTITUTIONS. 


91 


Princeton  Courier, 
American  System, 
Somerset  Messenger, 
State  Gazette, 
National  Union, 
Emporium, 
Hunterdon  Gazette, 
Monmouth  Enquirer, 
Burlington  Herald, 
Mount  Holly  Mirror, 
Camden  Mail, 
National  Republican, 
Village  Herald, 
Salem  Statesman, 
Do.  Messenger, 
Washington  Whig, 
Bridgeton  Observer, 


Baker  and  Connolly, 
J.  Robinson  &  Co. 
Gore  and  Allison, 
George  Sherman, 

E.  B.  Adams, 
Joseph  Justice, 
Chas.   George, 
John  J.  Bartleson, 
Joseph  Pugh, 
Nathan  Palmer, 
Sickler  and  Ham, 
Josiah  Harrison, 
Joseph  Sailor, 

H.  H.  Elwell, 
Elijah  Brooks, 
Nelson  and  Powers, 

F.  Pierson, 


Princeton,  Somerset. 

Do.  do. 

Somerville,    do. 
Trenton,  Hunterdon. 

Do.  do. 

Do.  do. 

Flernington,  do. 
Freehold,  Monmouth, 
Mount  Holly,  Burlington. 

Do.  do. 

Camden,  Gloucester. 

Do.  do. 

Woodbury,    do. 
Salem,  Salem. 

Do.         do. 
Bridgeton,  Cumberland. 

Do.  do. 


GAZETTEER  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


ACQ 

Absecum,  post  town  of  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  50  miles  S.  E. 
from  Woodbury,  95  from  Trenton, 
and  105  from  W.  C.,  upon  Absecum 
creek,  about  two  miles  above  Abse- 
cum bay,  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
and  8  or  10  dwellings,  surrounded 
by  sand,  and  pine  forest. 

Absecum  Creek  rises  by  several 
branches,  on  the  line  between  Gallo- 
way and  Egg  Harbour  t-ship,  Glou- 
cester co.,  and  flows  S.  E.,  by  a 
course  of  8  or  9  miles,  into  Abse- 
cum bay.  It  gives  motion  to  several 
saw  mills. 

Absecum  Bay,  a  salt  marsh  lake, 
Gloucester  co.,  on  the  line  of  Egg 
Harbour  and  Galloway  t-ship,  cir- 
cular in  form,  and  about  2  miles  in 
diameter,  communicating  with  Reed's 
bay,  and  by  a  broad  channel,  called 
Absecum  Inlet,  4  miles  in  length,  with 
the  ocean. 

Absecum  Beach,  on  the  Atlantic 
Ocean;  extends,  eastwardly,  from 
Great  Egg  Harbour  Inlet,  about  9 
miles  to  Absecum  Inlet ;  broken,  how- 
ever, by  a  narrow  inlet,  near  mid- 
way between  its  extremities. 

Ackermarfs  Run,  small  stream,  2 
miles  long,  flowing  to  the  Passaic 
River,  about  3  miles  below  Pater- 
son,  from  Saddle  River  t-ship,  Ber- 
gen co. 

Acquackanonck,  t-ship,  Essex  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  W.,  N.  E.  and 
E.  by  the  Passaic  river,  which  forms 
a  semi-ellipsis,  N.  by  Paterson  t-ship, 
and  S.  by  Bloomfield  and  Caldwell 
t-ships;  centrally  distant,  N.  from 
Newark,  10  miles;  greatest  length, 
E.  and  W.  7,  breadth  N.  and  S.  6$ 
miles;  area  about  14,000  acres. 
Mountainous  on  the  W.,  rolling  on  the 
E. ;  soil  red  shale,  and  where  well 
cultivated,  productive.  Acquackan- 
onck,  Little  Falls,  and  Weasel  are 


ALA 

villages,  of  the  t-ship;  the  two  first, 
post  towns.  Acquackanonck,  on  the 
Passaic  river,  distant  5  miles  S.  E. 
of  Paterson,  is  at  the  head  of  tide 
water,  and  consequently  the  outport 
of  Paterson.  Pop.  in  1830,  about 
1 ,300.  In  1 832,  the  t-ship  contained 
300  taxables,  125  householders,  47 
single  men,  7  merchants,  6  grist 
mills,  2  cotton  factories,  5  saw  mills, 
1  paper  mill,  13  tan  vats,  one  print- 
ing and  bleaching  establishment,  1 
woollen  factory,  345  horses  and 
mules,  and  766  neat  cattle  above  3 
years  of  age ;  and  it  paid  state  tax, 
$230  62  cents;  county,  $607  37  c.; 
poor,  $ 500;  and  road,  $700.  Aquack- 
anonck  town  is  a  p-t,  8  miles  N.  E. 
of  Newark,  224  from  W.  C.,  58  from 
Trenton,  10  from  New  York,  to  which 
there  is  a  turnpike  and  rail  road.  It 
contains  3  taverns,  6  stores,  about 
80  dwellings,  and  a  Dutch  Reformed 
church ;  has  six  sloops  trading  with 
New  York.  A  small  stream,  which 
may  be  termed  the  Fourth  river,  runs 
near  the  town,  and  gives  motion  to  se- 
veral mills.  Blatchley's  mineral 
spring  lies  about  1^  miles  W.  of  the 
town.  This  is  the  depot  of  lumber  for 
the  neighbourhood. 

Alamuche,  p-t.  of  Independence 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  on  the  eastern  part 
of  the  t-ship;  by  the  post  route  228 
miles  N.  E.  of  W.  C.,  and  65  from 
Trenton,  and  17  from  Belvidere  the 
C.  T.;  seated  on  a  small  tributary  of 
Pequest  creek,  and  near  a  lake  of  the 
same  name,  contains  a  grist  and  saw 
mill,  a  grain  distillery,  a  store,  tavern, 
and  12  or  15  dwellings.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  limestone  soil  of  excel- 
lent quality,  well  cultivated. 

AlamucJie  Lake  is  one  of  the  many 
mountain  ponds  which  characterize 
this  country,  and  which  are,  in  many 
cases,  reservoirs  formed  in  limestone 


ALL 


93 


ALL 


rock.  This  is  about  a  mile  in  diame- 
ter, and  sends  forth  a  tributary  to  the 
Pcquest  creek. 

Alamuche  Mountain  is  one  of  the 
chain  of  hills  which  bounds  the  valley 
of  the  Musconetcong  creek  in  War- 
ren county. 

Alberson's  Brook,  a  tributary  of 
Spruce  Run,  a  fork  of  the  south 
branch  of  the  Raritan  river,  rises  at 
the  south  foot  of  the  Musconetcong 
mountain,  and  flows  easterly  by  a 
course  of  7  or  8  miles  to  its  reci- 
pient. 

Alexandria,  p-t.  of  Alexandria 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  on  the  bank  of 
the  Delaware  river,  at  the  junction  of 
Nischisakawick  creek  with  that 
stream,  11  miles  W.  of  Flemington, 
35  N.  of  Trenton,  189  from  W.  C.; 
contains  a  tavern,  store,  grist  mill, 
and  8  or  10  dwellings,  a  Presbyte- 
rian and  an  Episcopalian  church. 

Alexandria  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by  Bethlehem 
t-ship,  N.  W.  by  the  Musconetcong 
creek,  which  separates  it  from  War- 
ren co.,  and  S.  W.  by  the  river  Dela- 
ware; centrally  distant,  N.  E.  from 
Flemington,  12  miles ;  greatest  length, 
E.  and  W.,  12  miles ;  breadth,  N.  and 
S.,  9  miles ;  area  33,000  acres.  Sur- 
face on  the  N.,  mountainous,  the 
Musconetcong  mountain  running  N. 
W.  across  the  t-ship.  Soil,  on  the  S. 
E.,  red  shale ;  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain, grey  limestone;  and  on  the 
mountain,  clay,  sand  and  loam.  It  is 
drained,  S.  W.  by  the  Nischisakawick, 
the  Hakehokake,  and  other  small 
mill  streams.  Alexandria,  Milford, 
Mount  Pleasant,  and  Pittstown  are 
p-towns  of  the  t-ship.  Pop.,  in  1830, 
3,042.  In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained 
10  saw  mills,  7  grist  mills,  4  oil 
mills,  4  ferries  and  toll  bridges,  6 
distilleries,  8  stores,  861  horses,  1287 
neat  cattle  above  the  age  of  3  years ; 
and  it  paid  poor  tax,  $1000;  road 
tax,  8800 ;  and  state  and  county  tax, 
$1413  48  cents. 

Allentown,  p-t.  of  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  near  the  west- 
ern line  of  the  county,  between  Doc- 
tor creek  and  Indian  run,  on  the  road 


from  Bordentown  to  Freehold,  8  miles 
from  the  former  and  18  from  the  lat- 
ter, 177  from  W.  C.,  and  11  from 
Trenton;  contains  from  75  to  80 
dwellings;  1  Presbyterian  church, 
with  cupola  and  bell,  handsomely  si- 
tuated on  the  hill  on  the  west;  an 
academy,  2  schools,  1  Methodist 
Church,  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  and  tilt 
mill,  on  Doctor  creek,  and  saw  mill 
on  Indian  run;  below  which,  at  a 
short  distance  west  of  the  town,  is  a 
cotton  manufactory.  This  is  a  com- 
pact pleasant  village,  with  some  very 
good  frame  and  brick  houses ;  but  the 
lands  around  are  sandy,  and  not  of 
the  best  quality.  A  considerable 
business  is  done  in  the  town. 

Alexsocken  Creek,  a  small  mill 
stream  of  Amwell  t-ship,  Hunterdon 
co.,  which  flows  westerly  into  the 
Delaware  river,  by  a  course  of  5  or 
6  miles,  about  a  mile  above  Lam- 
bertville. 

Alloways  Creek,  Salem  co.,  rises 
in  the  N.  W.  angle  of  Pittsgrove 
t-ship,  and  flows  by  a  S.  W.  course 
of  more  than  20  miles,  through  Up- 
per and  Lower  Alloways,  and  Elsin- 
borough  t-ships,  to  the  Delaware  ri- 
ver, below  Reedy  island.  It  is  na- 
vigable above  Allowaystown,  in  Up- 
per Alloways  t-ship,  a  distance  of 
about  twelve  miles  from  the  mouth, 
for  wood  shallops;  along  its  margin 
for  about  10  miles,  are  some  excellent 
banked  meadows. 

Allowaystown,  p-t.  of  Upper  Al- 
loways t-ship,  Salem  co.,  about  7 
miles  E.  of  Salem,  177  N.  E.  from 
W.  C.,  and  71  S.  from  Trenton;  con- 
tains from  70  to  80  dwellings,  2  ta- 
verns, 4  or  5  stores,  1  Methodist, 
and  1  Baptist  church.  The  Messrs. 
Reeves,  have  here  2  very  powerful 
saw  mills,  engaged  principally  in 
cutting  ship  timber,  and  a  valuable 
grist  mill,  on  the  Alloways  creek. 
They  employ  from  75  to  100  horses 
in  drawing  timber  &c.,  to  their  works. 

Alloways  Creek,  Upper,  t-ship, 
Salem  co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Pitts- 
grove  t-ship,  S.  E.  by  Deerfield, 
Hopewell,  and  Stow  creek  t-ships, 
Cumberland  co. ;  S.  W.  by  Lower 


ALL 


94 


AND 


Alloways  creek  t-ship,  and  N.  W. 
by  Elsinborough  and  Mannington 
t-ships ;  centrally  distant,  S.  E.  from 
Salern  7  miles.  Greatest  length 
E.  and  W.  10£,  breadth  N.  and  S.  9 
miles.  Area,  about  34,000  acres; 
of  which  more  than  10,000  are  unim- 
proved. Soil  upon  the  N.  E.,  stiff 
clay  and  loam;  on  the  S.  E.  sand 
and  gravelly  loam,  with  rolling  sur- 
face. The  forest  known  as  the 
"  Barrens,"  runs  here,  producing 
much  white  oak  and  pine  wood  for 
market,  which  finds  its  way  to  Phi- 
ladelphia, by  Alloways  creek.  By 
the  census  of  1830,  the  township 
contained  2136  inhabitants,  and  by 
the  assessor's  abstract  of  1832,  415 
taxables,  5  grist  mills,  10  saw 
mills,  2  carding  machines,  1  ful- 
ling mill,  2  distilleries,  416  horses 
and  mules,  and  854  neat  cattle, 
upwards  of  3  years  old;  and  it 
paid  t-ship  tax,  $400;  county  tax, 
$834  10;  State  tax,  $218  74.  The 
t-ship  is  drained  by  Alloways  creek, 
which  runs  centrally  through  it,  by  a 
S.  W.  course,  and  by  Stow  creek, 
which  forms  part  of  the  southern 
boundary.  Allowaystown  and  Quin- 
ton's  Bridge,  are  villages  and  post- 
towns  of  the  t-ship.  Guineatown  is 
a  name  given  to  a  few  negro  huts,  on 
the  northern  boundary.  Friesburg, 
lies  near  the  south  line. 

Alloways  Creek,  Lower,  t-ship, 
Salem  co.,  bounded  N.  by  Elsinbo- 
rough, Salem  and  Upper  Alloways 
creek  t-ships;  on  the  E.  by  Upper 
Alloways  creek  t-ship ;  on  the  S.  by 
Stow  creek,  which  divides  it  from 
Stow  creek  and  Greenwich  t-ships, 
of  Cumberland  co.,  on  the  W.  by 
the  river  Delaware ;  centrally  distant, 
S.  from  Salem,  9  miles;  greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  12  miles;  breadth 
E.  and  W.  9  miles;  area,  about 
30,000  acres;  surface  level;  soil  on 
the  W.  for  more  than  half  the  t-ship, 
marsh  meadow,  much  of  which  is 
embanked;  and  on  the  E.  a  deep 
clay  and  loam  well  cultivated.  It  is 
drained  by  Alloways  creek  on  the 
N.,  and  Stow  creek  on  the  S.,  and 
by  Hope  creek,  Deep  creek,  and 


Muddy  creek,  small  streams  which 
flow  into  the  Delaware,  from  the 
marsh  between  them.  Pop.  of  the 
t-ship  by  census  of  1830,  1222.  By 
the  assessor's  abstract  of  1832,  it  con- 
tained 260  taxables,  3  stores,  2  grist 
mills,  2  distilleries,  255  horses  and 
mules,,  and  881  neat  cattle  above  3 
years  old.  It  has  3  schools,  1  Metho- 
dist, and  1  Friend's  meeting  house. 

Amboy.  See  South  Amboy,  Perth 
Amboy. 

Amwell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Lebanon  t-ship,  N. 
E.  by  Readington  t-ship,  E.  by  Hills- 
borough  t-ship,  of  Somerset  ^co.,  S. 
E.  by  Hopewell  t-ship,  and  S.  W.  by 
the  river  Delaware,  and  N.  W.  by 
Ringwood  t-ship.  Greatest  length 
N.  and  S.  16;  breadth  E.  and  W. 
15  miles;  area,  77,000  acres;  sur- 
face hilly  on  the  N.  W.  and  S.  E. ; 
on  the  first,  there  being  a  clay  ridge 
well  timbered  and  productive,  and  on 
the  latter,  a  chain  of  trap  hills,  rough, 
broken,  and  barren.  The  interven- 
ing space  is  undulating  valley,  of  red 
shale,  which,  where  covered  with  suf- 
ficient soil,  is  grateful  for  the  care 
bestowed  upon  it,  producing  particu- 
larly fine  crops  of  grass.  The  t-ship 
is  drained  on  the  N.  E.  by  the  south 
branch  of  the  Raritan,  on  the  N.  W. 
by  the  Laokatong  and  Wickheche- 
coke  creeks;  S.  W.  by  the  Alex- 
socken  and  Smith's  creeks,  on  the 
S.  by  Stony  brook,  flowing  easterly 
to  the  Raritan  river.  Pop.  in  1830, 
7385;  in  1832,  the  t-ship  contained 

2  Presbyterian  churches,  4  stores,  8 
fisheries,  15  sawmills,  21  grist  mills, 

3  oil  mills,  2  ferries  and  toll  bridges, 
88  tan  vats,  12  distilleries,  4  carding 
machines,   2   fulling    mills;    and   it 
paid    poor    tax,   $1200;    road   tax, 
$2500  ;     State     and     county     tax, 
$3722  62.     Flemington,  Sergeants- 
ville,  Ringoes,  Prallsville,  Lamberts- 
ville,  are  p-ts.  of  the  t-ship. 

Anderson,  p-t.  of  Mansfield  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  on  the  turnpike  road 
leading  from  Philipsburg  to  Schoo- 
ley's  mountain,  and  between  the  Mor- 
ris canal  and  Musconetcong  creek, 
within  a  mile  of  either ;  distant  by  the 


ASS 


95 


BAB 


post  route  from  W.  C.  205,  from 
Trenton  49,  and  from  Belvidere,  the 
co.  town,  E.  11  miles;  16  miles  from 
Easton,  and  25  from  Morristown; 
contains  2  stores  and  15  dwellings; 
situate  in  a  fertile  limestone  valley. 
Lands  valued  at  $50  the  acre. 

Andover  p-t.,  Newton  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  on  the  south  angle  of  the 
t-ship  on  the  Newton  turnpike  road, 
distant  by  the  post-route  from  W.  C. 
228,  from  Trenton  65,  and  from 
Newton  5  miles. 

Andover  Forge,  Byram  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  on  the  N.  bank  of  the  Mus- 
conetcong  river,  at  the  junction  of 
Lubber  run  with  that  stream,  and 
within  2  miles  of  the  Morris  canal,  is 
situate  in  a  very  narrow  valley,  and 
has  around  it  a  store,  saw  mill,  and 
some  6  or  8  dwellings. 

Anthony,  hamlet  on  Schooley's 
mountain,  Lebanon  t-ship,  Hunterdon 
co.,  18  miles  N.  E.  of  Flemington,  on 
Spruce  run ;  contains  a  saw  mill,  and 
some  half  dozen  dwellings. 

Arneystown,  p-t.  of  Hanover  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  near  the  eastern  line; 
13  miles  N.  E.  of  Mount  Holly,  175 
from  W.  C.,  11  from  Trenton  S.  E., 
and  8  E.  from  Bordentown ;  contains 
a  store,  tavern,  15  dwellings,  and  a 
large  meeting  house  pertaining  to 
"  Friends,"  surrounded  by  a  country 
of  fertile  loam. 

Arthur's  Kill.  Sec  Staten  Island 
Sound. 

Arties'  Brook,  tributary  of  the 
north  branch  of  the  Raritan  river, 
Bedminster  t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  unites 
with  its  recipient  after  a  S.  course  of 
five  miles. 

Asbury,  p-t.  of  Mansfield  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  in  the  S.  W.  angle  of 
the  t-ship  near  the  Musconetcong 
creek,  by  post-route  199  miles  from 
W.  C.,  and  40  from  Trenton,  11 
miles  S.  E.  from  Belvidere;  lying  in 
a  deep  and  narrow  valley  on  a  soil 
of  rich  limestone,  contains  a  Me- 
thodist church,  2  grist  mills,  1  saw 
mill,  an  oil  mill,  a  woollen  factory,  1 
tavern,  3  stores,  and  about  thirty 
dwellings. 

Assiscunk  Creek,  Burlington  co., 


rises  on  the  line  between  Mansfield 
and  Springfield  t-ships,  and  flows 
westward  about  14  miles,  forming, 
for  the  greater  part  of  that  distance, 
the  boundary  between  the  t-ships, 
uniting  with  the  Delaware  river,  be- 
tween the  city  of  Burlington  and  the 
point  of  Burlington  island.  It  has  one 
or  two  mills  upon  it. 

Atquatqua  Creek,  branch  of  the 
Atsion  river,  rising  on,  and  forming 
part  of  the  S.  W.  boundary  of  Bur- 
lington co.  It  may  be  deemed  the 
main  stem  of  the  river  under  another 
name. 

Atsion,  p-t.  and  furnace,  on  the 
Atsion  river,  partly  in  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  and  partly  in 
Washington  t-ship,  Burlington,  co., 
9  miles  above  the  head  of  navigation, 
12  miles  from  Medford,  17  from 
Mount  Holly,  on  the  road  leading  to 
Tuckerton,  and  57  from  Trenton. 
Besides  the  furnace,  there  are  here,  a 
forge,  grist  mill,  and  three  saw  mills. 
The  furnace  makes  from  800  to  900 
tons  of  castings,  and  the  forge  from 
150  to  200  tons  of  bar  iron  annually. 
This  estate,  belonging  to  Samuel 
Richards,  Esq.,  embraces  what  was 
formerly  called  Hampton  furnace  and 
forge,  and  West's  mill,  and  contains 
about  60,000  acres  of  land.  There 
are  about  100  men  employed  here, 
and  between  6  and  700  persons  de- 
pending for  subsistence  upon  the 
works. 

Atsion  River,  main  stem  of  Little 
Egg  Harbour  river,  forming  in  part, 
the  boundary  between  Gloucester  and 
Burlington  cos.  It  bears  this  name 
for  about  14  miles  above  Pleasant 
Mills,  and  is  formed  by  the  union 
of  the  Atquatqua  and  Tuscomusco 
creeks.  Atsion  furnace  is  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  in  Burling- 
ton co. 

Augusta,  p-t.  of  Frankford  t-ship, 
Sussex  co.,  distant  by  post-route  from 
W.  C.  233,  from  Trenton  75,  and 
from  Newton  7  miles,  contains  7  or 
8  dwellings  and  a  Presbyterian 
church. 

Ba/bcock's  Creek,  Hamilton  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  rises  by  4  branches, 


BAR 


96 


BAT 


viz:  North,  East,  Main,  and  Jack 
Pudding,  which,  uniting  near  May's 
landing,  flow  westerly  into  the  Great 
Egg  Harbour  river  at  that  village. 

Back  Creek,  Fairfield  t-ship,  Cum- 
berland co.,  flows  about  6  miles  into 
Nautuxet  cove,  Delaware  bay. 

Back  Water,  branch  of  Maurice 
river,  Millville  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.,  has  a  westerly  course  to  its  re- 
cipient, of  about?  miles. 

Bacon  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Pe- 
quest  creek,  Independence  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  having  a  westerly  course 
of  2  or  3  miles. 

Bacoifs  Neck,  a  strip  of  rich  land, 
in  Greenwich  t-ship,  Cumberland  co., 
between  Cohansey  and  Store  creeks. 

Back  Neck,  a  strip  of  land  of  Fair- 
field  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  compre- 
hended by  the  bend  of  Cohansey 
creek  and  Cohansey  cove. 

Bambo  Creek,  small  tributary  of 
the  Lamington  river,  rising  in  Ches- 
ter t-ship,  Morris  co.,  and  flowing  by 
a  southerly  course  of  about  4  miles,  to 
its  recipient  in  Bedminster  t-ship,  So- 
merset co. 

Baptisttown,  Middletown  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.  See  Holmdel. 

Baptisttown,  p-t.  Ringwood  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.,  9  miles  W.  of  Flem- 
ington,  33  N.  of  Trenton,  and  187 
from  W.  C.,  contains  a  tavern,  a  store, 
8  or  10  dwellings,  and  a  Baptist 
church.  There  is  a  Presbyterian 
church  within  a  mile  of  the  town. 
The  surrounding  country  is  level, 
with  soil  of  red  shale,  of  good  quali- 
ty, and  carefully  cultivated. 

Bargaintown,  Egg  Harbour  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  p-t.,  on  Cedar  Swamp 
creek,  4  miles  from  Great  Egg  Har- 
bour bay,  45  S.  E.  from  Woodbury, 
90  from  Trenton,  and  200  by  post- 
route  from  W.  C.,  contains  2  taverns, 
1  store,  a  grist  mill,  Methodist  church, 
and  about  30  dwellings. 

Barnegat  Bay,  Monmouth  co., 
extends  N.  from  Barnegat  Inlet  to 
Metetecunk  river,  the  distance  of  20 
miles,  varying  in  breadth  from  1  to 
4  miles.  It  is  separated  from  the 
ocean  by  Island  Beach  and  Squam 
Beach,  narrow  strips  of  land  no  where 


exceeding  a  mile  in  width.  It  receives 
the  waters  of  Metetecunk  river,  Kettle 
creek,  Toms'  river,  Cedar  creek,  and 
Forked  river.  The  inlet  from  the 
ocean  is  over  a  mile  wide.  By  act  of 
assembly,  21  Feb.  1833,  authority 
was  given  to  a  company,  by  a  canal, 
to  connect  the  head  of  this  bay  with 
Manasquan  Inlet,  by  which  much 
time  and  space  will  be  saved  to  ves- 
sels bound  thence  to  New  York.  The 
capital  proposed  for  this  undertaking 
is  $5000. 

Barnegat,  p-t.  of  Stafford  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  near  Barnegat  Inlet, 
36  miles  S.  from  Freehold,  78  S.  E. 
from  Trenton,  and  202  N.  E.  from 
W.  C.,  contains  about  50  dwellings, 
3  taverns,  4  stores,  on  a  sandy  soil, 
surrounded  by  pine  forest. 

Barnesborough,  village,  of  Green- 
wich t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  6  miles 
S.  W.  from  Woodbury,  contains  a 
store,  tavern,  and  12  or  15  dwellings. 
It  lies  on  the  edge  of  the  pines. 

Barrentown,  Freehold  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth co.,  on  the  road  from  Free- 
hold to  Middletown,  4  miles  from  the 
one,  and  10  from  the  other,  contains 
some  6  or  7  dwellings,  in  a  poor  sandy 
country. 

Baskingridge,  p-t.  of  Bernard 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  11  miles  N.  E. 
ofSomerville,  213  from  W.  C.,  and 
47  from  Trenton,  beautifully  situ- 
ated in  a  high,  rich,  well  cultivated, 
and  healthy  country ;  contains  a  Pres- 
byterian church,  an  academy  for 
young  gentlemen,  in  much  repute, 
formerly  under  the.  care  of  Drs. 
Brownlee  and  Findlay.  The  resi- 
dence and  estate  of  General  Lord 
Sterling  were  near  this  town. 

Bass  River  Hotel,  p-o.,  Little  Egg 
Harbour  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  183 
miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  71  S. 
E.  from  Trenton. 

Batsto  River,  Washington  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  a  large  branch  of 
Little  Egg  Harbour  river,  which  rises 
in  Northampton  t-ship,  and  flows  by  a 
southerly  course  of  16  miles,  to  the 
Atsion  river,  below  Pleasant  Mills; 
the  united  streams  form  the  Little  Egg 
Harbour  river.  Batsto  Furnace  is 


BEA 


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on  the  former  within  2  miles  of  their 
junction,  and  near  the  head  of  the 
stream,  are  Hampton  Furnace  and 
Forge,  now  in  ruins. 

Batsto  Furnace  is  about  8  miles 
above  Gloucester  Furnace,  about  30 
miles  S.  E.  from  Wqodbury,  and  one 
from  Pleasant  Mills.  There  are  made 
here  850  tons  of  iron',  chiefly  castings, 
giving  employment  to  60  or  70  men, 
and  maintaining  altogether  near  400 
persons.  There  are  here  also,  a  grist 
and  saw  mill,  and  from  50  to  60,000 
acres  of  land  appurtenant  to  the 
works. 

Bear  Fort  Mountain,  near  the  W. 
boundary  of  Pompton  t-ship,  Bergen 
co.  It  is  broken  through  by  Wood- 
ruff's Gap,  from  which  runs  a  branch 
of  Belcher's  creek,  and  by  which 
passes  the  Ringwood  and  Long  Pond 
turnpike  road.  The  whole  length  of 
the  range  of  hills  in  this  t-ship  is  about 
11  miles. 

Bear  Brook,  western  branch  of 
Pequest  creek,  rises  in  Hunt's  Pond, 
Green  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  and  flows 
S.  W.,  through  the  S.  E.  angle  of 
Hardwick  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  and 
joins  the  main  stream,  in  the  Great 
Meadows,  Independence  t-ship,  hav- 
ing a  course  of  about  10  miles. 

Bear  Sivamp,  a  noted  swamp  of 
Downe  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  near 
Nantuxet  or  Newport,  through  which 
flows  the  Oronoken  creek.  The 
timber  upon  it  is  chiefly  oak  and 
poplar. 

Bear  Swamp,  Burlington  co.,  near 
the  west  boundary  of  Northampton 
t-ship,  about  2  miles  in  length  by  1 
in  breadth. 

Beasletfs  Point,  Upper  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.,  on  Great  Egg  Harbour 
Bay.  There  are  here,  upon  a  neck 
of  land,  between  the  salt  marshes,  of 
about  1  mile  wide,  2  taverns,  and  se- 
veral farm  houses,  where  visiters  to 
the  shore  may  find  agreeable  accom- 
modations. 

Beattyjs  Town,  on  the  N.  E.  angle 
of  Mansfield  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  on 
the  bank  of  the  Musconetcong  creek, 
and  at  the  west  foot  of  Schooley's 
Mountain,  within  2  miles  of  the  mine- 
•  N 


ral  spring,  and  16  E.  of  Belvidere. 
The  Morris  Canal  is  distant  2  miles 
from  it  on  the  north.  The  village 
contains  1  store,  1  tavern,  a  grist  and 
saw  mill,  a  school,  and  from  15  to  20 
dwellings.  The  land  around  it  is 
limestone,  of  excellent  quality,  and 
valued,  in  large  farms,  at  50  dollar's 
the  acre. 

Beaver  Brook,  tributary  of  the 
Rockaway  river,  Pequannock  t-ship, 
Morris  county,  flows  by  a  S.  W. 
course  of  8  miles  through  a  hilly 
country,  giving  motion  to  several 
forges. 

Beaver  Brook,  Warren  co.,  rises 
by  two  branches,  one  in  Hardwick 
t-ship,  from  Glover's  Pond,  the  other 
in  Knowlton  t-ship,  from  Rice's  Pond, 
which  unite  in  Oxford  t-ship,  near  to, 
and  south,  from  the  village  of  Hope, 
and  thence  join  the  Pequest  creek, 
about  3  miles  from  its  mouth,  having 
a  course  of  about  14  miles. 

Beaver  Run,  Galloway  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  a  tributary  of  Nacote 
creek,  flowing  to  its  recipient  below 
Gravelly  Landing. 

Beaver  Dam  Run,  a  tributary  of 
the  south  branch  of  Rancocus  creek, 
which  flows  to  its  recipient,  by  a  north 
course  of  about  4  miles,  at  Vincent- 
town. 

Beaver  Branch,  of  Wading  river, 
rises  in  Little  Egg  Harbour  t-ship, 
and  flows  westerly  by  a  course  of 
about  6  miles,  to  its  recipient,  about  a 
mile  below  Bodine's  bridge  and  mill. 

Bedell's  Brook,  a  mill  stream,  rises 
in  the  Nashanic  mountain,  Hopewell 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  and  flows  E. 
about  8  miles,  through  Montgomery 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  to  the  Millstone 
river,  receiving  several  tributaries  by 
the  way. 

Bedminster  Township,  Somerset 
co.,  bounded  N.  by  Washington, 
Chester,  and  Mendham  t-ships,  Mor- 
ris co. ;  E.  by  the  north  branch  of  the 
Raritan,  dividing  it  from  Bernard 
t-ship ;  S.  by  Bridgewater  t-ship,  from 
which  it  is  divided  by  Chamber's 
brook  and  Lamington  river;  and  W. 
by  Lamington  river,  forming  the 
boundary  between  it  and  Tewksbury 


BEL 


98 


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and  Readington  t-ships,  Hunterdon 
co.;  Centrally  distant,  N.  W.  from 
Somerville,  8  miles;  greatest  length, 
N.  and  S.,  8  miles;  breadth,  E.  and 
W.,  4£  miles;  area,  19,300  acres; 
surface,  hilly;  soil,  lime,  clay,  and 
red  shale;  generally  well  cultivated 
and  fertile.  Pepack,  Little  Cross 
Roads,  Pluckemin,  Lamington,  and 
Cross  Roads,  are  villages ;  the  three 
first,  p-ts.  of  the  t-ship.  Pepack  and 
Artie's  brooks  are  tributaries  of  the 
N.  branch,  flowing  through  the  t-ship. 
Pop.  in  1830, 1453.  In  1832,  the  t-ship 
contained  about  300  taxables,  60 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30,  40  single  men,  8  mer- 
chants, 6  saw  mills,  6  grist  mills,  19 
tan  vats,  3  distilleries,  499  horses  and 
mules,  and  818  neat  cattle,  3  years 
old  and  upwards ;  and  paid  state  tax, 
$242  48;  county  tax,  626  30. 
There  is  a  Dutch  Reformed  church  in 
the  t-ship. 

Belcher  Creek  rises  near  the  cen- 
tre of  Pompton  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  and 
flows  northerly  about  7  miles,  to  min- 
gle its  waters  with  those  of  Long 
Pond,  or  Greenwood  lake. 

Belle  Mount,  a  circular  hill  in  the 
N.  W.  angle  of  Hopewell  t-ship,  Hun- 
terdon co.,  on  the  shore  of  the  Dela- 
ware river,  between  which  and  an 
oval  hill  on  the  south,  flows  Smith's 
creek. 

Belvidere,  p-t.,  and  seat  of  justice 
of  Warren  co.,  situate  on  the  river 
Delaware,  in  Oxford  t-ship,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Pequest  creek,  with 
that  stream;  by  the  post  road,  210 
miles  from  W.  C.,  and  54  from  Tren- 
ton, 69  from  Philadelphia,  13  from 
Easton,  70  from  New  York,  and  19 
from  Schooley's  mountain  springs. 
The  town  is  built  on  an  alluvial  flat, 
based  on  limestone,  and  extends  for 
about  half  a  mile,  on  both  sides  of 
the  creek,  over  which  there  are  2 
bridges  for  carriages,  and  1  for  foot 
passengers.  The  town,  which  rapidly 
increases,  contains  a  spacious  court 
house,  of  brick,  with  offices  attached, 
and  a  prison  in  the  basement  story  ; 
the  doors  of  which,  to  the  honour  of 
the  county,  are  commonly  unclosed, 
and  its  chambers  tenantless,  save  by 


the  idle  warder ;  a  very  large  and  neat 
Presbyterian  church,  a  Methodist 
church,  an  academy,  in  which  the 
classics  are  taught ;  a  common  school, 
2  grist  mills,  2  saw  mills,  a  clover 
mill,  6  stores,  3  taverns,  a  turning 
lathe,  driven  by  water,  and  an  exten- 
sive tannery;  a  bank,  chartered  in 
1829,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  but 
which  may  be  extended;  a  county 
bible  society,  a  county  Sunday  school 
union,  auxiliary  to  the  great  charity 
established  at  Philadelphia ;  tract  and 
temperance  societies ;  2  resident 
clergymen,  3  lawyers,  and  2  physi- 
cians ;  2  weekly  journals,  viz :  The 
Apollo,  edited  by  Franklin  Ferguson ; 
and  the  Warren  Journal,  by  James  J. 
Browne;  and  above  80  dwellings, 
most  of  which  are  neat  and  commo- 
dious, and  many  of  brick  and  stone; 
among  which,  the  residence  of  Dr. 
Green  deserves  particular  notice,  as 
well  from  its  size  and  finish  as  from 
its  beautiful  and  commanding  situa- 
tion. A  very  extensive  business  is 
done  here,  in  general  merchandise,  in 
flour  and  lumber,  the  saw  mills  being 
abundantly  supplied  with  timber  from 
the  Delaware.  The  Pequest  creek 
having  a  large  volume  of  water,  and 
a  rapid  fall,  affords  very  advantageous 
mill  sites.  Within  144  chains  from 
the  mouth  of  the  creek  the  available 
fall  is  49  feet  64-100,  equal  to  768 
horse  power,  the  whole  of  which  is 
the  property  of  Garret  D.  Wall,  Esq., 
who  offers  mill  seats  for  sale  here  on 
advantageous  terms.  But  in  addition 
to  this  great  power  derived  from  the 
creek,  the  Delaware  river,  within  2 
miles  of  the  town,  offers  a  still  greater, 
where  the  whole  volume  of  that  stream 
may  be  employed.  A  company  has 
been  incorporated,  with  a  capital  of 
$20,000,  for  erecting  a  bridge  across 
the  river  at  or  near  this  place,  for 
which  three  sites  have  been  proposed. 
1st.  At  the  Foul  Rift,  where  the  chan- 
nel is  170  yards  wide.  2d.  The 
mouth  of  the  Pequest,  where  it  is  205 
yards.  3d.  At  the  Deep  Eddy,  above 
the  creek,  where  the  channel  is  divid- 
ed by  Butz's  island,  and  the  stream, 
on  the  Jersey  side,  is  127  yards,  the 
island  86  yards,  and  the  remaining 


BEL 


BER 


water  23  yards.  The  proposed  rail 
road  through  New  Jersey,  from  Eliza- 
beth town,  is  designed  to  cross  the 
Delaware  here,  and  to  connect  with 
the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna  rail 
road. 

Belleville,  p-t.  of  Bloomfield  t-ship, 
Essex  co.,  beautifully  situated  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Raritan  river,  3^ 
miles  N.  E.  from  Newark,  218  from 
W.  C.,  52  from  Trenton,  and  9  from 
New  York.  The  margin  of  the  river, 
here,  has  width  sufficient  for  a  road 
or  street,  and  for  dwellings  with  spa- 
cious lots  on  both  its  sides,  from  which 
the  gently  sloping  hill,  clad  in  rich 
verdure,  has  a  very  pleasant  appear- 
ance. Including  North  Belleville  the 
town  is  considered  as  extending  3 
miles  along  the  river,  and  in  that  dis- 
tance contains  a  handsome  Dutch  Re- 
formed church,  having  a  very  large 
congregation,  1  Methodist  and  1  Epis- 
copalian church,  2  large  schools  for 
boys,  a  school  for  girls,  under  the  su- 
perintendence of  a  lady,  a  boarding 
school  for  males  and  females,  under 
the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lathrop';  2 
public  houses,  one  a  very  large  and 
well  finished  hotel,  kept  by  Mr.  Chand- 
ler, where  many  summer  boarders 
may  be  accommodated,  in  this  de- 
lightful retreat,  from  the  bustle  and 
noise  of  the  great  neighbouring  city ; 
6  stores,  and  about  200  dwellings. 
Two  streams,  which  flow  into  the  Pas- 
saic,  at  about  3  miles  distance  from 
each  other,  and  which,  within  2  miles 
of  their  course  have,  respectively,  a 
fall  much  over  an  hundred  feet,  render 
this  place  as  interesting  for  its  manu- 
factures as  for  ^ts  beauty.  There  are 
here  1  brass  rolling  mill  and  button 
manufactory,  belonging  to  Messrs. 
Stevens,  Thomas,  and  Fuller,  occa- 
sionally engaged  in  copper  coinage 
for  Brazil ;  the  copper  founderies  and 
rolling  mills  of  Messrs.  Isaacs,  and 
of  Hendricks  and  brothers ;  the  calico 
print  works  of  Mr.  Andrew  Gray,  the 
silk  printing  establishment  of  Messrs. 
Duncan  and  Cunningham  ;  the  Brit- 
tania  metal  factory  of  the  Messrs. 
Lee ;  the  lamp  factory  of  Stephens 
and  Dougherty,  and  the  grist  mill  of 


Mr.  Kindsland.  These  works  are 
estimated  to  produce,  annually,  manu- 
factured articles  worth  two  millions 
of  dollars.  Two  thousand  tons  of 
merchandise  are  supposed  to  be  trans- 
ported to  and  from  the  wharves  of 
Belleville  annually. 

Belleville,  p-o.,  Sussex  co.,  241 
niles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  75  from 
Trenton. 

Ben  Dams''  Point,  W.  Cape  of 
Nantuxet  cove,  in  the  Delaware  bay, 
and  in  Fairfield  t-ship,  Cumberland  co. 

Bergen  County,  was  established 
with  its  present  boundaries,  by  the 
act  of  21  January,  1709-10,  which 
directed  "  That  on  the  eastern  divi- 
sion, the  county  shall  begin  at  Con- 
stable's Hook,  and  so  run  up  along  the 
bay  and  Hudson  river,  to  the  parti- 
tion point  between  N.  Jersey  and  the 
province  of  N.  York,  and  along  that 
line  between  the  provinces,  and  the 
division  line  of  the  eastern  and  west- 
ern division  of  this  province,  to  Pe- 
quanock  river;  thence  by  such  river 
and  the  Passaic  river,  to  the  Sound ; 
thence  by  the  Sound  to  Constable's 
Hook,  where  it  began."  Bounded 
N.  E.  by  Orange  and  Rockland  co., 
N.  Y.;  E.  by  N.  Y.  bay  and  North 
river;  S.  by  the  strait,  which  con- 
nects N.  Y.  bay  with  Newark  bay, 
S.  W.  by  Essex  and  Morris  co.,  and 
N.  W.  by  Sussex  co.  It  is  shaped 
like  an  1 .  Greatest  width  N.  W. 
and  S.  E.  32  miles ;  greatest  breadth 
N.  E.  and  S.  W.  28  miles.  Area 
267,500  acres,  or  about  418  square 
miles. 

S.  E.  of  the  Ramapo  mountain,  the 
county  consists  of  the  old  red  sandstone 
formation,  which  appears  under  the 
form  of  red  shale,  and  of  massive  stone, 
well  adapted  to  buildings ;  large  quar- 
ries of  which,  have  been  worked  on 
the  Passaic  near  Belleville,  and  at 
other  places.  This  formation  is  in 
places,  covered  with  trap  rock,  which 
in  the  Closter  mountain,  assumes  a 
columnar  form,  in  the  palisades,  400 
feet  high,  on  the  North  river ;  and  the 
same  form  is  visible  in  the  continua- 
tion of  the  First  and  Second  mountains 
across  the  Passaic  at  Paterson  and 


BER 


100 


BER 


Little  Falls.  In  the  Ramapo  moun- 
tain, and  upon  the  N.  W.  of  it,  the 
primitive  formation  prevails,  and  the 
large  township  of  Pompton  is  broken 
into  ridges  and  knolls,  of  considerable 
elevation.  Limestone  is  found  in  the 
valleys,  here,  and  magnetic  iron  ore 
in  the  hills.  The  great  vein  of  such 
ore,  which  is  first  discoverable  in  the 
White  Hills  of  New  Hampshire,  may 
be  traced  through  this  county. 

The  surface  of  the  country  W.  of 
the  Saddle  river,  is  hilly,  with  broad 
and  fertile  valleys.  The  left  bank  of 
that  river,  is  also  high  ground,  and  a 
very  fine  valley  lies  between  it  and 
the  Closter  mountain,  which  is  drain- 
ed by  the  Hackensack  river.  The 
southern  part  of  the  valley  is  low,  and 
admits  the  tide  to  the  town  of  Hack- 
ensack, 20  miles  from  the  sound.  In 
this  distance,  there  is  a  body  of  salt 
marsh  and  valuable  cedar  swamp. 
The  northern  part  of  the  valley  and 
its  banks,  on  the  Saddle  river,  the 
Passaic  and  the  Hudson,  are  divided 
into  small  well  cultivated  farms,  whose 
neat,  cleanly,  and  cheerful  appearance, 
declare  the  thrift  and  content  of  their 
owners.  There  are  few  spots  in  New 
Jersey  presenting  more  pleasing  at- 
tractions than  this  country  above  the 
Hackensack,  and  on  the  highlands  on 
each  side  of  the  river.  The  houses, 
generally,  built  in  the  ancient  Dutch 
cottage  form,  of  one  full  story,  with 
its  projecting  pent  houses,  and  dormi- 
tories within  the  slopes  of  the  roof, 
are  sometimes  large,  always  painted 
white,  and  surrounded  with  verdant 
lawns,  shrubbery,  and  well  cultivated 
gardens.  And  we  may  here  remark, 
that  the  taste  for  horticulture  and  or- 
namental shrubberies,  appears  more 
general  in  the  central  and  northern 
parts  of  New  Jersey,  than  in  the 
southern  parts,  or  in  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Extensive  deposits  of  copper  are 
found  on  the  banks  of  the  Passaic,  in 
Lodi  t-ship,  about  1  mile  S.  E.  of 
Belleville. 

The  county  is  well  watered,  having, 
beside  the  rivers  on  its  boundaries, 
Ringwood,  Ramapo,  and  Saddle 


rivers ;  all  of  which,  rising  in  New 
York,  flow  S.  to  the  Passaic.;  each 
having  considerable  tributaries,  which 
though  short,  are  by  their  rapid  falls 
made  available  for  hydraulic  purposes. 
Ringwood  river  receives  a  consider- 
able accesion  to  its  waters,  from  Long 
pond  or  Greenwood  lake,  in  a  high 
and  narrow  valley  between  a  ridge 
of  the  Wawayanda  mountains  and 
Sterling  mountain.  The  lake  is  near- 
ly 5  miles  long,  but  only  about  a  mile 
of  its  length  is  within  the  state  of  New 
Jersey.  It  pours  forth  its  tribute 
through  Long  Pond  river. 

Hohokus  Brook  is  a  rapid  stream 
of  Franklin  t-ship,  which,  after  hav- 
ing, in  a  course  of  9  miles,  given 
motion  to  many  mills,  unites  with  the 
Saddle  river.  The  Hackensack,  also 
rising  in  New  York,  has  an  indepen- 
dent course  to  Newark  bay,  and  re- 
ceives several  tributaries  from  either 
hand. 

In  this  county,  the  first  settlements 
of  the  state  by  Europeans  were  made. 
The  Hollanders  were  here  the  pio- 
neers of  civilization,  aided  probably 
by  some  Danes  or  Norwegians,  who 
adopted  the  name  of  Bergen  from  the 
capitol  of  Norway.  Their  descend- 
ants occupy  the  lands  of  their  ances- 
tors, and  retain  much  of  their  primi- 
tive habits  and  virtues,  their  industry, 
cleanliness,  and  love  of  flowers ;  for 
the  latter  is  a  taste  so  pure  and  de- 
lightful, that  we  dare  to  rank  it  among 
the  virtues.  New  York  is  much  in- 
debted to  the  Dutch  gardeners  for  her 
supplies  of  flowers  and  vegetables. 

After  the  country  was  reduced  un- 
der the  English  rule,  in  1764,  Eng- 
lish settlers  came  in  considerable  num- 
bers from  Long  Island  and  Barbadoes. 
They  were  not  so  numerous,  how- 
ever, as  immediately  to  lose  their 
character  of  strangers,  and  they  re- 
sided chiefly  in  the  "English  Neigh- 
bourhood" and  at  New  Barbadoes. 

In  1830,  the  population  of  the  coun- 
ty was  22,412,  divided  as  follows: 
white  males  10,299,  white  females 
9634,  free  coloured  males  1061,  fe- 
males 834,  male  slaves  306,  female 
slaves  280.  Of  these,  there  were 


BER 


101 


BER 


aliens  213;  deaf  and  dumb  whites  10, 
blacks  3  ;  blind,  whites  12,  blacks  5. 

The  provisions  for  moral  instruc- 
tion are  the  religious  societies,  con- 
sisting of  the  German  Reformed, 
Episcopalian,  Presbyterian,  Baptist, 
and  Methodist ;  a  county  bible  socie- 
ty, Sunday  schools,  and  temperance 
societies ;  academies  in  the  larger  vil- 
lages, and  common  schools  in  every 
populous  vicinity. 

The  chief  towns  are  Jersey  City, 
Hoboken,  Bergen,  Hackensack,  the 
seat  of  justice,  Closter,  New  Milford, 
New  Prospect,  Godwinsville,  New 
Manchester,  Ryerson's,  Ramapo, 
Boardville,  Ringwood,  Stralenberg, 
Old  Bridge,  New  Bridge,  New  Dur- 
ham, English  Neighbourhood,  Com- 
munipaw,  and  Pamrepaw. 

In  1832,  the  county  contained 
5796  taxables,  1262  householders, 
whose  rateables  did  not  exceed  30  dol- 
lars, 533  single  men,  75  merchants,  7 
fisheries,  84  run  of  stones  for  grind- 
ing grain,  16  cotton  factories,  5  wool- 
len factories,  10  carding  machines,  4 


New  York,  the  Ringwood  and  Long 
Pond  road,  the  Newark  and  Pomp- 
tori,  and  the  Paterson  and  Hamburg. 
These  have  been  made,  and  others 
have  been  authorized  by  law.  A 
rail-road  has  been  completed  from 
Jersey  City  to  Paterson,  and  another 
is  now  being  made  from  the  Hudson 
river  through  Newark,  Elizabeth- 
town,  Rahway  and  Woodbridge,  to 
New  Brunswick. 

The  courts  of  the  county  are  holden 
at  Hackensack;  the  common  pleas, 
orphans'  and  general  quarter  ses- 
sions, on  the  following  Tuesdays,  viz. 
4th  January,  4th  March,  2d  August, 
4th  October;  and  the  circuit  courts, 
on  the  Tuesdays  of  4th  March  and 
4th  October. 

Bergen  sends  1  member  to  the  le- 
gislative council,  and  3  to  the  assem- 
bly. 

The  following  notice  of  the  coun- 
try embraced  by  this  county,  taken 
from  Smith's  History  of  New  Jersey, 
will  be  interesting  to  its  present  inha- 
bitants. "  Near  the  mouth  of  the 


furnaces  and  16  forges,  93  saw  mills,  |  bay,    upon   the    side   of   Overprook 
3  paper  mills,  4  fulling  mills,  127  tan  I  creek,  adjacent  to  Hackensack  river, 


vats,  13  distilleries,  1  flint  glass,  and 
1  china  manufactory,  both  extensive ; 


several  of  the  rich  valleys  were  then, 
(1680,)  settled  by  the  Dutch;   and 


1  printing,  dyeing  and  bleaching  es- 1  near  Snake  hill  was  a  fine  planta- 
tablishment,  and  4025  horses  and  tion,  owned  by  Pinhorne  and  Eickbe, 
mules,  and  10,188  neat  cattle  above  I  for  half  of  which,  Pinhorne  is  said  to 
3  years  of  age ;  and  it  paid  state  tax  have  paid  £500.  There  were  other 
$2631  43,  county  tax  $5000,  poor  settlements  upon  Hackensack  river, 
*„„  <&o*nn  _u_ i  *_  <frmn  — J  ' 


tax  $2500,  school  tax  $100,  road 
tax  $6000. 

The  county  is  extensively  agricul- 
tural, raising  a  large  surplus  of  grain 
and  esculent  vegetables  for  its  ma- 
nufacturing population,  and  for  the 
New  York  market. 

The  improved  means  for  trans- 
porting its  produce  to  market,  are 
beside  the  ordinary  country  roads, 
nine  turnpikes  and  two  rail-roads,  ex- 
clusive of  that  made  by  Mr.  Stephens 
along  the  North  river.  The  turn- 
pikes are,  two  from  Jersey  City  to 
Newark,  one  from  Hoboken  to  Pa- 
terson, one  from  Hoboken  to  Hack- 
ensack, one  from  Hackensack  to 
Paterson,  one  from.  New  Prospect 
to  the  Ramapo  works,  in  the  State  of 


and  on  a  creek  near  it,  Sarah  Kier- 
sted,  of  New  York,  had  a  tract  given 
her  by  an  old  Indian  sachem,  for 
services  in  interpreting  between  the 
Indians  and  Dutch,  and  on  which 
several  families  were  settled;  John 
Berrie  had  a  large  plantation,  2  or  3 
miles  above,  where  he  then  lived, 
and  had  considerable  improvements  ; 
as  had  also  near  him,  his  son-in-law, 
Smith,  and  one  Baker,  from  Barba- 
does.  On  the  west  side  of  the  creek, 
opposite  to  Berrie,  were  other  plan- 
tations; but  none  more  northerly. 
There  was  a  considerable  settlement 
upon  Bergen  point,  then  called  Con- 
stable Hook,  and  first  improved  by 
Edsall,  in  Nicoll's  time.  Other  small 
plantations  were  improved  along  Ber- 


BEK 


102 


BER 


gen  neck,  to  the  east,  between  the 
point  and  a  large  village  of  20  fa- 
milies (Communipaw).  Further  along 
lived  16  or  18  families,  and  opposite 
New  York  about  40  families  were 
seated.  Southward  from  this,  a  few 
families  settled  together,  at  a  place 
called  Duke's  farm ;  and  further  up 
the  country  was  a  place  called  Ho- 
buck,  formerly  owned  by  a  Dutch 
merchant,  who,  in  the  Indian  wars 
with  the  Dutch,  had  his  wife,  chil- 
dren and  servants  murdered  by  the 
Indians,  and  his  house  and  stock  de- 
stroyed by  them ;  but  it  was  now  set- 
tled again,  and  a  mill  erected  there. 
Along  the  river  side  to  the  N.  were 
lands  settled  by  Wirftam  Lawrence, 
Samuel  Edsall,  and  Capt.  Beinfield; 
and  at  Haversham,  near  the  High- 
lands, governor  Carteret  had  taken  up 
two  large  tracts ;  one  for  himself,  the 
other  for  Andrew  Campyne,  and  Co., 


which  were  now  but  little  improved. 
The  plantations  on  both  sides  of  the 
neck,  to  its  utmost  extent,  as  also 
those  at  Hackensack,  were  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Bergentown,  situate 
about  the  middle  of  the  neck ;  where 
was  a  court  held  by  selectmen  or 
overseers,  consisting  of  4  or  more 
in  number,  as  the  people  thought 
best,  chose  annually  to  try  small 
causes,  as  had  been  the  practice  in 
all  the  rest  of  the  towns  at  first;  2 
courts  of  sessions  were  held  here 
yearly,  from  which,  if  the  cause  ex- 
ceeded £20,  the  party  might  appeal 
to  the  governor,  council,  and  court  of 
deputies  or  assembly." 

"  Bergen,  a  compact  town  which 
had  been  fortified  against  the  Indians, 
contained  about  70  families;  its  in- 
habitants were  chiefly  Dutch,  some  of 
whom  had  been  settled  there  upwards 
of  40  years." 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  BERGEN  COUNTY. 


3 

1 

Population. 

bo 

^ 

1 

£ 
M 

1810 

1820 

1830 

Barbadoes,  New, 

7 

4 

11,500 

level, 

2835 

2592 

1693 

Bergen, 

13 

4 

20,000 

part  hilly. 

2690 

3137 

4651 

Franklin, 

10 

9 

45,000 

hilly,  rolling, 

2839 

2968 

3449 

Hackensack, 

9 

IN 

24,000 

hill  and  valley, 

1918 

2076 

2200 

Harrington, 

9£ 

7 

34,000 

do.          do. 

2087 

2296 

2581 

Lodi, 

10 

5 

22,000 

flat, 

1356 

Pompton, 

14 

12 

70,000 

mountainous, 

2060 

2818 

3085 

Saddle  River, 

10 

8 

41,000 

do. 

2174 

2291 

3397 

267,500 

16,603 

18,178 

22,412 

Bergen,  village,  of  Bergen  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.,  about  16  miles  S.  of 
Hackensack,  and  3  west  of  Jersey 
city,  upon  the  summit  of  Bergen 
ridge,  and  equidistant  between  the 
turnpike  roads  leading  to  Newark, 
contains  a  Dutch  Reformed  church, 
and  some  twenty  or  thirty  houses. 
This  town  was  settled  about  1616, 
probably  by  Danes,  who  accompa- 
nied the  Hollanders. 

Bergen  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  is 
bounded  N.  by  Hackensack  t-ship, 
E.  by  Hudson  river  and  New  York 
bay,  S.  by  the  strait  called  Kill  Van 
Kuhl,  W.  by  the  Hackensack  river 


and  Newark  bay;  greatest  length 
N.  and  S.  13,  breadth  4  miles;  area, 
20,000  acres.  Surface  hilly  on  the 
N.  E.,  on  the  W.  and  S.  level.  Soil, 
red  shale  and  marsh.  A  large  body 
of  the  latter,  with  Cedar  swamp,  lies 
on  the  Hackensack  river,  extending 
from  the  head  of  Newark  bay,  through 
the  t-ship.  The  t-ship  is  intersected 
by  several  turnpike  roads  running  in 
various  directions.  New  Durham, 
Weehawk,  Hoboken,  Jersey  City, 
Bergen,  Communipaw,  and  Pamre- 
paw,  are  towns  of  the  t-ship.  There 
are  post-offices  at  Jersey  City  and 
Hoboken.  Population  in  1830,4651. 


BER 


103 


BIL 


In  1832,  there  were  in  the  t-ship  1167 
taxables,  366  householders,  whose 
ratable  estate  does  not  exceed  30 
dollars,  191  single  men,  22  mer- 
chants, 2  grist  mills,  1  saw  mill,  3 
ferries,  1  toll  bridge,  10  tan  vats,  1 
grain  distillery,  1  glass  and  1  china 
manufactory,  and  1  woollen  manu- 
factory, 446  horses  and  mules,  and 
1287  neat  cattle  above  the  age  of 
three  years.  The  t-ship  paid  state 
tax,  8422  74;  county,  8613  36;  poor, 
$800;  road,  $1500. 

Berkely.  (See  Sandtown.) 
Berkshire  Valley,  the  S.  W.  part 
of  Longwood  valley,  Jefferson  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  W.  of  Greenpond  moun- 
tain, 12  miles  N.  W.  from  Morris- 
town,  237  from  W.  C.,  and  71  from 
Trenton.  A  wild  arid  rocky  spot, 
through  which  runs  a  branch  of  the 
Rockaway  river,  giving  motion  to  se- 
veral forges,  &c.  There  is  also  a 
post-office  and  a  Presbyterian  church 
here. 

Bernard  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Mendham  t-ship, 
Morris  co.;  E.  by  the  Passaic  river, 
dividing  it  from  Morris  t-ship,  of  the 
said  county ;  S.  E.  by  Warren  t-ship, 
S.  W.  by  Bridgewater  t-ship,  and  W. 
by  Bedminster  t-ship.  Centrally, 
distant  N.  E.  from  Somerville,  7 
miles ;  greatest  length,  N.  and  S.  9  ; 
breadth,  E.  and  W.  7  miles;  area, 
25,000  acres;  surface  hilly,  and  in 
great  part  mountainous ;  soil  on  hills, 
clay  and  loom;  in  the  valleys,  lime- 
stone ;  well  cultivated  by  wealthy  far- 
mers. The  north  branch  of  the  Ra- 
ritan  flows  on  the  western  boundary, 
and  receives  from  the  t-ship  Mine 
brook  and  smaller  tributaries.  Dead 
run  flows  to  the  Passaic,  on  the  S.  E. 
line.  Baskingridge,  Liberty  Corner, 
Logtown  and  Vealtown,  are  villages 
of  the  t-ship ;  the  two  first  post-towns. 
Population  in  1830,  2062.  In  1832, 
the  t-ship  contained  about  400  taxa- 
bles, 68  householders,  whose  ratable 
estate  did  not  exceed  30  dollars,  34 
single  men,  5  stores,  8  saw  mills,  3 
grist  mills,  1  fulling  mill,  5  distille- 
ries, 461  horses  and  mules,  and  1105 
neat  cattle  3  years  old  and  upwards, 


and  paid  state  tax,  $306  70 ;  county 
tax,  $695  50. 

Berry's  Creek,  a  marsh  creek  of 
Lodi  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  has  a  south- 
erly course  of  about  4  miles. 

Bethany  Hole  Run,  small  tributary 
of  Hains'  creek,  Evesham  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  flows  by  a  course  of 
about  3  miles  into  the  dam  of  Taun- 
ton  furnace. 

Bethel,  mount  and  church,  Mans- 
field t-ship,  Warren  co.,  12  miles  E. 
of  the  town  of  Belvidere. 

Bethlehem  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  W.  by  the  Musconetcong 
river,  which  divides  it  from  Warren 
co.,  N.  E.  by  Lebanon  t-ship,  S.  E. 
by  Ringwood,  and  S.  W.  by  Alexan- 
dria. Centrally  distant  N.  W.  from 
Flemington,  1 3  miles ;  greatest  length 
E.  and  W.  9  miles,  breadth  N.  and 
S.  9  miles;  area  25,000  acres;  sur- 
face mountainous  on  the  north,  else- 
where hilly ;  soil,  clay,  red  shale,  and 
loam,  with  a  vein  of  limestone  on  the 
east  foot  of  the  Musconetcong  moun- 
tain; drained  chiefly  by  Alberson's 
brook,  a  tributary  of  Spruce  run,  and 
some  small  tributaries  of  Musconet- 
cong creek.  Charleston,  Bloomsbury, 
Hickory,  Pattenburg,  are  villages  of 
the  t-ship — Vansyckles  and  Perry- 
ville,  post-towns.  Population  in  1830, 
2032.  In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained 
a  Presbyterian  church,  3  stores,  3 
saw  mills,  5  grist  mills,  1  oil  mill,  25 
tan  vats,  5  distilleries,  480  horses  and 
mules,  and  820  neat  cattle  above  the 
age  of  3  years;  and  paid  poor  tax, 
$900;  road  tax,  $700;  county  and 
state  tax,  $791  68. 

Sevens,  p-o.,  of  Sussex  co.,  named 
after  the  postmaster,  James  C.  Be- 
vens,  241  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
and  83  from  Trenton. 

Billingsport,  more  properly  writ- 
ten Byllingsport,  named  after  Edward 
By  1  ling,  a  merchant  of  England,  the 
purchaser  of  Lord  Berkeley's  undi- 
vided rnoiety  of  the  province.  It  lies 
upon  the  river  Delaware  below  the 
mouth  of  Mantua  creek,  and  12  miles 
below  Camden,  and  was  rendered  fa- 
mous by  the  fort  erected  here  during 
the  revolutionary  war,  for  defence  of 


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104 


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the  channel  of  the  river,  remains  of 
which  are  still  visible.  It  contains  a 
tavern  and  ferry,  and  some  half  dozen 
dwellings. 

Birmingham,  small  hamlet  of 
Trenton  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.  5  miles 
N.  W.  from  the  city  of  Trenton,  con- 
tains a  tavern  and  some  half  dozen 
dwellings. 

Birmingham,  formerly  called  New 
Mills,  village,  on  the  north  branch  of 
the  Rancocus  creek,  Northampton 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,*4  miles  S.  E. 
of  Mount  Holly, /  contains  a  cotton 
manufactory,  a  grist  mill,  saw  mill, 
fulling  mill,  a  cupola  furnace,  and 
from  15  to  20  dwellings.  Shreve's 
calico  printing  works  are  within  two 
miles  of  the  village,  upon  the  same 
stream. 

Blade  Creek,  Vernon  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  rises  on  the  S.  E.  foot  of  the 
Pochuck  mountain,  flows  northward- 
ly, about  5  miles  to  the  Warwick 
creek. 

Blackwoodtown,  village  of  Glou- 
cester co.,  upon  the  main  branch  of 
Big  Timber  creek,  near  the  head  of 
navigation;  8  or  9  miles  from  its 
mouth,  5  miles  S.  E.  of  Woodbury, 
and  11  miles  from  Camden;  contains 
1  Presbyterian  and  large  Methodist 
church,  an  extensive  woollen  manu- 
factory chiefly  employed  on  kersey- 
nette,  belonging  to  Newkirk  and  Co., 
3  stores,  1  tavern,  and  about  50 
dwellings ;  a  2  horse  stage  plies  daily 
between  this  town  and  Camden. 

Black's  Creek,  S.  W.  boundary  of 
Chesterfield  t-ship,  rising  by  several 
branches  in  Hanover  t-ship,  flowing 
W.  and  N.  W.  about  8  miles  to  the 
river  Delaware,  below  Bordentown. 
The  Amboy  rail-road  crosses  its 
mouth  over  a  wooden  bridge.  Ba- 
con's run  is  a  branch  of  the  stream, 
and  part  of  the  aforesaid  boundary  ; 
the  creek  drives  several  mills. 

Black  Horse.     (See  Columbus.) 

Black  Run,  tributary  of  the  S. 
branch  of  Toms'  river,  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co. 

Black  Brook,  tributary  of  the  Pas- 
saic  river,  rises  at  the  N.  E.  base  of 
Long  hill,  Chatham  t-ship,  Morris 


co.,  flows  westerly  along  the  hill,  by 
a  course  of  7  or  8  miles  to  its  reci- 
pient in  Morris  t-ship. 

Blacklegs  Mineral  Spring,  Ac- 
quackanonk  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  10 
miles  N.  W.  from  New  York,  4  S. 
E.  from  Paterson;  formerly  much 
frequented  as  a  useful  chalybeate. 

Blackivood  Meadow  Brook,  a 
small  tributary  of  the  Passaic  river, 
flowing  W.  to  its  recipient  in  the  N. 
W.  angle  of  Livingston  t-s"hip,  Essex 
co. 

Black  River,  is  the  name  given  to 
the  Lamington  river,  above  Potter's 
Falls.  It  rises  by  2  small  branches, 
on  the  borders  of  Roxbury  and  Ran- 
dolph t-ships,  flows  under  this  name 
a  S.  W.  course  of  about  16  miles,  to 
the  falls  at  the  point  of  junction,  be- 
tween Hunterdon,  Somerset  and  Mor- 
ris co.,  draining  a  valley  of  conside- 
rable extent,  and  in  parts  very  fertile. 

Black  River,  or  Cooper's  Mills, 
is  also  the  name  of -a  small  village 
on  the  above  stream,  situate  in  Ches- 
ter t-ship,  Morris  co.,  on  the  turnpike 
road  leading  from  Morristown  to 
Easton,  14  miles  N.  W.  from  the  for- 
mer; contains  1  grist  mill,  2  saw 
mills,  a  store,  and  6  or  8  dwellings ; 
it  is  a  place  of  considerable  business ; 
the  country  around  it  is  hilly,  and 
not  very  fertile. 

Blackwells,  hamlet  of  Hillsbo- 
rough  t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  on  the 
left,  bank  of  the  Millstone  river,  6£ 
miles  S.  of  Somerville,  pleasantly  si- 
tuated, in  a  fertile  country  ;  contains 
a  large  grist  mill,  fulling  mill,  store, 
and  several  dwellings;  a  bridge 
crosses  the  Millstone  river  here. 

Black  Point,  at  the  confluence  of 
the  Shrewsbury  and  Nevisink  rivers, 
Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth  co. 

Blazing  Star  Ferry,  over  Staten 
Island  Sound,  on  the  road  from 
Woodbury  to  Staten  Island,  about  7 
miles  N.  E.  from  Amboy ;  the  post- 
route  to  New  York,  formerly  lay  by 
this  ferry. 

Bloomfield  t-ship,  Essex  county, 
bounded  N.  by  Acquackanonck  t-sp, 
E.  by  the  Passaic  river,  which  di- 
vides it  from  Bergen  co.,  E.  by  New- 


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105 


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ark  t-ship,  S.  and  S.  W.  by  Orange, 
and  W.  by  Caldwell.     Centrally  dis- 
tant  N.    from    Newark,    6    miles; 
greatest  length  5,  breadth  4^  miles ; 
area,    14,000   acres;   surface   hilly; 
mountainous   on   the   west;    on   the 
eastern  boundary,  the  ground  rises 
gradually  from  the  river,  and  offers 
beautiful    sites    for    country    seats, 
many  of  which  are  thus  occupied.     It 
is  drained  by  two  streams  which  rise 
near  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and 
flow  by  tortuous  courses  to  the  river, 
known  as  the  Second  and  Third  ri- 
vers.    The  first  has  a  length  scarce 
exceeding   6    miles,   and    the    last, 
which  forms  a  semi-ellipsis,  and  rises 
in  the  notch  in  Acquackanonck  t-ship, 
may  be  double  that  length.     These 
streams  are  the  source  of  the  wealth 
of  the  t-ship,  and  have  converted  it 
almost  wholly  into  a  manufacturing 
village.     The  soil  is  based  on  red 
sandstone,  in  which  are  exhaustless 
quarries  of  fine  building  stone,  vast 
quantities  of  which  have  been  sent  to 
New  York,  and  other  places.     The 
villages  of  the  t-ship  are  Belleville, 
Bloomfield,     Spring     Garden,     and 
Speertown.      At  the   two   first   are 
post-offices.    Pop.  in  1830,  4309;  in 
1832,  the  t-ship  contained  500  taxa- 
bles,  206  householders,  whose  ratable 
estate  did  not  exceed  830;  82  single 
men,  17  merchants,  6  grist  mills,  2 
cotton  manufactories,  5  saw  mills,  4 
rolling  mills  for  copper,  3  paper  mills, 
1  paint  factory,  2  calico  printing  and 
bleaching  works,  1  very  extensive; 
40  tan  vats,  3  woollen  factories,  and 
several  very  extensive  shoe  factories ; 
387  horses  and  mules,  and  862  neat 
cattle  above  three  years  old.     And 
the  t-ship  paid  state  tax  $754  50; 
county  $238  37;  poor  $1200;  and 
road  $1200.     The  annual  value  of 
manufactured  products,  probably  ex- 
ceed 2£  millions  of  dollars. 

Bloomfield,  p-t.  of  the  above  t-ship, 
3£  miles  N.  of  Newark,  extending 
for  near  3  miles  in  a  N.  W.  direc- 
tion, and  including  what  was  former- 
ly known  as  West  Bloomfield.  The 
chief  part  of  the  town  lies  upon  the 
old  road,  but  part  of  it  on  the  turn- 
O 


pike;  it  contains  about  1600  inhabi- 
tants, above  250  dwellings,  2  hotels, 
an  academy,  boarding  school,  4  large 
common  schools,  12  stores,  1  Pres- 
byterian church,  2  Methodist  church- 
es ;  a  very  extensive  trade  is  carried 
on  here  in  tanning,  currying,  and 
shoemaking,  and  the  following  manu- 
factories are  considered  as  annexed 
to  the  town:  2  woollen  factories,  1 
mahogany  saw  mill,  1  cotton  mill,  1 
rolling  mill,  1  calico  printing  work, 
2  saw  mills  for  ordinary  work,  1 
paper  mill,  and  1  grist  mill. 

Bloomingdale,  village  on  the  Pe- 
quannock  creek,  Pompton  t-ship,  Ber- 
gen co.,  20  miles  N.  W.  from  Hack- 
ensack,  upon  the  Paterson  and  Ham- 
burg turnpike  road ;  contains  1  forge, 
a  saw  mill,  grist  mill,  machine  fac- 
tory, bark  mill,  1  tavern,  2  stores, 
and  some  8  or  10  dwellings;  the 
country  around  it  is  mountainous  and 
barren. 

Bloomsbury,  p-t.  of  Greenwich 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  on  the  turnpike 
road  from  Somerville  to  Philipsburg, 
and  on  both  sides  of  the  Musconet- 
cong  creek,  part  of  the  town  being  in 
Hunterdon  co. ;  by  the  post-route 
198  miles  from  W.  C.,  49  from  Tren- 
ton, and  14  S.  from  Belvidere,  18 
miles  N.  W.  from  Flemington;  con- 
tains 1  grist  mill,  1  oil  mill,  a  cotton 
manufactory,  2  taverns,  1  store,  and 
from  30  to  40  dwellings ;  the  soil  of 
the  valley  around  it  is  rich  limestone. 
Bloomsbury,  village  of  Notting- 
ham t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  a  suburb 
of  the  city  of  Trenton,  below  the  As- 
sunpink  creek,  and  at  the  head  of 
the  sloop  navigation  of  the  river. 
The  bridge  across  the  Delaware  runs 
from  the  centre  of  the  village ;  there 
are  here  a  Presbyterian  meeting, 
several  taverns  and  stores,  steam-boat 
landings  and  wharves,  with  about  150 
dwellings  and  900  inhabitants.  The 
race-way  of  the  Trenton  water  power 
company,  will  pass  through  the  vil- 
lage. (See  Trenton.) 

Blue  Ball,  village  of  Howell  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  4  miles  S.  from  Free- 
hold ;  contains  a  tavern  and  store,  10 
or  12  dwellings,  1  Presbyterian  and 


BOR 


106 


BOR 


1  Methodist  church.  The  soil  here 
has  been  so  greatly  improved  by 
marl,  that  lands  which  15  years 
since  would  not  bring  $20  the  acre, 
now  command  $50. 

Blue  Anchor,  tavern  and  hamlet 
of  Gloucester  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
in  the  heart  of  the  pine  forest,  about 
25  miles  S.  E.  from  Camden. 

Boonton,  manufacturing  village  of 
Hanover  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  on  the  N 
side  of  Rockaway  river,  9  miles  N.  of 
Morristown,  situate  on  the  side  of  a 
high  hill,  at  the  entrance  of  a  dark,  nar- 
row, rocky  valley ;  contains  the  works 
of  the  East  Jersey  Iron  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  consisting  of  an  exten- 
sive rolling  mill,  a  blast  furnace  and 
foundery,  3  stores,  and  about  40  dwell- 
ings, a  school  house  and  a  handsome 
church.  In  forcing  the  Trowbridge 
mountain  here,  the  stream  has  form- 
ed a  rapid  and  a  picturesque  cascade 
of  about  30  feet  fall,  and  this  circum- 
stance has  made  the  site  a  very  ad- 
vantageous one  for  hydraulic  works. 
The  Morris  canal  ascends  from  the 
valley  by  an  inclined  plane  800  feet 
long,  having  a  lift  of  80  feet,  which 
is  passed  over  in  from  12  to  15  mi- 
nutes. Pop.  between  300  and  400, 
principally  English ;  the  village  was 
founded  in  1828,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  romantic  spots  in  the  state. 

Bonhamtown,  Woodbridge  t-ship, 
Middlesex  co.,  5  miles  N.  E.  from 
New  Brunswick,  on  the  turnpike  road 
leading  thence  to  Woodbridge,  from 
which  it  is  distant  6  miles;  contains 
10  or  12  dwellings,  2  taverns,  1  store 
and  school  house ;  surrounded  by  a 
gravelly  and  poor  soil. 

Boardville,  on  Ringwood  river, 
and  on  the  Ringwood  and  Longwood 
turnpike  road  in  Pompton  t-ship,  Ber- 
gen co.,  21  miles  N.  W.  from  Hack- 
ensack;  contains  a  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  a  forge,  distillery,  a  school 
house,  and  several  farm  houses.  The 
narrow  valley  in  which  it  lies  is  rich 
and  well  cultivated. 

Bordentown,  borough  and  p-t.,  of 
Chesterfield  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  si- 
tuate on  the  bank  of  the  Delaware 
river,  at  the  junction  of  the  Cross- 


wick's  creek  with  that  stream,  11 
miles  N.  W.  from  Mount  Holly,  170 
N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  30  from  Phila- 
delphia, 10  from  Burlington,  and  7 
S.  E.  from  Trenton;  contains  about 
1000  inhabitants,  200  dwellings,  a 
Quaker  meeting  house,  a  Baptist  and 
a  Methodist  church,  5  stores  and  5 
taverns,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  fer- 
tile and  well  cultivated  country  of 
sandy  loam.  The  Camden  and  Am- 
boy  rail-road  passes  through  the 
town,  by  a  viaduct  beneath  its  prin- 
cipal streets ;  and  stages  run  from  the 
town,  daily,  to  Trenton,  Princeton, 
New  Brunswick,  Long  Branch,  New 
Egypt,  Mount  Holly,  &c.  &c.,  and 
4  steam-boats,  to  Bristol,  Burlington, 
and  Philadelphia. 

This  town  was  founded  by  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Borden,  an  early  settler  here, 
and  a  distinguished  citizen  of  the 
state,  and  has  borne  his  name  for 
nearly  a  century.  It  was  incorpo- 
rated 9th  December,  1825.  Its  site 
is  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  on  the 
Delaware,  and  the  village  is  alike  re- 
markable for  its  healthiness  and  clean- 
liness, and  the  neatness  of  its  dwell- 
ings. Built  upon  a  plain  65  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  river,  and 
from  which  there  is  a  descent  upon 
three  sides,  its  streets,  speedily  drain- 
ed after  the  rain,  are  dry ;  and  lined 
by  umbrageous  trees,  furnish  alwrys 
an  agreeable  promenade  durinr  <he 
summer  season.  From  the  bro\\  of 
the  hill,  there  is  a  delightful  viev.  of 
the  majestic  Delaware,  pursuing  for 
miles  its  tranquil  course  through  the 
rich  country  which  it  laves.  The 
beauty  of  this  scene  is  greatest  in  the 
autumn,  when  the  thousand  varied 
and  brilliant  tints  of  the  forest  trees 
are  contrasted  with  the  deep  azure  of 
the  sky,  and  the  limpid  blue  of  the 
mirror  like  waters.  The  attractions 
of  the  scene  determined  Joseph  Buo- 
naparte, Count  de  Surveilliers,  in  his 
choice  of  a  residence  in  this  country ; 
and  this  distinguished  exile,  who  has 
filled  two  thrones,  and  has  preten- 
sions based  on  popular  suffrage  to  a 
third,  has  dwelt  here  many  years  in 
philosophic  retirement.  He  has  in 


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107 


BRI 


the  vicinity  about  1500  acres  of  land, 
part  of  which  possessed  natural  beau- 
ty, which  his  taste  and  wealth  have 
been  employed  to  embellish.  At  the 
expense  of  some  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  he  has  converted  a  wild  and 
impoverished  tract,  into  a  park  of  sur- 
passing beauty,  blending  the  charms 
of  woodland  and  plantation  scenery, 
with  a  delightful  water  prospect  The 
present  buildings,  plain  but  commo- 
dious, are  on  the-site  of  the  offices  of 
his  original  and  more  splendid  man- 
sion, which  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
together  with  some  rare  pictures  from 
the  pencils  of  the  first  masters,  whose 
merit  made  them  invaluable.  With 
characteristic  liberality,  the  Count 
has  opened  his  grounds  to  the  public, 
but  we  regret  to  perceive,  that  he  has 
been  ungratefully  repaid,  by  the  de- 
facement of  his  ornamental  struc- 
tures, and  mutilation  of  his  statues. 

Bordentown  is  much  resorted  to  by 
the  citizens  of  Philadelphia  during  the 
hot  months,  who  find  excellent  enter- 
tainment in  the  large  commodious 
public  houses,  and  in  private  and 
more  retired  mansions.  Few  places 
near  the  city  are  more  desirable  as  a 
summer  residence,  which  is  now  ren- 
dered uncommonly  convenient  to  ci- 
tizens by  the  almost  hourly  means  of 
communicating  with  Philadelphia  and 
New  York.  The  benefit  of  these  ad- 
van  tgeous  circumstances  to  the  town, 
becomes  apparent  in  its  increase,  ma- 
ny iew  houses  having  been  built  in 
183.  and  1833.  The  outlet  lock  of 
the  Delaware  and  Raritan  canal  is  in 
front  of  the  town,  which  will  in  all 
probability  become  a  depot,  for  much 
produce  of  the  surrounding  country 
destined  for  the  New  York  or  Phila- 
delphia market.  Under  these  pros- 
pects the  value  of  property  here,  we 
are  told,  has  risen  50  per  cent,  within 
two  years. 

Borders  Run,  an  arm  of  the  S. 
branch  of  Toms'  river,  Upper  Free- 
hold t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  flows  E. 
about  7  miles  through  the  S.  E.  an 
gle  of  the  t-ship. 

Bottle  Hill,  p-t.,  Chatham  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  on  the  turnpike  road  from 


illizabethtown  to  Morristown,  1 3  miles 
rom  the  one,  and  4^  from  the  other ; 
!23  N.  E.  from  W.  C.  and  57  from 
Trenton;  contains  a  tavern,  three 
stores,  a  Presbyterian  church,  an 
academy,  and  above  40  dwellings, 
generally  very  neat ;  the  surrounding 
country  gently  undulating,  and  well 
cultivated. 

Bound  Brook,  p-t.,  of  Bridgewater 
-ship,  Somerset  co.,  on  the  S.  W. 
Boundary  of  the  county,  at  the  con- 
luence  of  the  Green  Brook  with  the 
Raritan  river.  A  part  of  the  village 
s  in  Piscataway  t-ship,  of  the  adjoin- 
ng  county  of  Middlesex,  on  the  turn- 
pike road  from  New  Brunswick  to 
Somerville,  7  miles  from  the  one,  and 
4  from  the  other.  The  town,  in- 
cluding Middle  Brook,  extends  a  mile 
from  Green  Brook  to  Middle  Brook, 
and  contains  a  large  and  neat  Pres- 
byterian church,  an  academy,  3  ta- 
verns, 4  stores,  a  large  grist  mill, 
&c.,  and  about  50  dwellings.  There 
is  a  bridge  over  the  river  here.  The 
surrounding  country  is  fertile.  The 
Delaware  and  Raritan  canal  runs 
near  the  town. 

Bound  Brook,  small  stream  rising 
in  Newark  t-ship,  and  running  S.  E. 
through  the  marsh,  into  Newark  bay, 
forming  the  boundary  between  Eliza- 
beth and  Newark  t-ships. 

Bound  Brook.  (See  Green  Brook.) 

Bowentoivn,  Hopewell  t-ship,  Cum- 
berland co.,  a  small  hamlet,  of 
some  half  dozen  houses,  midway 
on  the  road  from  Bridgetown  to 
Road's  town,  about  2£  miles  from 
each. 

Branchville,  p-t.,  of  Frankford 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  on  the  Morris 
turnpike  road,  by  the  mail  route,  235 
miles  from  Washington  city,  77  from 
Trenton,  7  from  Newton,  and  2  from 
Augusta.  There  are  several  mills 
here  upon  a  branch  of  the  Paulins- 
kill,  within  the  space  of  two  miles. 

Bread  and  Cheese  Run,  tributary 
of  the  south  branch  of  Rancocus 
creek,  Northampton  t-ship,  Burling- 
ton co.,  unites  with  that  stream  8  or 
10  miles  below  its  source. 

Brigantine  Inlet,    Old,  formerly 


BRI 


108 


BRI 


through  Brigantine  Beach,  on  the 
Atlantic,  now  closed. 

Brigantine  Beach,  on  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  Galloway  t-ship,  Gloucester 
co.,  extends  from  Quarter's  Inlet, 
eastwardly,  to  Old  Brigantine  Inlet, 
about  6  miles,  by  about  a  half  a  mile 
in  width.  Several  salt  works  have 
been  established  here. 

Bricksborough,  village,  of  Maurice 
t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  upon  the  left 
bank  of  Maurice  river,  12  miles  from 
its  mouth,  within  2  of  Port  Elizabeth, 
and  14  of  Bridgeton,  contains  from  12 
to  15  dwellings.  It  lies  at  the  conflu- 
ence of  Muskee  run,  with  the  river. 

Bridgeport ,  small  hamlet  of  Wash- 
ington t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  upon 
the  left  bank  of  Wading  river,  29 
miles  S.  E.  from  Mount  Holly,  and 
5  from  the  confluence  of  Wading  with 
the  Little  Egg  Harbour  river,  contains 
a  tavern,  store,  and  some  4  or  5  dwell- 
ings, in  sandy,  pine  country.  The 
river  is  navigable  above  the  town. 

Bridgeton,  p-t.  and  seat  of  justice 
of  Cumberland  co.,  upon  the  Cohan- 
sey  creek,  20  miles  from  its  mouth, 
175  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  sixty  S. 
of  Trenton.  The  town  is  built  on 
both  sides  of  the  creek,  over  which  is 
a  wooden  drawbridge,  from  whence 
it  has  its  name.  It  formerly  bore  that 
of  Cohansey.  It  contains  a  court- 
house of  brick,  in  the  centre  of  a 
street,  upon  the  W.  bank  of  the  creek, 
a  prison  of  stone,  and  public  offices, 
on  the  E.,  a  Presbyterian,  a  Baptist, 
and  a  Methodist  church ;  a  bank  with 
an  authorized  capital  of  $200,000,  of 
which  $50,000  have  been  paid  in ;  a 
public  library,  a  Masonic  lodge,  an 
academy,  a  woollen  manufactory,  a 
grist  mill,  an  extensive  rolling  mill, 
foundery,  and  nail  factory.  It  ex- 
ports lumber,  flour,  grain,  nails,  and 
iron  castings.  Thirty  schooners  and 
sloops,  of  from  50  to  80  tons  bur- 
then, sail  from  the  port,  which  is  one 
of  entry  and  delivery.  The  collection 
district  of  Bridgeton  comprehends  the 
counties  of  Gloucester,  Salem,  Cum- 
berland, and  Cape  May;  excepting 
such  parts  of  Gloucester  and  Cape 
May,  as  are  included  in  the  district 


of  Egg  Harbour.  The  collector  re- 
sides at  Bridgeton. — 250  licenses  is- 
sued from  his  office  in  the  year  1832. 
The  country  around  is  a  sandy  loam, 
rich  and  productive  in  wheat,  corn, 
and  rye.  The  most  remarkable 
object,  here,  is  the  iron  works  of 
Messrs.  Reeves  and  Whitaker,  which 
occupy  a  number  of  stone  buildings 
on  the  W.  side  of  the  creek,  above 
the  bridge,  and  are  driven  by  a  water 
power  of  15  feet  head  and  fall.  They 
were  originally  built  in  1815,  but  were 
consumed  by  fire  in  1822,  and  rebuilt 
and  enlarged  in  the  same  year.  The 
rolling  mill  is  capable  of  manufactur- 
ing into  hoop  and  round  iron,  from 
blooms,  25,000  tons  per  annum.  The 
nail  factory  contains  29  nail  machines, 
competent  to  make  1500  tons  of  nails 
annually ;  and  the  foundery  will  make 
250  tons  of  castings,  from  a  cupola 
furnace,  with  anthracite  coal.  These 
works  give  employment  to  125  men 
and  boys,  who  receive  their  wages, 
monthly,  in  cash,  to  the  amount  of 
$30,000  per  annum;  and  yield  the 
means  of  support  to  nearly  500  per- 
sons. Two  vessels  are  constantly 
employed  in  bringing  coal  to  the 
works  from  Richmond,  and  one  in 
the  intercourse  with  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia. There  are  some  very  good 
houses  in  the  town,  which  has  quite 
an  air  of  business. 

Bridgeville,  small  hamlet  of  Ox- 
ford t-ship,  Warren  co.,  4  miles  E. 
of  Belvidere,  the  county  town. 

Bndgewater  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Bedminster  and  Ber- 
nard t-ships,  N.  E.  by  Warren  t-ship, 
S.  E.  by  Greenbrook,  dividing  it 
from  Piscataway  t-ship,  Middlesex 
co.,  S.  by  the  Raritan  river,  separat- 
ing it  from  Franklin  and  Hillsborough 
t-ships,  and  S.  W.  by  Readington 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.  Greatest  length 
N.  E.  and  S.  W.  1 3  miles ;  breadth  E. 
and  W.  11  miles;  area,  about  35,000 
acres;  surface,  on  the  N.  E.,  moun- 
tainous, elsewhere  level,  or  gently  un- 
dulating; soil,  generally,  red  shale, 
and  well  cultivated  in  grain  and  grass. 
The  N.  branch  of  the  Raritan  unites 
with  the  Lamington  river,  on  the  N. 


BRU 


109 


BRU 


boundary,  and  flows  thence,  S.  to  meet 
the  S.  branch,  about  4  miles  W.  from 
Somerville;  the  latter  river  receives 
from  the  W.,  Holland  and  Campbell's 
Brooks ;  Middle  Brook  crosses  the  E. 
part  of  the  t-ship  to  the  main  branch 
of  the  Raritan,  about  5  miles  E.  of 
Somerville.  Somerville,  the  county 
town,  North  Branch,  Bound  Brook, 
and  Middle  Brook,  are  villages,  the 
three  first  named,  post-towns.  Popu- 
in  1830,  3549.  In  1832  the  t-ship 
contained  about  700  taxables,  152 
householders,  whose  ratable  estate 
did  not  exceed  30  dollars,  93  single 
men,  17  stores,  5  saw  mills,  and  3 
grist  mills,  3  fulling  mills,  29  tan  vats, 
4  distilleries  for  cider,  6  carding  ma- 
chines, 858  horses  and  mules,  and 
1570  neat  cattle,  3  years  old  and  up- 
wards ;  and  paid  state  tax,  $464  96  ; 
county,  $1145  32. 

Broadway,  village,  of  Mansfield 
t-ship,  near  the  S.  W.  boundary  line, 
Warren  co.,  on  the  turnpike  road 
from  Philipsburg  to  Schooley's  moun- 
tain, about  10  miles  from  the  former, 
and  14  from  the  latter,  contains  a 
store  and  tavern,  2  grist  mills,  1  saw 
mill,  and  10  or  12  dwellings.  It  lies 
in  the  valley  of  the  Pohatcong  creek, 
upon  a  soil  of  fertile  limestone. 

Broad  Oyster  Creek,  Downe  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  flows  from  Orano- 
ken  creek,  through  the  salt  marsh, 
into  the  Delaware  bay. 

Brooklyn,  hamlet,  of  Piscataway 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  on  Dismal 
Brook.  6  miles  N.  E.  from  New 
Brunswick,  contains  a  grist  mill,  saw 
mill,  and  some  8  or  10  dwellings. 

Brown's  Point,  on  the  Raritan  bay, 
at  the  mouth  of  Middletown  creek, 
Middletown  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  5 
miles  S.  E.  from  Perth  Amboy,  14 
miles  N.  E.  from  Freehold.  There 
are  here,  a  good  landing,  2  taverns, 
3  stores,  and  12  or  15  dwellings;  sur- 
rounding country,  flat  and  sandy,  but 
made  productive  by  marl. 

Brunswick,  North,  t-ship,  of  Mid- 
dlesex co.,  bounded  N.  by  the  river 
Raritan,  E.  by  South  Amboy  t-ship, 
S.  by  South  Brunswick,  and  W.  by 
Franklin  t-ship,  Somerset  co.  Great- 


est length  E.  and  W.  9  miles ;  breadth 
N.  and  S.  7  miles;  area,  23,000 
acres,  of  which  5000  are  unimproved ; 
surface  level ;  soil  red  shale  and  sandy 
bam,  drained  on  the  N.  by  the  Rari- 
;an,  N.  E.  by  South  river,  centrally 
by  Lawrence's  Brook,  and  N.  W.  by 
Six  Mile  run  and  its  branches.  The 
Princeton  and  Brunswick,  and  the 
Trenton  and  Brunswick  turnpike 
roads  run  along  and  through  the 
ship ;  the  first  on  the  W.  boundary 
of  the  t-ship  and  county.  New  Bruns- 
wick, the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county, 
Washington,  Six  Mile  Run,  and  Old 
Bridge,  are  villages,  and  the  three  first, 
post-towns  of  the  t-ship.  Population 
in  1830,  5274.  In  1832  the  t-ship 
contained  about  1050  taxables,  whose 
ratable  estates  did  not  exceed  30  dol- 
lars, 111  single  men,  47  stores,  1  saw 
mill,  4  run  of  stones  for  grain,  1 
plaster  mill,  3  carding  machines  and 
fulling  mills,  90  tan  vats,  4  distilleries 
for  cider,  593  horses  and  mules,  and 
831  neat  cattle,  above  the  age  of  3 
years ;  and  it  paid  state  tax,  $456  84  ; 
county,  $561  76 ;  road,  $200 ;  poor, 
$1250. 

Brunswick,  South,  t-ship,  of  Mid- 
dlesex co.,  bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by 
North  Brunswick,  E.  by  South  Am- 
boy, S.  by  East  and  West  Windsor, 
and  W.  and  N.  W.  by  Franklin  t-ship, 
Somerset  co.  Centrally  distant  from 
New  Brunswick  S.  W.  12  miles; 
greatest  length  N.  and  S.  10  ;  breadth 
E.  and  W.  7  miles ;  area,  about  36,000 
acres;  surface,  generally,  level,  with 
some  hills  on  the  west;  soil  sandy 
loam  and  red  shale;  in  places  ex- 
tremely well  cultivated  and  produc- 
tive; drained  N.  E.  by  Lawrence's 
Brook,  S.  W.  by  Millstone  river  and 
its  tributaries,  Cranberry  Brook, 
Devil's  Brook,  Heathcoat's  Brook. 
Kingston,  and  Cranberry,  are  post- 
towns,  lying  partly  in  the  t-ship ;  and 
Plainsborough  Cross  Roads  and  Ma- 
plestown  are  hamlets  of  the  t-ship. 
Population  2557,  in  1830.  In  1832 
the  t-ship  contained  527  taxables, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  30  dol- 
lars; 32  single  men,  10  merchants,  7 
saw  mills,  8  run  of  stones  for  grist,  5 


BUR 


110 


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Ian  vats,  10  distilleries  for  cider,  755 
horses  and  mules,  and  1275  neat  cat- 
tle; and  it  paid  state  tax,  8438  79; 
county,  $539  49 ;  poor,  $700. 

Buck  Pond,  Pompton  t-ship,  Ber- 
gen co.,  near  Bear  Fort  mountain, 
covers  about  150  acres,  and  sends  a 
small  tributary  to 
creek. 

Buckshutem,  hamlet,  near  the  con- 
fluence of  Buckshutem  creek  with 
Maurice  river,  Milleville  t-ship,  Cum- 
berland co.,  3  miles  from  Port  Eliza- 


beth; contains  8  or  10  dwellings,  a 
grist  and  saw  mill,  and  store. 

Buckshutem  Creek,  tributary  of 
Maurice  river,  Cumberland  co.,  rises 
by  2  branches,  one  on  the  line  between 
Milleville  and  Fairfield  t-ships;  the 
other  on  the  line  between  Fairfield 
and  Downe  t-ships,  and  the  main 
stream  divides  Milleville  from  Downe. 
It  is  a  fine  mill  stream. 

Buddstown,  hamlet,  Northampton 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  Stop  the 
Jade  creek,  a  tributary  of  the  south 
branch  of  the  Rancocus ;  contains  a 
tavern,  store,  and  saw  mill,  on  the 
edge  of  the  pines. 

Budd's  Pond,  small  lake  of  Rox- 
bury  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  on  the  sum- 
mit of  Schooley's  mountain,  17  miles 
N.  W.  of  Morristown,  and  7  from  the 
mineral  spring,  from  which  the  visiters 
resort  hither,  for  amusement,  in  boat- 
ing and  fishing. 

BulVs  Creek,  small  tributary  of 
Little  Egg  Harbour  river.  Sooy's 
mill  is  near  its  mouth. 

BulVs  Island,  in  the  Delaware 
river,  23  miles  above  Trenton,  near 
Saxtonville.  The  feeder  of  the  Dela- , 
ware  and  Raritan  canal  communi- 
cates with  the  Delaware  here. 

Burlington  County :  the  first  recog- 
nition we  find  of  the  bounds  of  this  co. 
is  in  the  act  of  Assembly,  1694,  but  its 
limits  were  more  definitely  settled  by 
the  act  21st  Jan.  1710,  declaring,  that 
the  line  of  partition  between  Burling- 
ton and  Gloucester  counties  begins 
at  the  mouth  of  Pensauken,  otherwise, 
Cropwell  creek ;  thence  up  the  same 
to  the  fork ;  thence  along  the  southern- 
most branch  thereof,  sometimes  called 


Cole  Branch,  until  it  comes  to  the 
head  thereof;  thence  by  a  straight 
line  to  the  southernmost  branch  of 
Little  Egg  Harbour  river;  thence 
down  the  said  branch  and  river,  to 
the  mouth  thereof;  thence  to  the  next 
inlet,  on  the  S.  side  of  Little  Egg 
the  Pequannock  j  Harbour's  most  southerly  inlet  ; 
thence  along  the  sea  coast,  to  the  line 
of  partition  between  East  and  West 
Jersey;  thence  on  such  line,  by 
Maidenhead  and  Hope  well,  to  the 
northernmost  bounds  of  Amwell  t-ship; 


thence  to  the  river  Delaware,  and  by 
the  river,  to  the  first  mentioned  sta- 
tion. This  surface  has  been  reduced 
by  the  act  which  established  Hunter- 
don  county,  March,  1714,  making  the 
Assunpink  creek  the  N.  boundary  of 
the  county.  It  is  now  bounded  N.  by 
Hunterdon  co.,  E.  by  Monmouth  co., 
S.  E.  by  the  Atlantic  ocean,  S.  W.  by 
Gloucester  co.,  and  N.  W.  by  the 
Delaware  river.  Central  latitude, 
39°  50';  longitude  E.  from  W.  C., 
2°  18';  greatest  length,  N.  W.  and 
S.  E.  54;  breadth,  E.  and  W.,  31 
miles ;  area,  553,000  acres,  or  near 
833  square  miles. 

Except  immediately  on  the  border 
of  the  Assunpink  creek,  where  some 
primitive  rock  appears,  the  whole  of 
this  county  is  alluvial,  composed  of 
sand,  gravel,  loam  and  clay,  various- 
ly blended.  1  It  would  seem  that  the 
diluvian  of  the  mountainous  country 
above  has  been  spread  by  the  Dela- 
ware river,  over  the  northwestern 
border  of  the  county,  for  some  12  or 
14  miles  from  the  present  bank,  form- 
ing with  the  aggregations  from  the 
sea  a  very  fertile  loam,  which, 
manured  with  stable  dung,  ashes,  or 
jnarl,  produces  abundant  crops  of 
rye,  corn,  oats,  beans,  peas,  grass,  and 
potatoes.  -  Strips  of  sand  occur  in 
this  loamy  belt,  and  sometimes 
masses  of  stiff  clay,  which  were  pro- 
bably once  washed  by  the  tides  of  the 
ocean.  ,  East  of  the  belt  of  loam,  is  a 
mass  of  sand  overlaying  clay,  and  ex- 
tending, for  near  40  miles,  to  the 
marshes,  which  border  the  sea  shore. 
In  this  sandy  district,  there  are  occa- 
sionally spots  where  the  clay,  ap- 


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111 


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preaching  the  surface,  mingles  with 
the  sand,  and  forms  tolerable  soil, 
producing  oak ;  and  in  low  grounds, 
where  marl  is  near  the  surface,  some 
natural  meadow,  easily  brought  to  pro- 
duce the  reclaimed  grasses.  But  the 
great  wealth  of  this  portion  of  the 
county  is  the  pine  timber,  with  which 
it  is  covered,  and  which  is  cut  into 
valuable  lumber,  or  fed  to  the  fur- 
nace of  the  iron  foundery  or  steam- 
boat. Bog  ore  is  found  in  many 
places;  marl  generally  through  the 
western  part  of  the  county,  and  possi- 
bly may  be  turned  up  every  where, 
by  digging  sufficiently  deep.  In  the 
marl  pits,  animal  reliques,  such  as 
shells,  bones,  and  also  petrified  vege- 
tables, are  frequent.  But  the  most 
extraordinary  relic,  yet  discovered  in 
these  deposits,  is  a  piece  of  wrought 
copper  bolt,  about  an  inch  square,  and 
two  inches  long,  bearing  the  marks  of 
tools,  taken  about  10  years  since, 
from  a  marl  pit,  10  feet  below  the  sur- 
face, and  within  a  short  distance  of 
Mount  Holly,  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Ho  well.  Of  the  time  when, 
and  the  means  by  which  such  a  de- 
posit was  made,  it  is  scarce  possible  to 
form  a  plausible  conjecture. 

The  waters  of  the  county  flow, 
either  N.  W.  to  the  Delaware  river, 
or  S.  W.  to  the  Atlantic  ocean.  The 
former  consist  of  the  Assunpink, 
Crosswick's,  Black's,  Craft's,  Assis- 
cunk,  Rancocus,  and  Pensauken 
creeks,  and  their  tributaries ;  the  lat- 
ter of  the  Wading  and  Mullica  rivers, 
and  their  branches.  The  dividing 
ridge  between  these  streams  runs 
nearly  parallel  with  the  Delaware, 
)ind  at  about  20  miles  distant  from  it. 
-  *The  streams  are  generally  crooked, 
and  sluggish ;  and  the  larger  are  na- 
vigable for  10  or  15  miles  from  their 
mouths.  In  Springfield  t-ship,  on  the 


farm  of  Mr.  James  Shreve,  is  a  well, 
whose  water  petrifies  wood.  Blocks 
of  hickory,  cut  into  the  form  of  hones, 
have  been  converted  into  stone,  in 
5  years,  by  immersion  therein. 

The  chief  villages,  and  post-towns 
of  the  county  are,  Arneytown,  Atsion, 
Bass  River  Hotel,  Bordentown,  Bur- 
lington, Columbus,  Crosswicks,  Eves- 
ham,  Jacksonville,  Jobstown,  Julius- 
town,  Medford,  Moorestown,  Mount 
Holly,  the  seat  of  justice,  Pemberton, 
Recklesstowri,  Tuckerton,  Vincenton, 
Wrightstown,  &c.  &c. 

The  county  contained,  by  the  re- 
port of  the  assessors  of  1832, 123,524 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  which 
might,  with  propriety,  be  nearly 
doubled;  14,210  neat  cattle,  6055 
horses  over  the  age  of  three  years,  19 
stud  horses,  3256  householders,  with 
taxable  property  not  exceeding  $30  in 
value;  1095  single  men,  86  mer- 
chants, 16  fisheries,  48  saw  mills,  91 
grist  mills,  4  furnaces,  3  forges,  2  pa- 
per mills,  one  extensive,  and  of  the 
most  approved  construction;  1  calico 
printing  factory,  7  fulling  mills,  4 
cotton  factories,  1  plaster  mill,  350 
tan  vats,  1 1  carding  machines,  35  dis- 
tilleries for  cider,  29  coaches  and 
chariots,  6  phaetons  and  chaises,  8 
four  horse  and  19  two  horse  stages, 
392  dearborns,  977  covered  wagons, 
206  chairs  and  curricles,  and  paid 
state  tax,  84607  12 ;  county  tax, 
815,000  ;  and  township  tax,  813,450. 

The  population  of  the  county,  in 
1830,  was  31,705;  of  whom  14,710 
were  white  males;  15,033  white  fe- 
males ;  free  coloured  males,  869 ;  free 
coloured  females,  901 ;  male  slaves, 
77  ;  female  slaves,  115 ;  174  aliens ; 
12  white,  deaf  and  dumb;  7  white,  and 
3  blacks,  blind.  The  county  sends  5 
members  to  the  Assembly,  and  one  to 
the  Council. 


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112 


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STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  BURLINGTON  COUNTY. 


Townships,  &c. 

,£3 

1? 

9 
3 

1  Breadth. 

Area. 

Surface 
generally  level. 

Population. 

1810 

1820 

1830 

Burlington, 

7 

7 

9,702 

2419 

2758 

2670 

Chester, 

7 

6 

22,000 

1839 

2253 

2333 

Chesterfield, 

8 

6 

16,000 

1839 

2087 

2386 

Egg  Harbour,  Little, 

20 

10 

76,800 

913 

1102 

1490 

Hanover, 

16 

13 

44,000 

2536 

2642 

2859 

Mansfield, 

10 

H 

21,000 

1810 

1957 

2083 

Eve  sham, 

15 

10 

67,000 

3445 

3977 

4239 

Northampton, 

33 

18 

135,000 

4171 

4833 

5516 

Nottingham, 

10 

7 

25,000 

2615 

3633 

3900 

Springfield, 

10 

6 

18,000 

1500 

1568 

1534 

Washington, 

20 

19 

112,000 

1273 

1225 

1315 

Willingboro', 

6 

4 

7,500 

787 

782 

553,002 

24,360 

28,822 

31,107 

Burlington  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Mansfield  and 
Springfield  t-ships,  S.  E.  by  North- 
ampton, S.  W.  by  Willingboro',  and 
N.  W.  by  the  River  Delaware.  Cen- 
trally distant  N.  W.  from  Mount 
Holly,  6  miles;  length  N.  and  S.  7; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  7  miles;  area, 
9702  acres;  surface,  level;  soil, 
sandy  loam,  very  well  cultivated,  and 
abundantly  productive,  in  grass,  corn, 
wheat,  and  garden  vegetables,  and 
fruits ;  drained  by  the  Assiscunk  creek 
on  the  north,  and  a  branch  of  the 
Rancocus  on  the  south.  Burlington 
city  is  in  the  t-ship.  Population  in 
1830,  2670.  In  1832  the  t-ship  con- 
tained, including  the  city,  575  taxa- 
bles,  145  single  men,  6  stores,  2  fish- 
eries, 2  grist  mills,  1  ferry,  34  tan 
vats,  1  distillery  for  cider,  14  coaches 
and  chariots,  2  two  horse  stages,  27 
dearborns,  57  covered  wagons,  9 
chairs  and  curricles,  and  30  gigs  and 
sulkies ;  and  it  paid  state  tax,  $373  45; 
county  tax,  81292  16 ;  and  t-ship  tax, 
81000. 

Burlington  Island,  in  the  river 
Delaware,  above  the  city  of  Burling- 
ton, arid  opposite  the  town  of  Bristol, 
originally  termed  Matenicurik,  and 
also  Chygoes  island.  (See  Burling- 
ton City.) 

Burlington  Collection  District 
comprehends  that  part  of  West  Jer- 


sey lying  on  the  eastward  and  north- 
ward of  Gloucester,  and  all  the  wa- 
ters thereof  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  state.  Burlington  city  is  the  port 
of  entry,  and  Lamberton  a  port  of 
delivery  only ;  the  collector  resides  at 
the  latter. 

Burlington  City,  of  Burlington 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  20  miles  N.  E. 
from  Philadelphia,  158  from  W.  C., 
and  12  S.  W.  from  Trenton,  upon  the 
river  Delaware,  and  opposite  to  the 
town  of  Bristol ;  contains  about  300 
dwellings, and  1800  inhabitants;  one 
Episcopal,  1  Baptist,  and  2  Methodist 
churches,  one  of  which  are  for  co- 
loured people,  and  1  Friend's  meet- 
ing house;  1  large  and  commodious 
boarding  school  for  girls,  beautifully 
situate  on  the  river  bank,  and  1  large 
boarding  school  for  boys ;  the  former 
under  the  direction  of  S.  R.  Gum- 
mere,  and  the  latter  of  John  Gum- 
mere;  a  free  school  maintained  chief- 
ly from  the  rents  of  Matenicunk  or 
Chygoes  island,  lying  near  the  town, 
and  which  was  given  to  it  for  that 
purpose  by  the  proprietaries,  by  act 
of  Assembly,  28th  September,  1682. 
This  island  contains  about  300  acres, 
and  yields  a  rent  of  about  $1000  an- 
nually. There  are  here  also  a  board- 
ing school  endowed  by  the  "  Society 
of  Friends ;"  five  common  schools  for 
white,  and  one  for  coloured  children. 


BUR 


113 


BYR 


The  town  is  laid  out  upon  9  streets 
running  N.  and  S.,  and  4  E.  and  W. 
The  lots  are  generally  deep,  admit- 
ting of  spacious  gardens,  in  which 
much  and  excellent  fruit  is  produced, 
among  which  grapes  of  various  kinds 
are  common.  Upon  the  main  street, 
the  houses  are  closely  built,  but  in 
other  parts  of  the  town  they  are  wide 
asunder,  and  surrounded  by  gardens, 
orchards,  and  grass  lots.  Many  of 
the  buildings  are  very  neat  and  com- 
modious, and  occupied  as  country 
seats  by  citizens  of  Philadelphia — 
those  on  the  river  bank,  below  the 
town,  are  beautifully  situated,  with  a 
fine  verdant  velvet  sward  to  the  wa- 
ter's edge,  giving  them  a  perpetual  air 
of  freshness  and  coolness,  most  desi- 
rable in  the  summer  months.  There 
are  here,  also,  a  public  library,  seve- 
ral fire  companies,  a  beneficial  so- 
ciety, a  distinguished  nursery  of  fruit 
trees,  7  considerable  stores,  5  taverns, 
3  practising  attorneys,  3  physicians, 
and  extensive  manufactories  of  shoes, 
employing  near  300  hands.  Bur- 
lington was  laid  out  as  a  town  in  the 
year  1677,  by  the  first  purchasers 
from  Lord  Berkeley,  and  was  incor- 
porated by  the  proprietary  govern- 
ment, including  the  island  only,  in 
1693,  and  subsequently  by  Governor 
Cosby.  The  present  incorporation 
is  by  act  of  the  state  legislature,  21st 
December,  1784,  constituting  the 
town  and  port  of  Burlington,  of  the 
length  of  3  miles  on  the  Delaware, 
and  such  part  of  the  river  arid  islands 
opposite  thereto,  within  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  state,  and  extending  from 
the  river  at  right  angles  one  mile  into 
the  county,  "the  city  of  Burlington;" 
and  authorizing  its  government,  by  a 
mayor,  recorder,  and  3  aldermen,  an- 
nually elective,  with  power  to  hold  a 
commercial  court  monthly.  Prior  to 
May,  1676,  the  site  of  this  town  was 
holden  by  4  Dutch  families,  one  of 
whom  kept  a  public  house  for  the  en- 
tertainment of  travellers  passing  to 
and  from  the  settlements  on  the  west 
shores  of  the  Delaware,  and  New 
York.  The  river  here  is  about  a 
mile  wide,  the  harbour  pretty  good, 
P 


but  the  town  has  no  commerce.  A 
great  portion  of  the  city  is  isolated  by 
a  creek,  over  which  there  are  several 
bridges;  the  tide  has  been  stopped 
out,  and  the  marshes,  which  it  for- 
merly covered,  are  good  meadows. 
The  town  is  deemed  healthy.  Four 
steam-boats  pass  this  town,  to  and 
from  Philadelphia,  daily. 

Burnt  Cabin  Brook,  principal 
branch  of  the  Rockaway  river,  rises 
in  Greenpond,  in  the  valley  between 
Greenpond  mountain  and  Copperas 
mountain.  It  has  a  S.  W.  course  of 
about  8  miles,  before  it  unites  with  the 
main  stream. 

Burnt  Meadow  Brook,  small  tri- 
butary of  Ringwood  river,  Pompton 
t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  into  which  it  flows 
eastwardly  by  a  course  of  about  6 
miles. 

Bustleton,  hamlet,  of  Mansfield 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  7  miles  N.  W. 
from  Mount  Holly,  and  4  from  Bur- 
lington city;  contains  a  Friends' 
meeting  house,  and  some  half  dozen 
farm  houses,  surrounded  by  a  well  cul- 
tivated country  of  fertile  sandy  loam. 

Butcher's  Forge,  on  Metetecunk 
river,  on  the  line  between  Howell  and 
Dover  t-ships,  Monmouth  co.,  at  the 
head  of  navigation,  18  miles  S.  E. 
from  Freehold.  There  are  here  a 
forge,  a  grist  mill,  a  tavern,  2  stores, 
and  15  or  20  dwellings.  The  mill 
pond  is  the  largest  in  the  state,  having 
a  length  of  nearly  3  miles,  by  nearly 
half  a  mile  in  breadth.  Wood  from 
the  surrounding  forest  is  boated  on  it 
to  the  furnace. 

By  ram  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  bounded 
N.  W.  by  Newton  t-ship ;  E.  by  Har- 
diston  t-ship,  and  by  Jefferson  t-ship, 
Morris  co.;  S.  by  Roxbury  t-ship,  of 
the  same  eo.,  and  W.  by  Green  t-ship, 
of  Sussex  co.  Centrally  distant  S. 
E.  from  Newton  8  miles;  greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  10  miles,  breadth 
E.  and  W.  8  miles;  area,  21,760; 
surface  mountainous,  the  t-ship  being 
wholly  covered  by  the  South  mountain . 
The  t-ship  is  drained  chiefly  by  Lub- 
ber run,  which  receives  the  waters 
of  Lion  pond,  Hopatcong  lake  upon 
the  E.,  and  by  Musconetcong  river, 


CAL 


114 


CAM 


which  courses  the  whole  of  the  south- 
ern boundary.  It  is  crossed  N.  W. 
by  the  Morris  and  Newton  turnpike 
road.  By  the  census  of  1830  it  con- 
tained  958  inhabitants;  and  in  1832 
187  taxables,  5  stores,  5  saw  mills, 
10  forge  fires,  6  tan  vats,  1  distillery, 
123  horses  and  mules,  and  497  neat 
cattle,  over  the  age  of  3  years. 
Andover,  Lockwood,  Columbia,  and 
Stanhope,  are  the  names  of  the  forges 
within  the  t-ship ;  Brooklyn  forge  lies 
on  the  S.  E.  boundary.  The  Morris 
canal  touches  the  south  boundary  of 
the  t-ship  at  Stanhope.  The  t-ship  is 
noted  for  its  iron  and  other  minerals. 

Cabbagetown,  hamlet,  of  Upper 
Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  on 
the  line  between  that  county  and  Mid- 
dlesex, 17  miles  from  Freehold,  and 
12  from  Trenton,  contains  some  half 
dozen  dwellings,  a  wheelwright,  smith 
and  joiner's  shop. 

Calais,  Randolph  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  on  the  road  from  Morristown  to 
Stanhope  forge,  6  miles  N.  W.  from 
the  former ;  contains  a  Presbyterian 
church,  store,  tavern,  and  12  or  15 
dwellings. 

Caldwell  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  bound- 
ed on  the  W.  and  N.  by  the  Passaic 
river,  which  separates  it  from  Hano- 
ver t-ship,  Morris  co.,  E.  by  Acquack- 
anonck  and  Bloomfield  t-ships,  S.  by 
Orange  and  Livingston  t-ships.  Cen- 
trally distant  N.  E.  from  Newark  10 
miles ;  greatest  length  E.  and  W.  7; 
breadth  N.  and  S.  6;  area,  16,500 
acres;  surface  mountainous  on  the 
E.,  elsewhere  rolling,  except  in  the 
valley  of  the  river;  drained,  or  rather 
watered,  by  Deep  and  Green  brooks; 
soil  red  shale  and  alluvion;  towns, 
Caldwell,  Fairfield,  and  Franklin; 
the  first  a  post-town;  population  in 
1830,  2001.  In  1832  the  t-ship  con- 
tained 325  taxables,  36  single  men, 
8  merchants,  3  grist  mills,  1  cotton 
manufactory,  3  saw  mills,  12  tan  vats, 
1  woollen  factory,  325  horses  and 
mules,  and  1001  neat  cattle,  over 
the  age  of  3  years :  and  it  paid  state 
tax,  $201  06;  county,  $526  06; 
poor,  $600;  road,  $1327. 

Caldwell)  p-t.  of  preceding  t-ship, 


Essex  co.,  10  miles  N.  E.  from  New- 
ark, 225  from  W.  C.,  and  59  from 
Trenton,  contains  a  tavern,  3  stores, 
a  grist  and  saw  mill  on  Pine  Brook, 
about  30  dwellings,  and  2  Presbyte- 
rian churches.  The  country  around 
it  is  deep  clay  loam. 

Camden,  city  and  t-ship,  of  Glou- 
cester co.,  on  the  river  Delaware,  op- 
posite to  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and 
port  of  entry  and  delivery  of  Bridge- 
ton  collection  district,  8  miles  N.  W. 
from  Woodbury,  137  N.  E.  from  W. 
C.,  and  31  S.  from  Trenton.  The 
site  upon  which  it  stands,  was  taken 
up  between  the  years  1681  and  1685, 
in  several  parcels,  by  Messrs.  Cooper, 
Runyon  and  Morris.  The  city  was 
incorporated  by  acts  13  Feb.  and  1 
March,  1828,  and  9  Feb.  1831 ;  and 
as  a  t-ship  by  act  Nov.  28, 1831.  Its 
bounds  by  these  acts  are  as  follow : 
Beginning  at  the  Pennsylvania  line 
in  the  Delaware,  opposite  the  mouth 
of  a  small  run  of  water  below  Kaighn- 
ton,  and  running  E.  to  the  mouth  of 
said  run ;  thence  by  the  same,  cross- 
ing the  public  road  to  Woodbury, 
from  the  Camden  academy;  thence 
N.  by  the  E.  side  of  said  road,  to  the 
road  fromKaighnton  to  Cooper's  creek 
bridge ;  thence  by  the  E.  side  of  the 
last  mentioned  road,  and  the  S.  side 
of  the  causey  and  bridge,  to  the  mid- 
dle of  Cooper's  creek ;  thence  by  the 
middle  of  the  creek  to  the  Delaware ; 
thence  due  N.  to  the  middle  of  the 
channel,  between  Petty's  island  and 
the  Jersey  shore;  thence  down  the 
channel  to  the  nearest  point  on  the 
line  between  the  states  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  New  Jersey ;  thence  by  said 
line  to  the  place  of  beginning.  The 
district  has  a  length  of  2  4-  miles  on 
the  river,  by  about  li  in  breadth  to 
the  bridge  over  Cooper's  creek.  But  a 
small  portion  only,  of  this  area,  is 
built  upon:  the  greatest  portion  is 
employed  in  tillage,  chiefly  of  fruit 
and  early  vegetables,  for  the  Phila- 
delphia market,  to  which  the  soil  is 
admirably  adapted;  and  a  consider- 
able part  is  still  in  woods,  yielding 
shade  and  recreation  to  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  great  city,  in  the  hot  sea- 


CAM 


115 


CAM 


son.  The  district  is  divided  into  3 
distinct  villages,  separated  by  vacant 
grounds  from  half  a  mile  to  nearly 
a  mile  in  extent.  That,  opposite  to 
the  Northern  Liberties,  is  known  as 
Cooper's  Point,  at  which  there  is  an 
extensive  ferry  establishment,  tavern, 
store,  livery  stable,  and  a  dozen  dwell- 
ings. The  lower  village,  nearly  op- 
posite to  the  Navy  Yard,  is  called 
Kaighnton  or  Kaighn's  Point,  from 
the  family  of  that  name,  which  settled 
on  it  in  1696,  and  whose  descend- 
ants, still  residents  on,  and  owners  of 
the  greater  part  of  the  adjoining  pro- 
perty, laid  out  town  lots  here,  and 
established  the  ferry  to  Philadelphia 
in  1809.  It  contains  35  dwellings,  a 
store,  school  house,  2  taverns,  a  tan- 
nery, an  extensive  smithery  and 
manufactory  of  steel  springs  for  car- 
riages. The  central  and  largest  part 
of  the  city  was  originally  called  Cam- 
den,  about  the  year  1772,  when  first 
divided  into  town  lots,  by  the  then 
proprietor,  Jacob  Cooper,  and  is  near- 
ly equidistant  between  the  two  Points, 
and  opposite  to  the  central  part  of  Phi- 
ladelphia. The  land  at  Cooper's  Point, 
and  extensive  adjacent  tracts,  were 
taken  up  in  1687,  by  William  Cooper, 
one  of  the  first  and  distinguished  emi- 
grants to  the  province,  after  the  sale 
by  Lord  Berkeley  to  Byllinge;  the 
whole  of  which  is,  at  this  time,  not 
only  possessed  by  his  descendants, 
but  actually,  by  descendants  bearing 
the  name  of  Cooper ;  no  portion  of  it, 
at  any  time,  having,  in  the  space  of 
146  years,  been  aliened  by  the  family. 
At  the  period  of  incorporation, 
1828,  the  population  of  the  district 
was  1143;  in  1830  it  had  increased 
to  1987,  and  now,  Sept.  1833,  by 
a  census  made  for  this  work,  amounts 
to  2341 ;  of  whom  417  are  heads  of 
families,  or  housekeepers,  1237  males, 
1104  females,  78  widows,  and  105 
people  of  colour.  It  contains  364 
dwelling  houses,  and  60  other  build- 
ings used  for  manufactories,  stores, 
and  schools,  a  Baptist,  a  Methodist, 
and  a  Quaker  meeting  house,  a  court- 
house, or  town  hall,  where  the  city 
sessions  are  holden,  quarterly,  by  the 


mayor,  recorder,  and  aldermen,  for 
the  trial  of  minor  offences,  and  a  pri- 
son connected  therewith ;  an  academy, 
at  which  are  taught  the  rudiments  of 
a  common  English  education;  "the 
State  Bank  at  Camden,"  with  a  capi- 
tal of  8300,000  dollars;  a  turpentine, 
a  patent  leather,  and  a  tinware  manu- 
factory ;  2  tanneries,  a  steam  saw  mill 
and  steam  grist  mill,  2  saddlers  and 
harnessmakers,  other  than  those  con- 
nected with  the  coachmakers;  6  coach- 
makers,  whose  business  exceeds  in 
value  $60,000,  annually,  and  whose 
work,  much  of  which  is  exported,  is 
remarkable  at  once,  for  cheapness, 
lightness,  strength,  and  beauty  of 
finish;  8  smitheries,  connected  with 
2  of  which  are  manufactories  of  steel 
springs;  a  white  or  silver  smith,  a 
clock  and  watchmaker's  shop,  a  comb 
manufactory,  a  trunk  manufactory, 
2  bakeries,  2  cooper's  shops,  2  drug- 
gist's shops,  12  stores,  5  lumber  yards, 

5  livery  stables,  9  taverns,  including 
the   ferry  houses,   2  cabinetmaker's 
shops,  2   tailor's   shops,  11    master 
carpenters,  4  master  stone  and  brick 
masons,  2  painters  and  glaziers,  a  gold 
and  silver  plater,  2  printing  offices, 
from  each  of  which  a  weekly  news- 
paper is  issued,  and  3  physicians  and 

6  lawyers. 

There  are  here  also  several  hand- 
some public  gardens,  much  frequent- 
ed by  the  Philadelphians,  who  have 
ready  access  to  them  by  the  steam 
ferry  boats  constantly  passing  the 
river.  Of  these  useful  vessels,  there 
are  at  present  eight  belonging  to  the 
five  ferry  establishments,  including 
those  at  Cooper's  and  Kaighn's  Points; 
employing  a  capital  of  $60,000,  ex- 
clusive of  the  real  estate,  such  as 
wharves,  ferry  houses,  &c.  valued 
at  $100,000.  The  gross  income  from 
which,  is  estimated  at  not  less  than 
$80,000  per  annum.  The  boats  adapt- 
ed  for  carriages  and  passengers  cross, 
in  from  5  to  15  minutes,  according 
to  the  state  of  the  tide ;  and  are  im- 
pelled by  steam  engines  of  from  15  to 
20  horse  power. 

The  ship  channel  is  on  the  Philadel- 
phia side  of  the  river.  The  water  on 


CAP 


116 


CAP 


the  New  Jersey  side  is  too  shoal  for 
vessels  of  the  largest  size  to  ascend 
higher  than  Kaighn's  Point,  where  it 
is  sufficiently  deep  for  those  of  any 
tonnage.  Brigs  and  schooners  of  150 
tons  come  to  the  central  parts  of  Cam- 
den  at  high  tide,  and  unload  at  the 
wharves.  Efforts  are  making  to  con- 
vert this  into  a  port  of  entry,  and  to 
annex  it  to  the  Philadelphia  collection 
district. 

Campbell's  Brook  rises  at  the  foot 
of  the  mountain  in  Readington  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.,  and  flows  by  a  S.  E. 
course  of  about  7  miles  to  the  south 
branch  of  the  Raritan  river,  in 
Bridgewater  t-ship,  Somerset  co. 

Camptown,  Orange  t-ship,  Essex 
co.,  85  miles  S.  W.  from  Newark, 
contains  within  a  circle  of  a  mile  and 
a  half  in  diameter,  75  dwellings,  a 
free  church  of  stone,  of  three  sto- 
ries, the  first  used  as  an  academy,  the 
second  as  a  church,  open  to  all  de- 
nominations of  Christians,  and  the 
third  a  masonic  lodge ;  a  Presbyteri- 
an church,  1  tavern,  3  stores,  1  saw 
mill,  and  1  grist  mill,  upon  Eliza- 
beth river.  The  lands  here  vary  in 
value,  according  to  quality,  from  50 
to  $100  the  acre.  The  name  is  derived 
from  the  circumstance  that  the  Ame- 
rican army  had  a  camp  in  the  vici- 
nity during  the  revolution. 

Canoe  Brook,  small  tributary  of 
the  Passaic  river,  Livingston  and 
Springfield  t-ships,  Essex  co.,  has  a 
westerly  course  of  three  miles. 

Cape  May  County,  by  the  act  of 
Assembly,  2 1st  of  January,  1710,  be- 
gins at  the  mouth  of  a  small  creek, 
on  the  west  side  of  Stipson's  island, 
called  Jecak's  creek,  and  continues 
thence  by  the  said  creek,  as  high  as 
the  tide  floweth;  thence,  along  the 
bounds  (of  what  was  then  Salem 
county,  now  Cumberland,)  to  the 
southernmost  main  branch  of  Great 
Egg  Harbour  river ;  thence  down  the' 
said  river  to  the  sea;  thence  along 
the  sea  coast  to  Delaware  bay,  and  so 
up  the  said  bay  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. It  is,  therefore,  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Cumberland  county,  E. 
and  S.  by  the  Atlantic  ocean,  and  W. 


by  Delaware  bay.  Its  greatest  length, 
N.  E.  and  S.  W.  is  30  miles ;  great- 
est breadth  E.  and  W.,  15  miles; 
form  semi-oval:  area  252  square 
miles,  or  about  161,000  acres.  Cen- 
tral lat.  39°  10';  long.  2°  7'  E.  from 
W.  C. 

This  county  is  wholly  of  alluvial 
formation.  Upon  the  coast,  from 
the  mouth  of  Great  Egg  Harbour 
bay,  and  for  some  miles  on  the  De- 
laware bay,  above  the  capes,  is  a 
sand  beach :  on  the  east,  this  beach, 
from  a  half  mile  to  two  miles  in  width, 
is  covered  with  grass  which  affords 
pasture  for  neat  cattle  and  sheep.  It 
is  broken  by  several  inlets,  by  which 
the  sea  penetrates  the  marshes,  and 
forms  lagunes  or  salt  water  lakes, 
in  several  places,  two  miles  in  diame- 
ter, connected  by  various  channels. 
The  marsh  has  an  average  width  of 
about  four  miles;  a  similar  marsh 
extends  along  the  N.  W.  part  of  the 
county,  on  the  bay,  widening  as  it 
advances  northward.  The  Tucka- 
hoe  river,  on  the  north,  divides  this 
from  Gloucester  co.,  receiving  from 
Cape  May  co.  Cedar  Swamp  creek, 
which  interlocks  with  Dennis'  creek, 
the  latter  emptying  into  the  Dela- 
ware bay.  Both  streams  flow  through 
an  extensive  cedar  swamp,  stretch- 
ing for  17  miles  across  the  county. 
Several  other,  but  inconsiderable 
streams,  flow  westerly  into  the  Dela- 
ware bay.  The  fast  land  of  the 
county  is  composed  of  clay  based  on 
sand,  generally  covered  with  oak  fo- 
rest, from  which  large  quantities  of 
timber  and  cord  wood  are  annually 
sent  to  the  Philadelphia  and  New  York 
markets.  The  greater  portion  of  the 
inhabitants  are  settled  on  the  east  and 
west  margins  of  this  fast  land,  along 
which  run  the  main  roads  of  the 
county.  The  forest  land,  when 
cleared,  becomes  arable,  and,  with 
due  cultivation,  produces  good  crops 
of  corn  and  rye.  The  farms  are  ge- 
nerally large,  running  from  the  roads 
landward.  Some  cleared  and  culti- 
vated tracts  are  interspersed  with  the 
forest.  The  wealth  of  the  county 
is  in  its  timber. 


CAP 


117 


CAP 


The  name  of  this  county  is  derived 
from  Cornelius  Jacobse  Mey,  a  navi- 
gator in  the  service  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company,  who  visited 
the  Delaware  bay  in  1623,  for  the 
purpose  of  colonization,  but  the  set- 
tlements, if  any  were  made  here  by 
him,  were  soon  abandoned.  In  1630 
a  purchase  of  land,  extending  along 
the  bay  for  sixteen  miles,  and  six- 
teen inward,  was  made  of  the  In- 
dians, by  the  Dutch  governor  of  New 
Amsterdam,  Van  Twiller,  for  the 
Sieurs  Goodyn  and  Blomaert,  direc- 
tors of  the  West  India  Company;  but 
we  do  not  learn  that  these  lands  were 
immediately  peopled  by  Europeans. 
From  the  records  of  the  court  of  this 
county,  it  appears  probable  that  some 
English  settlers  were  established  here 
at  an  early  period,  from  New  Eng- 
land, and  we  may  conjecture  that 
they  were  colonists  from  New  Ha- 
ven, some  of  whose  descendants  may 
yet  remain  in  the  county. 

The  county  is  divided  into  4  t-ships ; 
its  pop.  in  1830,  was  4396  souls; 
being  about  20  to  the  square  mile; 
of  whom  2400  were  white  males, 
2308  white  females,  118  free  colour- 
ed males,  107  free  coloured  females, 
3  slaves ;  among  these  were  1  deaf 
and  dumb,  but  there  were  none  blind 
nor  alien. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  centrally  si- 
tuated at  Middletown,  where  there 
are  a  frame  court  house,  brick  fire 
proof  offices,  and  a  stone  prison ;  the 
other  public  buildings  of  the  county, 
consist  of  an  Episcopalian  church,  2 
Baptist  do.,  2  Methodist  do. 

At  an  early  period  of  its  history 
the  inhabitants  were  engaged  in  the 
whale  fishery ;  at  present,  their  chief 
support  is  derived  from  the  timber 
and  cord  wood  trade,  raising  of  cat- 
tle, and  supplying  the  market  Math  oys- 
ters, clams,  fish,  &c.  At  Cape  Island, 
a  considerable  revenue  is  derived  from 
the  company  who  visit  the  sea  shore 


during  the  hot  weather.  By  the  as- 
sessor's report  for  1832,  the  county 
contained  but  20,244  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  a  little  more  than  one- 
eighth  part  of  its  area;  669  house- 
holders, 8  grist  mills,  the  chief  part 
of  which  are  moved  by  wind,  16  saw 
mills,  29  stores,  679  horses,  and 
2093  neat  cattle  over  3  years  of  age  ; 
and  paid  for  t-ship  purposes  $324  60 ; 
for  state  purposes  $646  01 ,  and  $2000 
for  county  uses. 

By  the  act  of  8th  March,  1797,  it 
sends  1  member  to  the  assembly,  and 
by  the  constitution,  1  member  to 
council. 

The  court  of  common  pleas  and 
quarter  sessions  for  Cape  May  co.,  sit 
on  the  1st  Tuesdays  of  February,  the 
last  of  May,  the  1st  of  August,  and 
the  4th  of  October;  and  the  circuit 
courts  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  May, 
annually,  at  Middletown. 

This  portion  of  the  state  has  not 
generally  been  holden  in  due  estima- 
tion. If  its  inhabitants  be  not  nume- 
rous, they  are  generally  as  indepen- 
dent as  any  others  in  the  state,  and 
enjoy  as  abundantly  the  comforts  of 
life.  They  are  hospitable,  and  re- 
spectable for  the  propriety  of  their 
manners,  and  are  blessed,  usually, 
with  excellent  health.  Until  lately 
they  have  known  little,  practically,  of 
those  necessary  evils  of  social  life, 
the  physician  and  the  lawyer.  Morse 
assures  us,  that  their  women  possess- 
ed the  power  not  only  of  sweetening 
life,  but  of  defending  and  prolonging 
it,  being  competent  to  cure  most  of 
the  diseases  which  attack  it.  We 
learn,  however,  that  their  practice  in 
the  latter  particular,  has  lately  been 
contested;  that  one  or  more  physi- 
cians have  crept  in,  but  we  rejoice  to 
hear  that  they  find  little  employment. 
We  learn  also,  that  the  county,  like 
Ireland,  refusing  nourishment  to  nox- 
ious animals,  no  lawyer  can  subsist 
in  it. 


CAP          118  CED 

STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  CAPE  MAY  COUNTY. 


J3 

£ 
^ 

Population. 

Townships. 

a* 

i 

Area 

Surface 

& 

M 

1810 

1820 

1830 

Upper, 

12* 

iH 

37,000 

1664 

2107 

1067 

Dennis, 

14 

84 

43,500 

1508 

Middle, 

12 

10 

60,000 

11061157 

1366 

Lower, 

8 

8 

21,000 

862 

1001 

995 

161,500 

4265 

4936 

Cape  May  Court  House,  p-t.  and 
seat  of  justice  of  Cape  May  co.,  cen- 
trally situate  in  Middle  t-ship,  104 
miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  102  S. 
from  Trenton,  34  S.  E.  from  Bridge- 
ton,  and  74  from  Philadelphia;  con- 
tains a  court  house  of  wood,  a  jail  of 
stone,  fire-proof  offices  of  brick,  2  ta- 
verns, 8  or  10  dwellings,  and  a  Bap- 
tist church  of  brick.  Lat.  39°  N. 
long.  2°  8'  E.  from  W.  C. ;  it  is  call- 
ed Middletown,  in  the  post-office  lists. 

Cape  May,  the  most  southern  point 
•of  N.  J.,  and  the  eastern  cape  of  the 
Delaware  bay,  formed  by  the  bay  and 
.the  Atlantic  ocean ;  lat.  38°  56',  long. 
2°  18'  E.  from  W.  C. ;  a  light  house 
stands  upon  the  point.  The  name  of 
this  cape  should  have  been  written 
Mey,  since  it  has  its  name  from 
Cornelius  Jacobse  Mey,  a  distinguish- 
ed navigator,  who  visited  the  Dela- 
ware in  1623,  in  the  employ  of  the 
Dutch  West  India  Company.  He 
gave  his  Christian  name,  Cornelius, 
to  the  west-  cape  of  the  bay.  • 

Cape  May  Island,  beach  of  the 
Atlantic  ocean,  near  the  southern 
•point  of  the  state,  in  Lower  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.,  104  miles  by  post- 
route  from  Philadelphia,  115  from 
Trenton,  and  117  from  W.  C. ;  it  is  a 
noted  and  much  frequented  watering 
place,  the  season  at  which  commences 
about  the  first  of  July,  and  continues 
until  the  middle  of  August,  or  1st 
September.  There  are  here  six 
boarding  houses,  three  of  which  are 
very  large ;  the  sea  bathing  is  conve- 
nient and  excellent,  the  beach  affords 
pleasant  drives,  and  there  is  excellent 
fishing  in  the  adjacent  waters.  There 
is  a  post-office  here. 


Carllsburg,  hamlet  of  Deerfield 
t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  between  3 
and  4  miles  N.  E.  of  Bridgeton. 

Carpenter's  Landing,  post-town  of 
Greenwich  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  upon 
Mantua  creek,  at  the  head  of  sloop 
navigation,  3  miles  S.  W.  from  Wood- 
bury  ;  7  miles  by  the  creek  from  the 
Delaware;  42  miles  from  Trenton, 
and  148  from  W.  C.  It  is  a  place 
of  considerable  trade,  in  lumber,  cord 
wood,  &c.,  and  contains  1  tavern,  2 
stores,  30  dwellings,  and  1  Methodist 
church. 

Cat-tail,  hamlet,  of  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  on  Cat-tail 
creek,  on  the  line  between  Middlesex 
and  Monmouth  cos.,  16  miles  S.  W. 
from  Freehold,  and  28  S.  E.  from 
Trenton. 

Cedar  Bridge,  hamlet,  Stafford 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  upon  the  Os- 
wego,  or  E.  branch  of  Wading  river, 
33  miles  S.  of  Freehold,  contains  a 
saw  mill,  2  taverns,  and  several 
dwellings,  surrounded  by  pine  forest. 

Cedar  Creek,  Stafford  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth co.,  flows  S.  W.  about  6  miles, 
into  Little  Egg  Harbour  bay,  2  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  Manahocking 
creek. 

Cedar  Creels,  Dover  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth co.,  rises  by  several  branches, 
and  flows  eastwardly  about  16  miles 
to  the  Atlantic  ocean.  The  village  of 
Williamsburg  is  seated  upon  it,  near 
the  head  of  tide  water,  and  contains 
10  or  12  dwellings,  2  taverns,  2  stores. 
Goodluck  is  a  thickly  settled  neigh- 
bourhood, a  short  distance  on  the  S. 
W.  The  country  on  the  E.  is  salt 
marsh ;  elsewhere,  sandy,  and  cover- 
ed with  pine  forest. 


CEN 


119 


CHA 


Cedar  Creek,  Fairfield  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  rises  in  the  t-ship, 
and  flows  westerly  through  it  for 
about  10  miles,  giving  motion  to  se- 
veral mills,  and  emptying  into  Nan- 
tuxet  cove,  Delaware  bay.  It  is  na- 
vigable about  4  miles  to  Cedarville. 
Cedar  Pond,  small  lake  of  about 
100  acres,  Pompton  t-ship,  Bergen 
co.,  sends  forth  a  portion  of  its  waters 
to  supply  the  stream  of  Clinton  forges. 
Cedar  Swamp  Creek,  Upper  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.,  rises  in  the  t-ship  by 
2  branches,  and  flows  N.  E.  8  miles, 
into  Tuckahoe  river.  Its  course  is 
through  an  extensive  cedar  swamp. 

Cedar  Swamp  Creek,  of  Egg  Har- 
bour t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  a  mill 
stream,  which  flows  S.  W.,  by  Bar- 
gaintown,  about  7  or  8  miles,  into 
Great  Egg  Harbour  bay. 

Cedarville,  p-t.  of  Fairfield  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  pleasantly  situated, 
on  Cedar  creek,  at  the  head  of 
navigation,  about  4  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  creek,  7  S.  from  Bridge- 
ton,  183,  by  post  route,  N.  E.  from 
W.  C.,  and  77  S.  from  Trenton ;  con- 
tains about  60  dwellings,  a  store,  and 
tavern,  grist  and  saw  mill,  and  an 
extensive  button  manufactory.  The 
country  about  it  is  sandy  and  poor ; 
but  the  lots  in  the  village  are  careful 
ly  cultivated  and  productive.  Trade, 
wood  and  lumber.  Inhabitants,  375. 
Cedarville,  of  Caldwell  t-ship,  Es 
sex  co.,  upon  Peekman's  run,  about 
2  miles  above  its  confluence  with  the 
Passaic  river.  There  are  here  seve- 
ral small  mills,  such  as  grist  mill,  saw 
mill,  and  cotton  factory. 

Centreville,  p-t.  of  Pittsgrove  t-ship, 
Salem  co.,  upon  Muddy  run,  and  upon 
the  line  dividing  Salem  from  Cumber- 
land co.,  17  miles  S.  E.  from  Salem 
town,  and  75  S.  from  Trenton;  con- 
tains some  12  or  15  dwellings,  ta- 
vern, store,  and  school  house. 

Centreville,  East  Windsor  t-ship 
Middlesex  co.,  upon  the  turnpike  roac 
from  Bordentown  to  Cranberry,  9 
miles  from  the  former,  and  18  miles 
S.  W.  from  New  Brunswick,  contains 
a  tavern  and  several  dwellings. 
Centreville,  small  village,  oi 


£nowlton  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  on  the 
*oad  leading  from  Hope  to  Knowlton 
mills  and  Columbia;  about  4  miles 
rom  the  first  and  last,  and  10  N.  E. 
rom  Belvidere;  contains  a  tavern, 
store,  smith  shop,  Presbyterian  church, 
and  several  dwellings. 

Centreville  Post-Office,  Hunter- 
don  co.;  by  post  route,  189  miles 
rom  W.  C.,  and  30  from  Trenton. 

Chambers'  Brook,  tributary  of  the 
north  branch  of  the  Raritan,  and  S. 
E.  boundary  of  Bedminster  t-ship, 
Somerset  co.,  rises  in  the  mountain  on 
the  E.,  and  flows  S.  W.,  about  4  miles 
to  its  recipient. 

Chambers'  Mill  Branch,  a  small 
stream,  rising  in  the  centre  of  Mon- 
tague t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  and  flowing 
westerly,  about  5  miles,  into  the  river 
Delaware.  It  gives  motion  to  several 
mills  near  its  mouth. 

Change  Water,  furnace,  on  the 
Musconetcong  creek,  in  Mansfield 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  3  miles  from  the 
village  of  Mansfield,  and  10  S.  E. 
from  Belvidere,  the  county  town. 

Charlotte sburg,  the  name  of  a  fur- 
nace, formerly  on  the  Pequannock 
creek,  Pompton  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
now  in  ruins. 

Charleston,  small  village,  in  the 
N.  E.  part  of  Bethlehem  t-ship,  Hun- 
terdon  co.,  on  the  Musconetcong 
mountain,  13  miles  N.  of  Flemington. 

Charleston,  hamlet,  of  Kingwood 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  10  miles  W.  of 
Flemington ;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
and  several  dwellings. 

Chatham  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  bound- 
ed north  by  Hanover  t-ship ;  E.  and 
S.  E.  by  the  Passaic  river,  which 
separates  it  from  Livingston,  Spring- 
field and  New  Providence  t-ships, 
Sussex  co. ;  W.  and  S.  by  Morris 
t-ship.  Centrally  distant,  S.  E.  from 
Morristown,  6  miles;  greatest  length, 
N.  and  S.  9  miles ,  breadth,  E.  and 
W.  5  miles;  area,  14,400;  surface 
undulating,  except  on  the  south, 
which  is  covered  by  Long  Hill. 
Black  Brook  rises  in  the  t-ship  and 
flows  W.  to  the  Passaic  river,  through 
Morris  t-ship.  Bottle  Hill,  Chatham, 
and  Columbia  are  villages  of  the 


CHE 


120 


CHE 


t-ship,  the  first  two  post-towns ;  popu- 
lation in  1830,  1865.  In  1832  there 
were  in  the  t-ship  340  taxables,  40 
single  men,  9  stores,  3  saw  mills,  and 
5  grist  mills,  5  distilleries,  1  fulling 
mill,  1  carding  engine,  254  horses 
and  mules,  and  1015  neat  cattle,  un- 
der 3  years  old;  and  the  t-ship  paid 
state  tax,  $248  35 ;  county  tax,  $556 
04 ;  poor  tax,  $600 ;  road  tax,  $600. 
The  turnpike  roads  from  Elizabeth- 
town  and  Newark  cross  this  t-ship  to 
Morristown. 

Chatham,  p-t.  of  Chatham  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  on  the  road  from  Eliza- 
bethtown  to  Morristown,  10  miles 
from  the  one,  and  7^  from  the  other ; 
220  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  54  from 
Trenton ;  contains  1  Presbyterian  and 
1  Methodist  church,  an  academy,  3 
stores,  2  taverns,  a  grist  mill  and  saw 
mill,  and  between  40  and  50  dwell- 
ings. A  thriving  village,  with  neat 
dwellings,  surrounded  by  a  pleasant, 
well  cultivated  country,  watered  by 
the  Passaic  river,  which  flows  through 
the  town. 

Cheapside,  agricultural  village,  of 
Livingston  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  on  the 
turnpike  road  from  Newark  to  Mor- 
ristown, 10  miles  W.  of  the  former. 

Cheesequake's  Creek,  with  several 
branches  flowing  into  the  Raritan 
bay,  about  3  miles  below  Amboy, 
Middlesex  co.,  drains  a  swamp  of 
considerable  extent. 

Chesnut  Neck,  strip  of  fast  land, 
lying  between  Little  Egg  Harbour 
river  and  Nacote  creek,  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co. 

Chesnut  Run,  small  branch  of  the 
Assunpink  creek,  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co. 

Chester  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  bounded 
N.  by  Roxbury  t-ship,  N.  E.  by  Ran- 
dolph t-ship,  E.  by  Mendham  t-ship, 
S.  by  Bedminster  t-ship,  Somerset 
co.,  and  W.  by  Washington  t-ship. 
Centrally  distant  W.  from  Morris- 
town  12  miles;  greatest  length  N. 
and  S.  9,  breadth  E.  and  W.  6  miles ; 
area,  18000  acres;  surface  rolling; 
soil  on  the  N.  loam,  on  the  S.  grey 
limestone,  under  good  cultivation; 
drained  on  the  W.  by  the  Black 


river,  and  on  the  E.  by  tributaries  of 
the  N.  branch  of  the  Raritan  river; 
population  in  1830,  1338.  In  1832 
the  t-ship  contained  324  taxables, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ; 
23  single  men,  3  stores,  5  saw  mills, 
and  2  grist  mills,  4  distilleries,  1  forge, 
2  fulling  mills,  and  311  horses  and 
mules,  and  669  neat  cattle,  above  3 
years  of  age ;  and  paid  the  following 
taxes:  state,  $193  14;  county,  $432 
43 ;  poor  $400 ;  road,  $400. 

Chester  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  the  Rancocus 
creek,  S.  E.  by  Evesham  t-ship,  S. 
W.  by  Pensauken  creek,  which  di- 
vides it  from  Gloucester  co.,  Water- 
ford  t-ship,  and  N.  W.  by  the  river 
Delaware.  Centrally  distant  S.  W. 
from  Mount  Holly  9  miles;  great- 
est length  7,  breadth  6  miles ;  area, 
22,000  acres;  surface  level;  soil  sand 
and  sandy  loam,  of  good  quality,  ge- 
nerally, well  cultivated,  and  produc- 
tive of  grass,  grain,  vegetables,  and 
fruits.  Beside  the  streams  already 
mentioned,  the  t-ship  is  drained  by 
the  N.  branch  of  Pensauken  creek, 
by  Pompeston  creek,  and  Swede's 
branch,  the  last  two  emptying  imme- 
diately into  the  Delaware.  All  are 
mill  streams.  The  Rancocus  Draw- 
bridge, Westfield,  and  Moorestown, 
are  villages  of  the  t-ship,  the  last  a 
post-town;  population  in  1830,  2333. 
In  1832  the  t-ship  contained  taxables 
524,  householders  205,  whose  rata- 
bles did  not  exceed  $30 ;  single  men 
96,  stores  8,  fisheries  5,  grist  mills  3, 
saw  mills  6,  tan  vats  27,  carding 
machines  2,  distilleries  for  cider  3, 
coaches  and  chariots  7,  two  horse 
stages  2,  dearborns  52,  covered  wa- 
gons 90,  chairs  and  curricles  30>  gigs 
and  sulkies  22,  neat  cattle  1060,  and 
horses  arid  mules  570,  over  3  years 
of  age ;  and  it  paid  state  tax,  $336  38; 
county,  $1173  91;  and  road  tax, 
$1100. 

Chester,  p-t.  of  Chester  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  on  the  turnpike  road  lead- 
ing from  Morristown  to  Easton,  13 
miles  N.  W.  from  the  former,  50  N. 
E.  from  Trenton,  and  216  from  W. 
C.;  at  the  foot  of  a  low  isolated  moun- 


CLA 


121 


CLI 


tain,  which  covers  it  on  the  north;  it 
extends  along  the  road  for  more  than 
a  mile,  and  contains  1  Presbyterian, 
and  1  Congregational  church,  2  ta- 
verns, 3  stores,  and  about  30  dwell- 
ings, and  lies  upon,  or  near,  a  vein  of 
grey  limestone. 

Chesterfield  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  N.  W.  and  N.  by  Cross- 
wick's  creek,  which  divides  it  from 
Nottingham  t-ship,  S.  E.  by  Hanover 
t-ship,  S.  Wi  by  Bacon's  run  and 
Black's  creek,  and  W.  by  the  river 
Delaware.  Centrally  distant  N.  E. 
from  Mount  Holly  12  miles;  greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  8  miles;  greatest 
breadth  E.  and  W.  6  miles;  surface 
level;  soil,  generally,  sandy,  mixed 
with  clay  and  loam ;  drained  by  the 
creeks  mentioned,  which  flow  to  the 
Delaware  river,  the  bank  of  which  is 
here  considerably  elevated,  giving  a 
picturesque  appearance  to  the  country, 
especially  at  and  near  Bordentown. 
Bordentown  and  Recklesstown  are  the 
post-towns,  and  only  villages  of  the 
t-ship;  population  in  1830,  2386.  In 
1832  the  t-ship  contained  554  taxa- 
bles,  whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
830 ;  75  single  men,  1030  neat  cattle, 
and  510  horses,  above  3  years  old; 
10  stores,  1  saw  mill,  2  grist  mills, 
40  tan  vats,  6  distilleries  for  cider,  2 
coaches  and  chariots,  3  phaetons  and 
chaises,  7  four  horse  stages,  10  two 
horse  stages,  41  dearborns,  58  cover- 
ed wagons,  8  chairs  and  curricles,  17 
gigs  and  sulkies ;  and  it  paid  state 
tax,  $346  49;  county  tax,  81216  32 
and  t-ship  tax,  81000. 

Chew's  Landing,  p-t.  of  Glouces- 
ter t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  upon  the 
N.  branch  of  Big  Timber  creek,  at 
the  head  of  navigation,  9  miles  S. 
E.  from  Camden,  and  6  N.  E.  from 
Woodbury,  41  S.  E.  from  Trenton, 
and  149  N.  E.  from  W.  C.  It  is  a  place 
of  considerable  business  in  lumber 
and  cord  wood,  and  contains  2  stores, 
2  taverns,  2  grist  mills,  and  between 
30  and  40  dwellings,  1  Episcopal  and 
1  Methodist  church. 

Clarkesbvrg,  hamlet,  of  Upper 
Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  on 
the  road  from  Wrightsville  to  Free- 


hold  court-house,  13  miles  from  the 
latter,  and  20  from  Trenton  ;  contains 
some  half  dozen  dwellings,  store  and 
tavern. 

Clarkesborough,  p-t.  of  Greenwich 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  5  miles  S.  W. 
from  Woodbury,  44  from  Trenton, 
and  150  from  W.  C.;  contains  a  store, 
tavern,  and  from  25  to  30  dwellings ; 
and  within  2  miles  S.  W.  there  is  a 
Friend's  meeting  house. 

Clarkesville,  (formerly  called  So- 
dom) p-t.  of  Lebanon  t-ship,  Hunter- 
don  co.,  on  Spruce  run,  and  on  the 
Musconetcong  mountain,  on  the  -west- 
ern line  of  the  t-ship,  14  miles  N.  of 
Flemington,  37  from  Trenton;  con- 
tains 1  tavern  and  store,  2  saw  mills, 
2  grist  mills,  and  6  or  8  dwellings; 
the  surface  is  very  rough  and  stony, 
but  parts  are  productive ;  iron  abounds 
in  the  mountain,  and  plumbago  is  also 
found  in  several  places  upon  it,  near 
the  village. 

Clarkesville,  small  hamlet,  of  West 
Windsor  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  on 
the  straight  turnpike  road  from  Tren- 
ton to  Brunswick,  7  miles  N.  E.  from 
the  one,  and  18  S.  W.  from  the  other; 
contains  2  taverns,  and  6  or  8  dwell- 
ings ;  soil  good,  and  country  pleasant 
around  it. 

Clementon,  village,  of  Gloucester 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  on  a  branch  of 
Big  Timber  creek,  5  miles  above 
Chew's  landing,  10  miles  S.  E.  of 
Woodbury,  and  13  from  Camden; 
contained  formerly  some  glass  works, 
at  present  1  tavern,  store,  grist  and 
saw  mills,  and  some  12  or  15  dwell- 
ings ;  marl  abounds  in  the  vicinity, 
and  is  advantageously  used  upon  the 
soil. 

Clinton,  formerly  called  Hunt's 
Mills,  p-t.,  of  Hunterdon  co.,  on  the 
south  branch  of  Raritan  river,  at  the 
point  of  junction  of  Lebanon,  Bethle- 
hem, and  Kingwood  t-ships,  lying 
partly  in  each,  and  on  the  turnpike 
road  leading  from  Somerville  to  Eas- 
ton ;  about  20  miles  from  the  former, 
and  17  from  the  latter;  10  miles  N. 
E.  from  Flemington,  33  from  Tren- 
ton, and  210  from  W.  C.  The  town 
is  built  in  a  valley  surrounded  on  all 


CLO 


122 


COL 


sides  by  hills,  which  on  the  N.  N.  E. 
and  N.  W.,  approach  closely  to  it, 
but  are  more  distant  on  the  south.  It 
contains  1  Presbyterian  church,  1 
common  English,  and  a  Sunday 
school,  2  large  grist  mills,  2  runs  of 
stones  each,  an  oil  mill,  at  which  from 
8000  to  10,000  bushels  of  flaxseed 
are  annually  manufactured,  a  wool- 
len manufactory,  with  fulling  mill 
and  cards  for  country  work,  3  stores, 
3  taverns,  and  35  dwellings.  The 
fall  used  at  the  water-works  here,  is 
8^  feet  only,  but  a  very  great  power 
may  be  obtained,  the  stream  having  a 
very  rapid  descent,  and  large  volume. 
The  surrounding  country  is  very  fer- 
tile, and  carefully  tilled,  being  enrich- 
ed by  lime  made  from  a  grey  stone, 
which  in  a  broad  vein  skirts  the  Mus- 
conetcong  mountain,  and  which  rises 
in  cliffs  at  the  village,  nearly  100  feet 
high.  The  average  product  in  wheat 
here,  is  rated  at  18  bushels  the  acre, 
and  from  the  best  farms  25  bushels 
the  acre  are  obtained.  Iron  ore,  and 
plumbago,  abound  in  the  neighbour- 
ing mountain,  and  the  inhabitants 
look  for  increased  prosperity  from  a 
rail-road  contemplated  to  be  made 
through  their  town,  leading  from 
Elizabethtown  to  Belvidere.  The 
town  lies  177  feet  above  tide  water. 
By  act  of  19th  February,  1833,  au- 
thority was  given  to  incorporate  a 
company  for  any  species  of  ma- 
nufacture here,  with  a  capital  of 
$120,000. 

Clinton  Forge,  Pompton  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.,  on  a  small  stream  flowing 
from  Hanks,  Cedar,  and  Buck  ponds, 
and  emptying  into  Pequannock  creek, 
28  miles  N.  W.  from  Hackensack. 

Clonmell  Creek ,  small  stream  of 
Greenwich  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
flowing  by  a  course  of  2  or  3  miles 
into  the  Delaware  river,  opposite  to 
Little  Tinicum  island. 

Closter,  village,  of  Hackensack 
t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  4^  miles  N.  E.  of 
Hackensack  town,  near  the  W.  foot 
of  the  Palisade  Hills,  surrounded  by  a 
soil  of  rich  loam,  contains  a  tavern,  a 
store,  and  from  12  to  15  dwellings. 

Closter  Mountain,  part  of  the  Ber- 


gen ridge,  Bergen  co.,  Hackensack 
and  Harrington  t-ships,  forming  the 
right  bank  of  the  North  river,  and 
the  Palisades.  Its  formation  is  trap, 
resting  upon  red  and  grey  sandstone. 
Height  about  400  feet;  the  eastern 
side  precipitous,  the  west  gently  de- 
clining; thickly  settled  and  well  cul- 
tivated; the  top  generally  covered 
with  wood. 

Clove  River.  (See  Deep  Clove 
River.) 

Clove  Church,  on  the  bank  of 
Clove  river,  Wantage  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co. 

Cohansey  River,  rises  in  Upper 
Alloways  creek  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  its 
head  waters  interlocking  with  those  of 
Alloways  creek.  It  flows,  thence,  by  a 
due  S.  course  of  15  miles,  by  Bridge- 
ton,  forming  the  division  line  between 
Deerfield  and  Hopewell  t-ships,  Cum- 
berland co.,  into  Fairfield  t-ship; 
turning,  thence,  westerly,  it  runs 
about  8  miles  to  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, and  thence  by  a  meandering 
course  S.  W.  of  7  or  8  miles,  it  unites 
with  the  Delaware  bay.  The  river 
is  banked  in,  above  Greenwich,  to 
which  place  it  is  navigable  for  large 
brigs  and  schooners;  vessels  of  80 
tons  burthen  ascend  to  Bridgeton,  20 
miles  from  the  mouth.  Above  Bridge- 
ton  the  stream  is  not  navigable,  but 
affords  a  very  valuable  water  power, 
which  is  used  at  the  town  for  driving 
a  rolling  and  slitting  mill,  nail  factory, 
and  gristmill,  &c.  &c.  (See  Bridge- 
ton.) 

Cohansey  Cove,  bay  of  the  Cohan- 
sey creek,  Fairfield  t-ship,  Cumber- 
land co.,  an  inlet  from  the  Delaware 
bay. 

Cold  Spring  Inlet,  Lower  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.,  between  Two  Mile 
Beach,  and  Poverty  Beach,  upon  the 
Atlantic  sea-board.  It  is  less  than 
half  a  mile  in  width.  It  has  its  name 
from  a  spring  about  3  or  4  miles 
inland,  which  sends  its  tribute  to  the 
ocean  by  this  passage. 

Cold  Spring,  p-t.,  of  Lower  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.  Centrally  situated  on 
the  road  to  Cape  May  Island,  9  miles 
S.  from  Cape  May  court-house,  112 


COL 


123 


COP 


'from  Trenton,  and  117  N.  E.  from 
W.  C. ;  contains  1  tavern,  2  stores, 
from  15  to  20  dwellings,  and  an  Epis- 
copal church.  It  derives  its  name 
from  a  remarkble  spring  near  it, 
which  rises  in  the  marsh,  and  is 
overflowed  at  every  tide. 

Cold  Brook,  small  tributary  of 
Lamington  river,  flowing  into  it  S.  W. 
from  Tewkesbury  t-ship,  Hunterdon 
co.,  by  a  course  of  about  4  miles, 
giving  motion  to  a  mill  near  its 
mouth. 

Cold  Branch,  tributary  of  Hospi- 
tality creek,  an  arm  of  the  Great  Egg 
Harbour  river,  Hamilton  t-ship,  Glou- 
cester co. 

Colestown,  hamlet,  of  Evesham 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  12  miles  S.  W. 
of  Mount  Holly,  and  3  from  Moores- 
town ;  contains  an  Episcopal  church 
and  several  dwellings. 

Collar d  Branch,  of  the  west  arm 
of  Wading  river,  rises  in  Northamp- 
ton t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  and  flows 
S.  W.  about  8  miles,  to  its  recipient, 
in  Washington  t-ship,  at  the  head  of 
the  mill  pond  of  Martha  furnace. 

Coifs  Neck,  p-t.,  Shrewsbury 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  6  miles  N.  E. 
of  Freehold,  206  from  W.  C.,  and  41 
from  Trenton;  contains  from  15  to 
20  dwellings,  1  tavern,  2  stores,  3 
grist  mills,  2  saw  mills,  a  place  of 
considerable  business,  on  a  soil  of 
red  arid  fertile  sand. 

Columbia,  village,  of  Chatham 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  on  the  turnpike 
road  from  Newark  to  Morristown,  13 
miles  from  the  one,  and  4  from  the 
other ;  contains  1  store,  1  tavern, 
and  5  or  6  dwellings,  in  a  level  plea- 
sant country. 

Columbia  Forge,  on  Lubber  run, 
centrally  situate  in  Byram  t-ship, 
Sussex  co. 

Columbia,  p-t.  and  village,  of 
Knowlton  t-ship,  on  the  Delaware 
river,  near  the  mouth  of  Paulinskill, 
distant  253  miles  from  W.  C.,  94 
from  Trenton,  and  10  from  Belvi- 
dere ;  contains  2  taverns,  a  store,  a 
Presbyterian  church,  a  glass  house, 
a  saw  mill,  and  20  dwellings.  The 
town  is  prettily  situated  on  a  high 


bank  of  the  river,  and  surrounded  by 
a  limestone  soil,  tolerably  well  culti- 
vated. A  company  was  incorporated 
by  act  of  12th  February,  1833,  with 
authority  to  employ  $100,000  in  the 
conduct  of  the  glass  works  here. 

Columbia,  p-t.,  of  Hopewell  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.,  on  the  turnpike  road 
from  New  Brunswick  to  Lambert- 
ville,  10  miles  S.  E.  from  Fleming- 
ton,  17  N.  from  Trenton,  formerly 
called  Hopewell  Meeting  House ;  con- 
tains 1  Baptist  meeting,  2  taverns,  1 
store,  and  10  or  12  dwellings. 

Columbus,  or  Black  Horse,  p-t., 
of  Mansfield  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  7 
miles  N.  E.  of  Mount  Holly,  5  S.  E. 
from  Bordentown,  13  from  Trenton, 
and  163  from  W.  C.;  contains  a  ta- 
vern, store,  and  about  30  dwellings, 
surrounded  by  a  fertile  country. 

Communipaw,  village,  on  New 
York  bay,  2  miles  S.  of  Jersey  city, 
Bergen  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlements  of  the  Dutch,  and 
remarkable  for  the  tenacious  adhe- 
rence of  its  inhabitants  to  their  pri- 
mitive costume  and  manners;  some 
15  or  20  dwellings,  whose  inhabi- 
tants are  chiefly  agriculturists. 

Congassa  Run,  tributary  of  the  S. 
branch  of  Toms'  river,  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co. 

Cooper's  Creek,  Gloucester  co., 
rises  by  two  branches,  the  N.  near 
the  E.  boundary  of  the  county,  and 
the  S.  on,  and  forming,  the  line  be- 
tween Waterford  and  Newton  and 
Gloucester  t-ships,  uniting  N.  of 
Haddonfield,  above  which  the  stream 
is  not  navigable.  There  are  mills  on 
both  branches  near  their  sources. 

Cooperstown,  Willingboro'  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  7  miles  N.  W.  from 
Mount  Holly,  and  3  S.  W.  from  Bur- 
lington ;  contains  a  Friends'  meeting 
house,  tavern,  store,  and  8  or  10 
dwellings. 

Copperas  Mountain,  Pequannock 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  on  the  S.  W.  side 
of  Greenpond  valley,  thus  named  on 
account  of  the  large  quantity  of  the 
sulphate  oi'iron  found  here,  and  which 
was  formerly  made  into  the  copperas 
of  commerce. 


CRA  12 

Carson's  Inlet,  a  passage  of  the 
sea,  through  the  beach,  to  the  la- 
gunes  and  marshes  of  Upper  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.,  about  half  a  mile  in 
width. 

Coursenville,  p-t.  of  Stillwater 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  distant  by  post- 
route  from  W.  C.  239  miles,  from 
Trenton  81  miles,  and  from  Newton, 
S.  W.,  five  miles;  contains  a  store 
and  some  half  dozen  dwellings;  ad- 
jacent country,  slate. 

Cove,  small  village  of  Upper  Penn's- 
neck  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  about  12  or 
13  miles  N.  of  Salem,  and  2  S.  of 
Penn's  Grove,  on  the  river  Delaware ; 
contains  8  dwellings,  a  tavern  and 
store. 

Cox  Hall  Creek,  small  stream  of 
Lower  t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  flowing 
into  the  Delaware  bay. 

Crabtown,  Howell  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth  co.;  contains  10  or  12  dwell- 
ings, 2  taverns,  and  a  store. 

Crafts  Creek,  Mansfield  t-ship, 
Burlington  co. ;  rises  near  the  eastern 
border  of  the  t-ship,  and  flows  W. 
and  N.  W.  about  9  miles  to  the  river 
Delaware,  opposite  the  lower  point  of 
Newbold's  island.  By  act  of  assem- 
bly passed  llth  February,  1833,  au- 
thority was  given  to  make  a  rail  or 
Macadamized  road  from  the  mouth  of 
this  creek  to  the  neighbourhood  of 
New  Lisbon,  a  distance  of  13  miles 
39  chains. 

Cranberry  p-t.,  lying  partly  in 
South  Brunswick  t-ship,  and  partly 
in  South  Amboy  t-ship,  Middlesex 
co.,  on  the  turnpike  road  leading 
from  Bordentown  to  South  Amboy, 
16  miles  from  the  former,  185  from 
W.  C.,  and  15  from  Trenton;  plea- 
santly situated  in  a  level  country,  and 
light  sandy  soil ;  contains  a  Presby- 
terian church  with  cupola  and  bell, 
an  academy,  a  grist  mill,  2  tanne- 
ries, 3  taverns,  2  stores,  and  from 
60  to  80  dwellings.  Cranberry  brook, 
tributary  of  the  Millstone  river,  flows 
through  the  town. 

Cranberry   Inlet,   formerly   from 

the  ocean  to  Barnegat  Bay,  between 

Island  beach  and  Squam  beach. 

Crane's  Gap,  in  the  first  moim- 


CRO 

:ain,  Bloomfield  t-ship,  Essex  oo., 
through  which  passes  the  turnpike 
road  from  Newark  to  Rockaway. 

Craven's  Ferry,  p-o.,  Salem  co. 

Cropwell,  village  of  Evesham  t-sp, 
Burlington  co.,  near  the  western 
boundary,  11  miles  S.  W.  of  Mount 
Holly;  contains  a  tavern,  store,  12 
or  15  dwellings,  and  a  Quaker  meet- 
ng  house ;  soil,  sandy  loam. 

Cross  Keys,  hamlet  of  Trenton 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  on  the  road 
from  Trenton  to  Pennington;  con- 
tains 4  or  5  dwellings. 

Cross  Creeks,  name  given  to  small 
tributaries  of  Back  creek,  Fairfield 
t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  near  the  De- 
laware bay,  which  intersect  each 
other. 

Cross  Roads,  Bedminster  t-ship, 
Somerset  co.,  between  7  and  8  miles 
N.  W.  of  Somerville,  on  Artie's 
brook,  in  a  level,  fertile,  limestone 
country ;  contains  a  store,  tavern,  and 
5  or  6  dwellings. 

Cross  Roads,  hamlet  of  South 
Brunswick  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  9 
miles  S.  W.  from  New  Brunswick; 
contains  2  taverns,  a  store,  and  seve- 
ral dwellings ;  soil,  light  and  sandy. 

Cross  Roads,  hamlet  of  Evesham 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  8  miles  S. 
from  Mount  Holly;  contains  a  ta- 
vern, a  store,  a  Methodist  church, 
and  8  or  10  dwellings;  soil,  sandy 
loam. 

Crosswick's  Creek,  the  Indian  name 
of  which  is  said  to  be  Clyssweeksunk, 
a  separation,  rises  by  two  branches, 
the  north  in  Hanover  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  near  Wrightstown ;  and 
the  south  in  Upper  Freehold,  Mon- 
mouth  co.,  uniting  in  the  latter  t-ship 
and  county  near  New  Egypt,  thence 
running  northerly  and  north  westerly 
across  Chesterfield  t-ship,  Burlington 
co.,  to  the  River  Delaware,  at  Bor- 
dentown. It  is  a  steady  and  service- 
able mill-stream,  whose  course  is  se- 
micircular, and  in  length  about  25 
miles ;  it  is  navigable  to  Grove  Mill, 
about  6  miles  from  the  mouth ;  marl 
is  frequently  found  on  its  banks. 

Crosswicks,  p-t.  of  Chesterfield 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  high 


CUM 


125 


CUM 


southern  bank  of  Crosswick's  creek, 
4  miles  E.  from  Bordentown,  14  N. 
E.  from  Mount  Holly,  174  from 
W.  C.,  and  8  S.  E.  from  Trenton ; 
contains  from  40  to  50  dwellings,  a 
very  large  Quaker  meeting  house  and 
school,  4  taverns,  5  or  6  stores,  a  saw 
mill  and  grist  mill ;  the  village  is 
pleasantly  situated  in  a  fertile  coun- 
try, whose  soil  is  sandy  loam ;  near 
the  town  is  a  bed  of  iron  ore,  from 
which  considerable  quantities  are 
taken  to  the  furnaces  in  the>  lower 
part  of  the  county. 

Culver's  Pond,  Frankford  t-ship, 
Sussex  co.,  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue 
mountain ;  one  of  the  western  sources 
ofthePaulinskill. 

Culver's  Gap,  in  the  Blue  moun- 
tain, between  Sandistone  and  Frank- 
ford  t-ships,  Sussex  co.,  through 
which  the  turnpike  road  from  Milford 
passes ;  distant  from  Newton  N.  W. 
10  miles. 

Cumberland  County,  was  taken  al- 
together from  Salem,  by  the  act  of 
19th  January,  1748,  with  the  follow- 
ing boundaries.  Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  Stow  creek,  thence  up  the 
creek  to  John  Buck's  mills,  leaving 
the  mills  in  this  county;  thence  up 
Stow  creek  branch  to  the  house  of 
Hugh  Dunn,  leaving  such  house  with- 
in the  new  county;  thence  by  a 
straight  line  to  Nathan  Shaw's  house, 
also  within  the  new  county ;  thence 
by  a  N.  E.  course,  intersecting  the 
Pilesgrove  line ;  thence  leaving  Piles' 
grove,  in  Salem  co.,  along  such  line 
till  it  intersects  the  line  dividing  the 
counties  of  Gloucester  and  Salem; 
thence  S.  E.  down  the  Gloucester 
line  to  the  boundaries  of  Cape  May 
co. ;  thence  by  such  county  to  the 
Delaware  bay,  and  up  the  bay  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  By  the  same 
act,  the  county  was  divided  into  six 
precincts  or  townships,  viz.  Green- 
wich, Hopewell,  Stow  creek,  Fair- 
field,  Deerfield,  and  Maurice  river; 
to  which  Milleville,  taken  from  Mau- 
rice river  and  Fairfield  t-ships,  in 
1801,  and  Downe  t-ship,  have  been 
since  added.  The  county  is  boundec 
by  the  Delaware  bay  on  the  S.  S.  W. 


Salem  co.  N.  W.,  Gloucester  N.  E., 
nd  Cape  May  co.  on  the  S.  E.  Its 
greatest  length  is  about  30  miles  N. 
and  S.,  and  breadth  30  miles  E.  and 
;  area,  524  square  miles,  or 
33,500  acres ;  central  lat.  39°  20'  N. ; 
Long.  2°  E.  from  W.  C. 

Geologically  considered,  Cumber- 
and  co.  belongs  to  the  belt  of  dilu- 
dal  and  alluvial  formation,  which  ex- 
;ends  along  the  continent  of  North 
America,  from  Long  Island  to  the 
"rulf  of  Mexico,  and  contains  in 
)lace,  the  deposits  of  greenish  blue 
marl,  intermixed  with  shells,  similar 
.o  those  found  in  the  limestone  and 
grauwacke  of  the  transition,  and 
abundantly  in  the  secondary  horizon- 
,al  limestone  and  sandstone,  with  beds 
f  bog  iron  ore,  and  ochre.  The  ele- 
vated ridges  between  the  streams,  are 
rowned  in  places  with  sandstone 
and  puddingstone  cemented  with  iron 
>r<  •.  The  marl  beds  yet  developed, 
ie  chiefly  on  Stow  creek,  and  the 
ron  ore  in  Greenwich  t-ship.  The 
marl  is  used  for  manure  with  much 
advantage  upon  the  lighter  soils,  and 
its  use  is  daily  extending.  The  sur- 
face of  the  country  is  generally  flat ; 
the  soil  south  of  Cohansey  creek  is 
generally  sandy.  A  salt  marsh  ex- 
tends along  the  Delaware  bay,  in 
breadth  from  half  a  mile  to  two* 
miles,  adjoining  which,  eastwardly, 
is  a  strip  of  clay  and  loam,  having  an 
average  width  of  about  a  mile,  tole- 
rably fertile  and  covered  with  farms. 
A  prolific  marsh  borders  the  creeks, 
which  are  embanked,  at  various  dis- 
tances from  their  mouths,  and  em- 
ployed for  grazing  cattle.  The 
northern  part  of  the  county,  particu- 
larly, that  portion  of  it  lying  north 
and  west  of  the  Cohansey  creek,  is 
composed  of  clay  and  sandy  loam, 
on  which  considerable  quantities  of 
wheat,  oats  and  corn,  are  grown. 
The  timber  above  Cohansey,  consists 
of  white  oak,  black  and  red  oak,  and 
hickory,  which  also  characterize  the 
clay  and  loam  of  the  western  belt. 
Below  Cohansey,  it  is  generally  pine  ; 
forests  of  which  cover  the  greater 
portion  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 


CUM 


126 


CUM 


county,  which,  having  been  generally 
once,  at  least,  cut  over,  are  now  in 
various  stages  of  growth. 

The  principal  streams  are  Stow 
creek  on  the  N.  W.  boundary ;  Co- 
hansey  creek  in  the  N.  W.  section, 
Maurice  river  running  centrally 
through  the  co.,  and  Tuckahoe  river 
upon  the  east. 

The  chief  towns  are  Bridgeton,  the 
seat  of  justice,  Greenwich,  Deerfield, 
Roadstown,  Millville,  Port  Elizabeth, 
Nantuxet,  or  Newport,  Dividing 
Creek,  Mauricetown,  Bricksboro', 
Dorchester,  Leesburg,  and  Marshall- 
ville,  or  Cumberland  Works,  Cedar- 
ville,  and  Fairton. 

There  are  in  the  county  2  fur- 
naces, one  at  Millville,  and  the  other 
above  Port  Elizabeth,  on  the  Mana- 
muskin  creek;  and  three  extensive 
glass  manufactories,  one  at  Millville, 
one  at  Port  Elizabeth,  and  the  third 
at  Marshall ville.  At  the  last  place, 
and  on  Maurice  river,  there  is  con- 
siderable ship  building,  in  vessels  of 
from  50  to  100  tons  burthen.  Large 
quantities  of  grain  are  exported  from 
Bridgeton,  and  timber  and  cordwood 
from  every  creek  of  the  county. 

The  religious  sects  are  Episcopali- 
ans, Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Metho- 
dists, and  Quakers. 

A  county  Bible  society  holds  its 
meetings  at  Bridgeton,  and  tempe- 
rance societies  have  been  established 
with  great  success  in  the  townships. 
The  provisions  for  education  consist 
of  an  academy  at  Bridgeton,  another 
at  Port  Elizabeth,  and  common 
schools  in  the  several  towns  and 
townships. 


The  inhabitants  of  the  county  are 
derived  chiefly  from  English,  Swiss, 
and  German  settlers ;  and  it  is  proba- 
ble, from  several  circumstances,  that 
a  colony  of  Puritans,  from  Newhaven, 
was  settled  near  the  margin  of  the 
Delaware  so  early  as  1640,  some  of 
whose  descendants  may  yet  remain. 

By  the  census  of  1830,  the  popula- 
tion amounted  to  14,093,  of  whom 
6723  were  white  males ;  6582  white 
females;  2  female  slaves;  431  free 
coloured  males;  355  free  coloured 
females ;  of  which  27  were  aliens,  4 
deaf  and  dumb,  and  7  blind. 

By  the  abstract  of  the  assessors, 
there  were,  in  1832,  in  the  county, 
2742  taxables,  774  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  830  ; 
33  single  men ;  54  storekeepers,  or 
merchants;  two  fisheries,  1  woollen 
manufactory,  1  cupola  furnace,  2 
blast  furnaces,  44  runs  of  stones  for 
grinding  grain,  21  saw  mills,  1  forge, 
1  rolling  and  slitting  mill,  1  fulling 
mill,  6  tanneries,  4  glass  manufacto- 
ries, 4  distilleries  for  cider,  2053 
horses,  5713  neat  cattle,  above  the 
age  of  3  years,  and  9  stud  horses. 

By  the  act  of  3d  November,  1814, 
the  county  sends  3  members  to  the 
Assembly,  1  member  to  Council. 

The  courts  of  common  pleas  and 
general  quarter  sessions,  are  holden 
annually  at  Bridgeton,  on  the  third 
Tuesday  of  February,  the  fourth 
Tuesday  of  September,  the  first  Tues- 
day of  June,  and  the  last  Tuesday  of 
Nov.  The  circuit  court  is  holden 
at  the  same  place  on  the  first  Tuesday 
of  June,  and  last  Tuesday  of  Novem- 
ber, annually. 


DEC  127  DEE 

STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  CUMBERLAND  COUNTY. 


4 

•s 

Population. 

Townships. 

a 

1 

Area. 

Surface 

a 

E 

PQ 

generally  level. 

1810 

1820 

1830 

Deerfield, 

11 

9 

34,000 

1889 

1903 

2417 

Downe, 

14 

114 

58,240 

1501 

1749 

1923 

Fairfield, 

15 

8 

46,720 

2279 

1869 

1812 

Greenwich, 

7 

6 

13,440 

858 

890 

912 

Hopewell, 

10 

6 

20,000 

1987 

1952 

1953 

Maurice  River, 

19 

11 

79,360 

2085 

2411 

2724 

Milleville, 

16 

16 

73,500 

1032 

1010 

1561 

Stow  Creek, 

7 

6 

10,240 

1039 

884 

791 

335,460 

12.670 

12,668 

14,093 

Cumberland  Furnace,  on  Mana- 
muskin  creek,  Maurice  river  t-ship, 
about  5  miles  above  Port  Elizabeth, 
and  17  east  of  Bridgeton. 

Cumberland  Works,  (See  Mar- 
shallville.) 

Daretown,  Pittsgrove  t-ship,  Salem 
co.,  near  the  N.  W.  boundary,  on  the 
head  waters  of  Salem  river,  13  miles, 
a  little  N.  of  E.  from  Salemtown; 
contains  12  or  14  dwellings,  2  stores, 
one  Presbyterian,  and  one  Methodist 
church. 

Dead  River,  a  tributary  of  the 
Passaic  river,  rising  by  several  branch- 
es in  the  Mine  mountain  of  Bernard 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  and  flowing 
E.  to  its  recipient,  along  the  N.  base 
of  Stony  Hill ;  including  Harrison's 
brook,  its  longest  branch,  its  length 
may  be  about  9  miles. 

Dayton's  Bridge,  post-office,  Sa- 
lem county. 

Danville,  post-office,  Warren  co. 
Deal,  small  hamlet,  and  watering 
place,  220  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
and  64  from  Trenton,  on  Poplar 
Swamp  creek,  about  a  mile  from  the 
sea,  in  Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co.,  16  miles  E.  from  Freehold,  and 
3  S.  of  Long  Branch  boarding  houses. 
There  are  several  boarding  houses  at 
this  place,  where  from  50  to  100  per- 
sons may  be  comfortably  accommo- 
dated. 

Deckertown,  p-t.,  of  Wantage 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  at  the  intersection 
of  the  Newton  and  Bolton,  with  the 
Paterson  and  Hamburg  turnpike 


road;  244  miles  from  W.  C.,  86 
from  Trenton,  and  14  from  Newton. 
The  town  contains  a  grist  mill,  a 
Presbyterian  church,  4  stores,  2  ta- 
verns, and  from  15  to  20  dwellings, 
and  lies  in  a  rich  limestone  country. 

Deep  Brook,  Caldwell  t-ship,  Es- 
sex co.,  rises  in  the  Second  mountain, 
and  flows  N.  to  the  Passaic  river, 
having  a  semicircular  course  of  3 
or  4  miles,  and  receiving  a  small  tri- 
butary, called  Green  Brook. 

Deep  Creek,  Lower  Alloways 
creek  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  rises  in  that 
t-ship,  and  flows  S.  W.,  a  meander- 
ing course,  through  the  meadows  and 
marshes  for  7  or  8  miles,  to  the  Dela- 
ware. It  is  not  navigable. 

Deep  Creek,  Shrewsbury  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  makes  in  from  the 
ocean,  between  1  and  2  miles ;  less 
than  a  mile  above  Shark  inlet. 

Deep  Clove  River,  a  tributary  of 
Wallkill  river ;  rises  at  the  east  foot 
of  the  mountain,  in  Wantage  t-ship, 
and  flows  S.  E.  by  a  course  of  12 
miles,  to  its  recipient ;  receiving  from 
the  S.  W.  the  Papakating  creek,  a 
short  distance  below  Deckertown. 
There  are  several  mills  on  both  these 
streams. 

Deep,  or  Great  Run,  a  tributary 
of  the  Great  Egg  Harbour  river, 
Hamilton  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  into 
which  it  flows  from  the  west,  about  a 
mile  below  Weymouth  furnace. 

Deep  Run,  tributary  of  South  ri- 
ver, rises  in  Upper  Freehold  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  and  flows  by  a  N.  W. 


DEL 


128 


DEL 


course  of  between  8  and  9  miles,  to 
its  recipient,  in  South  Amboy  t-ship, 
Middlesex  co.,  a  mill  stream. 

Deerfield  Township,  Cumberland 
co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Pittsgrove 
t-ship,  N.  W.  by  Upper  Alloways 
creek  t-ship,  Salem  co. ;  S.  by  Fair- 
field  and  Millville  t-ships,  and  W. 
by  Hopewell  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.  Greatest  length,  N.  and  S.  11 
miles,  breadth,  E.  and  W.  9  miles; 
area,  34,000  acres.  Surface,  level ; 
soil,  clay,  gravel  and  sand,  and  not 
remarkable  for  fertility,  but  improv- 
ing under  the  application  of  marl. 
It  is  drained  by  the  Cohansey  creek, 
which  runs  southward  along  its  west- 
ern boundary,  and  by  Muddy  run,  a 
branch  of  Maurice  river,  which  flows 
on  the  S.  E.  line.  Population  in  1830, 
2,417:  In  1832,  there  were  in  the 
t-ship,  taxables,  305 ;  2  Presbyterian, 
1  Baptist  and  1  Methodist  church; 
1  academy  and  several  schools;  118 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30;  11  stores;  9  pairs  of 
stones  for  grinding  grain ;  one  wool- 
len manufactory ;  2  saw  mills ;  1  full- 
ing mill;  316  horses,  and  560  neat 
cattle,  above  the  age  of  3  years ;  and 
the  township  paid  for  township  pur- 
poses, 8500,  and  for  county  and  state 
tax,  $835  25.  Bridgeton,  Deerfield 
and  Carllsburg  are  towns  of  this  t-ship. 

Deerfield  Street,  post  town  of 
Deerfield  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  7 
miles  N.  of  Bridgeton;  165  miles  N. 
E.  of  Washington  city,  and  63  S. 
from  Trenton;  contains  from  20  to 
25  dwellings,  occupied  chiefly  by 
agriculturists,  1  tavern,  1  store,  and 
a  Presbyterian  church. 

DelVs  Brook,  small  branch  of  the 
Rockaway  river,  flowing  eastwardly 
about  5  miles  through  Pleasant  val- 
ley, Randolph  t-ship,  Morris  co. 

Delaware  River  and  Bay,  called 
by  the  Indians,  Poutaxat,  Marisque- 
ton,  Makeriskitton,  Makeriskkiskon, 
Lenape-Wihittuck  (stream  of  the  Le- 
nape,)  by  the  Dutch,  Zuydt  or  South 
river,  Charles  river,  and  Nassau  river, 
and  by  the  Swedes,  New  Swedeland 
stream,  one  of  the  most  considerable 
in  N.  America,  rises  by  two  princi- 


pal branches,  in  the  state  of  New 
York.  The  northernmost,  the  Mo- 
hawk or  Cooquago,  issues  from  Lake 
Utsaemthe  lat.  42°  45',  takes  a  S.  W. 
course,  and  turning  S.  E.  crosses 
the  Pennsylvania  line  in  lat.  42°. 
Seven  miles  below  this  point  it  re- 
ceives the  Popachton  branch,  which 
rises  in  the  Katskill  mountain,  from 
the  S.  E.  It  touches  the  N.  W.  cor- 
ner of  N.  Jersey,  in  lat.  41°  24',  at. 
Carpenter's  Point,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Nevisink  or  Mackackomack  ri- 
ver. The  course  of  the  current, 
above  and  below  the  Blue  mountain, 
is  crooked ;  and  is  through  a  moun- 
tainous country,  until  it  leaves  the 
Water  Gap.  The  Delaware  Water 
Gap  is  one  of  the  greatest  natural  cu- 
riosities of  the  state.  It  would  seem, 
from  the  quantity  of  alluvial  lands, 
above  the  mountain,  that  at  some 
remote  period,  a  dam  of  great 
height,  here,  impeded  the  progress  of 
the  river.  Had  the  dam  been  half  as 
high  as  the  mountain,  it  would  have 
turned  the  water  into  the  North  river. 
It  may  have  had  an  elevation  of  150 
or  200  feet,  forming  a  lake  of  more 
than  50  miles  in  length;  extending 
over  the  Minisink  settlements.  It 
has  been  conjectured  that  this  dam 
was  engulphed  by  some  great  con- 
vulsion of  the  earth ;  and  the  opinion 
is  supposed  to  be  sustained  by  the  ex- 
traordinary depth  of  the  channel  in 
several  places  of  its  passage  through 
the  mountain.  An  hundred  years 
ago  the  boatmen  reported,  that  they 
could  not  reach  the  bottom  with  their 
longest  lines ;  and  even  now  we  are 
informed  that  the  bottom  in  these 
places  cannot  be  attained  with  two 
plough  lines  attached  to  each  other. 
But  we  see  nothing  in  these  appear- 
ances that  renders  it  necessary  to 
resort  to  the  conjecture,  that  an  earth- 
quake was  employed  to  open  an  ade- 
quate passage  for  the  river,  and  that 
it  performed  its  office  with  such  ac- 
curacy, and  economy  of  power,  as  to 
do  no  more  than  was  indispensable, 
and  to  leave  the  rugged  and  lofty 
wall,  1600  feet  high,  rising  almost 
precipitously  from  the  water's  edge, 


DEL 


129 


DEL 


unbroken.  The  distance  through  the 
mountain  is  about  two  miles.  The  rock 
presents  a  great  variety  of  strata,  in 
which  granitic  rock,  slate,  grauwacke 
and  the  old  sandstone  alternate.  The 
sandstone  is,  at  one  place,  at  least, 
and  probably  at  others,  so  soft  as  to 
disintegrate  rapidly.  At  the  place  re- 
ferred to,  the  water  has  scooped  out  a 
basin  from  the  hill  of  many  acres  in 
extent,  which  are  now  under  cultiva- 
tion. Before  the  bed  of  the  river  was 
broken  down,  there  must  have  been 
a  cataract  here,  higher  than  that  of 
Niagara.  Supposing  the  waters  to 
have  been  poured  over  the  precipice 
upon  a  bed  of  soft  or  disjointed  stones, 
very  deep  excavations  must  have 
been  made,  which  the  great  mass  of 
waters,  in  seasons  of  freshet,  would 
continue  to  preserve.  It  is  probable 
that  so  much  of  the  mountain  as 
forms  the  present  bed  of  the  river 
was,  throughout,  of  soft  or  very  fria- 
ble material.  The  stream  has  obvi- 
ously sought  the  most  practicable 
passage ;  and  to  attain  it,  has  formed 
an  almost  right-angled  course  through 
the  mountain.  Whatever  may  have 
been  the  resistance,  the  conquest  has 
been  complete,  and  it  now  flows 
through  the  deep  ravine  in  calm  and 
silent  majesty,  without  a  ripple  to 
tell  of  its  whereabout;  and  occasion- 
ally resting  in  motionless  pools,  of 
from  two  to  three  hundred  yards 
wide,  as  if  to  reflect  the  picturesque 
scenery  which  surrounds  and  hangs 
over  it. 

The  lovers  of  diversified  nature 
cannot  visit  this  spot  without  high 
gratification.  The  "  Gap,"  the 
break,  in  the  almost  unvarying  line 
of  the  Kittatinny  mountain  is  visible 
at  nearly  as  great  a  distance  as  the 
mountain  itself.  As  we  approach  it 
from  the  S.  E.,  the  ground  rises  ra- 
pidly, almost  precipitously,  differing 
in  this  particular,  as  do  all  the  moun- 
tain ranges  of  our  country,  from  the 
N.  W.  declivity,  whose  descent  is  long 
and  gradual.  At  the  entrance,  the  sides 
of  the  mountain,  close  to  the  water's 
edge,  leave  scarce  room  for  a  road, 
overhung  by  immense  masses  of  rock, 


threatening  destruction  to  the  travel- 
ler beneath.  The  passage,  however, 
widens  as  we  proceed,  and  the  scene- 
ry assumes  a  less  imposing  character. 
Verdant  isles  stud  the  bosom  of  the 
stream,  and  contrast  beautifully  with 
the  rocky  and  wood-clad  eminences, 
which  now  have  a  more  rounded 
form.  These  islands  are  rich,  and 
bear  the  most  luxurious  harvests. 
About  two-thirds  of  the  way  through 
the  mountain  from  the  Jersey  shore, 
may  be  seen,  most  advantageously, 
near  Dutotsburg,  on  the  Pennsylva- 
nia bank,  the  pretty  cascade  formed 
by  Cherry  creek,  which  precipitates 
its  waters  in  foam  and  spray,  over  a 
declivity  of  more  than  50  feet. 

"  The  sunbow's  rays  still  arch 
The  torrent  with  the  many  hues  of  heav'nr 
And  roll  the  sheeted  silver's  waving  co- 
lumn 

O'er  the  crags  headlong  perpendicular, 
And  fling  its  lines  of  foaming  light  along, 
And  to  and  fro,  like  the  pale  courser's  tail, 
The  giant  steed,  to  be  bestrode  by  Death, 
As  told  in  the  Apocalypse." — BYRON. 

On  the  top  of  the  mountain,  2  miles 
from  the  "  Gap,"  is  a  large  chalybeate 
spring,  which  deposits  much  ferrugi- 
nous ochre,  similar  to  that  of  the  Paint 
spring  of  Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co. ;  and,  also,  a  deep  lake,  near  a 
mile  in  circumference,  well  stored 
with  fish.  The  margin  of  the  river, 
above  the  mountain,  is  narrow,  but 
very  fertile ;  and,  on  the  Pennsylva- 
nia side,  abounds  in  lime.  A  road 
follows  each  bank  through  the  moun- 
tain. That  on  the  Jersey  shore, 
rough,  but  safe,  was  made  in  the  year 
1830,  by  the  aid  of  a  donation  of 
$2000  from  the  state.  Before  its 
completion,  we  are  told,  that  the  in- 
habitants, north  of  the  mountain,  made 
their  way  over  the  precipices  by  means 
of  ladders  of  ropes. 

We  know  no  more  admirable  spot 
for  a  summer  retreat  than  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Gap.  Here  might  be  en- 
joyed the  charms  of  diversified  and  al- 
ways delightful  scenery ;  a  revivify- 
ing breeze,  which  follows  the  river 
through  the  sinuosities  of  its  valley — 
fine  rides  on  its  banks,  into  the  rich 


DEL 


130 


DEL 


limestone  country  of  the  Wallpack ; 
renovated  vigour  from  the  bracing  mi- 
neral fountain ;  fine  fishing  upon  the 
lake,  the  river  and  mountain  brooks, 
of  which  the  richest  spoil  is  the  gilded 
perch  and  speckled  trout ;  and  the 
more  manly  exercise  of  shooting,  the 
country  abounding  in  game.  A  good 
house  established  at  Brotzmanville, 
upon  the  prattling  stream,  which  there 
makes  the  air  musical,  and  which 
might  be  used  with  great  convenience 
for  baths,  and  other  purposes,  we 
think  would  be  much  encouraged, 
provided  the  road  through  the  moun- 
tain be  kept  in  good  order. 

From  New  Jersey,  the  principal 
tributaries  to  the  Delaware,  above 
tide  water,  are  Flatkill,  Paulinskill, 
Pequest,  Musconetcong,  Laokatong, 
the  Wickhechecoke,  and  the  Assun- 
pink ;  below  tide,  the  Crosswicks, 
Rancocus,  Cooper's,  Oldman's,  Sa- 
lem, Stow,  and  Cohansey  creeks,  and 
Maurice  river.  At  Easton,  the  Dela- 
ware receives,  from  Pennsylvania, 
the  Lehigh  river.  From  the  South 
mountain,  below  Easton,  to  the  tide 
water  at  Trenton,  the  river  has  a  S. 
W.  course  of  about  60  miles,  in  which 
there  are  25  noted  rapids,  with  an 
aggregate  fall  of  165  feet.  But  the 
navigation  has  been  improved,  and  is 
safe  at  the  ordinary  height  of  the  wa- 
ter. From  Easton  to  Bristol,  the 
Delaware  division  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia canal  has  been  completed,  and  in 
connexion  with  the  Lehigh  canal,  af- 
fords advantageous  communication 
with  the  coal  mines,  and  the  valley  of 
the  Lehigh  river.  Two  surveys  have 
been  made  for  a  canal  along  the  val- 
ley of  the  Delaware  from  Easton  to 
Carpenter's  Point. 

The  Delaware  and  Raritan  canal 
receives  its  water  by  a  feeder,  which 
taps  the  river  on  the  left  bank,  about 
23  miles  above  Trenton.  The  Mor- 
ris canal  enters  the  river  below  Phil- 
lipsburg,  and  opposite  to  Easton. 

At  Camden,  opposite  Philadelphia, 
the  river  is  divided  into  two  channels, 
by  Petty's  and  Smith's  islands.  The 
western,  near  the  centre  of  Phila- 
delphia, is  900  feet  wide,  with  a  mean 


depth  of  30  feet ;  the  eastern  is  2100 
feet  wide,  with  a  mean  depth  of  9  feet ; 
the  whole  area  equal  to  46,350  feet, 
affording  a  commodious  and  safe  har- 
bour, to  which  ships  of  the  line  may 
ascend. 

At  the  head  of  the  bay,  at  Dela- 
ware City,  and  opposite  to  Fort  Dela- 
ware, which  commands  the  passage 
of  the  river ;  the  Delaware  and  Che- 
sapeake canal,  14  miles  in  length, 
connects  this  with  the  Chesapeake 
bay,  and  its  many  tributary  rivers. 
This  point  is  distant  from  Camden  45 
miles,  and  the  bay  extends,  thence,  75 
miles  to  the  ocean,  with  a  width  vary- 
ing from  3  to  30  miles,  occupying  an 
area  of  630,000  acres.  Its  naviga- 
tion is  difficult  and  dangerous,  being 
infested  with  shoals,  which  often  prove 
destructive.  It  opens  into  the  Atlan- 
tic, between  Cape  Henlopen,  on  the 
S.  E.,  and  Cape  May,  on  the  N.  E., 
which  are  about  20  miles  apart.  The 
length  of  the  bay  and  river,  to  the 
head  of  tide,  at  Trenton,  is  155 
miles.  A  74  gun  ship  may  ascend 
to  Philadelphia,  120  miles;  sloops, 
to  Trenton  falls;  boats,  of  8  or  10 
tons,  100  miles  above  them;  and  ca- 
noes 150  miles  higher. 

Below  Port  Penn,  70  miles  from 
the  sea,  the  bay  affords  no  safe  har- 
bourage ;  nor  is  there  S.  of  New  York, 
for  several  hundred  miles,  any  place, 
where  a  vessel,  during  the  rudest  sea- 
son of  the  year,  when  approach  to  the 
coast  is  most  dangerous,  may  seek 
protection  against  the  elements.  The 
losses  from  this  cause  have  induced 
the  national  government  to  form  an 
artificial  port,  or  breakwater,  at  the 
entrance  of  the  bay.  The  law  for 
this  purpose  was  enacted,  in  1828-9, 
and  the  work  is  in  steady  progression, 
and  will  be  speedily  completed.  The 
anchorage  ground,  or  roadstead,  is 
formed  by  a  cove  in  the  southern 
shore,  directly  west  of  Cape  Henlo- 
pen ;  and  the  seaward  end  rests  on  an 
extensive  shoal,  called  the  Shears ; 
the  tail  of  which  makes  out  from  the 
shore  about  5  miles  up  the  bay,  near 
Broadkill  creek;  whence  it  extends 
eastward,  and  terminates  at  a  point, 


DEL 


131 


DEN 


about  2  miles  to  the  N.  of  the  shore, 
art  the  cape.  The  breakwater  con- 
sists of  an  isolated  dyke,  or  wall  of 
stone;  the  transversal  section  of 
which  is  a  trapezium,  the  base  rest- 
ing on  the  bottom,  and  the  summit 
line  forming  the  top  of  the  work. 
The  other  sides  represent  the  inner 
and  outer  slopes  of  the  work ;  that  to 
the  seaward  being  the  greater.  The 
inward  slope  is  45°,  the  top  horizon- 
tal, 22  feet  in  breadth,  and  raised  5| 
feet  above  the  highest  spring  tides ; 
the  outward,  or  sea  slope,  is  39  feet 
in  altitude,  on  a  base  of  105f  feet; 
both  these  dimensions  being  measured, 
in  relation  to  a  horizontal  plane,  pass- 
ing by  a  point  27  feet  below  the  low- 
est spring  tides.  The  base  bears  to 
the  altitude  nearly  the  same  ratio  as 
similar  lines  in  the  profiles  of  the  Cher- 
bourg and  Plymouth  breakwaters. 
The  opening  or  entrance  from  the 
ocean  is  650  yards  wide,  between  the 
north  part  of  the  cape  and  cast  end  of 
the  breakwater,  and  will  be  accessible 
by  all  winds  from  the  sea.  The 
Breakwater,  proper,  is  a  dyke  in  a 
straight  line  from  E.  S.  E.  to  W.  N. 
W.,  1200  yards  in  length.  At  the 
distance  of  350  yards  from  the  upper 
or  western  end,  that  space  forming 
the  upper  entrance,  a  similar  dyke, 
500  yards  long,  is  projected  in  a  di- 
rect line  W.  by  S.  |  S.,  forming  an 
angle  of  146°  15'  with  the  breakwa- 
ter. This  part  of  the  work  is  design- 
ed as  an  icebreaker. 

The  whole  length  of  the  two  dykes 
will  be  1700  yards,  and  they  will  con- 
tain, when  finished,  900,000  cubic 
yards  of  basalt  and  granite  rock, 
weighing  from  a  quarter  of  a  ton  to 
three  tons,  and  upwards.  The  depth 
of  water,  at  low  tide,  is  from  4  to  six 
fathoms,  over  a  surface  of  7  tenths  of 
a  square  mile.  Although  unfinished, 
this  magnificent  work  has  already 
proved  its  utility,  saving  many  vessels 
and  many  valuable  lives. 

There  are  five  bridges  erected  over 
the  Delaware  river,  viz.  at  Trenton, 
at  Lambertville,  at  Prallsville,  at 
Philipsburg,  and  at  Columbia.  Au- 
thority has  also  been  given  to  erect  a 


bridge  over  the  river  at  Philadelphia, 
and  another  opposite  Taylorsville. 
The  Delaware  and  Hudson  canal 
crosses  the  river  by  means  of  a  dam, 
constructed  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Lackawaxan. 

Den  Brook,  mill  stream  and  tri- 
butary of  the  Rockaway  river,  rises 
in  Randolph  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  and 
flows  by  a  course  N.  E.,  about  8 
miles  along  the  N.  W.  base  of  Trow- 
bridge  mountain,  to  its  recipient  near 
Danville. 

Dennis's  Creek  t-ship,  Cape  May 
co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Upper  t-ship, 
S.  E.  by  the  Atlantic  ocean,  S.  by 
Middle  t-ship,  S.  W.  by  Delaware 
Bay,  W.  and  N.  W.  by  Maurice 
River  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.  Cen- 
trally distant  from  Cape  May  court- 
house N.  9  miles ;  greatest  length  E. 
and  W.  14  miles  ;  breadth  N.  and  S. 
8£  miles ;  area,  43,500  acres.  Den- 
nis's creek  runs  on  the  S.  W.  bor- 
der, through  a  very  extensive  cedar 
swamp,  and  the  northern  part  of  the 
t-ship  consists  of  sandy  plains ;  the 
population  in  1830  was  1508.  In 
1832  the  t-ship  contained  about  300 
taxables,  198  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  830 ;  3  grist 
mills,  7  saw  mills,  2  carding  ma- 
chines, 8  stores,  and  1 85  horses,  503 
head  of  neat  cattle,  over  3  years  of 
age ;  it  paid  t-ship  tax,  $94  27  ;  state 
tax,  162  75;  and  county  tax,  $503 
54.  Part  of  Ludlam's  beach  fronts 
the  ocean,  between  which  and  Learn- 
ing's beach,  the  tide  rushes  in  over 
the  marshes  and  lagimes  which  bor- 
der the  eastern  boundary  for  a  breadth 
of  about  2  miles.  Dennis's  Creek  is 
the  post-town.  There  are  2  churches 
in  the  t-ship. 

Dennises  Creek,  p-t.  of  Dennis's 
Creek  t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  at  the 
head  of  the  navigation  of  Dennis's 
creek,  6  or  7  miles  from  the  Dela- 
ware bay,  7  miles  N.  from  Cape  May 
court-house,  194  from  W.  C.,  and  97 
from  Trenton ;  contains  from  30  to 
40  dwellings,  2  taverns,  5  stores,  and 
a  tide  grist  mill.  The  town  is  built 
on  both  sides  of  the  creek,  extending 
each  way,  about  half  a  mile.  Ship 


DIG 


132 


DOV 


building  and  trade  in  lumber  are  car- 
ried on  extensively  here.  The  coun- 
try around  it,  above  the  marsh,  is  of 
sandy  loam. 

Denn's  Branch ,  of  Stow  creek,  a 
small  tributary  of  Stow  creek,  Salem 
co.,  flowing  westerly  into  its  recipient 
by  a  course  of  3  or  4  miles. 

Denville,  p-t.  of  Hanover  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Rockaway  river,  7  miles  N.  of  Mor- 
ristown,  231  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and 
65  from  Trenton ;  contains  a  store, 
tavern,  cider  distillery,  and  6  or  8 
dwellings. 

DewVs  Brook,  small  tributary  of 
the  Millstone  river,  in  South  Bruns- 
wick t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  flowing  S. 
W.  about  5  miles  to  the  river. 

Deptford  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Gloucester  t-ship, 
S.  E.  by  Hamilton  t-ship,  S.  W.  by 
Greenwich  t-ship,  and  N.  W.  by  the 
river  Delaware.  Greatest  length  N. 
W.  and  S.  E.  25,  and  breadth  7 
miles ;  area,  57,600  acres ;  surface 
level ;  soil  sandy :  in  the  northern 
part,  grass,  vegetables,  and  fruit  are 
successfully  cultivated ;  the  southern 
is  chiefly  pine  forest,  valuable  for 
timber  and  cord  wood.  It  is  drained 
northward  by  Big  Timber  creek; 
Mantua  creek  on  the  west  boundary  ; 
and  southward  by  Innskeeps,  Squan- 
kum,  and  Faraway,  branches  of  the 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river.  Iron  ore, 
and  some  chalybeate  waters  are  found 
within  2  miles  of  Woodbury.  Wood- 
bury,  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  coun- 
ty, Malaga,  and  Glassborough,  are 
post-towns  of  the  t-ship ;  population 
in  1830,  3599.  In  1832  the  town- 
ship  contained  449  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 
in  value,  19  stores,  8  fisheries,  6 
grist  mills,  1  cotton  and  1  woollen 
manufactory,  1  carding  machine,  9 
saw  mills,  1  ferry,  1  distillery,  1 
glass  factory,  1389  neat  cattle,  and 
672  horses  and  mules  above  the  age 
of  3  years. 

Dickerson,  the  seat  of  the  Hon. 
Mahlon  Dickerson,  former  Governor 
of  New  Jersey,  and  representative  of 
that  state  in  the  United  States  Senate, 


and  the  site  of  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive and  valuable  iron  mines  in 
the  state;  ten  miles  N.  W.  from 
Morristown,  Randolph  t-ship,  Morris 
county,  upon  the  northern  part,  or 
continuation  of  Schooley's  mountain. 

Dillon's  Landing,  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  on  the  north  side  of 
Toms'  river  bay,  about  2  miles  from 
its  confluence  with  Barnegat  bay. 

Dividing  Creek,  Downe  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  rises  centrally  in 
the  t-ship,  and  flows  southerly  by  a 
very  crooked  course  of  10  or  12 
miles,  into  Maurice  creek  cove,  in 
Delaware  bay.  It  is  navigable  to  the 
village  of  Dividing  Creek. 

Dividing  Creek,  p-t.  of  Downe 
t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  about  17 
miles  S.  of  Bridgeton,  86  from  Tren- 
ton, and  192  N.  E.  from  W.  C.;  con- 
tains from  25  to  30  dwellings,  a  store, 
tavern,  and  grist  mill. 

Dogtown,  a  mountain  hamlet,  on 
the  line  separating  Amwell  from 
Kingwood  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  5 
miles  N.  W.  from  Flemington;  con- 
tains a  tavern,  a  wheelwright  shop, 
and  two  or  three  cottages. 

Doctor's  Creek,  branch  of  the 
Crosswicks,  rises  near  Clarkeville,  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  and  flows  by  a 
west  course  of  about  14  miles,  by  Im- 
laystown  and  Allentown,  to  its  reci- 
pient near  the  Sand  Hills  in  Notting- 
ham t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  turning 
several  mills  by  the  way. 

Dorchester,  village,  of  Maurice 
river  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  river,  about  1 0  miles 
from  the  Delaware  bay,  and  20  S.  E. 
from  Bridgeton ;  contains  between  30 
and  40  dwellings,  1  tavern,  and  2 
stores.  The  soil  about  it  is  sandy. 

Dorson's  Brook,  tributary  of  the 
north  branch  of  Raritan  river,  Mend- 
ham  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  having  a 
course  on  and  near  the  west  t-ship 
line  of  about  4  or  5  miles. 

Dover t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Howell  and  Freehold  t-ships, 
E.  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  S.  by  Staf- 
ford t-ship,  S.  W.  by  Northampton 
and  Hanover  t-ships,  Burlington  co., 


DOV 


133 


DRA 


and  N.  W.  by  Upper  Freehold.  Cen- 
trally distant  S.  from  Freehold,  24 
miles ;  greatest  length  E.  and  W.  22 ; 
breadth  N.  and  S.  17  miles;  area, 
including  Barnegat  bay,  and  the  At- 
lantic beach,  200,000  acres.  It  ex- 
tends from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the 
western  line  of  the  county.  Surface 
generally  level,  but  there  are  some 
hills  in  the  south,  at  the  head  of 
Forked  river,  called  Forked  River 
mountains;  soil,  generally  sand  or 
light  gravel,  covered  with  pine  forest, 
whence  enormous  quantities  of  tim- 
ber and  cord  wood  are  taken  for  the 
New  York  market,  and  for  the  supply 
of  iron  works  in  the  t-ship.  It  is 
drained  E.  by  Toms'  river  and  its 
several  branches,  Cedar  creek,  and 
Forked  river;  on  the  W.  by  some 
branches  of  the  Rancocus.  Toms' 
river,  Cedar  creek,  and  Goodluck,  are 
villages ;  the  two  first  post-towns  of 
the  t-ship.  Population  in  1830,  2898. 
In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained  about 
550  taxables,  201  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  30  dol- 
lars, 72  single  men,  9  stores,  7  saw 
mills,  2  grist  mills,  3  blast  furnaces, 
350  horses  and  mules,  and  925  neat 
cattle,  3  years  old  and  upwards;  and 
paid  in  state  and  county  taxes, 
$1265  06. 

Dover,  p-t.  of  Randolph  t-ship,  Mor- 
ris co.,  on  the  Rockaway  river,  8 
miles  N.  W.  from  Morristown,  233 
N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  67  from  Tren- 
ton; the  mountains  recede  here,  and 
form  a  small  plain,  on  which  the  town 
is  built,  on  several  streets  and  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  which  is  passed  by 
one,  perhaps  more  bridges.  It  con- 
tains 3  large  rolling  and  slitting  mills, 
boring  and  turning  engines,  a  cupola 
furnace  or  foundery,  and  saw  mill,  the 
property  of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Mr. 
M'Farlane,  of  New  York,  a  factory 
of  machinery,  owned  by  W.  Ford,  a 
bank  with  an  actual  capital  of  $50,000 
and  the  right  to  extend  it  to  $150,000, 
an  academy,  used  also  as  a  church, 
and  about  30  dwellings;  much  busi- 
ness has  formerly  been  done  here; 
the  Morris  canal  descends  into  the 
valley  by  an  inclined  plane  and  4 


locks ;  a  valuable  iron  mine,  known 
as  "  Jackson's,"  near  the  town,  is 
extensively  worked,  and  governor 
Dickerson's  mine  is  about  3  miles 
distant. 

Downe  t-ship,  Cumberland  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Fairfield  and  Mille- 
ville  t-ship,  E.  ]>y  Maurice  river, 
S.  and  W.  by  the  Delaware.  Cen- 
trally distant,  S.  E.  from  Bridgeton, 
14  miles;  greatest  length  E.  and  W. 
14,  breadth  N.  and  S.  12  miles;  area, 
58,240  acres ;  surface,  level ;  soil, 
marsh  upon  the  bay  and  Maurice 
river;  loam  for  a  narrow  strip  of 
about  a  mile  in  width,  adjoining  the 
marsh,  the  remainder  sandy.  Mau- 
rice river  follows  the  whole  of  the 
east  boundary;  Nantuxet  creek  the 
north-west,  between  which  flows  Di- 
viding, Oranoken,  Fishing,  Broad, 
Oyster,  and  Fortescue  creeks.  Po- 
pulation in  1830,  1923;  in  1832, 
there  were  in  the  t-ship,  taxables, 
310,  householders  93,  whose  ratables 
did  not  exceed  $30 ;  stores  6,  grist 
mills  5,  saw  mills  2,  carding  ma- 
chine 1 ;  120  horses,  901  cattle  above 
the  age  of  3  years ;  Mauricetown, 
Newport,  Dividing  Creek,  Port  Nor- 
ris,  and  Buckshutem,  are  villages  of 
the  t-ship,  of  which  the  three  first  are 
post-towns. 

Double  Pond,  a  sheet  of  water  in 
the  Wawayanda  mountain,  Sussex 
co.,  which  sends  forth  northwardly  a 
small  stream  called  Double  Pond 
creek,  which  unites  with  Warwick 
creek,  in  the  state  of  New  York. 

Drakestown,  Morris  co.,  on  the 
line  dividing  Washington  from  Rox- 
bury  t-ship,  on  the  road  from  Morris- 
town  to  Hackettstown,  15  miles  from 
the  former  and  three  from  the  latter, 
and  upon  Schooley's  mountain ;  con- 
tains a  store,  and  from  12  to  15 
dwellings. 

Drakesville,  Roxbury  t-ship,  Mor- 
ris co.,  on  the  turnpike  road  leading 
from  Morristown  by  Stanhope  fur- 
nace, 12  miles  N.  E.  from  the  for- 
mer, and  upon  the  Morris  canal ;  con- 
tains a  tavern,  a  store,  and  from  12 
to  15  dwellings.  The  country  on 
the  S.  and  S.  E.  is  level,  sandy,  and 


DUC 


134 


EDG 


poor ;  on  the  N.  hilly  and  rough,  but 
improving  by  the  use  of  lime. 

Drowned  Lands,  on  the  line  sepa- 
rating Wantage  from  Vernon  t-ships, 
Sussex  co.,  and  extending  thence 
into  Orange  co.,  of  New  York. 
This  is  a  morass  of  unusual  extent 
for  the  northern  states,  and  celebrated 
for  the  yearly  inundation  to  which  it 
is  subject,  and  the  malaria  which  it 
occasions  during  the  autumn.  It  is 
twenty  miles  long,  and  varies  in 
breadth  from  1  to  5  miles.  Through 
it  flows  the  Wallkill,  with  a  current 
scarce  perceptible,  to  whose  waters, 
when  swelled  by  the  spring  freshets, 
it  owes  its  annual  submergence.  It 
is  composed  of  an  accumulation  of  ve- 
getable matter,  whose  surface  is  im- 
perfectly converted  into  soil,  abound- 
ing with  carbonaceous  substance,  em- 
pyreumatic  oil,  and  gallic  acid,  and 
covered  in  midsummer  with  rank  and 
luxuriant  vegetation.  The  ditches, 
made  in  several  places,  in  forming 
roads  across  it,  disclose  peat  of  excel- 
lent quality.  This  equivocal  lake  en- 
circles several  islands,  the  largest  of 
which  contains  200  acres  of  excellent 
land,  well  cultivated ;  the  smaller  ones 
are  uninhabited,  and  generally  cover- 
ed with  wood,  among  which  the  beau- 
tiful flowering  shrub,  Rhododendron 
Maximum,  laurelled  leaved  rose  tree, 
grows  abundantly.  The  rocks  on  the 
island,  and  upon  the  borders  of  the 
morass,  indicate  that  it  reposes  on 
blue  cherty  limestone;  but  in  one 
place,  at  least  the  island  near  Wood- 
ville,  primitive  limestone,  the  rock  of 
the  neighbouring  country  appears. 
No  successful  effort  has  yet  been 
made  to  drain  this  vast  swamp,  which 
is  abandoned  as  pasturing  ground  to 
cattle  on  the  subsidence  of  the  spring 
inundation,  for  a  few  weeks  only,  and 
is  for  the  rest  of  the  year  a  desolate 
waste. 

Dry  Branch,  tributary  of  Paulin's 
creek,  Knowlton  t-p.  Warren  co. 

Duck  Island,  in  the  Delaware  ri- 
ver, above  Bordentown,  in  Notting- 
ham township,  Burlington  county.  It 
is  somewhat  more  than  a  mile  in 
length. 


Dunker  Pond,  south  of  Bear  Fort 
mountain,  Pomptont-ship,  Bergen  co., 
sends  forth  a  small  tributary  to  the 
Pequannock  creek. 

Dunks' 's  Ferry,  a  noted  and  long 
established  ferry  on  the  Delaware  ri- 
ver, Willingboro'  t-ship,  Burlington 
o.,  4  miles  below  the  city  of  Burling- 
ton. 

Dyer^s  Creek,  a  small  marsh 
stream  of  Middle  t-ship,  Cape  May 
co.,  which  flows  into  the  Delaware, 
after  a  course  of  3  or  4  miles. 

Dutch  Neck,  village  of  W.  Wind- 
sor t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  18  miles  S. 
W.  from  Trenton ;  contains  a  tavern 
and  3  or  4  stores ;  soil,  gravelly  and 
poor. 

East  Creek,  mill  stream  of  Dennis 
t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  flowing  about 
7  miles  S.  W.  into  the  Delaware  bay. 

East  Windsor.  (See  Windsor, 
East.) 

Eayrstown,  village  of  Northamp- 
ton t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  S. 
branch  of  Rancocus  creek,  near  the 
junction  of  Haines'  creek  with  that 
stream,  and  at  the  head  of  tide,  be- 
tween 3  and  4  miles  S.  W.  from 
Mount  Holly ;  contains  a  cotton  fac- 
tory, a  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  fulling 
mill,  1  tavern,  1  store,  and  12  or  15 
dwellings;  soil,  sandy  loam,  fertile 
and  well  cultivated. 

Edinburgh,  W.  Windsor  t-ship, 
Middlesex  co.,  on  the  Assunpink 
creek,  18  miles  S.  W.  from  N.  B., 
and  8  miles  E.  of  Trenton ;  contains 
a  Presbyterian  church  of  wood,  1 
store,  1  tavern,  a  grist  mill,  and  12 
or  14  dwellings ;  soil,  sandy  and 
light. 

Eaton,  p-t.  of  Shrewsbury  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  2  miles  S.  from 
Shrewsbury  town,  upon  Shrewsbury 
river,  11  miles  from  Freehold,  48 
from  Trenton,  and  213  from  W.  C., 
on  a  branch  of  Swimming  river,  1^ 
miles  above  navigable  water;  con- 
tains about  30  dwellings,  5  or  6  stores, 
2  taverns,  a  grist  mill,  and  an  aca- 
demy, in  a  pleasant  and  fertile  coun- 
try. 

Edgepeling,  a  tributary  of  Atsion 
river,  rising  in  Evesham  t-ship,  -Bur- 


EGG 


135 


EGG 


lington  co.,  and  flowing  by  a  south- 
erly course  of  8  or  9  miles,  to  its  re- 
cipient in  Washington  t-ship. 

Egg  Harbour,  Little,  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  bounded  N.  by  Oswego, 
or  east  branch  of  Wading  river, 
which  separates  it  from  Northampton 
t-ship,  S.  E.  by  Stafford  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth  co.,  S.  by  Little  Egg  Harbour 
river  and  bay,  and  W.  by  Washington 
t-ship.  Centrally  distant  from  Mount 
Holly,  S.  E.  35  miles;  greatest  length 
N.  and  S.  20  miles ;  breadth  E.  and 
W.  10  miles;  area,  76,800  acres, 
including  bays  and  inlets;  surface, 
level;  soil,  gravel  and  sand.  The 
northern  part  of  the  township,  call- 
ed the  Plains,  is  of  the  former,  cover- 
ed with  low  pines  and  scrub  oaks, 
forming  an  excellent  covert  for  deer 
and  grouse,  which  find  abundant  food 
in  the  mast  produced  by  the  latter. 
The  southern  part  of  the  t-ship  is 
sandy,  covered  with  forest.  It  is 
drained  chiefly  by  branches  of  Little 
Egg  Harbour  river,  of  which  Bass  ri- 
ver is  here  the  chief.  Tuckerton, 
upon  Shorl's  mill  branch,  is  the  post- 
town.  Population  in  1830, 1490.  In 
1832,  the  t-ship  contained  150  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed 830;  347  taxables,  51  single 
men,  6  stores,  4  saw  mills,  3  grist 
mills,  1  two  horse  stage,  7  dearborns, 
36  covered  wagons,  10  gigs  and  sul- 
kies, 640  neat  cattle,  170  horses  and 
mules ;  and  it  paid  state  tax,  $127  48  ; 
county  tax,  $444 ;  road  tax,  $300. 

Egg  Harbour  Bay,  Little,  partly 
in  Little  Egg  Harbour  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  and  partly  in  Stafford 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co. ;  extends  about 
14  miles  in  length,  and  from  2  to  4 
in  breadth,  from  Little  Egg  Harbour 
inlet  to  Barncgat  inlet,  and  contains 
many  islands,  the  haunts  of  ducks, 
geese,  and  sea-fowl. 

Egg  Harbour,  Little,  or  Mullica's 
River,  rises  by  several  branches  in 
Burlington  and  Gloucester  cos.;  the 
chief  of  which  are  Batsto  river,  near 
Burlington,  Atsion  river,  on  the  boun- 
dary between  the  two  counties,  Me- 
chescalaxin  and  Nesochcaque,  which 
unite  near  Pleasant  Mills,  25  miles 


from  the  sea.  Half  way  below  this 
point,  Wading  and  Bass  rivers  blend 
,vith  the  main  stream,  which  is  navi- 
gable, for  sloops,  to  Batsto  furnace, 
25  miles.  The  Little  Egg  Harbour 
bay  and  inlet,  and  Great  bay,  form 
a  sheet  of  salt  water,  separated  from 
the  ocean  by  Brigantine,  Tucker's 
and  Long  beaches,  the  communica- 
tion with  which,  from  the  sea,  is  chief- 
ly by  the  New  inlet,  which  admits 
vessels  of  from  15  to  18  feet  draught, 
many  of  which,  during  the  late  war, 
entered  and  discharged  valuable  car- 
goes. The  Old  inlet,  to  the  north 
from  Tucker's  island,  is  now  little 
used,  except  for  vessels  of  very  light 
burden.  The  collection  district  of 
Little  Egg  Harbour,  comprehends 
the  shores,  waters,  bays,  rivers  and 
creeks,  from  Barnegat  inlet  to  Bri- 
gantine inlet,  both  inclusively.  Tuck- 
erton is  the  sole  port  of  entry,  at  which 
the  collector  resides. 

Egg  Harbour  River,  Great,  rises 
in  Gloucester  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
by  Inskeep's  branch,  and  flows  a  S. 
E.  course  through  Deptford,  Hamil- 
ton, Weymouth,  and  Egg  Harbour 
t-ships,  to  the  ocean,  about  45  miles ; 
receiving  in  its  way  several,  but  not 
very  considerable  tributaries,  on  either 
hand,  and  draining  a  wide  extent  of 
sandy  soil  and  pine  forest.  It  is  na- 
vigable for  sloops  of  considerable  bur- 
den, above  May's  Landing,  more  than 
25  miles ;  and  from  this  point  flows 
through  a  continued  marsh.  Large 
quantities  of  wood,  coal,  and  lumber, 
are  annually  exported  from  this  river. 

Great  Egg  Harbour  bay  is  entered 
by  Great  Egg  Harbour  inlet,  between 
Absecum  and  Peck's  beaches.  The 
bay  is  about  five  miles  long,  and  has 
a  very  irregular  breadth,  varying 
from  half  a  mile  to  4  miles.  The 
inlet,  at  its  mouth,  is  more  than  a 
mile  in  width,  and  communicates  with 
the  bay  by  several  channels. 

Egg  Harbour  t-ship,  Gloucester 
co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Absecum 
creek,  bay,  and  inlet,  which  separate 
it  from  Galloway  t-ship ;  S.  E.  by  the 
Atlantic  ocean ;  S.  W.  by  Great  Egg 
Harbour  inlet,  bay,  and  river,  and  N. 


ELI 


136 


ELI 


W.  by  Hamilton  t-ship.  Centrally 
distant  from  Woodbury  S.  E.  48 
miles;  greatest  length  E.  and  W. 
12;  breadth  N.  and  S.  12  miles; 
area,  85,000  acres,  including  beaches, 
bays,  and  rivers ;  surface  level ;  marsh 
several  miles  in  width,  within  the 
beach;  sandy  elsewhere,  and,  gene- 
rally, covered  with  pine  forest.  Bar- 
gaintown  and  Somers'  Point  are  post- 
towns  of  the  t-ship;  population  in 
1830,  2510.  In  1832  the  t-ship  con- 
tained 122  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  5  stores,  2 
grist  mills,  1  carding  machine,  6  saw 
mills,  510  neat  cattle,  and  260  horses 
and  mules;  and  paid  county  taxes, 
$307  59|;  poor  tax,  $153  90;  road 
tax,  $800. 

Great  Egg  Harbour,  collection 
district,  comprehends  the  river  of 
Great  Egg  Harbour,  together  with 
all  the  inlets,  bays,  sounds,  rivers, 
and  creeks,  along  the  sea  coast,  from 
Brigantine  inlet  to  Cape  May. 

Egg  Island,  Downe  t-ship,  Cum- 
berland co.,  Delaware  bay,  off  the 
western  point  of  Maurice  Cove,  of  a 
triangular  form,  extending  about  half 
a  mile  upon  each  side. 

Egg  Island,  false,  a  point  of  Downe 
t-ship,  about  4  miles  higher  up  the 
bay,  than  the  foregoing,  and  which, 
from  similarity  of  configuration,  is 
often  mistaken  for  it. 

Egg  Islands,  Barnegat  bay,  Dover 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  about  3  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  Toms'  bay,  each 
near  a  mile  in  length. 

Eight  Mile  Branch,  of  Cedar 
creek,  Dover  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
rises  west  of  the  Forked  mountains, 
and  flows  eastwardly  to  its  recipient. 

Elizabethtown,  and  t-ship,  Essex 
co.,  thus  named  after  Lady  Elizabeth 
Carteret,  the  wife  and  executrix  of 
Sir  George  Carteret.  The  town  lies 
upon  Elizabeth  creek,  1^  miles  W. 
from  a  point  of  fast  land,  running 
through  the  marsh  to  Staten  Island 
Sound,  and  on  the  turnpike  road  and 
rail-road,  from  New  Brunswick  to 
New  York,  17  miles  by  the  post 
road  from  the  former,  and  15  from 
the  latter;  42  from  Trenton,  and  210 


from  W.  C.;  pleasantly  situated,  in 
a  level  and  fertile  country,  of  clay 
loam;  contains  400  dwellings,  3 
handsome  churches  of  brick,  one  be- 
longing to  the  Episcopalians,  and  two 
to  the  Presbyterians,  the  first  congre- 
gation of  whom,  is,  probably,  as  old 
as  the  town  itself;  and  1  Methodist 
church,  of  wood.  There  were  two 
churches  in  this  town,  in  1748,  which 
the  Swedish  traveller,  Kalm,  prefer- 
red to  any  in  Philadelphia:  2  tem- 
perance societies,  having  together 
450  members,  whose  beneficial  influ- 
ence is  said  to  be  extensively  felt, 
there  not  being  a  distillery  in  the 
t-ship,  and  all  the  respectable  farmers 
conducting  their  labours  without  the 
stimulus  of  ardent  spirit;  a  bank 
called  the  "  State  Bank  at  Eliza- 
beth" with  an  authorized  capital  of 
$200,000,  of  which  $132,924,  have 
been  paid  in,  conducted  reputably 
and  profitably ;  5  taverns  in  the  town 
and  two  at  the  Point ;  9  stores,  at  none 
of  which  is  ardent  spirit  sold ;  1  book 
store,  2  boarding  schools  for  girls,  at 
which  there  are  about  100  pupils  from 
various  parts  of  the  country ;  1  clas- 
sical boarding  school  for  boys,  con- 
taining 40  boarders,  under  the  care 
of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Halsey,  all  of 
which  are  in  high  repute;  2  public 
libraries,  one  religious,  the  other  mis- 
cellaneous, called  the  Elizabethtown 
Apprentices'  Library,  much  and  ad- 
vantageously used;  1  printing  office, 
from  which  is  issued  the  newspaper 
called  the  New  Jersey  Journal,  origi- 
nally founded  by  the  venerable  judge 
Hallock,  at  Chatham,  in  1779,  re- 
moved to  this  town  in  1786,  and  con- 
ducted by  him  for  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury ;  an  oil  mill,  large  grist  and  saw 
mill,  2  large  saw  mills  for  cutting 
mahogany,  with  circular  saws  for 
veneers ;  2  large  oil  cloth  manufac- 
tories, belonging  to  the  same  compa- 
ny; 2  earthenware,  and  1  earthen 
and  stoneware  potteries ;  flax  works, 
which  break  and  dress  2  tons  per 
day,  driven  by  steam ;  a  rope,  twine, 
and  cotton  bagging  factory,  also 
driven  by  steam,  and  employing  20 
hands;  2  tin,  sheet  iron,  and  stove 


ELI 


137 


ELS 


factories,  1  clock  manufactory,  and  1 
shears  manufactory,  moved  by  steam  ; 
2  carriage  makers,  2  tanneries,  one 
of  which  dresses  oil,  morocco,  and 
alum,  leather;  1  iron  foundery  for 
making  malleable  castings,  connected 
with  which  is  a  steam  engine  factory, 
and  machine  shop,  worked  by  steam ; 
and  a  book  bindery. 

The  town  or  t-ship  is  bounded  N. 
by  Newark  t-ship,  E.  by  Newark 
bay  and  Staten  Island  Sound,  S.  by 
Rahway,  and  W.  by  Union  t-ships; 
greatest  length  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  5 
miles ;  breadth,  3£  miles;  area,  10,000 
acres ;  soil,  red  shale,  clay,  loam, 
and  marsh ;  from  the  last  of  which, 
large  quantities  of  grass  are  cut, 
chiefly  for  manure.  The  soil  is  of 
excellent  quality,  and  repays  the  la- 
bour of  the  husbandman  abundantly. 
Bound  Brook  runs  on  the  north,  and 
Morss  Brook  on  the  south  boundary. 
There  are  470  dwellings  in  the  t-ship, 
and  the  population  was,  in  1830, 
3455.  In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained 
550  taxables,  235  householders,  whose 
ratable  estate  did  not  exceed  30  dol- 
lars, 83  single  men,  22  merchants, 
289  horses  and  mules,  579  neat  cat- 
tle over  3  years  of  age ;  and  it  paid 
in  1833,  state  tax,  $313  13  ;  county, 
$819  17;  road,  $800;  poor,  $900. 
The  t-ship  has  a  house  and  farm  of 
50  acres,  upon  which  its  poor  are 
kept. 

This  town  was  the  first  English 
settlement  made  in  the  state.  The 
land  was  purchased  for  a  company 
called  the  Elizabethtown  Associates, 
from  the  Indians  in  1664.  These 
Associates,  74  in  number,  were  origi- 
nally from  Jamaica,  Long  Island. 
They  held  adversely  to  Berkeley  and 
Carteret,  the  grantees  of  the  Duke  of 
York;  and  their  pertinacious  adhe- 
rence to  the  right,  real,  or  supposed, 
obtained  under  the  Indian  grant,  was 
cause  of  disturbance  and  commotion, 
not  only  during  the  government  of 
the  proprietaries,  but  for  many  years 
of  the  royal  administration.  During 
the  revolution,  the  town  suffered  much 
from  its  contiguity  to  New  York.  On 
the  21st  Janaary,  1780,  the  first 


Presbyterian  church  was  burned  by 
the  British,  and  in  the  following  No- 
vember, its  minister,  the  Rev.  James 
Caldwell,  was  shot. 

Elizabethtown  is  a  desirable  resi- 
dence, whether  health,  business,  or 
pleasure,  be  in  view.  The  excellent 
order  and  morals  which  prevail  here, 
the  advantages  derived  from  its 
schools,  the  short  distance  from  New 
York,  to  which  the  inhabitants,  three 
times  a  day,  have  access,  by  steam- 
boats from  the  Point,  and  at  other 
times  by  stages;  the  rail-road  now 
being  constructed  through  the  town, 
and  that  to  be  made  by  Somerville  to 
Belvidere,  cannot  fail  to  increase  its 
population,  and  the  price  of  its  lands. 
The  town  is  built  upon  streets  un- 
commonly wide,  and  has  many  very 
handsome  buildings,  surrounded  by 
large  well  improved  lots.  The  t-ship 
was  originally  incorporated  by  Go- 
vernor Philip  Carteret,  about  the 
same  time  as  its  neighbour  Wood- 
bridge,  by  a  most  liberal  charter; 
and  subsequently,  28th  November, 
1789,  by  act  of  Assembly,  with 
bounds  including  parts  of  the  present 
adjacent  townships.  Its  area  has 
been  greatly  diminished  by  various 
acts.  The  corporate  officers  of  the 
"Borough  of  Elizabeth"  are  a  may- 
or, deputy  mayor,  recorder,  seven  al- 
dermen or  assistants,  a  sheriff,  coro- 
ner, treasurer,  clerk,  high  constable, 
and  seven  constables.  It  has  power 
to  regulate  general  police,  markets, 
roads,  &c.,  and  has  a  court  of  com- 
mon pleas  and  general  sessions, 
holden  4  times  annually,  with  a  ju- 
risdiction like  to,  and  exclusive  of, 
that  of  the  county  courts.  At  Eliza- 
bethtown Point  there  was  formerly  a 
ferry  by  which  passengers,  from  and 
to  New  York,  crossed  to  Staten 
Island. 

Ellisburg,  small  hamlet,  of  Wa- 
terford  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  6  miles 
S.  E.  from  Camden,  9  miles  N.  E. 
from  Woodbury,  and  2  from  Had- 
donfield;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
smith  shop,  and  several  dwellings. 

Elsinborough,  t-ship,  Salem  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Salem  creek,  and  Sa- 


ENG 


138 


ESS 


lem  t-ship,  E.  by  Lower  Alloways 
t-ship,  S.  by  Alloways  creek;  and 
W.  by  the  Delaware  river.  Cen- 
trally distant  from  the  town  of  Sa- 
lem, 3  miles ;  greatest  length  N.  and 
S.  6  miles;  breadth  E.  and  W.  4 
miles ;  area,  about  8000  acres ;  sur- 
face, level ;  soil,  rick  loam  and  marsh 
meadow,  highly  cultivated.  The 
t-ship  is  drained  by  Alloways  creek 
on  the  south,  and  Salem  creek  on  the 
north.  Population  in  1830,  503.  In 
1832,  the  t-ship  contained  56  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed 30  dollars,  117  taxables,  118 
horses  and  mules,  and  547  neat  cat- 
tle, above  the  age  of  3  years. 

Empty  Box  Run,  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouthco.,  a  small  branch 
of  the  Assunpink  creek. 

Englishtown,  p-t.,  of  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  upon  Matcha- 
ponix  creek,  near  the  N.  W.  boun- 
dary of  the  t-ship  and  county ;  con- 
tains a  grist  mill,  2  taverns,  2  stores, 
and  about  30  dwellings,  surrounded 
by  a  light  sandy  soil. 

English  Neighbourhood,  pleasant 
village,  of  Hackensack  t-ship,  Bergen 
co.,  5  miles  S.  E.  from  Hackensack- 
town,  and  5£  from  Hoboken,  on  the 
turnpike  road  to  Hackensack;  con- 
tains a  post-office,  a  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  and  a  church  of  Chris-ti-ans, 
3  taverns,  2  stores,  and  from  15  to 
20  dwellings.  This  village  is  at  a 
convenient  distance  from  New  York, 
by  a  good  road,  which,  through  a 
pleasant  country,  affords  a  very 
agreeable  drive  on  a  summer's  after- 
noon, to  the  business-worn  citizens. 

English  Creek,  a  smart  mill  stream, 
of  Egg  Harbour  t-ship,  Gloucester 
co.,  which  flows  by  a  S.  W.  course 
of  4  or  5  miles,  into  the  Great  Egg 
Harbour  river,  about  5  miles  from  the 
bay. 

English  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the 
Hackensack  river,  which  rises,  and 
has  its  course,  in  Hackensack  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.;  and  almost  the  whole  of 
its  length  of  7  miles  is  through  a  ce- 
dar swamp.  This  creek  formed  the 
defence  of  the  garrison  of  3000,  who 
retreated  from  Fort  Lee,  attacked  by 


Lord  Cornwallis,  18th  November, 
1776. 

Essex  County,  had  its  boundaries 
fixed  by  act  21st  January,  1709-10, 
commencing  at  the  mouth  of  Rah- 
way  river,  where  it  falls  into  the 
Staten  Island  Sound ;  thence  up  the 
river  to  Robeson's  branch;  thence 
west  to  the  line  between  the  former 
eastern  and  western  divisions  of  the 
colony ;  thence  by  the  same  line,  to 
Pequannock  river,  where  it  meets  the 
Passaic  river;  thence  down  the  Pas- 
saic  to  the  Bay  and  Sound ;  thence 
down  the  Sound  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. These  limits  were  modified 
by  the  act  of  4th  November,  1741, 
annexing  part  of  the  county  to  Somer- 
set. Essex  is  now  bounded  W.  N. 
and  E.  by  the  Passaic  river,  which 
separates  it,  W.  and  N.  W.  from  Mor- 
ris co.,  N.  and  E.  from  Bergen  co.,  S. 
E.  by  Newark  bay  and  Long  Island 
Sound,  S.  by  Middlesex  co.,  and  S. 
W.  by  Somerset  co.  Greatest  length 
N.  and  S.  28  miles,  breadth  E.  and 
W.  19  miles;  area  in  acres,  154,680, 
or  241^  square  miles.  Central  lat. 
40°  45'  N.;  long.  2°  45'  E.  from 
W.  C. 

Geologically  considered,  this  coun- 
ty will  be  classed  with  the  secondary 
or  transition  formation,  as  the  old  red 
sandstone  shall  be  determined  to  be- 
long to  either.  The  whole  seems 
based  upon  this  substratum.  It  is 
crossed,  however,  diagonally  from  S. 
W.  to  N.  E.,  by  2  mountain  ridges, 
entering  New  Providence  and  West- 
field  t-ships  from  Somerset  county, 
which  extend  for  25  miles,  unbroken 
by  any  stream  of  water,  to  the  Pas- 
saic, at  Paterson.  These  are  known 
by  the  local  names  of  First  and  Se- 
cond Mountains,  and  the  latter  by 
that  of  Short  Hills.  These  ridges, 
from  1  to  2  miles  asunder,  are  of 
trap  formation,  and  in  some  points  as- 
sume, particularly  at  the  Great  and 
Little  Falls,  on  the  Passaic,  a  colum- 
nar character  and  appearances  of  the 
action  of  fire  in  their  cellular  form, 
which  support  the  igneous  origin  of 
that  rock.  These  hills,  generally 
covered  with  wood,  send  forth  triba- 


ESS 


139 


ESS 


taries  to  the  cardinal  points  of  the  t 
compass,  and  their  rocky  basis  have 
caused  the  beautiful  cataracts  of  the  ! 
Passaic  Falls. 

The  great  river  of  the  county  is 
the  Passaic,  whose  main  stream  en-  ! 
compasses  it  on  all  sides,  save  the  I 
south,  and  receives,  with  few  excep- 
tions, all  the  other  streams.  On 
the  west  of  the  mountains,  these 
tributaries  are  Deep,  Pine,  Black 
Rock,  Meadow,  and  River  Canoe, 
brooks;  on  the  east,  Second  and 
Third  rivers,  and  several  inconsidera- 
ble streams.  Peckman's  river  runs 
northward,  in  the  valley  between  the 
mountains,  emptying  into  the  Passaic, 
about  2  miles  below  the  Little  Falls. 
The  Rahway  river,  which  rises  in 
the  same  valley,  and  whose  source 
is  not  a  mile  south  of  the  former, 
runs  by  an  opposite  course  into  Staten 
Island  Sound.  Green  brook,  which 
rises  in  the  Short  Hills,  has  a  south- 
west course  to  the  Raritan,  on  the 
line  below  Somerset  and  Middlesex 
counties.  On  the  east  side  of  the 
mountains,  there  are  2  noted  chaly- 
beate springs;  one  in  Acquackanonck, 
and  the  other  in  Orange  township. 

The  soil  of  the  county  is  generally 
of  red  shale,  except  where  formed  of 
the  debris  of  the  mountains.  The 
first  is  almost  every  where  well  cul- 
tivated, and  in  many  places  highly 
productive  in  grain  and  grass ;  and, 
as  a  large  proportion  of  the  popula- 
tion is  employed  in  manufactures,  an 
advantageous  market  is  produced  at 
the  door  of  the  farmer  for  all  his  pro- 
ductions; consequently,  the  whole 
country,  almost  without  exception, 
has  the  air  of  growing  wealth  and 
present  enjoyment.  A  large  portion 
of  the  surface  of  the  county,  on  each 
side  of  the  mountains  is  level,  but 
some  of  it,  hilly. 

The  principal  towns  are  on  the 
east  of  the  mountain;  Newark,  the 
seat  of  justice ;  Paterson,  Weasel, 
Acquackanonck,  Bloomfield,  Belle- 
ville, Orange,  South  Orange,  Camp- 
town,  Springfield,  Elizabethtown, 


Rahway,  Westfield,   Scotch   Plains, 
Plainfield,  &c. 

Four  turnpike  roads  cross  the 
county,  north-westerly,  leading  from 
Elizabethtown,  Newark,  and  Jersey 
City,  respectively. 

In  the  north  part  of  the  county,  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  agricultu- 
ral population  is  of  Dutch  descent, 
whilst  the  south  has  been  peopled 
from  English  sources,  and  principally 
from  Long  Island  and  New  Eng- 
land. The  inhabitants  have  the  love 
of  order,  decorum,  industry,  and 
thrift  of  their  ancestors. 

In  1830,  the  census  gave  an  ag- 
gregate of  41,911  souls,  of  whom 
20,242  were  white  males;  19,502 
white  females;  921  free  coloured 
males;  1018  free  coloured  females; 
107  male  slaves;  111  female  slaves. 
There  were  1176  aliens ;  whites,  deaf 
and  dumb  27,  and  22  blind;  and  1 
coloured  person  blind. 

In  1832,  the  county  contained  7710 
taxables,  3370  householders,  whose 
ratable  estates  did  not  exceed  $30; 
1412  single  men,  306  merchants,  42 
grist  mills,  22  cotton,  and  13  wool- 
len manufactories,  41  saw  mills,  5 
furnaces,  5  carding  machines,  19 
paper  mills,  1  fulling  mill,  223  tan 
vats,  3  bleaching  and  printing  esta- 
blishments for  cotton,  &c.,  and  5  dis- 
tilleries. Besides  these  sources  of 
trade,  a  very  large  business  is  done 
in  the  manufacture  of  shoes  and  hats 
for  foreign  markets. 

In  the  same  year,  the  county  paid 
state  tax,  83822  04,  county  tax, 
$10,000,  poor  tax,  $10,570,  road 
tax,  $10,204. 

The  means  for  moral  improvement 
consist  of  many  religious  institutions, 
such  as  churches  pertaining  to  Epis- 
copalians, Presbyterians,  Methodists, 
Baptists,  and  Dutch  Reformed — bible, 
missionary,  and  temperance  societies ; 
academies  in  the  principal  towns,  at 
which  the  languages  and  the  higher 
branches  of  an  English  education  arc 
taught,  and  common  and  Sunday 
schools,  in  every  vicinity. 


EVE  140  FAT 

STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  ESSEX  COUNTY. 


Townships,  &c. 

3 
fan 
S 
u 
J 

Breadth. 

Area. 

Surface. 

Population. 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Acquackanonck, 

7 

M 

14,000  hilly, 

2023 

3338 

7710 

Bloomfield, 

5 

4i 

14,000    do. 

3085 

4309 

Caldwell, 

7 

6 

16,500'    do. 

2235 

2020 

2004 

Elizabeth, 

5 

3* 

10,0001   do. 

2977 

3515 

3455 

Livingston, 

5 

4i 

13,000    do. 

1056 

1150 

Newark, 

7 

6 

12,000,'level, 

8008 

6507 

10,953 

New  Providence, 

6 

2* 

7680 

pt.  hill,  pt.  valley, 

756 

768 

910 

Orange, 

7 

5 

14,000 

hilly,  rolling, 

2266 

2830 

3887 

Rah  way, 

8 

!*i 

10,000  level. 

1779 

1945 

1983 

Springfield, 

6 

5 

13,500  hilly,' 

2360 

1804 

1653 

Union, 

5* 

5 

12,000|level, 

1428 

1567 

1405 

Westfield, 

7 

6 

18,000 

pt.  hilly  pt.  level, 

2152 

2358 

2492 

154,680 

25,984 

30,793 

41,911 

Etna,  furnace  and  forge,  and  grist 
and  saw  mills,  on  Tuckahoe  creek, 
Weymouth  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
about  15  miles  from  the  sea. 

Everittstown,  Alexandria  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.,  11  miles  N.  W.  of 
Flemington,  upon  the  Nischisakawick 
creek,  contains  1  tavern,  a  grist  mill, 
a  Methodist  church,  and  several  dwell- 
ings. 

Evesham  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  E.  and  E.  by 
Northampton  t-ship,  S.  E.  by  Wash- 
ington t-ship,  S.  W.  by  Waterford 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  and  on  the 
N.  W.  by  Chester  t-ship.  Centrally 
distant  S.  W.  from  Mount  Holly  8 
miles;  greatest  length  N.  and  S. 
15  miles;  breadth  10  miles;  area, 
67,000  acres;  surface,  generally 
level;  soil,  sand  and  sandy  loam; 
the  north-western  portion  pretty  well 
cultivated  and  productive.  The  south 
branch  of  the  Rancocus  forms,  in 
part,  the  N.  E.  boundary ;  Haines' 
creek,  and  several  other  tributaries, 
are  on  the  E.;  and  on  the  S.  the  t-ship 
is  drained  by  the  head  waters  of  the 
Little  Egg  Harbour  river.  Evesham, 
Medford,  Colestown,  Lumberton, 
Fostertown,  Evesham  Cross  Roads, 
Bodine,  Cropwell,  &c.  are  the  villages 
of  the  t-ship,  the  two  first  are  post- 
towns;  population  in  1830,  4239.  In 
1832  the  t-ship  contained  taxables 


850,  householders  366,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30,  single  men 
90,  stores  9,  saw  mills  12,  grist  mills 
7,  fulling  mills  2,  distilleries  for  cider 
4,  phaetons  and  chaises  3,  two  horse 
stages  1,  dearborns  40,  covered  wa- 
gons 221,  chairs  and  curricles  39, 
gigs  and  sulkies  11,  2303  neat  cattle, 
and  1016  horses  and  mules,  above  3 
years  old ;  and  it  paid  state  tax,  $607 
21;  county  tax,  $21 19  15;  and  t-ship 
tax,  $1500. 

Evesham,  p-t.,  Evesham  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  8  miles  S.  W.  from 
Mount  Holly,  and  4  miles  S.  E.  from 
Moorestown,  34  from  Trenton,  and 
147  from  W.  C.;  contains  a  Quaker 
meeting  house  and  several  dwellings. 

Evesham  Cross  Roads,  Evesham 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  6  miles  S.  W. 
from  Mount  Holly. 

Ewing's  Neck,  on  the  Delaware 
bay,  between  Tarkiln  creek  and  Mau- 
rice river  t-ship,  Cumberland  co. 

Factory  Branch,  of  Cedar  creek, 
small  stream  of  Dover  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth  co. 

Fairfield  t-ship,  Cumberland  co., 
is  bounded  on  the  N.  by  Deerfield, 
Hopewell,  and  Greenwich  t-ships, 
from  the  two  last  of  which,  it  is  sepa- 
rated by  the  Cohansey  creek ;  E.  by 
Milleville  t-ship,  and  S.  by  Downe 
t-ship  and  the  Delaware  bay.  Cen- 
trally distant  S.  from  Bridgeton  7 


FAI 


141 


FLA 


miles;  greatest  length  E.  and  W.  15 
miles;  breadth  8  miles ;  area,  46,720 
acres;  surface,  level;  soil,  with  the 
exception  of  a  strip  of  marsh  and  up- 
land on  the  bay,  the  latter  of  which 
is  clay  and  loam,  is  of  sand.  The 
t-ship  is  drained  on  the  north  line  by 
the  Cohansey  creek,  on  the  south  line 
by  Nantuxet  creek,  and  intermediate- 
ly, by  several  small  streams,  of  which 
Cedar  creek  is  the  most  considerable ; 
all  of  which  flow  westward;  eastward 
it  sends  forth  some  small  tributaries 
to  Maurice  river  ;  population  in  1830, 
1812.  In  1832  there  were  in  the 
t-ship  410  taxables,  105  household- 
ers, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
in  value  $30 ;  9  stores,  6  run  of 
stones  for  grinding  grain;  2  saw 
mills,  1  tannery,  310  horses,  and 
1188  neat  cattle,  above  3  years  old ; 
and  it  paid  road  tax,  $100 ;  county 
and  state  tax,  $868  55.  Cedarville 
and  Fairton  are  post-towns  of  the 
t-ship.  There  are  in  the  t-ship  a 
Presbyterian  and  Methodist  church. 
Fairfield,  small  village,  in  the 
northern  part  of  Caldwell  t-ship, 
Essex  co.;  contains  a  Dutch  Reform- 
ed church,  and  some  8  or  10  dwellings, 
distant  1 1  miles  north  west  from  New- 
ark. 

Fairton,  p-t.  of  Fairfield  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  in  the  fork  formed 
by  Mill  creek  and  Rattle  Snake  run, 
which  unite  and  flow  into  Cohansey 
creek ;  distant  about  4  miles  S.  of 
Bridgeton,  179  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
and  73  S.  from  Trenton;  contains 
from  30  to  40  dwellings,  2  stores,  a 
Methodist  church,  and  about  200  in- 
habitants. There  is  also  a  Presbyte- 
rian church  near  the  town.  Marl  has 
been  lately  discovered  here  on  the 
estate  of  Michael  Swing,  the  use  of 
which  adds  much  to  the  fertility  of 
the  lands. 

Fairview,  or  Quakertown,  p-t.  of 
Kingwood  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  7 
miles  N.  W.  of  Flemington,  29  from 
Trenton,  and  188  from  W.  C.;  con- 
tains a  Quaker  meeting  house,  2 
stores,  a  tavern,  and  some  12  or  IE 
dwellings,  and  several  mechanics 
shops.  The  soil  here  is  a  stiff  clay 


which  is  becoming  fertile  by  the  use 
of  lime. 

Faraway  Branch,  small  tributary 
of  Hospitality  creek,  an  arm  of  the 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river,  in  Franklin 
and  Deptford  t-ships,  Gloucester  co. 

Fenwicke  Creek,  Mannington  t-sp. 
Salem  co.,  named  after  John  Fen- 
wicke, the  first  Quaker  settler  in  this 
country,  rises  by  two  branches,  one 
of  which,  and  the  main  stem,  form 
the  eastern  and  northen  boundary  of 
Salem  t-ship,  separating  it  from  Man- 
nington. The  greatest  length  of  the 
stream  may  be  6  miles.  It  empties 
into  Salem  creek,  at  the  town  of  Sa- 
lem, where  it  is  crossed  by  a  neat 
covered  bridge,  to  which  it  is  navi- 
gable. 

Finesmlle,  small  village  on  the 
Musconetcong  creek,  a  mile  above 
its  mouth,  and  19  miles  S.  W.  from 
Belvidere,  the  county  town,  and  8 
from  Easton ;  lies  in  a  very  narrow 
but  fertile  valley;  contains  a  grist 
mill,  saw  mill,  and  oil  mill,  a  woollen 
manufactory,  1  tavern,  1  store,  and 
from  15  to  20  dwellings. 

Finn's  Point,  a  noted  point  on  the 
Delaware,  of  Lower  Penn's  Neck 
t-ship,  Salem  co.,  about  4  miles  above 
Salem  creek,  and  1  above  Fort  Dela- 
ware. It  has  its  name  from  the  first 
landing  or  residence  of  the  Finn's 
here. 

Fishing  Creek,  a  small  stream  of 
Downe  t-ship,  which  flows  from  Ora- 
noken  creek,  through  the  salt  marsh, 
into  the  Delaware  bay. 

Fishing  Creek,  S.  W.  boundary  of 
Middle  t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  flows 
westerly  4  or  5  miles  to  the  Dela- 
ware bay.  It  gives  name  to  a  post- 
office;  distant  109  miles  from  W.  C., 
and  112  from  Trenton. 

Five  Mile  Beach,  between  Here- 
ford and  Turtle  Gut  inlets,  partly  in 
Middle  and  partly  in  Lower  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.,  of  a  wedge-like  form, 
having  in  its  greatest  width  about  a 
mile. 

Flaggtiwn,  p-t.,  of  Hiltsborough 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  6  miles  S.  W. 
from  Somerville ;  contains  1  tavern, 
and  about  a  dozen  houses.  It  is  191 


FLE 


142 


FOR 


miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  25  from 
Trenton. 

Flanders,  p-t.,  of  Roxbury  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  in  the  valley  of  the  south 
branch  of  the  Raritan  river,  and  in  a 
fertile  country,  at  the  east  foot  of 
Schooley's  mountain;  13  miles  N. 
W.  of  Morristown,  54  N.  E.  from 
Trenton,  and  220  from  W.  C. ;  con- 
tains a  grist  and  saw  mill,  a  Metho- 
dist church,  a  school,  2  taverns,  2 
.stores,  and  from  20  to  25  dwellings. 

Flatkill,  Big  and  Little,  creeks, 
<of  Sussex  co.,  both  of  which  rise  in 
Montague  t-ship,  and  unite  near  the 
southern  boundary  of  Sandistone 
t-ship ;  thence  the  stream  flows  S.  W. 
into  the  river  Delaware,  at  the  Wai- 
pack  Bend.  The  course  of  the  main 
stream  is  parallel  with  the  Blue  moun- 
tain from  its  source,  and  for  the 
length  of  25  miles,  in  which  it  re- 
ceives some  inconsiderable  and  inno- 
minate tributaries  from  the  mountain. 

Flat  Brookmlle,  post-office,  San- 
<lystone  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  247  miles 
N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  89  from  Tren- 
ton. 

Flemington,  p-t.,  of  Hunterdon  co., 
situate  at  the  northern  extremity  of 
the  valley,  lying  between  Rock  moun- 
tain and  Mount  Carmel,  and  near  the 
S.  E.  foot  of  the  latter,  and  2  miles 
E.  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan 
river,  23  miles  N.  from  Trenton,  45 
from  Philadelphia,  and  182  from  W. 
C.,  25  N.  W.  from  Brunswick,  and 
25  S.  E.  from  Easton ;  the  two  last 
are  the  principal  markets  for  this  por- 
tion of  the  country.  The  surface  for 
tnany  miles  south  and  east  is  gently 
undulating;  the  valley  between  the 
mountains  extending  about  8  miles ; 
the  soil  is  of  red  shale,  underlaid  by 
the  old  red  sandstone  formation,  and 
if  not  generous  in  spontaneous  pro- 
duction, is  grateful  for  the  careful 
cultivation  it  receives,  yielding  abun- 
dance of  grass,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  In- 
dian corn,  and  flax ;  of  the  last,  many 
farmers  sow  from  12  to  15  acres,  for 
the  product  of  which  they  find  a  ready 
market  at  Philadelphia.  The  town 
is  also  famed  for  excellent  cheese, 
made  at  the  extensive  dairy  of  Mr. 


Capner.  Much  attention  is  also  given 
here  to  raising  horses,  of  which  the 
breeds  are  greatly  admired,  and  ea- 
gerly sought  for.  The  town  contains 
50  dwellings,  and  about  300  inha- 
bitants; a  very  neat  Presbyterian 
church,  of  stone,  built  about  35  years 
since;  a  Methodist  church,  of  brick, 
a  neat  building ;  and  a  Baptist  church, 
of  wood ;  two  schools,  one  of  which 
is  an  incorporated  academy,  and  3 
Sunday  schools ;  a  public  library,  un- 
der the  care  of  a  company  also  in- 
corporated; a  court-house,  of  stone, 
rough-cast,  having  a  Grecian  front, 
with  columns  of  the  Ionic  order. 
The  basement  story  of  this  building 
is  used  as  the  county  prison :  the  se- 
cond, contains  an  uncommonly  large 
and  well  disposed  room  for  the  court : 
the  third,  a  grand  jury  room;  and 
other  apartments.  From  the  cupola, 
which  surmounts  the  structure,  there 
is  a  delightful  prospect  of  the  valley, 
bounded  by  mountains  on  the  S.  and 
S.  W.,  but  almost  unlimited  on  the 
S.  E.,  and  of  the  hill,  which  rises  by 
a  graceful  and  gentle  slope  on  the  N. 
and  N.  W.,  ornamented  with  well 
cultivated  farms  to  its  very  summit. 
The  houses,  built  upon  one  street, 
are  neat  and  comfortable,  with  small 
court  yards  in  front,  redolent  with 
flowers,  aromatic  shrubs  and  creep- 
ing vines.  The  county  offices,  de- 
tached from  the  court-house,  are  of 
brick  and  fire-proof.  There  are  here, 
5  lawyers,  2  physicians;  a  journal, 
published  weekly,  called  the  Hunter- 
don Gazette,  edited  by  Mr.  Charles 
George;  a  fire  engine,  with  an  in- 
corporated fire  association.  The  name 
of  the  place  is  from  its  founder,  Mr. 
Fleming,  who  resided  here  before  the 
revolution.  A  valuable  deposit  of 
copper  is  said  to  have  been  lately 
found  here. 

Fork  Bridge,  over  Maurice  river, 
about  2  miles  below  the  village  of 
Malaga,  on  the  line  between  Glou- 
cester, Salem  and  Cumberland  coun- 
ties. It  takes  its  name  from  the  fork 
of  the  river  above  it.  There  are 
here  two  mills  and  several  dwellings. 

Forked  River,  Dover  t-ship,  Mon- 


ERA 


143 


FRA 


mouth  co.,  rises  at  the  foot  of  the 
Forked  river  mountains,  and  flows 
E.,  about  10  miles,  to  the  Atlantic 
ocean. 

Forked  River  Mountains,  two 
considerable  sand  hills  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Dover  t-ship,  Monmouth 
county. 

Forstertown,  Evesham  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  6  miles  S.  of  Mount  Hol- 
ly, is  a  cluster  of  some  8  or  10  farm 
houses,  upon  an  excellent  soil  of 
sandy  loam,  highly  cultivated. 

Fortescue  Creek,  Downe  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  flows  from  the  Oran- 
oken  creek,  through  the  salt  marsh 
into  the  Delaware  bay. 

Fort  Lee,  on  the  North  river,  and 
in  Hackensack  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
about  5  miles  E.  of  Hackensack 
town.  This  was  a  noted  post  dur- 
ing the  revolutionary  war,  command- 
ing in  common  with  Fort  Washing- 
ton, on  the  New  York  side,  the  na- 
vigation of  the  river.  Both  forts 
were  strongly  garrisoned  by  the  Ame- 
rican troops,  and  bridled  the  English 
forces  in  New  York,  after  the  battle 
of  Long  Island.  Possession  of  them 
was  unfortunately  holden  after  their 
insufficiency  to  prevent  the  passage 
up  the  river  by  the  British  vessels  had 
been  experimentally  proven.  The 
capture  of  Fort  Washington  lost  the 
Americans  3000  men,  and  the  like 
number  in  Fort  Lee  were  saved  from 
the  same  fate  only  by  the  timely 
abandonment  of  the  works,  by  order 
of  Gen.  Greene,  on  the  18th  Novem- 
ber, 1776.  A  metallic  vein  was 
worked  near  this  fort,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  American  war, 
under  the  impression  that  it  contain 
ed  gold.  But  it  has  been  determined 
by  Dr.  Torrey,  that  the  ore  is  pyri- 
tous  and  green  carbonate  of  copper, 
in  a  matrix  of  quartz  and  siliceous 
and  calcareous  breccia,  dipping  under 
green  sandstone. 

Frarikford     t-ship,     Sussex    co. 
bounded    N.    by   Wantage;    E.  by 
Hardiston;  S.  by  Newton,   and  W 
by  Sandiston  t-ship.     Centrally  dis- 
tant,   N.    from   Newton,    8   miles 
greatest  length,  11 ;  breadth,  8  miles 


area,  28,800  acres.  The  surface  of 
;he  t-ship  is  hilly  towards  the  west ; 
;he  boundary  on  that  side  running  on 
;he  Blue  mountain.  The  remainder 
consists  of  valley  lands.  At  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  Long  pond  and  Cul- 
ver's pond,  are  the  principal  sources 
Paulinskill  creek,  which  flows 
.  W.  towards  the  Delaware.  On 
the  N.  the  t-ship  is  drained  by  the 
Papakating  creek,  a  tributary  of  the 
Wallkill  river.  Two  turnpike  roads, 
that  from  Morristown  to  the  De- 
laware, opposite  Milford,  running 
north-west,  and  the  Newton  and 
Bolton,  running  north-east,  cross  the 
township.  Augusta  and  Branchville 
are  post  towns,  lying  on  the  for- 
mer. Population  in  1830,  1996. 
Taxables  in  1832,  370.  There  were 
in  the  t-ship,  in  1832,  110  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  exceed 
$30 ;  6  stores,  14  run  of  stones  for 
grinding  grain,  2  carding  machines  ; 
1  fulling  mill,  460  horses  and  mules, 
and  1540  neat  cattle,  above  three 
years  old ;  48  tan  vats,  5  distilleries. 
The  t-ship  paid  state  and  county  tax, 
$812  70;  poor  tax,  $900;  road  tax, 
8800.  Lime  and  slate  alternate  in 
several  veins  or  beds,  in  the  town- 
ship. Their  soils  are  fertile. 

Franklin  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Bridge  water  t-ship 
and  river;  N.  E.  by  Raritan  river, 
separating  it  from  Piscataway  t-ship, 
Middlesex  co. ;  S.  E.  by  North  and 
South  Brunswick  t-ships,  of  that 
county;  and  S.  W.  and  W.  by 
Millstone  river,  dividing  it  from  Mont- 
gomery and  Hillsborough  t-shipsr 
Somerset  co.  Centrally  distant,  S. 
E.,  from  Somerville,  7  miles.  Great- 
est length,  N.  E.  and  S.  W.,  13; 
breadth,  E.  and  W.,  8  miles;  areay 
about  30,000  acres.  Surface  on  the 
S.  W.,  hilly,  elsewhere  gently  un- 
dulating. Drained  by  the  Millstone 
and  Raritan  rivers,  and  by  several 
tributaries,  of  which  Six  Mile  Run  is 
the  chief.  Griggstown  is  a  village  of 
the  t-ship;  near  it,  at  the  foot  of  Rocky 
hill,  is  a  deposit  of  copper  ore,  not 
wrought.  Part  of  Kingston  and  Six 
Mile  Run  villages  are  within  the  east 


FRA 


144 


FRE 


boundary,  on  the  Princeton  and  New 
Brunswick  turnpike.  Population  in 
1830,  3352.  In  1832,  there  were 
716  taxables ;  67  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  830,  and  58 
single  men,  10  stores,  4  saw  mills, 
4  grist  mills,  13  tan-vats,  2  distil- 
leries, 862  horses  and  mules,  and 
1335  neat  cattle  above  the  age  of 
three  years;  and  it  paid,  state  tax, 
$709  30;  county,  $996  11. 

Franklin  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Rockland  co.,  state 
of  New  York;  E.  by  Saddle  river, 
which  divides  it  from  Harrington 
t-ship;  S.  by  Saddle  river  t-ship, 
and  W.  by  Pompton.  Centrally  dis- 
tant, N.  W.  from  Hackensack,  13 
miles;  greatest  length,  N.  and  S. 
10  miles;  breadth,  E.  and  W.  9 
miles;  area,  above  45,000  acres. 
There  are  elevated  grounds  on  the 
E.  and  W. ;  on  the  W.  lies  the  Ra- 
mapo  mountain.  The  greater  part 
of  the  township  is  valley,  with  undu- 
lating surface  and  diluvial  soil,  of 
gravel,  loam  and  sand,  poured  over 
a  sandstone  base;  generally  well 
cultivated  and  productive ;  and  a 
large  portion  of  the  produce  is  con- 
sumed at  the  numerous  manufactories 
of  the  township.  It  is  drained  by 
the  Ramapo  river,  coursing  the  base 
of  the  Ramapo  mountain,  in  the  N. 
W.  angle,  and  by  Saddle  river  on  the 
east  boundary,  with  their  tributaries. 
Population  in  1830,  3449.  In  1832, 
the  t-ship  contained  862  taxables,  83 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30;  7  merchants,  18  grist 
mills,  13  cotton  mills,  25  saw  mills, 

3  paper  mills,  1  woollen  factory,  1 
furnace,  2  fulling  mills,  22  tan  vats, 

4  distilleries,  803  horses,  and  1780 
mules,  above  3  years  old ;  and  it  paid 
state    tax,    $370    51,    county    tax, 
$753  25,  poor,  $500,  roads,  $2000. 
In  Franklin  there  are  4  Dutch  Re- 
formed, 2  Seceders,  and  2  Methodist 
churches. 

Franklin,  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Deptford  t-ship, 
S.  E.  by  Hamilton,  S.  W.  by  Mill- 
ville  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  and 
Pittsgrove  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  and  N. 


W.  by  Greenwich  and  Woolwich 
t-ships.  Centrally  distant,  S.  E.  from 
Woodbury,  15  miles,  greatest  length 
16  miles;  breadth,  7  miles;  area, 
72,000  acres ;  surface,  level ;  soil, 
sandy,  and  generally  covered  with 
pine  forest.  It  is  drained  northward 
by  the  head  waters  of  Raccoon  creek, 
S.  W.  by  the  sources  of  Maurice  ri- 
ver, and  S.  E.  by  branches  of  the 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river.  Glassboro', 
Malaga,  Little  Ease,  and  Union,  are 
villages  of  the  t-ship;  at  the  two  first 
are  post-offices.  There  are  iron  works 
at  Union.  Population  in  1830, 1574. 
In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained  276 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30 ;  4  stores,  2  grist  mills, 
9  saw  mills,  1  distillery,  3  glass  fac- 
tories ;  and  paid  county  tax,  $392  72, 
poor  tax,  $196  33,  and  road  tax, 
$1000. 

Franklin  Furnace,  and  village, 
Hardiston  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  in  the 
valley  of  the  Wallkill  river,  11  miles 
N.  E.  of  Newton,  contains  2  forges 
of  2  fires  each,  a  cupola  furnace,  a 
blast  furnace  not  now  in  operation, 
a  woollen  manufactory  for  the  manu- 
facture of  broad  cloth,  a  grist  and 
saw  mill,  a  school  house,  and  a  new 
stone  Baptist  church,  and  24  dwell- 
ings. Dr.  Samuel  Fowler  is  the 
chief  proprietor  here,  and  is  alike  dis- 
tinguished for  his  hospitality  and  his 
pursuit  of  mineralogy.  He  has  a 
cabinet  of  minerals  richly  meriting 
notice,  and  the  country  around  him 
is  considered  as  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting mineral  localities  of  the 
United  States.  The  manufactures  of 
this  place  seek  a  market  at  New 
York,  or  at  Dover  and  Rockaway. 

Franklin,  small  village  of  Cald- 
well  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  11  miles  N. 
W.  of  Newark. 

Freehold,  Upper,  t-ship  of,  Mon- 
mouth  co.,  bounded  N.  and  N.  W.  by 
East  Windsor  t-ship,  Middlesex  co., 
E.  by  Lower  Freehold,  S.  and  S.  E. 
by  Dover  t-ship,  and  W.  and  S.  W. 
by  Northampton  t-ship,  Burlington 
co.  Centrally  distant  S.  W.  from 
Freehold,  the  county  town,  15  miles. 
Greatest  length  N.  W.  and  S.  E.  16 ; 


FRE 


145 


GAL 


breadth  10  miles;  area,  about  90,000 
acres ;  surface,  level ;  soil,  clay,  sandy 
loam,  and  sand.  The  western  part 
of  the  t-ship  contains  some  excellent 
lands,  abundantly  productive  in  rye, 
corn,  oats,  and  grass;  wheat  is  not 
a  certain  crop,  and  is  not  extensively 
cultivated.  The  south-eastern  part  of 
the  t-ship  is  covered  with  pine  forest. 
Population  in  1830,  4862.  In  1832, 
the  t-ship  contained  about  900  taxa- 
bles,  253  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  830 ;  80  single 
men,  20  stores,  12  saw  mills,  15  run 
of  stones  for  grain,  1  fulling  mill,  3 
carding  machines,  50  tan  vats,  16 
distilleries  for  cider,  1036  horses  and 
mules,  2438  neat  cattle,  3  years  old 
and  upward ;  and  paid  state  and  coun- 
ty taxes  to  the  amount  of  83669  33. 
The  t-ship  is  remarkable  for  the  large 
quantities  of  pork  which  it  annually 
sends  to  market.  It  is  drained  on 
the  N.  E.  by  the  Millstone  river,  on 
the  S.  E.  by  the  head  waters  of 
Toms'  river,  N.  W.  by  Crosswick's 
creek  and  its  tributaries,  Lakaway 
and  Doctor's  creeks,  and  by  branches 
of  the  Assunpink ;  and  S.  W.  by  the 
tributaries  of  the  Rancocus.  Wrights- 
ville,  Imlaystown,  Allentown,  Var- 
minton,  Prospertown,  and  Hernes- 
town,  are  villages  of  the  t-ship. 

Freehold^  Lower,  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth  co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Mid- 
dletown  t-ship,  E.  by  Shrewsbury 
and  Howell,  S.  by  Dover,  S.  W.  by 
Upper  Freehold,  and  N.  W.  by  South 
Amboy  t-ships,  Middlesex  co.  Great- 
est length  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  23  miles; 
greatest  breadth  1 1  miles ;  area, 
104,000  acres;  surface,  level;  soil, 
sand  and  sandy  loam,  not  more  than 
half  of  which  is  in  cultivation,  being 
barren,  or  covered  with  pine  forest. 
There  are,  however,  some  very  good 
farms,  which  produce  abundance  of 
rye,  corn,  &c.  Pork  is  also  a  staple 
product.  Englishtown  and  Freehold 
are  villages  and  post-towns.  The 
t-ship  is  drained  by  the  Millstone  ri- 
ver on  the  N.  W.;  Matchaponix 
brook,  a  tributary  of  the  South  river, 
on  the  north;  by  branches  of  the 
Swimming  river  on  tha  N.  E.,  and 


by  arms  of  the  Manasquan  and  the 
Metetecunk  on  the  S.  E.,  and  by 
Toms'  river  on  the  south.  Popula- 
tion in  1830,  5481.  In  1832,  the 
t-ship  contained  about  1100  taxables, 
203  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  830,  71  single  men,  11 
stores,  11  saw  mills,  16  run  of  grist 
mill  stones,  2  fulling  mills,  4  carding 
machines,  16  tan  vats,  14  distilleries 
for  cider,  1245  horses  and  mules, 
and  2569  neat  cattle,  3  years  old 
and  upwards ;  and  it  paid  state  and 
county  tax,  83563  86. 

Freehold,  or  Monmouth,  post-town 
of  Freehold  t-ship,  and  seat  of  justice 
of  Monmouth  co., 'about  4  miles  W. 
of  the  east  boundary  of  the  t-ship, 
201  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  36 
S.  E.  from  Trenton,  situate  upon  a 
level  soil  of  sandy  loam,  which  is 
fast  improving  under  the  present 
mode  of  culture.  The  town,  though 
long  stationary,  is  now  thriving, 
and  contains  from  35  to  40  dwell- 
ings, a  court  house,  prison,  and 
public  offices,  an  Episcopal,  a  Me- 
thodist, a  Presbyterian,  Dutch  Re- 
formed, and  a  Baptist  church,  3  ta- 
verns, 5  or  6  stores,  4  practising  at- 
tornies,  2  physicians,  an  academy 
and  printing  office.  This  place  is 
noted  in  the  revolutionary  history,  on 
account  of  the  battle  of  Monmouth, 
which  was  fought  near  it. 

Friesburg,  a  small  German  settle- 
ment of  Upper  Alloways  Creek 
t-ship,  near  the  south-east  boundary, 
12  miles  S.  E.  from  Salem,  and  5 
from  Allowaystown;  contains  1  ta- 
vern, a  Dutch  Reformed  church,  and 
a  school. 

Fredon,  post-office,  Sussex  co.,232 
miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  74 
from  Trenton. 

Galloway  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by  Atsion  ri- 
ver, and  Mullica  or  Little  Egg  Har- 
bour river,  and  Great  Bay,  which 
separate  it  from  Burlington  co.,  S.  E. 
by  the  Atlantic  ocean,  S.  W.  by 
Hamilton  and  Ego-  Harbour  t-ships, 
and  N.  W.  by  Gloucester  and  Here- 
ford t-ships.  Centrally  distant  S.  W. 
from  Woodbury,  35  miles;  greatest 


GIB 


146 


GLO 


length,  33;  breadth,  10  miles;  area, 
147,000  acres;  surface  level,  and  soil 
sandy.  The  sea  coast  is  girded  by 
Brigantine  beach,  within  which,  for 
a  depth  of  seven  miles,  is  a  space  co- 
vered with  lagunes  and  salt  meadows. 
Among  the  small  lakes,  Absecum, 
Reed's  and  Grass  bays,  are  the  most 
considerable.  The  remainder  of  the 
township  is  chiefly  covered  with  pine 
forest,  through  which  flow  many 
streams  of  water,  tributary  to  Little 
Egg  Harbour  river.  Pleasant  Mills, 
Leed's  Point,  Gloucester  Furnace, 
Absecum  and  Smith's  Landing,  are 
villages  of  the  township.  Population, 
in  1830,  2960;  and  in  1820,  only 
1895,  presenting  an  instance  of  the 
greatest  increase  in  the  state.  In 
1832,  there  were  in  the  township,  as 
reported  by  the  assessor,  165  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
$30,  7  stores,  3  grist  mills,  1  cotton 
manufactory,  1  blast  furnace,  5  saw 
mills,  375  neat  cattle,  and  205  horses 
and  mules  over  three  years  of  age. 

Georgetown,  hamlet  of  Mansfield 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  near  the  N. 
E.  boundary  line,  6  miles  S.  E.  from 
Bordentown,  and  9  N.  E.  from  Mount 
Holly. 

Georgia,  a  small  hamlet  of  Free- 
hold t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  5  miles 
S.  from  Freehold  town. 

German  Valley,  Washington  t-sp, 
Morris  county,  and  in  Schooley's 
mountain.  It  is  about  10  miles  long, 
varying,  in  width,  from  one  to  two 
miles.  The  soil  is  grey  limestone 
throughout,  and  is  well  cultivated, 
and  highly  productive.  The  inhabi- 
tants are  of  German  descent,  and  re- 
tain the  industrious  and  thrifty  habits 
of  their  ancestors.  The  valley  is 
drained  by  the  south  branch  of  the 
Raritan  river,  and  is  crossed  by  the 
turnpike  road  from  Morristown  to 
Easton,  which  passes  through  the 
post  town  of  Washington,  lying  in 
the  vale.  There  is  a  Presbyterian 
church  here. 

Gibson's  Creek,  small  tributary 
flowing  eastwardly  into  the  Great 
Egg  Harbour  river,  Weymouth  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co. 


Glassboro\  p-t.  of  Franklin  t-sliip, 
Gloucester  co.,  14  miles  S.  E.  from 
Woodbury,  22  from  Camden,  49 
from  Trenton,  and  155  from  W.  C.; 
contains  an  Episcopal  and  Methodist 
church,  2  glass  houses  or  factories 
which  make  hollow  ware,  belonging 
to  Messrs.  Stangeer  &  Co.,  1  tavern, 
2  stores,  and  about  30  dwellings. 

Gloucester  County,  was  first  laid 
off  in  1677,  forming  one  of  the  only 
two  counties  of  West  Jersey ;  and  its 
boundaries  were  fixed  by  the  act  of 
21st  of  January,  1709-10:  begin- 
ning at  the  mouth  of  Pensaukin  creek; 
thence,  running  up  the  same  to  the 
fork  thereof;  thence  along  the  bounds 
of  Burlington  co.,  to  the  sea;  thence 
along  the  sea  coast  to  Great  Egg 
Harbour  river ;  thence  up  said  river 
to  the  fork  thereof;  thence  up  the 
southernmost  and  greatest  branch  of 
the  same  to  the  head  thereof;  thence 
upon  a  direct  line  to  the  head  of  Old 
Man's  creek;  thence  down  the  same 
to  the  Delaware  river;  thence  up 
Delaware  river  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. It  is,  therefore,  bounded  N. 
W.  by  the  Delaware  river,  N.  E.  by 
Burlington  co.,  S.  E.  by  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  and  S.  W.  by  the  counties  of 
Cumberland  and  Salem.  Greatest 
length,  from  Absecum  inlet,  on  the 
S.  E.  to  Red  Bank,  on  the  N.  W. 
55  miles :  greatest  breadth,  from  the 
head  of  the  Great  Egg  Harbour  bay, 
to  Tuckahoe  river,  30  miles;  area, 
1114  square  miles,  or  713,000  acres. 
Central  lat.  39°  40',  N.  long,  from 
W.  C.  2°  10',  E. 

The  whole  county  pertains  to 
the  alluvial  formation.  Along  the 
shores  of  the  Delaware,  and  for  se- 
veral miles  inward,  a  black  or 
dark  green  mud  is  raised  even  from 
a  depth  of  forty  feet,  in  which 
reeds  and  other  vegetables,  the  evi- 
dences of  river  alluvion,  are  distinctly 
visible.  The  remaining  part  of  the 
county  seems  to  have  been  gained 
from  the  sea;  and  beds  of  shells, 
whole  and  in  a  state  of  disintegra- 
tion, are  found,  at  various  depths,  in 
many  places.  The  green  earth,  or 
marl,  in  which  these  are  imbedded 


GLO 


147 


GLO 


together  with  the  shells,  are  used 
with  great  advantage  upon  the  soil, 
especially  in  the  cultivation  of  grass, 
clover  particularly.  Bog  iron  ore  is 
found  near  Woodbury,  and  exported 
for  manufacture. 

The  surface  is  uniformly  level,  ex- 
cept where  worn  down  by  the  streams, 
and  the  soil  sandy;  having,  on  the 
N.  W.  an  admixture  of  loam  or  clay, 
in  many  places.  S.  E.  of  a  line  drawn 
about  7  miles  from  the  Delaware 
river,  N.  E.  across  the  county,  the 
country  is  universally  sandy  and 
covered  by  a  pine  forest,  generally, 
(but  with  occasional  cleared  patches  of 
greater  or  less  extent,)  from  which 
large  quantities  of  timber  and  cord 
wood  are  taken  for  market.  Along 
the  coast,  within  the  beach,  is  a  strip 
of  marsh  of  an  average  width  of  four 
miles,  in  which  are  lagunes,  the  chief 
of  which  are  Grass,  Reed's,  Absecum, 
and  Lake's  bays. 

The  county  is  drained  southward- 
ly by  Maurice  river,  which  flows  from 
it,  through  Cumberland  county,  into 
the  Delaware  bay ;  by  Tuckahoe  ri- 
ver, forming  the  line  between  it  and 
Cumberland ;  by  Great  and  Little 
Egg  Harbour  rivers,  which  rise  far 
north  in  the  county,  and  empty  into 
the  Atlantic ;  the  latter,  throughout  its 
whole  course,  forming  the  boundary 
between  Gloucester  and  Burlington 
counties.  All  these  streams  are  na- 
vigable some  miles  from  the  sea,  and 
afford  great  facilities  in  transporting 
the  lumber  and  cord  wood,  the  most 
valuable  products  of  this  region,  to 
market.  Their  inlets,  and  the  small 
bays  on  the  coast,  abound  with  oys- 
ters and  clams,  the  fishing  for  which 
gives  subsistence  to  many  of  the  in- 
habitants. These  rivers  have  also 
many  tributaries,  which  intersect  the 
forest  in  almost  every  direction.  The 
streams  on  the  N.  W.  are  Oldman's, 
Raccoon,  Little  Timber,  Repaupo, 
Clonmell,  Mantua,  Big  Timber,  New- 
ton, Cooper's  and  Pensauken  creeks, 
most  of  which  are  navigable  for  a 
short  distance,  and  furnish  outlets  for 
an  amazing  quantity  of  fruit  and  gar- 
den truck  and  firewood,  for  the  sup- 


ply of  the  Philadelphia  market,  and 
other  towns  on  the  western  side  of  the 
river. 

The  post  towns  of  the  township 
are,  Absecum,  Bargaintown,  Cam- 
den,  an  incorporated  city,  Carpen- 
ter's Landing,  Chew's  Landing, 
Clarkesboro',  Glassboro',  Gloucester 
Furnace,  Gravelly  Landing,  Haddon- 
field,  Hammonton,  Jackson  Glass- 
works, Leeds'  Point,  Longacoming, 
Malaga,  May's  Landing,  Mullica 
Hill,  Pleasant  Mills,  Smith's  Land- 
ing, Somers'  Point,  Stephens'  Creek, 
Sweedsboro,  Tuckahoe,  and  Wood- 
bury,  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county. 

There  are  several  academies  for 
teaching  the  higher  branches  of  edu- 
cation ;  and  primary  schools  in  most 
of  the  agricultural  neighbourhoods. 
There  are  also  established,  Sunday 
schools,  in  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  popu- 
lous villages ;  a  county  bible  society, 
various  tract  societies,  and  many  tem- 
perance associations ;  which  have  al- 
most rendered  the  immoderate  use  of 
ardent  spirits  infamous. 

In  1832,  by  the  report  of  the  asses- 
sors, the  county  contained  3075  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed 830  in  value;  978  single  men, 
102  stores,  21  fisheries,  45  grist  mills, 

2  cotton  and  2  woollen  manufactories, 
4  carding  machines,  4  blast  furnaces, 

3  forges,  63  saw  mills,  4  fulling  mills, 
8  ferries,  9  tan  yards,  29  distilleries, 
7  glass  factories,  2  four  horse  stage 
wagons,  967  covered    wagons   with 
fixed  tops,  204  riding  chairs,  gigs, 
sulkies,  and  pleasure  carriages,  4  two 
horse   stage  wagons,    31    dearborns 
with  steel,  iron,  or  wooden  springs ; 
and  it  paid  county  tax,  $10,000 ;  poor 
tax,  $5000  ;  and  road  tax,  $15,000; 
state  tax, 

By  the  census  of  1830  Gloucester 
co.  contained  28,431  inhabitants,  of 
whom  13,916  were  white  males; 
12,962  white  females;  14  female 
slaves;  835  free  coloured  males; 
714  free  coloured  females.  Of  these 
there  were  deaf  and  dumb,  under  14 
years,  64;  above  14  and  under  30, 
73;  above  25  years,  80;  blind,  205 
white,  22  black ;  aliens  3365. 


GLO 


148 


GLO 


There  is  a  county  poor  house  esta- 
blished upon  a  farm  near  Blackwoods- 
town,  but  in  Deptford  t-ship,  contain- 
ing more  than  200  acres  of  land. 

The  following  extract  from  the  re- 
cords of  this  county,  presents  singu- 
lar features  of  the  polity  of  the  early 
settlers.  It  would  seem  that  the  in- 
habitants of  the  county  deemed  them- 
selves a  body  politic,  a  democratic 
commonwealth,  with  full  power  of 
legislation,  in  which  the  courts  parti- 
cipated, prescribing  the  punishment 
for  each  offence,  as  it  was  proven  be- 
fore them. 

Gloucester,  the  28th  May,  1686. 

By  the  proprietors,  freeholders,  and 
inhabitants  of  the  third  and  fourth 
tenths,  (alias  county  of  Gloucester) 
then  agreed  as  follows : 

Inprimus.  That  a  court  be  held  for 
the  jurisdiction  and  limits  of  the  afore- 
said tenths,  or  county,  one  time  at 
Axwamus,  alias  Gloucester,  and  at 
another  time  at  Red  Bank. 

Item.  That  there  be  four  courts, 
for  the  jurisdiction  aforesaid,  held  in 
one  year,  at  the  days  and  times  here- 
after mentioned,  viz:  upon  the  first 
day  of  the  first  month,  upon  the  first 
day  of  the  fourth  month,  and  the  first 
day  of  the  seventh  month,  and  upon 
the  first  day  of  the  tenth  month. 

Item.  That  the  first  court  shall  be 
held  at  Gloucester  aforesaid,  upon  the 
first  day  of  September  next. 

Item.  That  all  warrants  and  sum- 
mons shall  be  drawn  by  the  clerk  of 
the  court,  and  signed  by  the  justice, 
and  so  delivered  to  the  sheriff  or  his 
deputy  to  execute. 

Item.  That  the  body  of  each  war- 
rant, &c.,  shall  contain  or  intimate 
the  nature  of  the  action. 


Item.  That  a  copy  of  the  declara- 
tion be  given  along  with  the  warrant, 
by  the  clerk  of  the  court,  that  so  the 
deft,  may  have  the  longer  time  to  con- 
sider^ the  same,  and  prepare  his  an- 
swer. 

Item.  That  all  summons  and  war- 
rants, &c.,  shall  be  served,  and  decla- 
rations given,  at  least  ten  days  before 
the  court. 

Item.  That  the  sheriff  shall  give 
the  jury  summons  six  days  before  the 
court  be  held,  in  which  they  are  to 
appear. 

Item.  That  all  persons  within  the 
jurisdiction  aforesaid,  bring  into  the 
next  court  the  marks  of  their  hogs, 
and  other  cattle,  in  order  to  be  ap- 
proved and  recorded. 

Rex     }      Indict,  at  Gloucester  Ct. 

vs.  V  N.  J.  10  Sept.  1686,  for 
Wilkes.  )  stealing  goods  of  Dennis 
Lins,  from  a  house  in  Philadelphia. 
Dft.  pleads  guilty,  but  was  tried  by 
jury.  Verdict  guilty,  and  that  pri- 
soner ought  to  make  pay't.  to  the 
prosecutor  of  the  sum  of  sixteen 
pounds.  Sentence.  The  bench  ap- 
points that  said  Wilkes  shall  pay  the 
aforesaid  Lins,  £16  by  way  of  servi- 
tude, viz :  if  he  will  be  bound  by  in- 
dentures to  the  prosecutor,  then  to 
serve  him  the  term  of  four  years,  but 
if  he  condescended  not  thereto,  then 
the  court  awarded  that  he  should  be  a 
servant,  and  so  abide  for  the  term  of 
five  years.  And  so  be  accommodated 
in  the  time  of  his  servitude,  by  his 
master,  with  meat,  drink,  clothes, 
washing,  and  lodging,  according  to 
the  customs  of  the  country,  and  fit 
for  such  a  servant. 

In  1832  the  county  was  divided  into 
12  t-ships  as  in  the  following  table,  to 
which  Camden  is  now  to  be  added. 


GLO  149  GOD 

STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  GLOUCESTER  COUNTY. 


Townships,  &c. 

'M 

"So 
a 

O) 

J 

Breadth. 

Area. 

Population. 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Deptford, 

25 

7 

57,600 

2978 

3281 

3599 

Egg  Harbour, 

12 

12 

85,000 

1830 

1635 

2510 

Galloway, 

32 

10 

147,000 

1648 

1895 

2960 

Gloucester, 

20 

8 

60,000 

1726 

2059 

2332 

Greenwich, 

15 

7 

35,840 

2859 

2699 

2657 

Newton, 

6 

4 

9,000 

1951 

2497 

3298 

Franklin, 

16 

7 

72,000 

1137 

1574 

Hamilton, 

18 

11 

106.880 

877 

1424 

Waterford, 

25 

8 

50,000 

2105 

2447 

3088 

Weymouth, 

12 

10 

50,000 

1029 

781 

1270 

Woolwich, 

16 

7 

40,000 

3063 

3113 

3033 

Gloucestertown,  (area  in- 

662 

686 

ill       •           fi  !«.,  ^-io*^.,. 

UJUUcU      111      VTlUUCcolcl 

township.) 

713,320 

19,189 

23,089 

28,431 

Gloucester,  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Gloucestertown,  N. 
E.  by  Hereford  t-ship,  S.  E.  by  Ha- 
milton, and  S.  W.  and  W.  by  Dept- 
ford t-ship.  Centrally  distant  S.  E. 
from  Woodbury,  10  miles;  greatest 
length  N.  W.  and  S.  E.  20;  breadth 
8  miles  E.  and  W. ;  area,  about 
60,000  acres ;  surface>  level ;  soil, 
sand  more  or  less  mixed  with  loam, 
and  in  the  northern  part  cultivated  in 
vegetables  and  fruit,  the  southern  be- 
ing chiefly  pine  forest,  valuable  for 
timber  and  fuel.  It  is  drained  north- 
ward by  Cooper's  creek  on  the  east- 
ern, and  Big  Timber  creek  on  the 
western  boundary,  southward  by  In- 
skeep's  branch  of  the  Great  Egg  Har- 
bour river.  Chew's  Landing,  Longa- 
coming,  Clementon,  Blackwoodtown, 
Tansborough,  and  New  Freedom, 
are  villages  of  the  t-ship ;  the  two  first 
post-towns.  Population  in  1830, 2232. 
In  1832,  there  were  in  the  t-ship,  in- 
cluding Gloucestertown,  781  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed $30  in  value;  11  stores,  5  grist 
mills,  9  saw  mills,  2  tanneries,  and 
1  glass  factory;  and  it  paid  county 
tax,  8799  78;  poor  tax,  $400  73; 
road  tax,  $1000. 

Gloucestertown,  small  t-ship  of 
Gloucester  co.,  bounded  N.  by  New- 
ton, E.  and  S.  E.  by  Gloucester 
t-ship,  S.  W.  by  Big  Timber  creek, 


which  separates  it  from  Deptford 
t-ship,  and  W.  by  the  river  Delaware. 
Centrally  distant  N.  E.  from  Wood- 
bury  4  miles ;  greatest  length  E.  and 
W.  4 ;  breadth  N.  and  S.  3  miles. 

Gloucester,  small  town  of  Glou- 
cester t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  on  the 
Delaware  river  opposite  Gloucester 
point;  contains  a  fishery,  a  ferry 
from  which  a  team-boat  plies,  about 
20  dwellings,  1  store,  and  1  tavern. 

Gloucester,  post-town  and  furnace 
of  Galloway  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
upon  Landing  creek,  a  branch  of  the 
Mullica  or  Little  Egg  Harbour  river, 
36  miles  S.  E.  from  Woodbury,  71 
from  Trenton,  and  179  from  W.  C. ; 
contains  a  furnace,  grist  and  saw 
mill,  a  store,  tavern,  and  a  number 
of  dwellings,  chiefly  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  workmen,  of  whom 
there  are  about  60,  constantly  em- 
ployed, whose  families  may  amount 
to  300  persons.  The  furnace  makes 
annually  about  800  tons  of  iron, 
chiefly  castings,  and  has  annexed  to 
it  about  25,000  acres  of  land. 

Glover's  Pond,  Hardwick  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  the  extreme  source  of 
Beaver  brook. 

Godwinsville,  Franklin  t-ship,  Ber- 
gen co.,  upon  Goffle  brook,  8  miles 
N.  W.  from  Hackensack ;  contains  1 
tavern,  2  stores,  7  cotton  mills,  hav- 
ing together  5000  soindles,  and  from 


GOS 


150 


GRE 


45  to  50  dwellings ;  soil  around  it 
red  shale,  fertile  and  well  cultivated. 

Goffle  Brook,  rises  in  Franklin 
t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  E.  of  Hohokus,  and  flows  by 
a  southerly  course  of  5  miles  through 
Saddle  river  t-ship,  to  the  Passaic. 
It  is  a  rapid,  steady  stream,  and  gives 
motion  to  several  cotton  mills  at  God- 
winsville.  'About  1^  miles  above  its 
mouth,  is  the  small  hamlet  called 
Goffle,  containing  5  or  6  farm  dwell- 
ings. 

Goodwater  Run,  small  tributary  of 
Batsto  river,  Washington  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  uniting  with  the  river  at 
the  head  of  Batsto  furnace  pond. 

Good  Luck,  town,  or  more  pro- 
perly neighbourhood,  of  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  a  little  S.  W.  of  Cedar 
creek  or  Williamsburgh,  separated 
from  Barnegat  bay  by  a  strip  of  salt 
marsh,  and  surrounded  by  a  pine  fo- 
rest and  sandy  soil. 

Good  Luck  Point,  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  on  the  S.  side  of 
Toms'  bay,  at  its  junction  with  Bar- 
negat bay. 

Goose  Creek,  Dover  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth co.,  puts  in  from  Barnegat 
bay,  2  miles  N.  of  Toms'  bay. 

Goose  Pond,  on  the  sea  shore  of 
Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
about  2  miles  above  the  south  boun- 
dary of  the  t-ship. 

Goshen,  village  of  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  and  near  the 
head  of  Toms'  river,  13  miles  S.  of 
Monmouth  Court  House,  23  S.  E. 
from  Trenton ;  contains  1  tavern,  2 
stores,  10  or  12  dwellings,  a  grist 
and  saw  mill,  and  Methodist  meeting ; 
country  around,  sandy  and  flat;  tim- 
ber, pine. 

Goshen  Creek,  mill-stream  of  Mid- 
dle t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  rises  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  t-ship,  and  flows 
westerly  into  the  Delaware  bay,  by  a 
course  of  5  or  6  miles ;  it  is  naviga- 
ble for  about  3  miles  to  the  landing, 
for  the  small  village  of  Goshen.  A 
channel  through  the  marshes,  com- 
municates between  this  stream  and 
Dennis  creek. 

Goshen,  post-town  of  Cape  May 


co.,  in  Middle  t-ship,  near  the  head  of 
navigation  of  Goshen  creek,  about  5 
miles  N.  W.  from  Cape  May  court- 
house, 198  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and 
101  S.  from  Trenton;  contains  a  ta- 
vern, 2  stores,  a  steam  saw  mill,  and 
12  or  15  dwellings,  and  a  school 
house,  in  which  religious  meetings 
are  held. 

Grant  Pond,  on  the  Pochuck  moun- 
tain, Vernon  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  a 
source  of  a  tributary  to  Warwick 
creek. 

Grass  Bay,  a  salt  marsh  lake, 
about  5  miles  long,  and  one  wide,  in 
Galloway  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  com- 
municating by  several  channels  with 
Reed's  bay  and  with  the  ocean. 

Grass  Pond,  Green  t-ship,  Sussex 
co.,  one  of  the  sources  of  the  Bear 
branch  of  Pequest  creek. 

Gratitude,  p-t.,  Sussex  co.,  221 
miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  68  from 
Trenton. 

Gravel  Hill,  village  and  p-t.  of 
Knowlton  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  in  the 
valley  of  the  Paulinskill,  near  the 
east  line  of  the  t-ship,  distant  by  post 
road  from  W.  C.  243  miles,  from 
Trenton  85,  and  from  Belvidere  N. 
E.  15  miles;  contains  a  large  grist 
mill,  tavern,  store,  tannery,  and  6  or 
8  dwellings ;  soil  limestone. 

Gravelly  Landing,  p-t.  of  Gallo- 
way t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  40  miles 
S.  E.  from  Woodbury,  79  from  Tren- 
ton, and  187  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  on 
Nacote  creek;  contains  a  tavern, 
store,  and  10  or  12  dwellings. 

Gravelly  Run,  small  tributary  of 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river,  flowing 
westerly  from  Egg  Harbour  t-ship  to 
its  recipient,  2  miles  below  May's 
Landing. 

Great  Meadows,  a  large  body  of 
6  or  8000  acres  of  meadow  land,  in 
Independence  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  wa- 
tered by  the  Pequest  creek. 

Great  Brook,  Morris  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  rises  at  the  head  of  Spring  valley, 
and  flows  by  a  semicircular  course  of 
8  or  9  miles,  partly  through  the  t-ship 
of  Chatham,  to  the  Passaic  river,  on 
the  S.  W.  part  of  Morris  t-ship. 

Green  Brook,  or  Bound  Brook,  a 


GRE 


151 


GRE 


considerable  tributary  of  the  Raritan 
river,  rising  in  a  narrow  valley  be- 
tween New  Providence  and  Westfield 
t-ships,  Essex  co.,  and  thence  flowing 
by  a  S.  W.  course  of  about  16  miles, 
skirting  the  semicircular  mountain 
of  Somerset  co.,  to  its  recipient  at 
Bound  Brook.  It  is  a  mill  stream  of 
considerable  power. 

Green  Brook,  village,  on  Green 
brook  above  described,  in  Piscataway 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  8  miles  from 
New  Brunswick,  6^  from  Somer- 
ville ;  contains  a  mill,  a  school  house, 
2  stores,  and  15  dwellings.  The 
country  on  the  south  and  east,  level 
and  fertile,  valued  at  $50  the  acre  ; 
on  the  north  mountainous. 

Green  Creek,  small  stream  of  Mid- 
dle t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  which  by  a 
course  of  2  or  3  miles,  flows  into  the 
Delaware  bay.  It  gives  name  to  a 
post-office  near  it,  distant  106  miles 
from  W.  C.,  and  109  from  Trenton. 
Green  Pond,  Valley,  and  Moun- 
tain-, the  first  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water,  3  miles  in  length  and  1  in 
breadth,  embosomed  in  the  valley  to 
which  it  gives  name,  between  the  Cop- 
peras and  Green  Pond  mountains,  Pe- 
quannock  t-ship,  Morris  co.  The 
pond  is  much  resorted  to  for  its  fish, 
and  its  beautiful  scenery,  where  na- 
ture is  yet  unsubdued,  and  the  red 
deer  still  roam  at  will.  The  valley  is 
drained  by  the  Burnt  Cabin  brook,  a 
principal  branch  of  the  Rockaway 
river.  Green  Pond  mountain,  which 
has  its  name  also  from  the  same 
source,  extends  about  13  miles  from 
the  Rockaway  to  the  Pequannock 
creek ;  it  is  a  high,  narrow,  and 
stony  granitic  ridge,  and  lies  on  the 
boundary  between  Pequannock  and 
Jefferson  t-ships. 

Greene  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  bounded 
N.  E.  and  E.  by  Newton  and  Byram 
t-ships,  S.  by  Roxbury  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  W.  by  Independence  and  Hard- 
wicke  t-ships,  of  the  same  county, 
and  N.  W.  by  Stillwater  t-ship,  of 
Sussex  co.  Centrally  distant  S.  W. 
from  Newton  7  miles ;  greatest  length 
N.  and  S.  9  miles ;  breadth  E.  anc 
W.  4  miles;  area,  14,080  acres;  sur- 


ace  on  the  south  mountainous,  else- 
where hilly.  It  is  drained  by  tri- 
mtaries  of  the  Pequest  creek,  which 
low  through  it  to  the  southwest. 
Bunt's  and  Grass  ponds  are  noted 
sheets  of  water  in  the  t-ship ;  Green- 
ville near  the  centre  is  the  post-town. 
3y  the  census  of  1830  the  t-ship  con- 
tained 801  inhabitants,  and  in  1832 
150taxables,  23  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30, 1  store, 
2  grist  mills,  1  saw  mill,  150  horses 
and  mules,  and  400  neat  cattle  3  years 
old  and  upwards,  12  tan  vats;  and 
paid  a  state  and  county  tax  of  $279 
60 ;  poor  tax,  200 ;  and  road  tax, 
$400.  The  mountain  on  the  S.  E. 
is  composed  of  grey  rock  ;  the  basis 
of  the  soil,  in  the  remainder  of  the 
t-ship,  is  limestone  and  slate,  the 
former  prevailing. 

Green  Bank,  settlement  on  the  left 
bank  of  Mullica  river,  Washington 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  about  10  miles 
by  the  river  from  its  union  with  Great 
bay.  There  are  here,  2  taverns,  2 
stores,  and  12  or  15  dwellings,  with- 
in a  space  of  2  miles.  The  shore  is 
clean  and  high ;  the  soil  sandy  loam, 
of  tolerable  quality  and  well  cultivated. 

Greenville,  p-t.  and  village,  of 
Greene  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  by  the  post 
route,  222  miles  N.  E.  of  W.  C.,  69 
from  Trenton,  and  8  S.  W.  from 
Newton;  contains  a  store,  tannery, 
and  10  or  12  dwellings,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  rich  limestone  country. 

Green  Village.  Chatham  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  3|  miles  S.  E.  from  Mor- 
ristown ;  contains  some  5  or  6  dwell- 
ings, situated  in  a  pleasant  fertile 
country. 

Greenwich  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by  Deptford 
t-ship,  S.  E.  by  Franklin,  S.  W.  by 
Woolwich  t-ships,  and  N.  W.  by  the 
river  Delaware.  Centrally  distant 
S.  W.  from  Woodbury  7  miles ;  great- 
est length  15  miles  ;  greatest  breadth 
7  miles ;  area,  35,840  acres ;  surface 
level;  soil  sandy.  It  is  drained  N. 
W.  by  Mantua  on  the  N.  E.,  and  by 
Repaupo  creek  on  the  S.  W.  boun- 
dary ;  Clonmell  and  Crab  creeks  are 
small  intermediate  streams;  and  on 


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the  S.  W.  by  Raccoon  creek.  Byl- 
lingsport,  Paulsboro',  Sandtown 
Clarkesboro',  Carpenter's  Landing 
Barnsboro',  and  Mullica  Hill,  are 
villages  of  the  t-ship;  population  in 
1830,  2557.  In  1832  the  t-ship  con 
tained  306  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30  in  value ;  9 
stores,  3  fisheries,  5  grist  mills,  1 
woollen  manufactory,  5  saw  mills,  1 
ferry,  2  tan  yards,  1054  neat  cattle, 
and  549  horses  and  mules,  under  3 
years  of  age ;  and  paid  county  tax, 
$1491  85;  poor  tax,  $745  92;  road 
tax,  $1100. 

Greenwich,  t-ship  of  Cumberland 
co.,  bounded  N.  by  Newport  creek, 
which  divides  it  from  Stow  Creek 
t-ship,  E.  by  Hopewell  t-ship,  S.  by 
Cohansey  creek,  which  divides  it 
from  Fairfield  t-ship  and  the  river 
Delaware,  and  W.  by  Stow  creek, 
which  separates  it  from  Lower  Allo- 
way's  Creek  t-ship.  Centrally  dis- 
tant W.  from  Bridgeton,  8  miles; 
greatest  length  N.  and  S.  7  miles; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  6  miles;  area, 
13,440  acres;  surface,  level;  soil,  ge- 
nerally of  clay  and  deep  rich  loam, 
and  well  cultivated.  Beside  the 
streams  named,  the  t-ship  is  drained 
by  Mill  creek  on  its  south-east  boun- 
dary, and  by  Pine  Mount  creek; 
Greenwich  is  the  village  and  post- 
town.  Population  of  the  t-ship  in 
1830,  912.  In  1832,  it  contained 
205  taxables,  72  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  in  value  $30  ; 
5  stores,  none  of  which  sell  ardent 
spirits,  3  grist  mills,  1  carding  ma- 
chine, 1  tannery,  1  distillery  for  cider, 
and  148  horses  and  484  neat  cattle 
3  years  old  and  upwards. 

Greenwich,  post-town  of  the  above 
t-ship,  on  the  Cohansey  creek,  6 
miles  from  the  mouth,  and  6  S.  W. 
from  Bridgeton,  by  post-route  195  N. 
E.  from  W.  C.,  and  81  from  Tren- 
ton; contains  between  40  and  50 
dwellings  of  stone,  frame,  and  brick  ; 
1  tavern,  3  stores,  and  a  large  grist 
and  merchant  mill,  2  Quaker  meet- 
ing houses,  1  Methodist  church,  a 
temperance  society,  counting  more 
than  200  members ;  the  soil  clay : 


and  rich  loam,  well  cultivated,  and 
very  productive  in  wheat,  oats,  rye, 
and  corn. 

Greenwich,   t-ship,   Warren    co., 
bounded  N.  by  Oxford  t-ship,  N.  E. 
by  Mansfield,  S.  E.  by  the  Musconet- 
cong  creek,  which  separates  it  from 
Hunterdon  co.,  and  W.  by  the  river 
Delaware.     Centrally  distant  S.  from 
Belvidere,  the  county  town,  10  miles  ; 
greatest  length  N.  and  S.  13  miles; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  11   miles;  area, 
38,000    acres ;    surface    hilly,    the 
South  Mountain  covering  the  t-ship. 
Drained  by  Lopatcong,   Pohatcong, 
and  Muscorietcong  creeks,  all  which 
flow  S.  W.  through  the  t-ship  to  the 
Delaware  river.     The  turnpike  road 
from    Somerville   runs   N.    W.   and 
that  from  Schooley's  mountain  W. 
through  the  t-ship  to  Philipsburg,  on 
the   Delaware,   opposite   to   Easton. 
Below  that   town  the  Morris   canal 
commences,    and    runs    across    the 
t-ship.     The  population  in  1830,  was 
44B6.     Taxables  in   1832,  830;  at 
that  time  the   t-ship  contained  266 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30  in  value;   9  stores,  17 
run  of  stones  for  grinding  grain,  1 
fishery,  2  carding  machines,  1  cotton 
factory,  3  oil  mills,  1  fulling  mill,  3 
distilleries,    930   horses   and   mules, 
and  1265  neat  cattle  over  3  years  of 
age.     Although  this  t-ship   be  very 
mountainous,  it  is  one  of  the  most 
productive,  not  only  of  the  county, 
but  of  the  state.     Whilst  the  moun- 
;ains  assume  a  granitic  character,  the 
valleys   are   every  where  underlaid 
with  limestone,  and  their  soils  fertile. 
The  valleys  of  the  Musconetcong,  the 
Pohatcong,  and  Lopatcong,  and  even 
;he  small  vales  through  which  their 
;ributaries  wander,  are  highly  culti- 
vated and  improved,  and  there  are 
armers  who  send   to    market  from 
one  thousand  to  three  thousand  bush- 
els of  wheat,  annually,  beside  other 
igricultural  productions.     The  most 
nteresting  minerals  yet  discovered  in 
he   t-ship,   are    marble,    steatite   or 
soapstone,  and  iron. 

Greenwood,  forest,  east  of  the  Wa- 
wayanda  mountain,  and  west  of  Bear 


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153 


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Fort  Mountain,  on  the  borders  of  Ver- 
non  and  Pompton  t-ships,  and  Sussex 
and  Bergen  counties;  extending  N.  and 
S.  14  miles  into  the  state  of  New  York. 

Griggstown,  Franklin  t-ship,  So- 
merset co.,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Millstone  river,  and  on  the  Delaware 
and  Raritan  canal,  5  miles  below 
Kingston,  and  9  south  of  Somerville ; 
contains  a  tavern,  store,  and  some 
half  dozen  dwellings.  A  grist  mill  for- 
merly here  has  been  torn  down,  be- 
ing in  the  route  of  the  canal,  which 
follows  the  bank  of  the  river.  A  cop- 
per mine  near  this  place  has  been 
wrought,  but  not  with  success. 

Groveville,  village  of  Nottingham 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  in  a  bend  of 
the  Cross  wick's  creek,  about  6  miles 
S.  E.  of  Trenton,  and  4  N.  E.  from 
Bordentowri;  contains  a  large  wool- 
len manufactory,  grist  and  saw  mill, 
and  10  or  12  houses.  The  creek  is  na- 
vigable from  the  Delaware  to  the  vil- 
lage, a  distance  of  more  than  six  miles. 

Gmneatown,  a  small  hamlet  of  Up- 
per Alloways  Creek  t-ship,  near  its 
northern  boundary ;  contains  8  or  10 
dwellings,  chiefly  inhabited  by  ne- 
groes. 

Gum  Branch,  an  arm  of  the  south 
branch  of  Toms'  river,  flows  easterly 
about  4  miles  through  the  S.  E.  part 
of  Upper  Freehold  t-ship,  Momnouth 
county. 

Hackensack  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Harrington,  E.  and  S. 
E.  by  Hudson's  river,  S.  by  Bergen 
t-ship,  S.  W.  by  Lodi,  and  N.  W. 
by  New  Barbadoes.  Centrally  dis- 
tant from  Hackensacktown,  2^  miles 
E. ;  greatest  length  N.  and  S.  9 
miles ;  breadth  E.  and  W.  5  miles ; 
area,  24,000  acres ;  surface  on  the 
E.  hilly,  on  the  W.  level ;  soil  red 
shale,  with  some  marsh  on  the  Hack- 
ensack river  and  English  creek,  ge- 
nerally well  cultivated  and  productive. 
It  is  drained  S.  by  the  Hackensack 
and  by  English  creek,  and  N.  by 
other  tributaries  of  the  river.  There 
are  four  bridges  over  the  Hackensack, 
connecting  this  with  New  Barbadoes 
t-ship,  viz.  one  at  New  Milford,  at 
Old  Bridge,  at  New  Bridge,  and 
U 


one  at  Hackensacktown;  these,  with 
Strahlenburg,  Closter,  Fort  Lee, 
Mount  Clinton,  and  English  Neigh- 
bourhood, are  the  most  noted  places 
of  the  t-ship.  The  frontier  on  the 
North  river,  is  marked  by  the  per- 
pendicular trap  rocks,  known  as  the 
Palisades.  Population  in  1830,  2200. 
In  1832  the  t-ship  contained  535  tax- 
ables,  94  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  830  in  value,  56 
single  men,  7  merchants,  11  grist 
mills,  4  fisheries,  1 1  saw  mills,  211111. 
ing  mills,  1  ferry,  over  the  Hudson, 
8  tan  vats,  460  horses,  and  1170  neat 
cattle,  above  3  years  old;  and  the 
t-ship  paid  the  following  taxes  :  state, 
$303  61;  county,  $615  38;  poor, 
$300;  road,  $1000. 

Hackensack  River,  rises  by  two 
branches  in  Rockland  co.,  state  of 
New  York;  one  in  the  Hightorn 
mountain,  a  spur  of  the  Ramapo ;  and 
the  other  from  a  pond,  in  the  high 
bank  of  the  Hudson  river,  opposite  to 
Sing  Sing.  These  unite  below  Clarkes- 
town,  and  thence  pursue  their  way 
southwardly,  through  that  county  into 
Bergen  co.,  and  thence  to  Newark 
bay.  Its  whole  length  by  meanders 
of  the  stream,  may  be  from  35  to  40 
miles.  Until  it  meets  the  tide  at 
Hackensacktown,  it  is  a  fine  mill 
stream.  Below  that  town  it  flows 
through  a  marsh  to  the  bay.  Sloops 
ascend  to  the  town. 

Hackensack,  post  and  county  town 
of  Bergen  co.,  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Hackensack  river,  15  miles  from 
its  mouth,  12  from  New  York,  63 
from  Trenton,  and  229  from  W.  C. 
It  is  a  pleasant  and  neat  town,  stretch- 
ing through  the  meadows,  on  the 
river,  for  about  a  mile  in  length  ;  con- 
taining about  150  dwellings  and  1000 
inhabitants,  principally  of  Dutch  ex- 
traction; three  churches,  viz.  one 
Dutch  Reformed,  and  two  formed  of 
seceders  from  that  church  :  two  aca- 
demies, one  boarding  school  for  fe- 
males, ten  stores,  three  taverns,  two 
paint  factories,  one  coach  maker,  two 
tanneries,  several  hatters,  three 
smiths,  and  four  or  five  cordwainers. 
The  county  court  house  is  a  neat  and 


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154 


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spacious  brick  edifice ;  the  offices  of 
the  surrogate  and  county  clerk  are  of 
the  same  material,  and  fire  proof. 
Considerable  business  is  done  here 
with  the  adjacent  country,  and  seve- 
ral sloops  ply  between  the  town  and 
New  York,  carrying  from  it  wood, 
lumber  and  agricultural  products. 
The  Weehawk  Bank,  originally  esta- 
blished at  Weehawk,  on  the  North 
river,  was  removed  here  in  1825,  and 
then  received  the  name  of  the  Wash- 
ington Bank.  Its  authorized  capital 
is  $200,000,  of  which  $93,460  have 
been  paid  in.  A  good  turnpike  road 
runs  from  Hoboken  to  Hackensack, 
and  thence  to  Paterson.  Hacken- 
sack was  the  scene  of  considerable 
military  operations  during  the  revo- 
lutionary war. 

Hacketstown,  p-t.,  Independent 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  lying  between 
the  Morris  canal  and  Musconetcong 
river,  which  are  here  about  one  mile 
distant  from  each  other.  The  village 
is  by  the  post  road,  215  miles  N.  E. 
from  W.  C.,  59  from  Trenton,  and 
15  E.  from  Belvidere,  the  county 
town,  and  6  from  Belmont  Spring, 
Schooley's  mountain;  contains  5 
large  stores,  2  taverns,  and  from  30 
to  40  dwellings  of  wood  and  brick, 
1  Presbyterian  and  1  Methodist 
church,  an  academy,  in  which  the 
classics  are  taught,  2  common 
schools,  1  resident  Presbyterian  cler- 
gyman, and  3  physicians,  2  large 
flour  mills,  a  woollen  manufactory 
and  a  clover  mill.  The  town  is  built 
upon  cross  streets  ;  is  surrounded  by 
a  fertile  limestone  country,  where 
farms  sell  at  from  50  to  75  dollars 
the  acre.  This  vicinity  is  rapidly  im- 
proving by  means  of  the  Morris  canal. 
Haddonfield,  p-t.,  of  Newton 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  near  the  west 
bank  of  Cooper's  creek,  6  miles  S. 
E.  from  Camden,  9  N.  E.  from 
Woodbury,  144  from  W.  C.,  and 
36  S.  from  Trenton;  contains  100 
dwellings,  a  Quaker  meeting  and 
Baptist  church,  2  schools,  a  public 
library,  2  fire  companies,  and  2  fire 
engines,  7  stores,  2  taverns,  2  grist 
mills,  a  woollen  manufactory  and  2 


tanneries.  This  is  a  very  pleasant 
town,  built  upon  both  sides  of  a  wide 
road,  along  which  it  extends  for 
more  than  a  half  mile.  The  houses 
are  of  brick  and  wood,  many  of  them 
neat  and  commodious,  and  surround- 
ed by  gardens,  orchards,  and  grass 
lots.  This  was  a  place  of  some  note, 
bearing  its  present  name,  prior  to 
1713.  The  house  erected  by  Eliza- 
beth Haddon,  of  brick  and  boards, 
brought  from  England,  in  style 
which  must  then  have  been  deemed 
magnificent,  has  upon  it  "  1713, 
Haddonfield,"  formed  of  the  arch 
brick.  For  many  years  the  town  has 
undergone  little  change,  but  a  dispo- 
sition to  build  has  lately  been  awaken- 
ed. The  soil  of  the  surrounding 
country  is  of  excellent  quality,  being 
fertile  sandy  loam,  and  is  highly  pro- 
ductive of  corn,  vegetables,  fruits  and 
grass,  which,  with  its  vicinity  to  mar- 
ket, occasions  it  to  be  much  sought  af- 
ter,and  at  high  prices;  whole  farms  sell- 
ing at  from  60  to  100  dolls,  the  acre. 

Hagerstown,  a  small  hamlet,  of 
Elsinborough  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  on 
the  road  leading  from  Salem  to  Han- 
cock's bridge,  about  4  miles  S.  of  the 
former,  contains  10  or  12  cottages, 
inhabited  chiefly  by  negroes. 

Haines'  Creek,  a  considerable 
tributary  of  the  Rancocus  creek,  ri- 
sing by  several  branches  in  Eves- 
ham  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  all  of 
which  there  are  mills.  It  flows  N. 
E.  by  a  course  of  about  14  miles  to 
its  recipient,  near  Eayrstown. 

Hakehokake  Creek,  rises  in  Alex- 
andria t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  and 
flows  S.  W.  by  a  course  of  6  or  7 
miles,  to  the  Delaware  river,  three 
miles  above  the  town  of  Alexandria, 
passing  by  Mount  Pleasant,  and  giv- 
ing motion  to  several  mills. 

Hallos  Pond,  small  basin  of  wa- 
ter, in  Newton  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  3 
miles  S.  E.  of  the  town  of  Newton. 

Hamburg,  p-t.,  of  Vernon  t-ship, 
Sussex  co.,  in  the  S.  W.  angle  of  the 
t-ship,  within  1|  miles  of  the  west 
foot  of  the  Wallkill  mountains,  near 
the  E.  bank  of  the  Wallkill  river,  and 
near  the  Pochuck  turnpike  road. 


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155 


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Distant,  by  post  route  from  W.  C., 
248,  from  Trenton,  90,  and  from 
Newton,  14  miles;  contains  a  church 
common  to  Baptists  and  Presbyteri- 
ans, 2  taverns,  4  stores,  2  grist  mills, 
and  two  saw  mills,  and  15  or  20 
dwellings.  This  is  a  thriving  village, 
and  the  water  power  on  the  river  of- 
fers strong  inducements  to  settlers. 

Hamburg,  or  Wallkill  Mountains, 
a  local  name  given  to  the  chain  of 
hills  on  the  South  mountain,  extend- 
ing N.  E.  across  the  townships  of 
Byram  and  Hardiston,  and  inter- 
locking with  Wawayanda  and  Po- 
chuck  mountain,  in  Vernon  t-ship; 
about  25  miles  in  length. 

Hamilton  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Galloway  t-ship, 
S.  E.  by  Egg  Harbour  and  Wey- 
mouth  t-ships,  S.  W.  by  Maurice  ri- 
ver and  Milleville  t-ships,  of  Cumber- 
land co.,  and  N.  W.  by  Franklin, 
Deptford  and  Gloucester  t-ships.  Cen- 
trally distant,  S.  E.  from  Woodbury, 
30  miles;  greatest  length,  N.  and  S., 
18  miles;  breadth,  E.  and  W.,  11 
miles;  area,  106,880  acres.  Sur- 
face level,  and  soil  sandy,  covered 
generally  with  pine  forest,  and  drain- 
ed, southwardly,  by  Great  Egg  Har- 
bour river,  which  runs  centrally 
through  it,  receiving  several  small 
tributaries  on  either  hand.  Hamilton 
and  May's  Landing  are  villages  of 
the  township ;  the  latter  a  post  town. 
Population  in  1830,  1424.  In  1832, 
the  township  contained  115  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
$30 ;  7  stores,  2  grist  mills,  1  blast 
furnace,  6  saw  mills,  1  forge  with  4 
fires,  135  neat  cattle,  and  171  horses 
and  mules,  above  the  age  of  three 
years ;  and  paid  county  tax,  82 09  62 ; 
poor  tax,  $104  74^;  road  tax, 
$800.  The  assessor  returns  but  670 
acres  of  improved  land. 

Hamilton  Village.  (See  May's 
Landing.) 

Hammonton  Post  Office,  Glouces- 
ter co.,  by  post-route,  167  miles 
from  W.  C.,  and  59  from  Trenton. 

Hancock's  Bridge,  Lower  Allo- 
ways  Creek  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  over 
the  Alloways  creek.  There  is  a  post- 


town  here,  which  contains  between 
30  and  40  dwellings,  a  Friend's  meet- 
ing house,  a  tavern,  and  2  stores. 
Distant  5  miles  S.  of  Salem,  174  N. 
E.  from  W.  C.,  54  S.  from  Trenton: 
the  soil  immediately  about  the  town 
is  of  rich  clay,  and  marsh  meadow, 
banked  and  productive. 

Hank's  Pond,  covers  about  300 
acres,  in  Pompton  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
near  Clinton  forges,  to  which  it  pays 
a  tribute  of  its  waters. 

Hanover  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Upper  Freehold 
and  Dover  t-ships,  Monmouth  co.,  S. 
by  the  North  and  Pole  Bridge  branch- 
es of  the  Rancocus  creek,  which  se- 
parate it  from  Northampton  t-ship, 
W.  and  N.  W.  by  Springfield,  Mans- 
field, and  Chesterfield  t-ships.  Cen- 
trally distant  N.  E.  from  Mount  Hol- 
ly, 12  miles;  greatest  length  N.  W. 
and  S.  E.  16  miles;  greatest  breadth, 
13  miles;  area,  44,000  acres;  sur- 
face, generally  level ;  soil,  sandy 
loam  and  sand,  and  in  the  S,  E.  part 
covered  with  pine  forest.  Drained 
N.  E.  by  tributaries  of  the  Cross- 
wick's  creek,  on  the  N.  W.  by 
Black's  creek,  and  on  the  S.  by  the 
north  branch  of  the  Rancocus,  upon 
which,  near  the  S.  W.  angle  of  the 
t-ship,  is  the  County  Poor  House.  Ar- 
ney'stown,  Shelltown,  Jacobstown, 
Wrightstown,  and  Scrabbletown,  are 
villages  of  the  t-ship  ;  at  the  first  of 
which  there  is  a  post-office.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  2859.  In  1832,  the 
t-ship  contained  530  taxables,  298 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30  in  value ;  77  single  men, 
10  merchants,  5  saw  mills,  5  grist 
mills ;  1  furnace,  called  Hanover ;  20 
tan  vats,  1  carding  machine,  7  distil- 
leries for  cider,  1  two  horse  stage, 
36  dearborns,  85  covered  wagons,  5 
chairs  and  curricles,  1 3  gigs  and  sul- 
kies, and  paid  state  tax,  $392  14; 
county  tax,  $1369  19;  and  township 
tax,  $500. 

Hanover  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Pequannock  t-ship,  E.  by 
Livingston  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  S.  E. 
by  Chatham  t-ship,  S.  by  Morris,  and 
W.  by  Randolph  t-ships.  Centrally 


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156 


HAR 


distant  N.  from  Morristown,  5  miles ; 
greatest  length  E.  and  W.  12; 
breadth  N.  and  S.  9  miles;  area, 
35,000  acres ;  surface  on  the  N.  W. 
hilly,  Trowbridge  mountain  there 
crossing  the  t-ship ;  on  the  E.  and  S. 
E.  level ;  soil,  clay,  loam  and  gravel. 
The  Rockaway  river  forms  its  north- 
ern boundary,  running  into  the  Pas- 
saic,  which  on  the  east  divides  the 
t-ship  from  Essex  county.  The  Whip- 
pany  and  Parsipany  rivers  also  flow 
through  it,  uniting  about  a  mile 
before  they  commingle  with  the  Rock- 
away.  Population  in  1830,  3718. 
In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained  700 
taxables,  173  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30  in  value ; 
79  single  men,  14  stores,  7  saw  mills, 
7  grist  mills,  29  tan  vats,  9  distille- 
ries, 3  paper  mills,  5  forges,  2  rolling 
and  slitting  mills,  2  fulling  mills,  2 
carding  machines,  4  cotton  manufac- 
tories, 621  horses  and  mules,  and 
2080  cattle  above  3  years  old;  and 
paid  state  tax,  $548  98;  county, 
$1229  08;  poor,  $1000;  road  tax, 
1000.  This  t-ship  is  not  remarkable 
for  the  extent  of  its  agricultural  pro- 
duce, the  soil  not  being  of  the  best 
quality,  yet  it  is  generally  well  culti- 
vated. It  contains,  however,  many 
and  various  manufactories,  and  abun- 
dant water  power  for  others. 

Hanover,  post-town  of  preceding 
t-ship,  on  the  turnpike  road  from 
Newark  to  Milford,  7  miles  E.  from 
Morristown,  225  from  W.  C.,  and  59 
from  Trenton;  contains  a  Presbyte- 
rian church  and  half  a  dozen  dwell- 
ings, situate  on  the  plain  near  the 
bank  of  the  Passaic. 

Hanover  Neck  post-office,  Morris 
co.,  227  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
and  61  from  Trenton,  by  post-route. 

Hardinsville  p-o.,  Gloucester  co. 

Hardiston  t-sp,  Sussex  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Wantage  t-ship,  N.  E.  by 
Vernon,  S.  E.  by  Bergen  and  Mor- 
ris counties,  and  W.  by  Newton  and 
Frankford  t-ships.  Greatest  length 
13£  miles;  breadth  9  miles;  area, 
41,960  acres;  surface  mountainous, 
covered  principally  by  the  Hamburg 
or  Wallkill  mountains.  Pimple  Hill 


is  also  a  distinguished  eminence. 
The  t-ship  is  drained  chiefly  by  the 
Wallkill  river,  which  flows  north- 
ward, centrally  through  it,  and  Pe- 
quannock  creek,  which  flows  through 
the  eastern  angle.  Norman's  Pond, 
and  White  Ponds,  are  basins  which 
send  forth  tributaries  to  the  river. 
Population  in  1830,  2588.  Taxables 
in  1832,  450.  There  were  in  the 
t-ship  in  1832, 2  Presbyterian  church- 
es, 171  householders,  whose  ratables 
did  not  exceed  $30  in  value ;  8  store- 
keepers, 13  pairs  of  stones  for  grind- 
ing grain,  2  carding  machines,  7 
mill  saws,  1  furnace,  13  forge  fires, 
1  fulling  mill,  407  horses  and  mules, 
and  1437  neat  cattle  above  the  age  of 
3  years;  37  tan  vats,  9  distilleries. 
The  t-ship  paid  state  and  county  tax, 
$915;  poor  tax,  $500;  and  road 
tax,  $1200.  Sparta  and  Monroe  are 
post-towns  of  the  t-ship;  there  is  a 
third  post-office  at  Harmony  Vale,  in 
the  N.  W.  angle  of  the  t-ship.  The 
Hamburg  or  Wallkill  mountain, 
which  has  an  unbroken  course  through 
the  t-ship,  contains  an  inexhaustible 
mass  of  zinc  and  iron  ores,  and  the 
t-ship  generally  is  considered  as  one 
of  the  most  interesting  mineral  loca- 
lities in  the  United  States. 

Hardwick  t-ship,  Warren  co., 
bounded  E.  by  Stillwater  and  Green 
t-ships,  of  Sussex  co.,  S.  by  Indepen- 
dence t-ship,  W.  by  Knowlton,  and  N. 
by  Pahaquarry  t-ships.  Centrally 
distant  N.  E.  from  Belvidere,  15 
miles;  greatest  length  N.  and  S.  11 ; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  8  miles;  area, 
24,320  acres.  Population  in  1830, 
1962.  There  were  in  the  t-ship  in 
1832,  82  householders,  whose  rata- 
ble estates  did  not  exceed  $30  in  va- 
lue; 5  stores,  13  pairs  of  stones  for 
grain,  2  carding  machines,  1  wool 
factory,  5  saw  mills,  56  tan  vats,  4 
distilleries ;  and  it  paid  a  state  and 
county  tax  of  $967  59.  The  sur- 
face of  the  t-ship  is  generally  hilly, 
and  is  drained  south-westerly  by 
Paulinskill,  Beaver  brook,  and  Bear 
branch  of  the  Pequest  creek,  and 
also  by  some  limestone  sinks ;  Marks- 
boro',  Lawrenceville,  Johnsonburg, 


HAR 


157 


HIL 


and  Shiloh,  are  post-towns  of  the 
t-ship.  Lime  and  slate  alternate  in 
the  t-ship,  as  in  Knowlton ;  the  ridges 
being  of  the  latter,  and  the  valleys  of 
the  former ;  both  are  productive,  ex- 
cept where  the  slate  rock  approaches 
too  near  the  surface.  White  Pond 
in  this  t-ship,  about  a  mile  north  of 
Marksboro',  is  a  great  natural  curio- 
sity. (See  Marksboro\) 

Harlingen,  p-t.,  Montgomery  t-sp. 
Somerset  co.,  9  miles  S.  W.  from 
Somerville,  185  from  W.  C.,  and  19 
from  Trenton ;  contains  a  Dutch  Re- 
formed church,  a  store,  tavern,  and 
4  or  5  dwellings,  in  a  fertile  country 
of  red  shale. 

Harmony,  post-office  and  Presby- 
terian church,  of  Greenwich  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  by  the  post  route,  distant 
from  W.  C.  200,  from  Trenton  60, 
and  from  Belvidere,  8  miles. 

Harmony  Vale,  p-t.,  in  the  N.  W. 
angle  of  Hardistone  t-ship,  Sussex 
co.,  240  miles  from  WT.  C.,  82  from 
Trenton,  and  10  from  Newton;  con- 
tains some  10  or  12  dwellings,  and 
a  Presbyterian  church. 

Harrington  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Rockland  co.,  New 
York,  E.  by  the  Hudson  river,  S.  by 
New  Barbadoes  and  Hackensack 
t-ships,  and  W.  by  Franklin  t-ship. 
Centrally  distant  from  the  town  of 
Hackensack  N.  7  miles;  greatest 
length  9^;  breadth  7  miles;  area, 
34,000  acres;  surface  level,  except 
near  the  bank  of  the  North  river, 
along  which  runs  the  Closter  moun- 
tains, 400  feet  high,  forming  the  Pali- 
sades ;  soil  loam,  well  cultivated  and 
fertile.  It  is  watered  by  the  Hack- 
ensack river,  flowing  southerly  and 
centrally  through  it,  receiving  the 
Paskack  brook,  which,  rising  in  New 
York,  seeks  its  recipient  near  the  cen- 
tre of  the  t-ship ;  and  by  Saddle  river, 
which,  rising  also  in  New  York,  flows 
along  the  western  boundary ;  popula 
tion  in  1830,  2581.  In  1832  there 
were  776  taxables,  152  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  830  in 
value,  46  single  men,  10  stores,  20 
grist  mills,  3  cotton  manufactories, 
2  furnaces,  23  saw  mills,  and  685 


Worses,  and  1332  neat  cattle,  over  3 
years  of  age,  1  fulling  mill,  26  tan 
vats,  2  woollen  factories ;  and  it  paid 
state  tax,  8432  57;  county,  $910  92. 

Harrison's  Brook,  branch  of  the 
Dead  river,  a  tributary  of  the  Passaic, 
rises  in  the  Mine  mountain  near  Veal- 
town,  and  flows  S.  5  miles  to  its  re- 
cipient, about  a  mile  below  Liberty 
Corner. 

Heathcote's  Brook,  tributary  of 
Millstone  river,  rising  near  the  Sand 
Hills,  and  flowing  westerly  about  5 
miles,  to  its  recipient,  near  Kingston. 

Herberton,  town  of  Hopewell  t-sp. 
Hunterdon  co.,  11  miles  S.  of  Flem- 
ington,  UN.  from  Trenton;  con- 
tains some  half  dozen  dwellings,  a 
Baptist  church,  store,  and  tavern ;  the 
country  around  it  is  hilly,  with  soil 
of  red  shale,  well  cultivated.  The 
t-ship  poor-house,  on  a  farm  of  140 
acres,  is  near  it,  where  the  average 
number  of  30  paupers  are  annually- 
maintained  by  their  own  labour. 

Hereford  Inlet,  Middle  t-ship,  Cape 
May  co.,  a  passage  of  between  one 
and  two  miles  wide,  between  Learn- 
ing's and  Five  Mile  beach,  through 
which  the  sea  enters  the  lagunes  and 
marshes  upon  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Hickory,  small  hamlet  of  Bethle- 
hem t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  12  miles; 
N.  W.  of  Flemington,  at  the  south 
foot  of  the  Musconetcong  mountain, 
and  on  the  line  dividing  Bethlehem 
from  Alexandria  t-ship. 

Hightstown,  p-t.  of  East  Windsor 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  on  the  turnpike 
road  from  Bordentown  to  Cranberry, 
and  on  Rocky  brook,  13  miles  from 
Bordentown,  183  from  W.  C.,  and  18 
from  Trenton ;  contains  a  Baptist  and 
Presbyterian  church,  3  taverns,  2 
stores,  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and  from 
30  to  40  dwellings.  The  rail-road 
from  Bordentown  to  Amboy  passes 
through  the  town,  and  a  line  of  stages 
runs  thence  to  Princeton,  &c. 

Hillsborovgh  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
bounded  N.  by  the  main  stem,  and 
south  branch  of  Raritan  river,  which 
separates  it  from  Bridgewater,  E.  by 
Millstone  river,  dividing  it  from  Frank- 
lin, S.  by  Montgomery,  and  W.  by 


HOB 


158 


HOP 


Amwell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.     Cen- 
trally distant  S.  W.  from  Somerville 
5  miles ;  greatest  length  E.  and  W. 
10;  breadth  N.  and  S.  7  miles  ;  area, 
about  36,000  acres;  surface  on  the 
west    hilly,   the   Neshanie  or   Rock 
mountain  extending  over  it ;  the  soil 
clay  and  loam :  on  the  east  level  and 
gently    undulating;    soil   red   shale. 
The  whole  t-ship  is  well  cultivated. 
Besides  the  streams  on  the  bounda- 
ries,  the   only   considerable   one    is 
Roy's  brook,   flowing  into  the  Mill- 
stone.   Flaggtown,  Millstone,  Nesha- 
nie, Koughstown,  and  Blackwetls,  are 
the  villages  of  the  t-ship;  the  two  first 
post-towns.  Population  in  1830, 2878. 
In   1832  the  t-ship  contained   about 
560  taxables,  95  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30  in  value, 
58  single  men,  9  stores,  8  saw  mills, 
8  grist  mills,  1  fulling  mill,  10  tan 
vats,    4   distilleries,    2   carding  ma- 
chines, 939  horses  and  mules,  and 
1638  neat  cattle,  of  3  years  old  and 
upwards;  and  paid  state  tax,  8382 
92;  county,  $1182  53.     There  is  a 
Dutch  Reformed  church  in  the  t-ship. 
Hoboken,  village  of  Bergen  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.,  on  the  North  river,  oppo- 
site to  the  city  of  New  York,  built 
chiefly  on  one  street,  and  contains 
about  1  hundred  dwellings,  3  licensed 
taverns,  many  unlicensed  houses  of 
entertainment,  4  or  5  stores,  arid  se- 
veral livery  stables  and  gardens,  and 
between  6  and  7  hundred  inhabitants. 
It  is  remarkable,  however,  chiefly  as 
a  place  of  resort,  for  the  citizens  of 
New  York,  during  the  hot.  days  of 
the  summer ;  the  bank  of  the  river  is 
high,  and  the  invigorating  sea  breeze 
may  be  enjoyed  at  almost  all  hours 
when  the  sun  is  above  the  horizon. 
The  liberality  of  Mr.  Stevens,  who  is 
an   extensive   landholder   here,    has 
opened  many  attractions  to  visiters,  in 
the  walks  along  the  river  bank,  over 
his  grounds ;  and  in  the  beautiful  fields 
studded  with  clumps  of  trees,  and  va- 
riegated by  shady  woods,  the  busi- 
ness-worn Yorker  finds  a  momenta- 
ry relaxation  and  enjoyment  in  the 
*'  Elysian   fields ;"   and   the    gastro- 
nomes, whether  of  the  corporation  of 


New  Amstel,  or  invited  guests,  find  a 
lest?  rural,  though  not  a  more  sensual 
pleasure,  in  the  feast  of  Turtle  grove. 
The  value  of  the  groves  of  Hoboken 
to  the  inhabitants  of  N.  York,  is  inap- 
preciated  and  inappreciable.  They  are 
the  source  of  health  to  thousands. — 
Several  steam-boats  ply  constantly 
between  this  town  and  New  York. 

Holland'' s  Brook,  tributary  of  the 
south  branch  of  the  Raritan  river, 
rises  in  Readington  t-ship,  Hunter- 
don co.,  and  flows  by  a  S.  E.  course 
of  about  7  miles,  to  its  recipient  in 
Bridgewater  t-ship,  Somerset  co. 

Holmdel  or  Baptistown,  p-t.  of 
Middletown  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  7 
'  miles  N.  E.  from  Freehold,  219  from 
W.  C.,  and  53  E.  from  Trenton; 
contains  an  academy,  a  Baptist 
church,  2  stores,  8  dwellings,  lying 
in  a  highly  improved  country,  pro- 
ducing rye,  corn,  grass,  &c. 

Hog  Island,  in  Little  Egg  Har- 
bour river,  Galloway  t-ship,  Glou- 
cester co. 

Hohokus  Brook,  rises  and  has  its 
course  S.  E.  9  miles  in  Franklin 
t-ship,  Bergen  co.  It  is  a  rapid  wild 
stream,  studded  with  mills,  and  gives 
name  to  the  village  of 

Hohokus,  village,  situate  on  the 
turnpike  road  leading  thence  to  the 
Sterling  mountain,  N.  Y.,  9  miles  from 
Hackensack ;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
cotton  mill,  and  several  dwellings. 

Hope  Creek,  a  small  stream  of  4 
or  5  miles  in  length,  which  rises  in, 
and  flows  through,  the  meadows  and 
marshes  of  Lower  Alloway's  Creek 
t-ship,  Salem  co.  It  is  not  navigable. 

Hope,  p-t.,  on  the  line  dividing 
Knowlton  from  Oxford  t-ship,  on  a 
branch  of  Beaver  brook,  212  miles 
from  W.  C.,  and  59  from  Trenton, 
and  10  N.  E.  from  Belvidere ;  con- 
tains a  grist  mill  and  saw  mill,  6 
stores,  2  taverns,  and  about  30  dwell- 
ings, an  Episcopal  and  Methodist 
church.  The  soil  around  it  is  lime- 
stone, and  well  cultivated.  This  was 
originally  a  Moravian  settlement. 

Hopewell  t-ship,  of  Cumberland  co., 
bounded  E.  by  Deerfield,  S.  E.  and 
S.  by  Fairfield,  W.  by  Greenwich  and 


HOP 


159 


HOW 


Stow  Creek  t-ships,  and  N.  by  Hope- 
well  t-ship,  of  Salem  co.  Greatest 
length  10,  breadth  6  miles;  area, 
20,000  acres;  surface  rolling;  soil 
clay  loam.  Cohansey  creek  bounds 
the  t-ship  on  the  east  and  south,  and 
Mount's  creek  and  Mill  creek,  its  tri- 
butaries, are  on  and  near  the  S.  W. 
boundary.  Population  in  1830, 1953. 
In  1832  there  were  in  the  t-ship  468 
taxables,  1  Seventh -day  Baptist,  and 
1  Methodist  church,  112  household- 
ers, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
$30  in  value,  4  stores,  5  run  stones 
for  grinding  grain,  1  cupola  furnace, 

1  rolling  and  slitting  mill.  3  tanneries, 

2  distilleries  for  cider ;  and  the  t-ship 
paid  for   road   tax,   $500;    and   for 
county  and  state  tax,  $1052  87.   Part 
of  the  town  of  Bridgeton  is  on  the 
eastern   boundary,   and   Shiloh    and 
Roadstown  are  on  the  west.    Bowen- 
town  lies  midway  on  the  road  between 
the  first  and  the  last. 

Hopewell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Amwell  t-ship,  E.  by 
Montgomery  t-ship,  of  Somerset  co., 
S.  E.  by  Lawrence  t-ship,  S.  by  Tren- 
ton t-ship,  and  W.  by  the  river  Dela- 
ware. Centrally  distant  S.  from 
Flemington  12  miles;  greatest  length 
E.  and  W.  12;  breadth  N.  and  S. 
10  miles;  area,  36,000  acres;  sur- 
face on  the  north  hilly,  a  chain  of  low, 
trap  mountains  extending  across  it; 
and  on  the  south  level,  and  abundant- 
ly productive ;  soil  red  shale,  loam, 
and  gravel.  It  is  drained  on  the  west 
by  Smith's  and  Jacob's  creeks,  and 
east  by  Stony  brook.  Population  in 
1830,  3151.  "  In  1832  the  t-ship  con- 
tained 70  houses  and  lots,  11  stores, 
5  fisheries,  6  saw  mills,  8  grist  mills, 
2  oil  mills,  17  tan  vats,  1  distillery,  1 
carding  machine,  1  fulling  mill,  863 
horses  and  mules,  and  1078  neat  cat- 
tle, over  3  years  of  age;  and  paid 
poor  tax,  $300;  road  tax,  $1200: 
state,  $1722  84.  Pennington  and 
Woodsville  are  post-towns,  and  He- 
bertown  and  Columbia,  villages  o 
the  t-ship. 

Hopper's  or  Ramapotown,  on  the 
Ramapo  river,  east  foot  of  the  Rama- 
po  mountain,  16  miles  N.  W.  from 


rfackensack ;  contains  a  tavern,  and 
ome  6  or  8  dwellings. 

Hornerstown,  hamlet,  on  Marl 
:lidge,  Upper  Freehold  t-ship,  Mon- 
"nouth  co.,  20  miles  S.  W.  of  Free- 
lold  court-house,  and  15  S.  E.  from 
Trenton ;  contains  several  dwellings, 
a  grist  mill,  and  saw  mill,  and  fulling 
mill,  upon  the  Lahaway  creek,  a 
branch  of  the  Crosswicks.  The  soil 
on  the  north  side  of  the  creek  is  deep, 
rich  loam ;  and  on  the  south,  barren 
sand.  There  is  here  a  great  deposit 
of  valuable  marl. 

Hospitality^  branch  of  the  Great 
Egg  Harbour  river,  rises  in  Deptford 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  and  flows  S.  E. 
to  the  river  at  Pennypot  Mill,  in  Ha- 
milton t-ship,  about  14  miles  from  its 
source,  receiving  from  the  west,  Fara- 
way, Lake,  and  Cold  branches. 

Howell  township,  Monmouth  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Shrewsbury,  E.  by 
the  Atlantic  ocean,  S.  by  Dover  t-ship, 
and  W.  by  Freehold  t-ship.  Centrally 
distant  S.  E.  from  Freehold  11  miles; 
greatest  length  E.  and  W.  13 ;  breadth 
N.  and  S.  11  miles;  area,  70,000 
acres ;  surface  level ;  soil  sand,  sandy 
loam,  and  clay ;  drained  by  Shark, 
Manasquan,  and  Metetecunk  rivers, 
which  flow  east  to  the  ocean ;  the  first 
on  the  north,  and  the  last  on  the  south 
boundary.  Manasquan,  Squankum, 
arid  HowelPs  Furnace,  are  post-towns 
of  the  t-ship.  Population  in  1830, 
4141.  In  1832  there  were  in  the 
t-ship  about  800  taxables,  122  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
$30,  and  42  single  men,  11  stores, 
10  saw  mills,  5  grist  mills,  2  fulling 
mills,  4  carding  machines,  26  tan 
vats,  2  distilleries,  1  furnace  in  ope- 
ration, 365  horses  and  mules,  and 
1400  neat  cattle,  3  years  old  and  up- 
wards. 

Howell  Furnace,  p-t.,  Howell 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  12  miles  S. 
E.  of  Freehold,  47  from  Trenton, 
and  212  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Manasquan  river. 
The  manufacture  of  iron  is  extensive- 
ly carried  on  here,  and  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  workmen,  there  are 
from  40  to  50  dwellings,  and  a  store. 


HUN 


160 


HUN 


A  company  was  incorporated  for  con- 
ducting the  works,  the  stock  of  which, 
we  understand,  is  now  in  great  part, 
if  not  wholly,  the  property  of  Mr. 
James  P.  Sairs  of  New  York. 

Hughesville,  village,  on  the  Muscon- 
etcong  creek,  about  5  miles  from  its 
mouth,  15  miles  S.  of  Belvidere,  and 
6  S.  E.  from  Philipsville,  in  Green- 
wich t-ship,  Warren  co.,  and  in  a 
narrow  and  deep  valley ;  it  contains 
a  tavern,  a  store,  a  school  and  from 
15  to  20  dwellings.  Lead  or  zine  ore 
is  said  to  be  found  in  the  mountain 
north  of  the  town ;  but  most  probably 
the  latter,  as  the  hill  is  part  of  the 
range  of  the  Hamburg  or  Wallkill 
mountains,  in  which  that  mineral 
abounds. 

Hunterdon  County,  was  taken 
from  Burlington,  by  act  of  Assembly 
13th  March,  1714,  and  received  its 
name  from  governor  Hunter.  It  has 
been  since  modified  by  the  erection 
of  Somerset,  Morris  and  Warren  cos., 
and  is  now  bounded  N.  E.  by  Morris, 
E.  by  Somerset,  S.  E.  by  Middlesex, 
S.  by  Burlington,  S.  W.  and  W.  by 
the  river  Delaware,  and  N.  W.  by 
the  Musconetcong  river,  which  sepa- 
rates it  from  Warren  co.  Greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  43  miles;  breadth 
26  mites;  area,  324,572  acres,  or 
about  507  square  miles.  Central 
lat.  40°  3'  N. ;  long.  2°  5'  E.  from 
W.  C. 

This  county  borders  S.  on  the 
great  eastern  alluvial  formation.  The 
primitive  rock  is  first  found  in  it  at  the 
falls  of  the  Delaware  river,  near 
Trenton,  and  may  be  traced  from 
the  respective  banks  N.  E.  and  S. 
W.  It  has  in  Jersey,  however,  a 
narrow  breadth,  being  overlaid  by  a 
belt  of  the  old  red  sandstone  which 
stretches  across  the  country  for  about 
20  miles  to  the  low  mountain  ridge 
north  of  Flemington.  About  12  miles 
north  of  Trenton,  this  formation  is 
broken  by  a  chain  of  trap  hills  which 
cross  the  Delaware  below  New  Hope, 
and  are  known  in  this  county  by  the 
name  of  Rocky  mountain,  &c. ;  but 
this  chain  has  the  sandstone  for  its 
base.  Between  it  and  the  chain  north 


of  Flemington,  lies  a  fertile  valley  of 
red  sandstone.  With  the  hills  north 
of  Flemington,  the  primitive  forma- 
tion is  again  visible,  but  the  valleys 
which  intersect  them  discover  secon- 
dary limestone,  particularly  at  New 
Germantown,  Clinton,  &c.,  in  the 
German  valley,  and  in  the  valley  of 
the  Musconetcong. 

The  surface  of  the  county  S.  and 
S.  E.  of  Flemington,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  Rocky  hills  of  which  we 
have  spoken,  may  be  deemed  level; 
on  the  north  of  Flemington  it  is  moun- 
tainous; the  ridges,  however,  are 
low  and  well  cultivated  to  the  sum- 
mits. Many  of  them,  particularly 
those  N.  and  W.  of  Flemington,  pro- 
duce abundance  of  excellent  ship  tim- 
ber. The  red  shale  of  the  sandstone 
formation,  is  generally  susceptible  of 
beneficial  cultivation,  and  is  grateful 
to  the  careful  husbandman.  The 
limestone  valleys  may  be  made  what- 
ever the  cultivator  pleases,  provided 
he  bounds  his  wishes  by  the  latitude 
and  climate.  And  by  the  use  of 
lime,  the  cold  clay  of  the  primitive 
hills  may  be  converted  into  most  pro- 
ductive soil.  On  the  whole,  this 
county  may  be  considered  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  opulent  of  the  state. 
It  is  tolerably  well  watered  by  streams, 
part  of  which  seek  the  Raritan, 
whilst  others  flow  to  the  Delaware 
river :  of  the  first,  proceeding  from 
the  north,  are  Spruce  run,  the  main 
south  branch  of  the  Raritan,  Laming- 
ton  river,  Rockaway  creek,  Neshanie 
creek,  and  Stony  brook :  of  the  se- 
cond are  the  Musconetcong  river, 
Hakehokake,  Nischisakawick  Lack- 
atong,  Wickechecoke,  Alexsocken, 
Smith,  Jacob's, "and  Assunpink  creeks. 
The  towns  of  the  county  are  Alexan- 
dria, Baptistown,  Centreville,  Clarks- 
ville,  Clinton,  Flemington,  Hepborn's, 
Hopewell  Meeting,  Fairview,  Lam- 
bertsville,  Lawrenceville,  Lebanon, 
Mattison's  Corner,  Milford,  Mount 
Pleasant,  New  Germantown,  New 
Hampton,  Pennington,  Pennyville, 
Pittstown,  Potterstown,  Prallsville, 
Quakertown,  Ringoes,  Sergeantsville, 
TRENTON,  Vansyckle's,  White 


IML 


161 


IND 


House,  Woodsville,  &c.,  all  of  which 
are  post-towns.  There  are  beside 
these,  some  small  hamlets  of  little 
note.  The  county  contained  in  1832, 
by  the  assessor's  abstract,  86  mer- 
chants, 17  fisheries,  71  saw  mills,  80 
grist  mills,  13  oil  mills,  9  ferries  and 
toll  bridges,  524  tan  vats,  5  distilleries 
for  grain,  58  for  cider ;  1  cotton  ma- 
nufactory, 17  carding  machines,  10 
fulling  mills,  50  stud  horses,  7538 
horses  and  mules,  and  12,492  neat 
cattle,  over  3  years  of  age;  and  it 
paid  poor  tax,  $6850;  road  tax, 
$8300;  county  tax,  $14,535  84; 
and  state  tax,  $4146  76. 

For  the  dissemination  of  moral  and 


religious  instruction,  there  are  in 
the  county  Bible  and  tract  societies, 
Sunday  schools  and  temperance  so- 
cieties, in  almost  all  thickly  settled 
neighbourhoods ;  and  the  people  ge- 
nerally, are  remarkable  for  their  so- 
ber and  orderly  deportment. 

The  population  of  the  county,  de- 
rived principally  from  English  and 
German  sources,  by  the  census  of 
1830,  amounted  to  31,060,  of  whom 
14,465  were  white  males;  14,653 
white  females;  869  free  coloured 
males,  and  901  free  coloured  females ; 
77  male,  and  95  female  slaves ;  34 
deaf  and  dumb,  all  white;  19  white, 
and  2  blacks,  blind;  210  aliens. 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  HUNTERDON  COUNTY. 


,d 

J3 

n3 

Population. 

Townships. 

to 

a 

i 

® 

Area. 

Surface. 

£ 

| 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Alexandria, 

12 

9 

33,000 

mount's,  hilly. 

2271 

2619 

3042 

Amwell, 

16 

15 

77,000 

p'thilly,p'tlevel. 

5777 

6749 

7385 

Bethlehem, 

9 

9 

25,000 

mountainous. 

1738 

2002 

2032 

Kingwood, 

17 

7 

35,312 

hilly. 

2605 

2786 

2898 

Hopewell, 

12 

10 

36,000 

p'tlevel,p't  hilly. 

2565 

2881 

3151 

Lawrence, 

8 

6 

13,093 

level. 

1354 

1430 

Lebanon, 

15 

7 

42,000 

mountainous. 

2409 

2817 

3436 

Readington, 

12 

T4 

29,558 

generally  level. 

1797 

1964 

2102 

Tewkesbury, 

8 

«i 

23,000 

mountainous. 

1308 

1499 

1659 

Trenton, 

7 

5 

10,609 

level. 

3002 

3942 

3925 

324,572 

23,472 

28,604 

31,060 

Hunt's  Pond,  a  small  basin  on 
the  N.  W.  line  of  Greene  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  supplies  the  Bear  branch  of 
Pequest  creek. 

Hunt's  Mills.     (See  Clinton.) 

Hurricane  Brook,  a  tributary  of 
the  south  branch  of  Toms'  river,  Do- 
ver t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  which 
unites  with  Black  run,  in  the  mill 
pond  of  Dover  furnace. 

Imlaytown,  post-town  of  Upper 
Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  3 
miles  E.  of  Allentown,  180  N.  E. 
from  W.  C.,  and  14  miles  S.  E.  from 
Trenton;  contains  12  or  15  dwell- 
ings, a  grist  and  saw  mill,  tannery,  1 
tavern,  1  store,  wheelwright  and 
smith  shop.  The  surrounding  coun- 
try is  gently  undulating;  soil,  clay, 


and  sandy  loam,  generally  well  culti- 
vated and  productive. 

Imlaydale,  pleasant  hamlet  on  the 
Musconetcong  creek,  Mansfield  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  4  miles  S.  of  the  village 
of  Mansfield,  and  within  1  of  New 
Hampton,  in  the  adjacent  county  of 
Hunterdon,  and  12  miles  S.  E.  of 
Belvidere;  contains  a  mill,  a  store, 
and  3  dwellings. 

Independence  t-ship,  Warren  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Hardwick  t-ship,  E. 
by  Green  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  S  E.  by 
Roxbury  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  S.  W. 
by  Mansfield,  and  W.  by  Oxford 
t-ship.  Centrally  distant  N.  E.  from 
Belvidere,  the  county  town,  14  miles; 
greatest  length  9  miles  N.  and  S.  ; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  8£ ;  area,  29,440 


IND 


162 


JAK 


acres;  surface  hilly  on  the  E.  and 
W.,  but  a  valley  runs  centrally  N. 
E.  and  S.  W.  through  the  t-ship 
which  is  drained  by  the  Pequest 
creek,  and  on  which  there  is  a  large 
body  of  meadow  land.  Bacon  creek 
is  a  small  tributary  of  the  Pequest, 
which  unites  with  it  above  the  village 
of  Vienna.  The  Musconetcong  river 
forms  the  S.  E.  boundary,  and  in  its 
valley,  parallel  therewith,  runs  the 
Morris  canal.  Alamuche,  Hackets- 
town,  and  Vienna,  are  post-towns  of 
the  t-ship ;  there  is  a  Quaker  meet- 
ing house  in  the  N.  E.  part  of  the 
t-ship.  There  were  in  the  t-ship  in 
1830,  2126  inhabitants;  in  1832, 
429  taxables,  10,000  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  414  horses  and  mules, 
and  1066  neat  cattle,  over  3  years 
of  age;  146  householders,  whose  ra- 
tables  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  8  stores, 
11  pairs  of  stones  for  grinding  grain, 
6  saw  mills,  21  tan  vats,  4  distille- 
ries ;  and  it  paid  in  t-ship  taxes  for  the 
poor  and  roads,  8900 ;  and  in  county 
and  state  tax,  $880  95.  This  ranks 
among  the  most  valuable  precincts  of 
the  state.  The  valleys  are  of  fertile 
limestone,  and  the  hill  sides  have 
been  subjected  to  cultivation  to  a  very 
great  extent.  The  ridges  which  cross 
the  t-ship  from  the  S.  W.  to  the  N. 
E.  are  metalliferous,  and  upon  the 
"  Jenny  Jump"  in  the  N.  W.,  a  gold 
mine  is  said  to  exist.  Preparations 
have  ostensibly  been  made  for  smelt- 
ing the  ore,  but  the  "  wise  ones"  have 
little  confidence  in  the  undertaking, 
and  consider  the  mineral  discovered, 
if  any,  to  be  pyrites  or  fool's  gold. 

Inskeep's  Mill,  at  the  junction  of 
the  N.  E.  branch  of  Great  Egg  Har- 
bour river,  called  Inskeep's  branch, 
with  the  Squankum  branch  of  said 
river,  near  the  south  border  of  Dept- 
ford  t-ship,  Gloucester  county,  about 
33  miles  from  Camden. 

Island  Beach,  Delaware  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  extends  N.  12  miles 
on  the  Atlantic  ocean  and  Barnegat 
bay,  from  Barnegat  inlet  to  what  was 
formerly  Cranberry  inlet ;  it  no  where 
exceeds  half  a  mile  in  breadth. 

Indian  Branch,  a  principal  tribu- 


tary of  the  north  branch  of  the  Rari- 
tan  river,  rising  in  Randolph  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  on  the  N.  W.  foot  of 
Trowbridge  mountain,  and  flowing  S. 
W.  through  Mendham  t-ship,  giving 
motion  to  several  mills  in  its  course. 

Indian  Run,  branch  of  Doctor's 
creek,  on  the  N.  W.  boundary  of 
Upper  Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co.,  flows  S.  W.  by  a  course  of  about 
2  miles,  to  its  recipient,  west  of  Allen- 
town,  giving  motion  to  a  saw  mill. 

Inskeep's  Branch,  or  rather  the 
main  stem  of  the  Great  Egg  Harbour 
river,  above  Inskeep's  Mill,  about  30 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
rises  in  Gloucester  t-ship,  Gloucester 
co.,  and  flow's  a  S.  E.  course  of  12 
or  14  miles,  to  the  mill,  receiving 
Four  Mile  Branch  and  Squankum 
Branch. 

Jacksonville,  on  the  line  between 
Lebanon  and  Tewkesbury  t-ships, 
Hunterdon  co.,  about  11  miles  N.  of 
Flemington,  and  on  the  turnpike  road 
from  Somerville  to  Easton ;  contains 
a  tavern,  store,  grist  mill,  and  2  or  3 
dwellings. 

Jacksonville,  formerly  called  Im- 
lay's  Mills,  on  Rocky  brook,  a  branch 
of  the  Millstone,  in  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  10  miles  E. 
from  Freehold ;  contains  a  grist  and 
saw  mill,  2  stores,  7  dwellings,  and  a 
Presbyterian  church.  There  is  a 
large  body  of  good  bog  ore  at  a  short 
distance  north  of  the  town,  and  some 
indications  of  extensive  mining  opera- 
tions, said  to  have  been  carried  on 
near  it,  many  years  since,  in  pursuit 
of  copper. 

Jacksonville,  post-office,  Burling- 
ton co.,  160  miles  N.  E.  of  W.  C., 
and  17  S.  of  Trenton. 

JacJcson  Glass  Works,  post-office, 
Gloucester  co.,  by  post  route  156 
miles  from  W.  C.,  and  48  from  Tren- 
ton. 

Jacobstown,  Hanover  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  near  the  Great  Monmouth 
Road,  12  miles  N.  E.  from  Mount 
Holly,  and  9  miles  S.  E.  of  Borden- 
town;  contains  2  taverns,  a  store, 
and  some  12  or  15  dwellings. 

Jake's  Brook,  small  tributary  of 


JEF 


163 


JER 


Toms'  river,  or  rather  of  Toms'  bay, 
with  which  it  unites,  below  the  village 
of  Toms'  River. 

Jefferson,  village,  Orange  t-ship, 
Sussex  co.,  6  miles  W.  from  Newark, 
at  the  foot  of  the  First  mountain ;  con- 
tains about  30  dwellings,  a  Baptist 
church,  and  school  house. 

Jefferson  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  W.  by  Hardistone  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  N.  E.  by  Pompton  t-ship, 
Essex  co.,  S.  E.  by  Pequannock 
t-ship,  and  S.  W.  by  Roxbury  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  and  by  Byram  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.  Centrally  distant  N.  W.  from 
Morristown  15  miles;  greatest  length 
14,  breadth  3£  miles;  area  25,000 
acres.  The  whole  surface  is  covered 
with  mountains,  save  a  deep  and  nar- 
row valley,  the  lower  part  of  which 
is  called  Berkshire,  and  the  upper 
Longwood,  valley,  bounded  on  the  N. 
W.  by  the  Hamburg  mountain,  and 
on  the  S.  E.  by  Green  Pond  moun- 
tain. Through  this  valley  flows  the 
main  branch  of  the  Rockaway  river, 
which  has  its  source  in  the  Hamburg 
mountain  near  the  county  line;  and 
which,  in  its  course  through  the  vale, 
gives  activity  to  a  dozen  forges  and 
other  mill  works.  On  the  top  of  the 
Hamburg  mountain,  near  the  S.  W. 
line  of  the  t-ship,  lies  Kurd's  pond 
and  Hopatcong  lake.  The  first  re- 
ceives a  small  stream  which  has  a  S. 
W.  course  of  4  or  5  miles,  and  pours 
its  waters  into  the  second.  Kurd's 
pond  is  about  l£  mile  in  length,  by 
1  mile  in  breadth ;  and  the  lake  is  be- 
tween 3  and  4  miles  long,  and  about 
a  mile  broad,  covering  about  3000 
acres.  These  waters  are  remarkable, 
as  well  for  their  place,  as  their  use ; 
being  at  the  summit  level  of  the  Morris 
canal,  and  employed  as  its  feeders 
They  are  the  source  also  of  that  fine 
stream,  the  Musconetcong  creek,  and 
are  much  celebrated  for  their  fish. 
The  mountain  is  rough  and  broken, 
and  the  descent  into  Berkshire  valley 
is  wildly  picturesque :  of  which  cha 
racter  Longwood  also  partakes.  The 
base  of  the  whole  t-ship  is  granitic 
rock,  which  breaks  through  the  sur- 
face in  every  direction,  in  rude  anc 


neavy  masses.  From  a  soil  thus  con- 
stituted, little  fertility  is  expected ;  but 
he  product  of  the  mountain,  in  wood 
and  iron,  is  very  valuable.  The  popu- 
lation in  1830,  was  1551.  In  1832 
he  t-ship  contained  250  taxables,  127 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30  in  value,  6  stores,  2  grist, 
9  saw  mills,  3  distilleries,  and  18 
forges,  206  horses  and  mules,  and 
598  neat  cattle,  over  3  years  of  age; 
and  paid  state  tax,  $139  79  ;  county, 
$312  97;  poor,  $600;  and  road, 
$1000. 

Jenny  Jump,  a  noted  eminence  in 
the  northern  part  of  Oxford  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  extending  N.  E.  and  S. 
W.  for  about  10  miles,  and  into  Inde- 
pendence t-ship. 

Jersey  City,  lies  on  a  point  of  land 
projecting  into  the  Hudson  river,  op- 
posite to  the  city  of  New  York,  dis- 
tant therefrom,  1  mile,  1  chain,  47 
links,  in  Bergen  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
13  miles  S.  of  Hackensack,  224  miles 
N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  58  from  Trenton, 
and  8  from  Newark.  It  was  first  in- 
corporated Jan.  28,  1820,  compris- 
ing "  All  that  portion  of  the  t-ship  of 
Bergen,  owned  by  the  Jersey  Asso- 
ciates, formerly  called  Powles  Hook, 
constituted  and  surrounded  by  a  cer- 
tain ditch,  as  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  Jersey  Associates  and  the 
lands  of  Cornelius  Van  Vorst,  dec'd, 
on  the  W.  and  N.  W.,  and  by  the 
middle  of  the  Hudson  river,  and  the 
bay  surrounding  all  the  other  parts 
of  the  same."  By  the  act  of  Assembly 
the  municipal  government  is  vested  in 
seven  selectmen,  who  are  ex  officio, 
conservators  of  the  peace,  a  president 
chosen  by  the  board,  a  treasurer,  se- 
cretary, city  marshal,  &c.  The  town 
is  commodiously  laid  out  into  lots,  25 
feet  by  100,  distributed  into  45  blocks, 
each  2  acres,  with  broad  streets,  and 
contains  many  good  buildings.  The 
whole  number  of  dwellings  may  be 
200,  and  the  inhabitants  about  1500. 
There  are  here,  an  Episcopalian 
church  of  wood,  and  a  new  church 
of  stone  being  erected,  and  a  Dutch 
Reformed  church,  2  select  schools, 
and  an  academy,  owned  by  the  pub- 


JOB 


164 


KET 


lie ;  the  Morris  Canal  Banking  Com- 
pany, authorized  to  have  a  capital  not 
exceeding  one  million  of  dollars,  of 
which,  $40,000  only,  have  been  paid 
in;  20  licensed  stores,  5  taverns,  a 
public  garden  on  the  bay,  called  the 
Thatched  Cottage  Garden;  a  wind 
mill,  an  extensive  pottery,  at  which 
large  quantities  of  delfware  are  made, 
in  form  and  finish  scare  inferior  to 
the  best  Liverpool  ware ;  a  flint  glass 
manufactory,  employing  from  8(J  to 
100  hands,  at  $750  the  week  wages, 
yielding  an  annual  product  of  near 
$100,000,  of  the  best  plain  and  cut 
glass  ware.  Both  these  large  manu- 
factories are  conducted  by  incorpo- 
rated companies.  There  are  2  turn- 
pike roads  running  from  this  city  to 
Newark,  a  rail-road  to  Paterson,  and 
another  through  Newark  to  Bruns- 
wick ;  and  a  basin  in  this  town  is  pro- 
posed to  be  the  eastern  termination 
of  the  Morris  canal,  now  completed 
to  Newark.  Three  lines  of  stages 
run  from  Jersey  City,  to  Newark, 
twice  each  day.  Two  steam-boats, 
belonging  to  the  Associates  of  the 
Jersey  Company,  cross  to  New  York 
every  15  minutes.  This  company 
was  chartered  in  1804,  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  purchasing  the  place  from 
Cornelius  Van  Vorst,  the  former  pro- 
prietor. 

The  city  is  a  port  of  entry,  annex- 
ed to  the  collection  district  of  New 
York,  together  with  all  that  part  of 
the  state  of  New  Jersey,  which  lies 
north  and  east  of  Elizabethtown  and 
Staten  Island.  An  assistant  collector 
resides  at  Jersey,  who  may  enter  and 
clear  vessels  as  the  collector  of  New 
York  may  do,  acting  in  conformity, 
however,  with  such  instructions  as  he 
may  receive  from  the  collector  of 
New  York.  There  is  a  surveyor 
also  at  this  port. 

Jobsville,  or  Wilkinsville,  named 
after  the  proprietor,  Deptford  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  near  the  mouth  of 
Woodbury  creek,  between  3  and  4 
miles  W.  from  Woodbury;  contains 
some  half  dozen  dwellings. 

Jobstown,  p-t.  of  Springfield  t-ship, 
on  the  Great  Monmouth  road,  6  miles 


N.  E.  from  Mount  Holly,  169  from 
W.  C.,  and  23  S.  E.  from  Trenton; 
contains  a  tavern,  a  store,  and  8  or 
10  dwellings,  surrounded  by  excellent 
farms.  The  proposed  rail-road  or 
Macadamized  road  from  the  mouth 
of  Craft's  creek  to  Lisbon,  is  designed 
to  pass  by  this  village. 

Johnsonburg,  p-t.  and  village  of 
Hardwick  t-ship,  Warren  co.;  cen- 
trally situate  in  the  t-ship,  by  post 
route,  218  miles  N.  E.  of  W.  C.,  65 
from  Trenton,  and  16  from  Belvidere ; 
contains  an  Episcopal  and  a  Presby- 
terian church,  a  church  belonging  to 
the  sect  of  jChrist-i-ans,  2  taverns,  2 
stores,  many  mechanic  shops,  a  grist 
mill,  and  from  25  to  30  dwellings. 
The  surrounding  soil  is  of  fertile  lime- 
stone, and  well  cultivated.  A  small 
tributary  of  the  Bear  branch  of  Pe- 
quest  creek,  flows  through  it,  and 
gives  motion  to  the  mill  of  the  town. 

Jones'  Island,  Fairfield  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  formed  by  Cedar 
creek,  Nantuxet  creek,  and  their  tri- 
butaries, and  by  Nantuxet  Cove. 

Jugtown,  small  village,  in  a  valley 
of  the  Musconetcong  mountain,  and 
on  the  road  from  Somerville  to  Phi- 
lipsburg,  about  12  miles  N.  W.  from 
Flemington;  contains  a  tavern,  mill, 
arid  sume  half  dozen  dwellings. 

Juliustown,  p-t.  of  Springfield  t-sp, 
Burlington  co.,  6  miles  N.  E.  of 
Mount  Holly,  163  from  W.  C.,  and 
25  S.  E.  from  Trenton;  contains  1 
tavern,  2  stores,  and  from  20  to  30 
dwellings.  A  rail,  or  Macadamized 
road,  from  the  mouth  of  Craft's  creek 
to  Lisbon,  is  designed  to  pass  by  this 
village. 

Jumping  Brook,  one  of  the  sources 
of  Crosswick's  creek,  Freehold  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  which,  after  a  west 
course  of  about  4  miles,  unites  with 
South  Run,  and  forms  the  creek.  It 
is  a  mill  stream. 

Kettle  Run,  small  tributary  of 
Haines'  creek,  Evesham  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  unites  with  the  main 
stream  at  Taunton  furnace. 

Kettle  Creek,  Dover  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth co.,  rises  by  two  branches, 
north  and  south,  which  flow  east,  the 


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first  about  6,  and  the  second  about  4 
miles.  Their  union  forms  an  arm  of 
Barnegat  bay.  There  is  a  post-office 
in  the  neighbourhood,  named  after  the 
creek,  about  65  miles  from  Trenton. 

Kill  Van  Kuhl,  the  narrow  strait 
between  Staten  island  and  the  south 
shore  of  Bergen  co.,  connecting  New 
York  bay  with  Newark  bay,  and  in 
length  about  5  miles. 

Kingston,  p-t.,  on  the  turnpike  road 
from  Princeton  to  Brunswick,  1 3  miles 
from  the  latter,  180  from  W.  C.,  and 
13  from  Trenton,  and  on  the  line  se- 
parating South  Brunswick  t-ship,  Mid- 
dlesex co.,  from  Franklin  t-ship,  So- 
merset co.,  so  that  part  of  the  town 
lies  in  each  county,  and  half  way  be- 
tween Philadelphia  and  New  York. 
There  are  here  a  Presbyterian  church, 
an  academy,  3  taverns,  4  stores,  a 
large  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  and  woollen 
factory,  driven  by  the  Millstone  river, 
which  runs  through  the  town.  The 
Delaware  and  Raritan  canal  also 
passes  through  it,  with  a  lock  at  this 
place.  There  are  here  also,  about  40 
dwellings.  The  soil  around  the  town 
is  of  sandy  loam,  upon  red  sandstone, 
fertile,  and  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  valued,  in  farms,  at  $60  the 
acre.  This  place  was  once  remark- 
able for  the  number  of  stages  which 
passed  through  it,  for  New  York  and 
Philadelphia,  the  passengers  in  which, 
commonly  dined  at  the  hotel  of  Mr. 
P.  Withington.  Before  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Bordentown  and  Amboy 
rail  road,  49  stages,  loaded  with  pas- 
sengers, between  the  two  cities,  have 
halted  here  at  the  same  time ;  when 
more  than  400  harnessed  horses  were 
seen  standing  in  front  of  the  inn.  Mr. 
Withington  has  lately  made  a  very 
large  fish  pond  on  his  lands,  well 
stocked  with  trout,  and  other  fish  of 
the  country,  with  which  he  can,  at 
any  time,  supply  his  table  in  a  few 
minutes. 

Kingwood  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Lebanon,  S.  E.  by 
Amwell,  W.  by  the  Delaware  river, 
and  N.  W.  by  Bethlehem  t-ship.  Cen- 
trally distant  W.  from  Flemington  7 
miles;  greatest  length  N.  E.  and  S. 


W.  17,  breadth  E.  and  W.  7  miles; 
area,  35,312  acres ;  surface,  hilly  and 
rolling;  soil,  red  shale,  clay,  and 
loam ;  in  many  places  fertile  and  well 
cultivated.  The  tract  known  as  the 
Great  Swamp,  extends  on  the  top  of 
the  mountain  into  this  t-ship,  and  is 
alike  remarkable  for  its  fine  timber 
and  extraordinary  fertility.  The  t-p.  is 
drained  southwardly  by  the  Laokatong 
creek.  Baptisttown,  Fairview,  Dog- 
town,  Charleston,  and  Milltown,  are 
villages  and  hamlets  of  the  t-ship ;  at 
the  first  there  is  a  post-office,  and 
there  is  another  office  bearing  the 
name  of  the  t-ship.  Population  in 
1830,  2898.  In  1832  there  were  in 
the  t-ship  4  stores,  7  saw  mills,  7  grist 
mills,  and  1  oil  mill,  7  distilleries,  2 
carding  machines,  733  horses  and 
mules,  and  1347  neat  cattle,  above 
the  age  of  3  years ;  and  the  t-ship 
paid  state  and  county  tax,  $1323  75. 

Kinseymlle,  p-t.  of  Lower  Penn's 
Neck  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  on  the  Dela- 
ware river,  opposite  to  the  town  of 
Newcastle,  170  miles  from  W.  C., 
58  from  Trenton,  and  7  from  Salem. 
It  is  named  after  James  Kinsey,  the 
proprie^r,  and  contains  4  or  5  dwell- 
ings, 2  taverns,  store,  and  ferry  to 
Newcastle. 

Kirkland's  Creek,  through  the 
salt  marsh  of  Lodi  t-ship,  Bergen  co.; 
near  its  head  is  a  saw  mill.  The 
length  of  the  creek  is  about  3  miles. 

Kline's  Mills,  post-office,  Somer- 
set co.,  by  post  route  206  miles  N. 
E.  from  W.  C.,  and  40  from  Trenton. 

Knowlton,  t-ship,  Warren  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Pahaquarry  t-ship, 
E.  by  Hardwick  t-ship,  S.  by  Oxford 
t-ship,  and  W.  by  the  Delaware  river. 
Centrally  distant  N.  E.  from  Belvi- 
dere,  10  miles;  greatest  length  10 
miles, breadth  10  miles;  area  44,800 
acres.  The  Blue  mountain  lies  upon 
the  northern  boundary,  and  the  De- 
laware makes  its  way  through  it  at 
the  celebrated  Water  Gap,  at  the  N. 
W.  point  of  the  t-ship.  The  t-ship  is 
every  where  hilly,  and  is  said  to  de- 
rive its  name  from  its  knolls.  It  is 
centrally  drained  by  Paulinskill,  and 
its  branches;  on  the  south-east  by 


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166 


LAM 


Beaver  brook,  and  north-east  by  the 
Shawpocussing  creek.  Gravel  Hill, 
Sodom,  Columbia,  Centreville,  Hope, 
and  Ramsaysburg,  are  villages  and 
post  towns  of  the  t-ship.  Population 
in  1830,  2827;  taxables  in  1832, 
630.  There  were  in  the  t-ship,  in 
1832,  132  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30,  13  pairs  of 
stones  for  grinding  grain,  7  saw  mills, 
10  tan  vats,  4  distilleries,  1  glass 
manufactory,  744  horses  and  mules, 
and  1390  neat  cattle  over  three  years 
of  age;  and  the  t-ship  paid  $1300 
for  t-ship  use,  and  $1550  for  state 
and  county  purposes.  Slate  and  lime 
alternate  throughout  the  t-ship;  the 
hills  are  commonly  of  the  one,  and 
the  valleys  of  the  other. 

A  slate  quarry  above  Columbia  is 
extensively  wrought,  from  whence 
excellent  roof  and  writing  slates  are 
taken.  There  is  1  Presbyterian  and 
1  Episcopalian  church  in  the  t-ship. 

Knowlton,  post  town  and  village  of 
the  above  t-ship,  on  Paulinskill,  2 
miles  from  its  mouth,  and  by  the  post 
route  217  from  W.  C.,  64  from  Tren- 
ton, and  10  from  Belvidere;  contains 
1  tavern,  1  store,  a  large  grist  and 
saw  mill,  a  clover  mill,  and  6  or  7 
dwellings.  The  country  around  is 
hilly,  soil  limestone. 

Koughstown,  village,  on  the  line 
between  the  t-ship  of  Hillsborough, 
in  Somerset  co.,  and  the  t-ship  of 
Am  well,  in  Hunterdon  co.  5  miles 
S.  E.  of  Flemington,  contains  a  ta- 
vern and  some  4  or  5  dwellings. 

Koughstown,  small  village  on  the 
line  dividing  Hillsborough  t-ship,  So- 
merset co ;  from  Amwell  t-ship,  Hun- 
terdon co.,  11  miles  S.  W.  from 
Somerville,  and  4  miles  S.  E.  from 
Flemington ;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  and  several 
dwellings,  pleasantly  situated  upon 
soil  of  red  shale,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Neshanie  creek. 

Krokaevall,  small  mill  stream  of 
Saddle  river  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  rising 
on  the  N.  border,  and  flowing  by  a 
course  of  about  5  miles,  to  the  Pas- 
saic  river,  a  mile  above  the  great 
Falls. 


Lafayette,  post  town  of  Newton 
t-ship,  near  the  north  line  of  the  t-ship, 
on  the  Union  Turnpike  Road,  distant 
by  the  post  route  233  miles  from  W. 
C.,  75  from  Trenton,  and  5  miles 
from  Newton;  contains  1  tavern,  1 
store,  a  cupola  furnace,  a  grist  mill, 
with  4  run  of  stones,  driven  by  the 
Paulinskill,  a  Baptist  church,  and 
some  10  or  12  dwellings.  The  pre- 
vailing soil  around  it  is  limestone,  in 
excellent  cultivation. 

Lahaway  Creek,  Upper  Freehold, 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  rises  near  the 
E.  boundary,  and  flows  S.  W.  about 
9  miles,  to  the  Cross  wicks  creek,  be- 
low Hornerstown,  giving  motion  to 
some  mills  at  that  place  and  at  Pros- 
pertown. 

Lake  Branch,  of  Hospitality  creek, 
an  arm  of  the  Great  Egg  Harbour 
river,  Franklin  and  Hamilton  t-ships, 
Gloucester  co. 

Lake's  Bay,  in  the  salt  marsh,  on 
the  Atlantic  ocean,  Egg  Harbour 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  communicates 
by  several  inlets  with  the  ocean;  is 
about  3  miles  long  and  a  mile  and 
a  half  wide. 

Lambertsville,  post  town  of  Am- 
well t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  11  miles 
S.  W.  from  Flemington,  16  N.  from 
Trenton,  and  170  from  W.  C.;  a 
thriving,  pleasant  village,  on  the  bank 
of  the  Delaware  river,  opposite  to  the 
town  of  New  Hope,  containing  1 
Baptist  and  1  Presbyterian  church, 
2  schools,  one  of  which  is  a  boarding 
school,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Studdiford,  and  more  than  30 
dwellings,  many  of  which  are  neat 
and  commodious.  A  turnpike  road 
runs  from  the  town  to  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  a  fine  bridge  is  thrown 
over  the  river  by  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany, with  a  capital  of  $160,000,  in- 
corporated in  1812,  by  the  Legisla- 
tures of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey; built  in  1814.  It  is  supported 
on  9  stone  piers;  length  between  the 
abutments  1050  feet,  width  33  feet, 
elevation  above  the  water  21  feet; 
roofed.  The  company  for  some  time 
employed  a  portion  of  its  capital  in 
banking  operations. 


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167 


LEB 


Lamington  River,  tributary  of  the 
north  branch  of  the  Raritan,  rises  in 
Duck  pond,  Roxbury  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  and  flows  thence  by  a  S.  W.  and 
S.  course  of  34  miles,  uniting  with  its 
recipient  in  Bedminster  t-ship,  Somer- 
set co.  It  is  a  large  and  rapid  mill 
stream,  on  which  there  are  many 
mills,  particularly  at  Potter's  Falls ;  in 
the  north  part  of  its  course  it  bears 
the  name  of  Black  river. 

Lamington,  village  of  Bedminster 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  on  the  road  from 
Somerville  to  Philipsburg,  10  miles 
N.  W.  of  the  former;  contains  a 
Presbyterian  church,  a  tavern,  and 
3  or  4  dwellings,  situate  in  a  pleasant 
fertile  country. 

Landing  Creek,  Galloway  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  rises  on  the  S.  W. 
line  of  the  t-ship,  and  flows  about  9 
miles  eastwardly,  to  the  Little  Egg 
Harbour  river;  Gloucester  furnace 
lies  upon  it.  It  has  two  branches, 
Indian  Cabin  branch,  and  Elisha's 
creek. 

Laokatong  Creek,  a  fine  mill 
stream  of  Kingwood  t-ship,  Hunter- 
don  co.,  rises  in  the  t-ship  and  flows 
S.  W.  10  or  12  miles  into  the  river 
Delaware;  it  gives  motion  in  its 
course  to  several  mills. 

Lawrenceville,  Knowlton  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  on  both  banks  of  the 
Paulinskill,  15  miles  N.  E.  of  Belvi- 
dere,  and  3  miles  W.  of  Marksboro' ; 
contains  a  store  and  tavern,  and  10 
or  12  scattering  dwellings.  The 
country* around  it  is  hilly;  the  soil 
slate  on  the  left,  and  limestone  on  the 
right  side  of  the  creek. 

Lawrence  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  W.  by  Hopewell,  N.  E. 
by  Montgomery  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
and  West  Windsor  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co.,  S.  E.  by  Nottingham  t-ship,  of 
Burlington  co.,  and  S.  W.  by  Tren- 
ton t-ship.  Centrally  distant  from 
Trenton  N.  E.  6  miles;  greatest 
length  8,  breadth  6  miles ;  area,  by 
assessor's  return,  13,093  acres;  sur- 
face, rolling;  soil,  loam  and  clay, 
generally  well  cultivated ;  drained 
southward  by  some  branches  of  the 
Assunpink  creek,  and  northward  by 


Stony  brook:  Lawrenceville  is  the 
post-town,  and  only  village  of  the 
t-ship.  Population  in  1330,  1430. 
In  1832,  there  were  in  the  t-ship  1 
store,  2  saw  mills,  3  grist  mills,  8  tan 
vats,  339  horses  and  mules,  and  710 
neat  cattle,  above  the  age  of  3  years ; 
and  it  paid  poor  tax,  $500 ;  road  tax, 
$400 ;  state  and  county  tax,  $726  80. 
Two  turnpike  roads  from  Trenton  to 
Brunswick  run  north-easterly  through 
the  t-ship,  one  of  which  leads  by 
Princeton. 

Lawrenceville,  post-town  of  Law- 
rence t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  6  miles 
N.  E.  from  Trenton,  18  S.  E.  from 
Flemington,  172  from  W.  C.,  sitfiate 
on  a  level  and  fertile  plain,  well  cul- 
tivated in  grain  and  grass,  and  con- 
tains 1  Presbyterian  church,  1  tavern, 
1  store,  a  flourishing  boarding  school 
and  academy,  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Philips. 

Lawrenceville,  town  of  Hardwick 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  near  the  western 
t-ship  line,  82  miles  N.  E.  from 
Trenton,  and  15  from  Belvidere. 

Lawrence's  Brook,  rises  in  South 
Brunswick  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  and 
flows  N.  E.  through  New  Brunswick 
t-ship,  by  a  course  of  about  12  miles 
to  the  Raritan  river,  near  3  miles  be- 
low New  Brunswick. 

Learning's,  or  Seven  Mile  Beach, 
Middle  t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  extend- 
ing from  Townsend's  inlet  to  Hereford 
inlet,  having  an  average  width  of  half 
a  mile. 

Lebanon  Branch,  of  Maurice  river, 
rises  in  Deerfield  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.,  and  flows  eastwardly  to  the  river, 
about  2  miles  above  the  town  of 
Milleville;  it  is  a  mill  stream,  and 
has  a  tributary  called  Chatfield  run. 

Lebanon  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Washington  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  E.  by  Readington  and 
Tewkesbury  t-ships,  S.  by  Kingwood 
t-ship,  W.  by  Bethlehem,  N.  W.  by 
Musconetcong  creek,  which  divides  it 
from  Mansfield  t-ship,  Warren  co. 
Greatest  length  N.  and  S.  15  miles; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  7  miles;  area, 
42,000  acres;  surface  mountainous, 
and  generally  hilly;  soil,  clay  and 


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168 


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loam  on  the  hills,  with  grey  limestone 
in  the  valleys ;  in  parts  rich  and  wel] 
cultivated.  The  Musconetcong  moun 
tain  and  its  spurs  cover  the  greater 
part  of  the  northern  part,  and  there 
are  some  high  hills  on  the  S.  E.,  en 
circling  Round  Valley.  It  is  drained 
by  Spruce  run  and  the  south  branch 
of  Raritan  river,  the  latter  forming 
part  of  the  eastern  and  the  south- 
eastern boundary,  and  crossing  the 
t-ship  from  Morris  county.  The 
turnpike  road  from  Somerville  to  Phi- 
lipsburg,  runs  westerly  through  the 
township,  by  the  towns  of  Lebanon 
and  Clinton.  New  Hampton  and 
Socfbm,  or  Clarkesville,  are  post- 
towns  of  the  t-ship.  Population  in 
1830,  3436.  The  t-ship  contained 
in  1832,  13  saw  mills,  16  grist  mills, 
2  oil  mills,  87  tan  vats,  1  distillery 
for  grain,  11  distilleries  for  cider,  2 
carding  machines,  2  fulling  mills, 
886  horses,  and  1540  neat  cattle, 
above  the  age  of  3  years ;  and  it  paid 
poor  tax,  $1100;  road  tax,  800;  and 
county  and  state  tax,  $1585  36. 

Lebanon,  post-town  of  Lebanon 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  centrally  situ- 
ated, upon  the  turnpike  road  leading 
from  Somerville  to  Philipsburg;  11 
miles  N.  of  Flemington,  47  from 
Trenton,  and  211  from  W.  C.;  con- 
tains 1  tavern,  1  store,  and  several 
dwellings.  There  is  a  Dutch  Re- 
formed church  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. 

LeecTs  Point,  post-town,  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  44  miles  S.  E. 
from  Woodbury,  83  from  Trenton, 
and  191  N.  E.  from  W.  C. ;  contains 
a  store,  tavern,  and  some  4  or  5 
houses. 

Leesburg,  village  of  Maurice  River 
t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  on  the  left 
bank  of  Maurice  river,  about  5  miles 
from  its  mouth,  and  20  S.  E.  of 
Bridgetown;  contains  15  or  20  houses, 
1  store,  1  tavern,  and  a  Methodist 
church.  There  is  a  considerable 
quantity  of  ship  building  here,  such 
as  sloops,  schooners,  &c.,  and  much 
trade  in  lumber  and  wood.  The  soil 
in  the  village  and  country  immedi- 
ately around,  is  very  productive ;  it 


is  one  of  the  oldest  settlements  upon 
the  river. 

Liberty  ville,  p-t.,  of  Wantage  t-sp, 
Sussex  co.,  on  the  turnpike  road  lead- 
ing to  Milford,  Pennsylvania,  about 
3  miles  E.  of  the  Blue  mountain. 

Liberty  Corner,  p-t.,  Bernard  t-sp, 
Somerset  co.,  7  miles  N.  E.  of  Somer- 
ville, 209  from  W.  C.,  and  43  from 
Trenton,  near  Harrison's  brook  ;  con- 
tains a  tavern,  store,  and  about  20 
dwellings,  inhabited  by  intelligent, 
respectable  families,  in  a  fertile  and 
well  cultivated  valley. 

Lion  Pond,  a  source  of  Lubber 
run,  Byram  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  lying 
near  the  centre  of  the  t-ship. 

Lisbon,  small  village  of  Hanover 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  in  the  forks  of 
the  Slab  Bridge  branch,  and  the  north 
branch  of  the  Rancocus  creek ;  con- 
tains a  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  store,  ta- 
vern, and  10  or  12  dwellings.  A  rail- 
road or  Macadamized  road,  is  about 
to  be  made  from  this  village  to  the 
mouth  of  Craft's  creek,  upon  the  De- 
laware, about  15  miles,  in  order  to 
bring  to  market  a  quantity  of  excel- 
lent pine  wood,  which  grows  in  the 
vicinity. 

Little  Beach,  Burlington  co.,  Lit- 
tle Egg  Harbour  t-ship,  between  Lit- 
tle Egg  Harbour,  New  Inlet,  and  Old 
Brigantine  Inlet. 

Little  Ease,  village  of  Franklin 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  20  miles  S.  E. 
of  Woodbury,  upon  the  head  waters 
of  Maurice  river ;  contains  a  tavern, 
store,  saw  mill,  and  some  half  dozen 
dwellings ;  soil,  sandy. 

Little  Egg  Harbour  River.  (See 
Egg  Harbour  River,  Little.) 

Little  Falls,  of  the  Passaic,  name 
of  the  manufacturing  village  and  post- 
own  which  has  grown  up  here ;  (See 
article  Passaic)  and  which  contains, 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  creek,  2  saw, 
and  1  grist  mill,  2  cotton  mills,  one 
of  a  thousand,  and  another  of  fourteen 
lundred  spindles,  a  turning  mill,  a 
woollen  carpet  manufactory,  4  stores, 
3  taverns,  a  school  house,  used  also 
as  a  church,  and  47  dwellings.  On 
he  left  bank  there  is  a  saw  mill  and 
urning  mill.  This  is  an  admirable 


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169 


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position  for  mill  works  of  all  kinds. 
The  whole  river  may  be  used  under 
a  head  of  33  feet,  10  of  which  only  are 
now  employed  to  drive  the  few  works 
above  named,  and  which  would  give 
motion  to  a  much  larger  quantity. 
The  proprietors  of  this  desirable  site, 
Messrs.  Ezekiel  and  Isaac  Miller,  and 
the  heirs  of  Samuel  Bridges,  offer 
mill  seats  for  sale  on  very  advanta- 
geous terms,  and  the  rights  of  the 
former  gentlemen  to  the  right  bank, 
with  half  the  water  power,  have  been 
holden  at  $50,000  only.  The  place 
from  its  elevation  is  very  healthy;  land 
in  the  neighbourhood  sells  at  from 
30  to  60  dollars  the  acre,  and  town 
lots,  100  feet  deep,  at  2  dollars  the  foot, 
front,  in  fee  simple.  The  town  is 
226  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  60  from 
Trenton,  10  from  Newark,  4  from 
Paterson,  and  5^  from  Acquacka- 
nonck  Landing.  It  has  also  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  Morris  canal,  which 
crosses  the  river  by  an  aqueduct  be- 
low the  falls. 

Lamberton.     See  Trenton. 

Little  Pond,  a  small  basin  of  wa- 
ter in  Newton  t-ship,  Sussex  co., 
distant  about  4  miles  west  of  the  town 
of  Newton,  which  supplies,  in  part,  a 
small  tributary  of  Paulinskill. 

Little  Pond,  on  the  sea  shore, 
Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
about  3  miles  north  of  the  south  boun- 
dary of  the  t-ship. 

Little  X  Roads,  p-t.,  Bedminster 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  9  miles  N.  W. 
from  Somerville,  209  from  W.  C., 
and  43  from  Trenton;  contains  a 
tavern,  store,  and  5  or  6  dwellings, 
in  the  valley  of  the  north  branch  of 
the  Raritan. 

Littletown,  p-t.,  Hanover  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  on  the  turnpike  road  from 
Newark  to  Milford,  5  miles  north  of 
Morristown,  224  from  W.  C.,  and  59 
from  Trenton ;  contains  1  tavern,  1 
store,  and  4  or  5  dwellings. 

Livingston,  t-ship,  Essex  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Caldwell,  E.  by 
Orange,  S.  by  Springfield,  and  W. 
by  the  Passaic  river,  which  divides  it 
from  Morris  co.  Centrally  distant, 
N.  W.  from  Newark,  9  miles ;  great- 


est length,  N.  and  S.  5  miles ;  breadth 
E.  and  W.  4^  miles,  area  13,000 
acres;  surface  on  the  east,  moun- 
tainous, elsewhere  rolling,  except 
near  the  river,  where  it  is  level.  It 
is  drained  on  the  N.  by  the  Black 
Rock  Meadow  brook,  and  on  the  S. 
by  Canoe  creek,  which  flow  to  the 
Passaic  by  short  courses,  not  exceed- 
ing three  miles.  Towns,  Centreville, 
Livingston,  post-town,  Northfield, 
Squiretown,  and  Cheapside.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  1150.  In  1832,  the 
t-ship  contained  200  taxables,  65 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30 ;  52  single  men,  5  mer- 
chants, 1  saw  mill,  1  woollen  factory, 
166  horses  and  mules,  and  637  neat 
cattle  under  three  years  of  age ;  and 
it  paid  state  tax,  $120  03;  county 
tax,  $314  04;  poor  tax,  $350;  and 
road  tax,  $525. 

Livingston,  small  village,  and  post 
town  of  preceding  t-ship,  on  the  turn- 
pike road  from  Newark  to  Dover,  10 
miles  N.  W.  from  the  former,  225 
N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  59  from  Tren- 
ton; contains  a  tavern,  store,  and 
some  8  or  10  dwellings. 

Lockwood,  forge  and  post-office; 
on  Lubber  run,  Byram  t-ship,  Sussex 
co. ;  distant  by  post  route  224  miles 
from  W.  C.,  61  from  Trenton,  and 
9  south  from  Newton. 

Lodi,  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  bounded 
N.  by  New  Barbadoes  t-ship,  E.  and 
S.  E.  by  Hackensack  river,  which 
separates  it  from  Bergen  t-ship,  and 
W.  and  S.  W.  by  the  Passaic  river, 
dividing  it  from  Essex  co.  Central- 
ly distant,  S.  W.  from  Hackensack- 
town,  5  miles.  Greatest  length  10, 
greatest  breadth  E.  and  W.  5  miles  ; 
area  22,000  acres;  surface  level. 
More  than  half  the  t-ship  consists  of 
salt  marsh  and  cedar  swamp.  On 
the  N.  E.  there  are  about  4000  acres 
of  arable  land,  and  on  the  west  a 
strip  running  the  whole  length  of  the 
t-ship,  and  varying  from  1  to  2  miles 
in  width.  These  are  of  red  shale, 
with  a  margin  of  alluvial,  on  the  Pas- 
saic, well  cultivated,  and  productive. 
Along  the  latter  river  are  strewed 
many  handsome  country  seats,  and 


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170 


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about  a  mile  S.  E.  of  Belleville  lies 
the  well  known  Schuyler  copper  mine. 
Population  of  t-ship,  in  1830,  1356. 
In  1832  it  contained  527  taxables, 
57  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  830;  21  single  men,  1 
store,  5  grist  mills,  4  saw  mills,  2 
toll  bridges,  and  291  horses  and 
mules,  and  931  neat  cattle,  above  the 
age  of  3  years.  And  it  paid  state 
tax,  $208  87  ;  county  $427  69 ;  poor, 
$400  ;  road,  $500.  There  are  seve- 
ral creeks  through  the  marsh,  such 
as  Berry's,  Kirkland's,  and  Saw-mill 
creeks. 

Logtown,  small  hamlet  of  Lower 
Allo way's  creek  t-ship,  Salem  co., 
7  miles  S.  of  Salem-town,  and  2  from 
Hancock's  bridge. 

Logansville,  6  miles  S.  W.  of 
Morristown,  Morris  t-ship,  Morris  co., 
a  fine  settlement  on  Primrose  creek, 
called  after  the  owner,  who  has  a 
large  estate  here. 

Logtown,  on  Mine  mountain,  Ber- 
nard t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  at  the  head 
of  Mine  brook,  12  miles  N.  of  So- 
merville,  contains  a  mill  and  3  or  4 
dwellings. 

Longacoming,  p-t.  of  Glouces- 
ter co.,  on  the  line  dividing  the 
t-ship  of  Gloucester  and  Water  ford, 
14  miles  S.  E.  from  Woodbury,  45 
from  Trenton,  and  153  N.  E.  "from 
Washington ;  surrounded  by  pine  fo- 
rest, soil  sandy,  and  naturally  barren, 
but  improving  by  the  application  of 
marl.  The  village  contains  from  20 
to  30  dwellings,  2  taverns,  2  stores, 
and  a  Methodist  church. 

Long  Beach,  upon  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  Stafford  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
extending  about  11  miles  from  the 
inlet  to  Little  Egg  Harbour  bay,  to 
Barnegat  inlet.  There  are  several 
houses  on  this  beach,  one  of  which 
was  erected  by  a  Philadelphia  com- 
pany, for  the  accommodation  of  them- 
selves and  friends  in  sea-bathing. 

Long  Branch,  mill  stream  and  tri- 
butary of  Shrewsbury  river,  Shrews- 
bury t-ship,  Monmouth  co. ;  has  a 
course  of  about  4  miles  N.  W.  There 
is  a  small  village  of  12  or  15  houses, 
1  tavern,  and  2  stores,  east  of  this 


stream,  and  between  it  and  the  At- 
lantic, to  which  the  name  of  Long 
Branch  is  given. 

Long  Branch,  well  known  and 
much  frequented  sea-bathing  place, 
on  the  Atlantic  ocean,  75  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  and  45  from  New  York, 
in  Shrewsbury  t-ship,  and  Monmouth 
co.,  which  has  its  name  from  the 
stream  and  hamlet  above.  The  in- 
ducements to  the  invalid,  the  idle,  and 
the  hunters  of  pleasure,  to  spend  a 
portion  of  the  hot  season  here,  are 
many.  Good  accommodations,  oblig- 
ing hosts,  a  clean  and  high  shore, 
with  a  gently  shelving  beach,  a  fine 
prospect  seaward,  enlivened  by  the 
countless  vessels  passing  to  and  from 
New  York,  excellent  fishing  on  the 
banks,  3  or  4  miles  at  sea,  good  gun- 
ning, and  the  great  attraction  of  all 
watering  places,  much,  and  changing 
and  fashionable  company.  During 
the  season,  a  regular  line  of  stages 
runs  from  Philadelphia,  and  a  steam- 
boat from  New  York,  to  the  boarding 
houses  here,  of  which  there  are  seve- 
ral ;  Wardell's,  Renshaw's,  and  Sear's 
are  the  most  frequented.  Many  re- 
spectable farmers  also  receive  board- 
ers, who,  in  the  quiet  of  rural  life, 
enjoy  in  comfort  and  ease,  their  sea- 
son of  relaxation,  perhaps  more  fully 
than  those  at  the  public  hotels.  Along 
the  beach  at  Long  Branch  is  a  strip 
of  fertile  black  sand,  several  miles  in 
length,  and  exceeding  more  than  a 
mile  in  width.  The  land  adjacent  to 
the  ocean  rises  perpendicularly  from 
the  beach,  near  20  feet.  The  board- 
ing houses  are  20  rods  from  the  water, 
with  lawns  in  the  intermediate  space. 
The  high  banks  are  formed  by  strata 
of  sand,  clay,  and  sea  mud. 

Long  Bridge,  over  Pequest  creek, 
Independence  t-ship,  Union  co.,  at  the 
head  of  the  Great  Meadows,  16  miles 
N.  E.  from  Belvidere.  There  is  a 
hamlet  here  of  6  or  8  dwellings,  and 
the  neighbourhood  is  settled  by  mem- 
bers of  the  society  of  Friends,  who 
have  a  meeting  house  within  2  miles 
of  the  Bridge.  The  soil  of  the  vici- 
nity is  limestone,  naturally  fertile, 
and  susceptible  of  improvement,  as 


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171 


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may  be  supposed  from  the  character 
of  its  cultivators ;  for  "Friends"  of  all 
vanities,  dislike  most,  vain  labour. 

Long  Pond,  a  small  sheet  of  water 
in  the  Blue  mountains,  in  Waipack 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  whence  Vancamp 
creek  has  its  source. 

Long  Pond,  Frankford  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  at  the  east  foot  of  the  Blue 
mountain,  the  extreme  S.  W.  source 
of  the  W.  branch  of  Paulinskill. 

Long  Pond,  Newton  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  five  miles  S.  E.  of  Newton. 

Long  Pond,  or  Greenwood  Lake, 
crosses  the  state  boundary  from 
Orange  co.,  New  York,  into  Pomp- 
ton  t-ship,  Bergen  co. ;  it  is  about  4^ 
miles  long  by  near  a  mile  wide,  but 
only  a  mile  of  its  length  is  within 
this  state.  It  sends  forth  a  stream 
called  Long  Pond  river,  which  emp- 
ties into  Ringwood  river,  near  Board- 
ville. 

Long  Pond,  Shrewsbury  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  upon  the  sea-shore,  6 
miles  S,  of  Long  Branch  Boarding 
Houses,  communicates  with  the  sea 
by  a  narrow  inlet. 

Longwood  Valley,  Jefferson  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  lying  between  the  Ham- 
burg and  Grcenpond  mountains,  ex- 
tending longitudinally  N.  E.  and  S. 
W.  about  10  miles;  narrow,  deep, 
and  stony,  with  soil  not  very  fertile  ; 
it  is  drained  S.  W.  by  a  principal 
branch  of  the  Rockaway  river,  on 
which  are  several  forges  for  making- 
iron,  the  ore  and  fuel  for  which  are 
supplied  abundantly  by  the  adjacent 
hills ;  Berkshire  Valley  is  the  name 
given  to  the  S.  W.  portion  of  this 
vale.  The  scenery  here  is  wild,  rude, 
and  picturesque.  Newfoundland  is 
the  post-office  of  Longwood  Valley. 

Lopatcong  Creek,  rises  in  the 
southern  part  of  Oxford  t-ship,  Warren 
co.,  and  flows  thence  by  a  S.  W. 
course  of  9  or  10  miles  through 
Greenwich  t-ship,  to  the  river  Dela- 
ware, 3  or  4  miles  below  Philipsburg, 
giving  motion  to  several  mills  in  its 
course,  and  draining  a  fertile  valley 
of  primitive  limestone. 

Lower  t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Middle  t-ship,  E.  and  S.  by 


the  Atlantic  ocean,  and  W.  by  the 
Delaware  bay.  It  is  the  most  south- 
ern t-ship  of  the  state,  nearly  one- 
half  consists  of  sea  beach  and  salt 
marsh,  and  the  remainder  of  clay,  co- 
vered with  oak  forest.  Centrally 
distant  from  Cape  May  Court  House, 
S.  9  miles;  length  N.  and  S.  8, 
breadths  miles;  area,  21,000  acres, 
Pond  creek,  New  England  creek,  and 
Cox  Hall  creek,  are  short  streams, 
which  flow  westerly  into  the  Dela- 
ware bay.  Cape  May,  Cape  May 
island,  and  the  Cape  May  light-house, 
are  in  the  t-ship.  Population  in 
1830,  995.  In  1832,  there  were  in 
the  t-ship  about  200  taxables,  91 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  830 ;  3  grist  mills,  7  stores, 
136  horses,  380  neat  cattle,  over  3 
years  of  age;  it  paid  t-ship  tax, 
$51  92;  state  tax,  $129;  county 
tax,  $399  38. 

Ludlam's  Beach,  extends  upon 
the  ocean  about  6  miles  from  Car- 
son's to  Townsend's  inlet,  partly  in 
Middle,  and  partly  in  Dennis  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co. 

Lumberton,  town  of  Northampton 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  south 
branch  of  Rancocus  creek,  3  miles 
S.  W.  from  Mount  Holly;  contains 
2  stores,  2  taverns,  a  steel  furnace, 
and  from  25  to  30  dwellings,  sur- 
rounded by  very  good  farms. 

Mackcpin  Pond,  Pompton  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.,  about  2  miles  in  length, 
by  half  a  mile  in  breadth ;  lies  among 
the  mountains,  and  sends  forth  a 
small  tributary  to  the  Pequannock 
creek. 

Malaga,  p-t.  of  Franklin  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  23  miles  S.  E.  from 
Woodbury,  at  the  angle  of  junction 
of  Salem,  Cumberland  and  Glouces- 
ter counties ;  on  the  head  waters  of 
Maurice  river,  58  miles  S.  from 
Trenton,  and  N.  E.  164  from  W.  C.  ; 
contains  1  tavern,  2  stores,  a  glass 
manufactory,  employed  on  window 
glass,  30  dwellings  and  a  grist  mill. 

Mamapaque  Brook,  an  arm  of  the 
south  branch  of  Toms'  river,  Dover 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co. 

Manahocking     River,     Stafford 


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172 


MAN 


t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  flows  S.  E. 
about  9  miles  into  Little  Egg  Harbour 
bay,  giving  motion  to  a  mill,  at  the 
town  of  Manahocking. 

Manahocking,  p-t.  of  Stafford 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  38  miles  S.  E. 
of  Freehold,  73  from  Trenton,  and 
197  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  upon  the 
creek  of  the  same  name,  about  4 
miles  from  Little  Egg  Harbour  bay, 
contains  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  2  ta- 
verns, several  stores,  and  from  20 
to  30  dwellings,  a  Friends'  meeting 
house,  a  Baptist  and  a  Methodist 
church.  There  is  a  considerable 
trade  carried  on  here  in  wood  and 
lumber,  and  cedar  rails,  supplied  by 
the  swamps  of  the  neighbourhood. 

Manalapan  Brook,  or  South  Ri- 
ver, rises  in  Upper  Freehold  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  near  Paint  Island 
spring,  and  flows  by  a  devious,  but 
generally,  N.  E.  course,  through 
South  Amboy  t-ship,  (forming  in 
part  the  line  between  it  and  South 
Brunswick)  a  distance  of  about  28 
or  30  miles,  to  the  Raritan  river, 
about  4  miles  below  New  Brunswick, 
receiving  from  the  south,  several 
considerable  tributaries.  When  the 
passage  to  New  York  was  made  by 
the  town  of  Washington  on  this  river, 
a  canal,  of  about  a  mile  in  length, 
was  cut  through  the  marshes,  that  by 
turning  the  river  into  it  the  steam-boat 
might  avoid  some  detours  of  the  Ra- 
ritan, and  shorten  her  course.  The 
project,  we  believe,  was  not  success 
fully  executed. 

Manaway  Creek,  Milleville  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  a  tributary  of  Mau 
rice  river. 

Manantico  Creek,  a  considerable 
branch  of  Maurice  river,  rising  near 
the  S.  W.  border  of  Gloucester  co., 
and  flowing  S.  W.  about  14  miles 
uniting  with  the  river  about  two  miles 
above  Port  Elizabeth;  it  turns  seve- 
ral mills ;  it  receives  two  tributaries 
Berryman's  and  Panther  branches. 

Manasquan  River,  mill  stream  o: 
Monmouth  co.,  rises  by  several  small 
branches  in  Freehold  t-ship,  which 
unite  on  the  boundary  line  between 
Freehold  and  Howell  townships; 


hence  the  river  flows  by  a  S.  E.  di- 
rection 18  miles  through  the  latter 
ownship  to  the  ocean,  by  Manas- 
quan inlet.  The  tide  water  of  the 
river,  about  3  miles  above  the  mouth, 
crossed  by  Squan  bridge. 
Mannington  t-ship,  Salem  co., 
Dounded  N.  by  Salem  river,  which 
divides  it  from  Upper  Penn's  Neck 
creek,  and  Pilesgrove  township,  E. 
by  Pilesgrove,  S.  by  Upper  Alloways 
township,  and  Salem  township,  and 
W.  by  Salem  river,  which  here  sepa- 
rates it  from  Lower  Penn's  Neck 
township.  Centrally  distant  N.  E. 
from  Salem,  6  miles;  length  N.  and 
S.  9 ;  breadth  E.  and  W.  8  miles ; 
area,  about  90,000  acres,  of  which 
more  than  18,000  are  improved ;  sur- 
face, level ;  soil,  heavy  rich  loam,  well 
ultivated  in  wheat  and  grass.  The 
township  is  drained  by  Salem  river, 
bounding  it  on  the  N.  and  W.  and 
by  Mannington  creek,  which  has  its 
whole  course  within  it,  and  is  a  tri- 
butary of  the  former.  Near  the  vil- 
lage of  Mannington  Hill,  which  is 
the  post-town  of  the  township,  is  a 
noted  nursery  of  fruit  and  ornamental 
trees,  planted  by  Mr.  Samuel  Reeves, 
who  sold  from  it  during  the  year 
1832,  15,000  peach  trees  alone.  The 
poor-house  of  the  county  lies  near  the 
eastern  line  of  the  township,  in  which 
from  80  to  120  paupers  are  annually 
relieved.  Population,  in  1830,  1726. 
In  1832,  there  were  in  the  township 
1  Methodist  and  1  Baptist  church, 
102  householders,  whose  ratablesdid 
not  exceed  $30 ;  1  store,  2  distilleries, 
353  taxable  inhabitants ;  and  the 
township  paid  for  township  pur- 
poses, $1000;  for  county  purposes, 
$1085  34 ;  and  state  tax,  $339  64. 

Mannington  Hill,  p-t.,  and  small 
village  of  Mannington  t-ship,  Salem 
co.  Centrally  situate  in  the  town- 
ship, upon  Mannington  creek.  It 
contains  6  or  8  houses  and  a  store. 
It  is  about  175  miles  from  W.  C.,  60 
from  Trenton,  and  5  N.  E.  of  Salem. 

Mannington  Creek,  a  small  tribu- 
tary of  Salem  river,  which  rising  on 
the  S.  W.  border  of  Mannington 
township,  Salem  county,  flows  west- 


MAN 


173 


MAN 


erly  by  a  meandering  course  of  8 
miles  to  its  recipient.  It  is  not  a  mill 
stream,  but  along  its  banks  are  some 
valuable  meadows. 

Mansfield  t-ship,  Warren  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Independence,  S. 
E.  by  the  Muscorietcong  river,  which 
separates  it  from  Morris  and  Hunter- 
don  cos.,  S.  W.  by  Greenwich  t-ship, 
and  N.  W.  by  Oxford  t-ship.  Cen- 
trally distant  from  Belvidere,  the 
county  town,  9  miles ;  greatest  length 
on  the  river  15  miles;  breadth  6£ 
miles ;  area,  33,000  acres;  surface, 
mountainous;  drained  by  the  Mus- 
conetcong  and  Pohatcong  creeks, 
which,  divided  by  a  chain  of  lofty 
hills,  run  parallel  to  each  other,  but 
at  a  distance  of  nearly  4  miles  apart. 
There  is  a  mineral  spring,  a  chaly- 
beate, in  the  S.  W.  part  of  the  t-ship, 
much  frequented.  Population  in  1830, 
3303.  In  1832  there  were  800  taxa- 
bles,  169  householders,  whose  ratable 
estates  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  11  stores, 
12  pairs  of  stones  for  grinding  grain, 
8  carding  machines,  5  saw  mills,  1 
furnace,  1  fulling  mill,  36  tan  vats,  7 
distilleries,  862  horses  and  mules, 
and  1407  neat  cattle  in  the  t-ship; 
and  the  t-ship  paid  $1200  road  and 
poor  tax;  and  $1659  42  state  and 
county  tax.  The  Morris  canal  winds 
through  the  hills  the  whole  length  of 
the  t-ship.  This  is  one  of  the  richest 
t-ships  of  the  state,  having  a  large 
proportion  of  valley  land  underlaid 
with  limestone.  Large  quantities  of 
wheat  are  raised,  and  some  farmers 
sell  as  many  as  3000  bushels  annu- 
ally. Iron  ore  abounds  in  the  hills, 
and  silver  is  said  to  have  been  dis- 
covered near  the  spring,  but  most 
probably  this  is  iron  pyrites. 

Mansfield,  small  village  of  Mans- 
field t-ship,  Burlington  co. ;  centrally 
situated  in  the  t-ship  8  miles  N.  of 
Mount  Holly,  and  4  miles  S.  of  Bor- 
dentown ;  contains  a  Friends'  meeting 
house  and  4  or  5  dwellings. 

Mansfield  or  Washington,  p-t.  of 
Mansfield  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  founded 
in  1811,  on  the  turnpike  road  leading 
from  Philipsburg  to  Schooley's  moun- 
tain ;  by  the  post  route  202  miles  from 


W.  C.,  and  46  from  Trenton,  and  8i 
miles  S.  E.  of  Belvidere,  the  county 
town,  30  from  Morristown,  12  from 
Easton,  and  3  miles  from  Musconet- 
cong  creek;  contains  1  tavern,  2 
stores,  from  35  to  40  dwellings,  1 
Methodist  and  1  Presbyterian  church, 
and  1  school.  Iron  ore  abounds  in 
Scott's  mountain  north  of  the  village. 
Around  the  town  the  soil  is  limestone, 
fertile  and  well  cultivated,  and  valued 
at  from  20  to  50  dollars  the  acre. 
The  town  is  supplied  with  excellent 
water  from  a  spring  on  the  south, 
which  is  distributed  by  4  public  foun- 
tains. 

Mansfield  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Chesterfield  t-ship, 
S.  by  Springfield,  W.  by  Burlington 
t-ship,  and  N.  W.  by  the  river  Dela- 
ware. Centrally  distant  from  Mount 
Holly  N.  7  miles ;  greatest  length  E. 
and  W.  10  miles;  breadth  N.  and  S. 
6£  miles;  area,  about  21,000  acres; 
surface,  level;  soil,  various,  sand, 
loam,  and  clay ;  generally  well  cul- 
tivated, and  productive.  It  is  drained 
north-westerly  by  Black's,  Craft's, 
and  Assiscunk  creeks,  all  of  which 
flow  to  the  Delaware  river.  Along 
the  river  are  some  noted  clay  banks, 
from  which  clay  is  taken  for  the  ma- 
nufacture of  fire  bricks,  and  for  other 
purposes  requiring  great  resistance 
to  heat.  The  towns  are  White  Hill, 
Georgetown,  Mansfield,  Bustletown, 
Columbus  or  Black  Horse,  the  last 
of  which  is  a  post-town.  Population 
in  1830,  2083.  In  1832  the  t-ship 
contained  432  taxables,  216  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed $30;  65  single  men,  1390  neat 
cattle,  and  548  horses  and  mules, 
above  3  years  old,  4  stores,  2  saw 
mills,  3  grist  mills,  1  fishery,  1  fur- 
nace, 1  fulling  mill,  31  tan  vats,  1 
carding  machine,  5  distilleries  of 
cider,  4  coaches  and  chariots,  3  phae- 
tons and  chaises,  49  dearborns,  and 
84  covered  wagons,  3  chairs  and 
curricles,  and  18  gigs  and  sulkies; 
and  it  paid  state  tax,  $345  88; 
county  tax,  $1212  38;  and  t-ship 
tax,  $1100. 

Mantua    Creek,    Gloucester   co., 


MAR 


174 


MAT 


rises  on,  and  forms  the  line  between 
Deptford  and  Greenwich  t-ships,  and 
flows  N.  W.  by  a  course  of  15  miles 
to  the  Delaware  river,  above  Maiden 
island.  It  is  navigable  for  sloops  7 
or  8  miles  to  Carpenter's  Landing, 
above  which  it  gives  motion  to  seve- 
ral mills. 

Maple  Island  Creek,  sets  in  from 
Newark  bay  about  1^  or  2  miles  into 
the  salt  marsh,  on  the  S.  E.  of  New- 
arktown. 

Mapletown,  hamlet  on  Millstone 
river,  a  short  distance  above  the 
mouth  of  Stony  Brook,  2  miles  S.  E. 
of  Princeton,  15  from  New  Bruns- 
wick; contains  a  fine  grist  and  saw 
mill,  and  fulling  mill,  and  4  or  5 
dwellings.  North  of  the  hamlet  on 
the  river,  are  some  excellent  quarries 
of  freestone;  a  fine  grey,  with  por- 
tions of  red,  standstone,  streaked  with 
small  veins  of  quartz.  It  works  well 
under  the  hammer,  and  has  been  used 
in  the  erection  of  the  locks  of  the  £)e- 
laware  and  Raritan  canal. 

Mare  Run,  small  tributary  of  the 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river,  flowing 
from  the  west  to  its  recipient,  in  Ha- 
milton t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  about 
•3  miles  above  May's  Landing. 

Marksboro*,  p-t.  and  village  of 
Hard  wick  t-ship,  Warren  co.;  cen- 
trally situate  in  the  t-ship,  and  by 
post  route  distant  from  W.  C.  240, 
from  Trenton  82,  from  Belvidere  15 
miles,  10  from  Newton,  and  12  from 
Columbia,  and  on  the  south  bank  of 
*he  Paulinskill ;  contains  a  Presbyte- 
rian church,  a  grist  mill,  a  cotton 
manufactory  making  1500  Ibs.  of 
yarn  per  week,  a  clover  mill,  1  law- 
yer, 1  physician,  and  about  20  dwell- 
ings. The  town  itself  lies  on  a  slate 
ridge,  which  is  fertile  and  well  culti- 
vated, but  the  soil  on  the  north  side 
of  the  creek  is  secondary  limestone ; 
the  most  valuable  slate  lands  rate, 
at  about  $30,  and  the  lime,  at  about 
$40  the  acre.  The  celebrated  White 
Pond  lies  about  1  mile  north  of  the 
town.  Its  shores  and  bottom  are 
covered  with  vast  quantities  of  snail 
shells,  and  its  waters  afford  abun- 
dance of  white  perch  and  other  fish. 


Marshs'bog,  town  of  Howell  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  9  miles  S.  E.  of  Free- 
hold; contains  2  taverns,  2  stores, 
and  10  or  12  dwellings;  the  surround- 
ing country  is  sterile,  but  there  is 
considerable  business  done  in  the  vil- 
lage. 

Marshallville,  or  Cumberland 
Works,  on  Tuckahoe  creek,  Maurice 
Creek  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  at  the 
eastern  extremity  of  the  co.,  28  miles 
S.  E.  of  Bridgeton;  contains  from 
30  to  40  houses,  some  extensive  glass 
works  belonging  to  Randall  Marshall, 
Esq.,  at  which  much  window  glass  is 
manufactured,  1  tavern,  and  2  stores. 
There  is  much  ship  building  carried 
on  here  in  vessels  of  from  50  to  100 
tons;  soil,  sandy. 

Martha  Furnace,  Washington 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  Oswego 
branch  of  Wading  river,  about  4 
miles  above  the  head  of  navigation ; 
there  are  here  also  a  grist  and  saw 
mill.  The  furnace  makes  about  750 
tons  of  iron  castings  annually,  and 
employs  about  60  hands,  who,  with 
their  families,  make  a  population  of 
near  400  souls,  requiring  from  40  to 
50  dwellings ;  there  are  about  30,000 
acres  of  land  appurtenant  to  these 
works. 

Martinsville  post-office,  Somerset 
co.,  203  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
and  37  from  Trenton. 

Matchaponix  Brook,  fine  mill 
stream,  which  has  its  source  in  Up- 
per Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
and  flows  about  10  miles  N.  W.  by 
Englishtown,  through  South  Amboy 
t-ship,  to  its  recipient,  the  South  river, 
near  Spotswood. 

Matouchin,  p-t.  of  Woodbridge 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  at  the  intersec- 
tion of  the  turnpike  roads  leading, 
one  from  New  Brunswick  to  Eliza- 
bethtown,  and  the  other  from  Perth 
Amboy  towards  Bound  Brook,  5 
miles  from  New  Brunswick,  6  miles 
from  Perth  Amboy,  31  from  Tren- 
ton, and  198  from  W.  C. ;  contains 
a  Presbyterian  church,  store,  2  ta- 
verns, and  10  or  12  dwellings,  sur- 
rounded by  a  fertile  country  of  red 
shale. 


/ 


MAU 


175 


MED 


Mattison's  Corner,  post-office  Hun- 
terdon  co.,  by  post-route  185  miles 
from  W.  C.,  and  26  from  Trenton. 

Mauricetown,  p-t.  on  Maurice  ri- 
ver, 10  or  12  miles  from  its  mouth, 
87  miles  S.  of  Trenton,  18  from 
Bridgeton,  and  184  from  W.  C. ; 
contains  some  20  dwellings,  store, 
tavern,  an  academy,  and  Methodist 
church.  The  town  is  handsomely 
situated  upon  a  high  belt  of  rich  land, 
and  some  of  the  dwellings  are  of 
brick,  very  neat  and  pleasant,  and 
surrounded  by  valuable  meadows. 

Maurice  River  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.,  bounded  N.  by  Hamilton  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  E.  by  Weymouth 
t-ship,  of  same  co.,  S.  by  Upper  and 
Dennis  t-ships,  of  Cape  May  co.,  and 
by  the  Delaware  bay,  and  W.  by 
Maurice  river,  from  its  source  to  its 
mouth,  separating  it  from  Downe  and 
Milleville  t-ships,  Cumberland  co. 
Centrally  distant  S.  E.  from  Bridge- 
ton,  20  miles;  greatest  length  19, 
breadth  11  miles;  area,  79,360  acres; 
surface,  level ;  soil,  generally  sandy 
except  along  the  margin  of  the 
creeks,  where  loam  and  clay  prevail. 
It  is  drained  E.  by  Tuckahoe  creek 
and  its  tributaries,  and  S.  by  Tarkill 
creek.  Population  in  1830,  2724. 
In  1832,  there  were  in  the  t-ship  525 
taxables,  117  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  830  ;  11 
stores,  6  pairs  of  stones  for  grinding 
grain,  1  blast  furnace  and  forge, 
6  saw  mills,  2  glass  manufactories,  1 
at  Port  Elizabeth,  and  the  other  at 
Marshallville,  or  Cumberland  Works, 
295  horses,  and  1810  neat  cattle, 
above  3  years  old;  there  are  some 
very  valuable  meadows  on  Maurice 
river,  commencing  5  miles  from  the 
mouth,  and  extending  nearly  to 
Milleville,  15  miles.  Port  Elizabeth, 
Bricksboro',  Dorchester,  Leesburg, 
and  Marshallville,  are  villages  of  the 
t-ship ;  all,  except  the  last,  upon  or 
near  the  east  bank  of  Maurice  river, 
and  the  last  upon  Tuckahoe  creek. 

Maurice  River,  Prince,  rises  by 
several  small  branches  in  Deptford 
and  Franklin  t-ships,  Gloucester  co., 
which  uniting  above  Fork  Bridge  on 


the  line  between  the  S.  E.  boundary 
of  Salem  co.  and  Cumberland  co., 
form  a  considerable  stream,  which 
there  gives  motion  to  several  mills. 
About  8  miles  below  this  point,  the 
river  receives  from  Salem  co.  a  large 
tributary,  called  Muddy  run,  above 
the  head  of  the  dam  of  the  Milleville 
works.  From  this  dam,  which  checks 
the  whole  river,  a  canal  of  near 
3  miles  in  length,  supplies  the  works 
at  Milleville.  From  this  town  the  ri- 
ver is  navigable  for  20  miles  to  the 
bay,  for  vessels  of  80  or  100  tons, 
and  to  within  5  miles  of  its  mouth,  its 
shores  are  lined  with  valuable  em- 
banked meadows.  It  receives  in  its 
course  a  number  of  considerable  tri- 
butaries, on  either  hand.  The  oys- 
ters taken  at  the  mouth  of  this  river, 
are  famed  for  their  excellent  quality. 

Maul's  Bridge,  over  the  Maurice 
river,  between  Salem  and  Cumber- 
land counties. 

May's  Landing,  p-t.  of  Hamilton 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  upon  the  Great 
Egg  Harbour  river,  at  the  head  of 
sloop  navigation,  16  miles  from  the 
sea,  35  miles  S.  E.  from  Woodbury, 
73  from  Trenton,  and  181  N.  E. 
from  W.  C. ;  built  on  both  sides  of  the 
river,  including  the  village  of  Hamil- 
ton, and  contains  3  taverns,  4  stores, 
a  Methodist  church,  and  25  or  30 
dwellings ;  a  considerable  trade  in 
cord-wood,  lumber,  and  ship  building, 
is  carried  on  at  this  place. 

Mead's  Basin,  post-office,  Bergen 
co.,  240  miles  from  W.  C.,  and  74 
from  Trenton,  N.  E. 

Meelcendam  Creek,  small  tributary 
of  Little  Egg  Harbour  river,  uniting 
with  it  about  4  miles  below  Pleasant 
Mills. 

Mechescalaxin  Creel:;,  tributary  of 
Atsioii  river,  rises  in  Hereford  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  and  by  a  course  of 
13  miles  S.  E.,  unites  with  Atsion 
river,  near  Pleasant  Mills,  in  Gallo- 
way t-ship. 

Medford,  p-t.  Eveham  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  on  Haines' creek,  7  miles 
S.  W.  from  Mount  Holly,  16  miles 
E.  from  Camden,  29  S.  E.  from 
Trenton,  and  154  N.  E.  from  W.  C. ; 


MET 


176 


MID 


contains  a  large  Quaker  meeting 
house,  2  taverns,  4  stores,  and  from 
30  to  40  dwellings,  surrounded  by  a 
pleasant  fertile  country. 

Mendham  t-ship,  Morris  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Randolph,  E.  by 
Morris,  S.  by  Bernard,  and  Bedmin- 
ster  t-ships,  of  Somerset  co.,  and  W. 
by  Chester  co.  Centrally  distant,  W. 
from  Morristown,  7  miles;  greatest 
length,  E.  and  W.  6;  breadth,  N. 
and  S.  4^  miles;  area,  14,000  acres; 
surface  generally  hilly,  and  on  the 
N.  mountainous;  soil  clay,  loam 
and  grey  limestone;  the  last  fer- 
tile and  well  cultivated;  drained 
southwardly,  by  arms  of  the  north 
branch  of  the  Raritan,  and  E.  by 
Whippany  river.  Mendham  is  the 
post-town.  Population  in  1830, 1314. 
In  1832,  the  township  contained  270 
taxables,  48  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  30  single 
men,  5  stores,  4  saw  mills,  3  grist 
mills,  1  cotton  manufactory,  2  full- 
ing mills,  2  wool  carding  machines, 
26  tan  vats,  7  distilleries  and  1  forge, 
273  horses  and  686  neat  cattle,  above 
the  age  of  three  years;  and  paid 
state  tax,  8176  03;  county  tax,  394 
12;  poor  tax,  $250;  road  tax,  $800. 
Sulphur  was  reported  to  be  found,  in 
this  township,  in  large  quantities, 
during  the  revolutionary  war. 

Mendham,  p-t.  of  the  preceding 
township,  on  the  Morris  and  Easton 
turnpike-road,  6  miles  W.  of  the  for- 
mer, 221  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  55 
from  Trenton ;  contains  a  Presbyte- 
rian church,  a  boarding  school  for 
boys,  in  much  repute,  under  the  care 
of  Mr.  Fairchild,  1  grist  mill,  1  ta- 
vern, three  stores,  and  between  40 
and  50  dwellings.  Circumjacent 
country  rolling,  soil  limestone,  well 
cultivated  and  fertile. 

Merritfs  Branch  of  Pohatcong 
Creek,  rises  in  Oxford  t-ship,  War- 
ren co.  and  flows  S.  through  Green- 
wich township,  to  its  recipient,  hav- 
ing a  course  of  about  7  miles. 

Metetecunk  River,  Monmouth  co., 
rises  by  two  branches,  the  N.  and  S. 
in  Freehold  township,  and  flowing 
S.  E.  about  16  miles,  uniting  in  the 


pond  of  Butcher's  works,  on  the  line 
of  Dover  and  Howell  townships, 
about  4  miles  above  the  north  end  of 
Barnegat  bay,  into  which  the  river 
empties.  Each  branch  gives  motion 
to  several  mills.  The  main  river  is 
navigable  to  Butcher's  works. 

Middle  t-ship,  Cape  May  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Dennis'  creek  t-ship, 
E.  by  the  Atlantic  ocean,  S.  by  Low- 
er t-ship,  and  W.  by  the  Delaware 
bay;  greatest  length,  N.  and  S.  12, 
breadth,  10  miles;  area,  60,000 
acres ;  surface,  level ;  soil,  sand  and 
marsh ;  Dennis'  creek  runs  on  the 
N.  W.  border  of  the  township ;  Lea- 
rning's and  Seven  Mile  beaches  lie  on 
the  Atlantic,  between  which,  is  Here- 
ford's inlet,  admitting  the  sea  to  the 
marshes  and  lagunes,  which  extend 
westerly,  for  about  four  miles.  On 
the  bay  there  is  also,  a  strip  of  marsh 
from  half  a  mile  to  two  miles  in 
width,  through  which  flow  Goshen, 
Dyer's,  Green  and  Fishing  creeks. 
The  interval  land  between  the 
marshes,  is  a  stiff  clay,  covered 
with  oak  forest,  through  which  are 
interspersed  some  arable  lands.  The 
population  is  chiefly  seated  along  the 
edge  of  the  marshes,  and  consisted, 
in  1830,  of  1366  souls.  In  1832, 
the  township  contained  about  320  tax- 
ables, 207  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles did  not  exceed  $30 ;  1  grist  mill, 
3  saw  mills,  218  horses,  650  neat 
cattle  over  3  years  of  age,  8  stores, 
and  paid  township  taxes,  $101  3; 
county  do.  $630  47 ;  and  state  tax, 
$203  53.  There  are  two  villages  in 
the  township ;  one  at  Cape  May  Court 
House,  and  the  other  called  Goshen. 

Middle  Run,  Weymouth  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  a  marsh  creek,  which 
empties  into  Great  Egg  Harbour 
bay. 

Middlebrook,  Warren  and  Bridge- 
water  t-ships,  Somerset  co.,  rises  in 
and  flows  through  a  mountain  valley 
by  a  S.  W.  and  S.  course  of  about  9 
miles,  and  emptying  into  the  Raritan 
near  the  village  of  Middlebrook  in 
the  latter  township. 

Middlebrook,  village.  See  Bound 
Brook. 


MID 


177 


MID 


Middlesex  co.,  was  first  erected 
by  an  act  of  Assembly  under  the 
proprietary  government  in  1682.  Its 
boundaries  have  been  settled  by  the 
acts  of  1709,  1713  and  1790.  It 
is  now  bounded  N.  by  Essex  coun- 
ty ;  N.  E.  by  Arthur's  Kill  or  Staten 
Island  Sound;  E.  by  Raritan  bay; 
S.  E.  by  Monmouth  county;  S.  W. 
by  Burlington,  and  Huntingdon  coun- 
ties ;  and  W.  and  N.  W.  by  Somer- 
set county;  greatest  length,  N.  E. 
and  S.  W.  35  miles ;  greatest  breadth, 
17  miles;  area,  in  acres,  21,700,  or 
about  339  square  miles.  Central  lat. 
40°  25'  N.;  long,  from  W.  C.  2°  34' 
east. 

Geologically  considered,  the  coun- 
ty is  based  upon  the  primitive  and 
old  red  sandstone  formations.  The 
former  is,  in  many  places,  covered 
by  the  latter,  and  appears  most  con- 
spicuously in  the  S.  W.  portion  of 
the  county.  The  red  and  grey  free- 
stone from  the  quarries  of  West 
Windsor  township,  S.  E.  of  Prince- 
ton, and  the  redstone  near  New 
Brunswick,  and  in  many  other  parts 
of  the  county,  are  admirably  adapt- 
ed for,  and  have  been  extensively 
used  in  building ;  the  former  especi- 
ally in  the  locks  of  the  Delaware  and 
Raritan  canal.  The  sand  of  this 
stone  is  mingled  in  various  portions 
with  other  constituents  of  the  soil, 
forming  in  some  places,  deep  sand, 
in  others,  loam,  of  diverse  consist- 
ence, from  the  light  sandy,  to  the 
heavy  clay.  Generally,  ho\u-\rr, 
the  soil  is  of  improvable  quality, 
and  is  in  many  places  highly  culti- 
vated. The  surface  is  as  various  as 
the  soil ;  on  the  S.  E.  it  is  generally 
level,  and  on  the  N.  and  N.  E.  is 
undulating,  but  cannot  any  where  be 
deemed  hilly ;  except  at  the  sand  hills, 
a  few  miles  E.  of  Kingston. 

Copper  ore  is  found  in  the  red 
sandstone  near  New  Brunswick. 
Mines  were  opened  and  worked  many 
years  ago,  but  all  operations  therein 
have  long  been  suspended. 

The  river  Raritan  divides  the  coun- 
ty into  two  unequal  parts,  flowing  by 
a  general  but  serpentine  easterly 


course  of  12  or  14  miles  through  it, 
into  the  Raritan  bay;  receiving  from 
the  south,  Lawrence's  brook  and  the 
South  river,  whose  many  branches 
water  the  country  on  the  S.  E. ;  and 
from  the  N.  some  inconsiderable  tri- 
butaries. The  Millstone  river  cross- 
s  the  S.  W.  portion  of  the  county 
in  a  N.  W.  direction,  and  is  di- 
vided from  the  Assunpink  creek,  by  a 
neck  of  land  from  four  to  five  miles 
wide.  The  one,  bending  to  the  north, 
seeks  the  Raritan  river,  in  Somerset 
county ;  and  the  other  turning  to  the 
S.  W.  runs  to  the  Delaware,  on  the 
line  between  Burlington  and  Hunter- 
don  counties.  The  Rahway  river 
courses  the  N.  E.  line,  and  Green- 
brook  the  N.  W.  boundary,  both 
of  which  receive  tribute  from  the 
county.  The  bay  of  the  Raritan 
affords  an  excellent  harbour,  com- 
municating at  all  times  by  a  single 
tide,  with  the  ocean ;  and  by  Staten 
Island  Sound,  with  the  bay  of  New 
York. 

Perth  Amboy  was  originally  the 
seat  of  justice  of  the  county,  which 
has  long  since  been  removed  to  the 
city  of  New  Brunswick. 

Besides  these  cities,  the  county 
contains  the  following  towns,  viz. 
Bridgetown,  Samptown,  Brooklyn, 
New  Market,  New  Durham,  Wood- 
bridge,  Matouchin,  Bonhamtown, 
Piscataway,  Washington,  Old  Bridge, 
Spotswood,  Kingston,  Princeton, 
"Williamsburg,  Cranberry,  Hights- 
town,  Millford,  Edinburg,  Ceritre- 
ville,  &c. 

A  turnpike  road  from  Trenton 
runs  by  Princeton,  along  the  western 
boundary  of  the  county,  to  New 
Brunswick;  and  thence  a  like  road 
passes  to  New  York ;  a  second  runs 
from  Trenton,  by  a  straight  line,  N. 
W.,  to  New  Brunswick  ;  and  a  third 
from  Bordentown  to  Amboy,  which 
last  two  places  are  also  connected  by 
the  Bordentown  and  Amboy  rail-road. 
The  New  Jersey  rail-road,  now  in 
progress,  will  unite  the  cities  of  Jer- 
sey and  New  Brunswick.  The  Dela- 
ware and  Raritan  canal  runs  a  very 
considerable  distance  through  the 


MJD 


178 


MID 


county,  and  communicates  with  the 
Raritan  at  New  Brunswick. 

The  population,  by  the  census  of 
1830,  was  23,157  :  of  whom  10,523 
were  white  males ;  10,487  white  fe- 
males ;  904  free  coloured  males ;  914 
free  coloured  females ;  1 30  male 
slaves;  179  female  slaves;  174 
aliens;  12  whites,  deaf  and  dumb,  7 
blind,  and  3  blacks  blind. 

The  business  of  the  county  is  chief- 
ly agricultural,  but  considerable  trade 
is  carried  on  from  New  Brunswick. 
In  1832  the  county  contained  about 
4500  taxables,  841  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ; 
477  single  men,  99  stores,  20  saw 
mills,  42  run  of  stones  for  grinding 
grain,  2  plaster  mills,  2  woollen  facto- 
ries, 7  carding  machines,  39  distille- 
ries, and  3684  horses  and  mules,  and 
7675  neat  cattle  over  3  years  of  age; 
and  it  paid  state  tax,  $3253  26; 
county,  84000;  poor,  $5850;  road, 
3600.* 

The  provisions  for  moral  improve- 
ment, in  the  county,  consist  of  the 
following  religious  associations:  viz. 


Presbyterian,  Episcopalian,  Baptist, 
Seventh-day  Baptist,  Dutch  Reform- 
ed, and  Methodist ;  one  college,  and 
one  theological  institution  belonging  to 
Presbyterians,  several  academies  and 
boarding  schools,  at  Princeton ;  a  col- 
lege and  theological  seminary  per- 
taining to  the  Dutch  Reformed,  a 
grammar  school,  and  other  schools, 
at  New  Brunswick;  two  academies 
at  Rahway,  and  common  schools,  at 
which  the  rudiments  of  an  English 
education  are  given  in  every  popu- 
lous vicinity;  a  county  bible  society, 
Sunday  schools,  in  almost  every  vil- 
lage, and  temperance  societies  which 
are  spreading  over  the  county. 

The  public  buildings  in  addition  to 
the  churches  and  seats  of  literature, 
consist  of  the  court-house,  public  of- 
fices, and  prison,  at  New  Brunswick. 

The  following  are  post-towns  of 
the  county :  Amboy,  Cranberry, 
Hightstown,  Kingston,  New  Bruns- 
wick, New  Market,  Rahway,  Six 
Mile  Run,  South  or  Washington, 
Spotswood,  and  Woodbridge. 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  MIDDLESEX  COUNTY. 


i 

^ 

TJ 

Population. 

Townships,  &c. 

a 

s 

Area. 

Surface. 

3 

P5 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Perth  Amboy, 

2,577 

rolling. 

815 

798 

879 

South  Amboy, 

18 

6 

64,000 

partly  rolling. 

3071 

3406 

3782 

North  Brunswick, 

9 

7 

23,000 

level. 

3980 

4275 

5274 

South  Brunswick, 

10 

7 

36,000 

d?. 

2332 

2489 

2557 

East  Windsor, 

12 

6 

24,000 

do. 

1747 

1710 

1903 

West  Windsor, 

7 

5 

19,000 

do. 

1714 

1918 

2129 

Piscataway, 

9 

ri 

27,000 

do. 

2475 

2648 

2664 

Woodbridge, 

9 

9 

24,000 

do. 

4247 

4226 

3969 

219,577 

20,381 

21,470 

23,157 

Middletown  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Raritan  bay  and 
Sandy  Hook,  E.  by  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  S.  by  Shrewsbury  t-ship,  and 
W.  by  South  Amboy  t-ship,  Middle- 
sex co.  Centrally  distant  N.  E.  from 
Freehold  10  miles;  greatest  length  E. 
and  W.  16,  breadth  N.  and  S.  10 
miles;  area,  50,000  acres;  surface, 
on  the  east  and  centre,  hilly,  else- 


where, level;  soil,  loam,  sand,  and 
clay,  not  naturally  of  the  first  quality, 
but  highly  improved,  in  places,  by 
the  use  of  marl,  which  has  become 
common.  Sandy  Hook  bay  runs  south 
into  the  t-ship  from  the  Raritan,  and 
is  bounded  on  the  S.  W.  by  the  pro- 
montory of  the  highlands  of  Nevi- 
sink,  and  on  the  E.  by  the  sand 
beach,  forming  Sandy  Hook,  run- 


MID 


179 


MIL 


ning  6  miles  north  from  Shrewsbury 
Inlet ;  upon  the  north  point  of  which 
stands  Sandy  Hook  Light-house.  The 
t-ship  is  drained  on  the  S.  E.,  S.  and 
S.  W.  by  Swimming  and  Nevisink 
rivers ;  on  the  N.  W.  by  Middletown 
creek ;  N.  by  Waycake,  and  N.  E.  by 
Watson's  and  Shoal  Harbour  creeks. 
Middletown,  Middletown  Point,  Bap- 
tisttown,  or  Holmdel  and  Mount  Plea- 
sant are  villages,  the  two  first  post- 
towns,  of  the  t-ship.  Population  in 
1830,  5128.  In  1832  the  t-ship  con- 
tained about  1000  taxables,  277 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  830;  169  single  men,  27  stores, 
5  saw  mills,  13  run  of  stones  for  grind- 
ing grain,  1  fulling  mill,  36  tan  vats, 
11  distilleries,  956  horses  and  mules, 
and  2286  neat  cattle,  above  3  years 
of  age;  and  paid  state  and  county 
taxes,  82620  20.  Good  lands  will 
bring  in  this  t-ship  an  average  price 
of  860  the  acre. 

In  1682  Middletown  contained 
about  100  families;  several  thousand 
acres  had  been  collected  for  the  town, 
and  many  thousand  for  out-planta- 
tions. John  Browne,  Richard  Harts- 
home,  and  Nicholas  Davis,  had  well 
improved  settlements  here;  and  a 
court  of  sessions  was  holden  twice 
or  thrice  a  year,  for  Middletown, 
Piscataway  and  their  jurisdictions. 

Middletown,  post-town  of  Middle- 
town  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  13  miles 
N.  E.  from  Freehold,  56  from  Tren- 
ton, and  221  from  W.  C.,  situate  in 
a  rolling  and  fertile  country,  based 
on  marl;  contains  an  Episcopal,  a 
Dutch  Reformed,  and  a  Baptist  church, 
2  stores,  2  taverns,  and  from  20  to 
25  dwellings,  among  which,  there 
are  several  very  neat  and  commo- 
dious. 

Middletown  Point,  port  of  delivery 
of  Perth  Amboy  district,  and  post- 
town  of  Middletown  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co.,  upon  Middletown  creek,  about  3 
miles  from  the  Raritan  bay,  11  miles 
N.  of  Freehold,  47  N.  E.  from  Tren- 
ton, and  213  from  W.  C.;  lies  on  a 
bank  elevated  about  50  feet  above  the 
stream,  fronting  a  marsh  on  the  op- 
posite side;  contains  a  Presbyterian 


church,  from  75  to  100  dwellings, 
many  of  which  are  very  good  build- 
ings, 8  or  10  stores,  4  taverns,  and  a 
grist  mill.  This  is  the  market  of  an 
extensive  country,  and  large  quanti- 
ties of  pork,  rye,  corn,  cord  wood, 
and  garden  truck,  are  thence  sent  to 
New  York.  The  soil  immediately 
around  the  town  is  sandy.  There  is 
a  bank  here,  incorporated  in  1830, 
with  a  capital  of  850,000,  of  which 
810,000  only  were  paid  in,  in  1833. 

Middleville,  Orange  t-ship,  Essex 
co.,  5  miles  S.  W.  of  Newark,  con- 
tains a  tavern,  a  store,  a  grist  mill, 
saw  mill,  and  Universalist  church. 

Mitt  Brook,  a  small  stream  of 
Montague  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  flowing 
N.  E.,  a  course  of  about  6  miles,  to 
the  Nevisink  river,  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  about  1  mile  north  of  the 
boundary,  giving  motion  to  several 
grist,  and  other  mills. 

Mill  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Cohan- 
sey  creek,  flowing  southward  into  it, 
and  forming  the  S.  W.  boundary  of 
Greenwich  t-ship,  Salem  co.;  length 
between  3  and  4  miles. 

Mill  Creek,  another  tributary  of 
Cohansey  creek,  rising  in  Fairfield 
t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  and  flowing 
S.  W.  about  4  miles,  by  the  village 
of  Fairton,  to  its  recipient,  giving 
motion  to  two  mills. 

Millford,  E.  Windsor  t-ship,  Mid- 
dlesex co.,  on  Rocky  Brook,  17  miles 
S.  W.  from  New  Brunswick,  on 
Rocky  Brook ;  contains  a  Presbyte- 
rian church,  a  grist  mill,  and  some 
10  or  12  farm  houses,  and  dwellings 
of  mechanics.  Soil  light,  and  not 
productive. 

Millford,  village  of  Alexandria 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  on  the  river 
Delaware,  at  the  confluence  of  a  small 
creek  with  that  stream,  13  miles  N. 
W.  from  Flemington,  and  40  from 
Trenton;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
grist  mill,  2  saw  mills,  and  from 
15  to  20  dwellings,  a  Presbyterian 
church,  and  a  church  of  Unitarians, 
which  styles  itself  Christian,  and 
which  admits  females  to  participate 
in  the  ministry.  This  is  a  place  of 


MIL 


180 


MIN 


considerable  business,  particularly  in 
the  lumber  trade. 

Millhill,  village  of  Nottingham 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  S.  side 
of  the  Assunpink  creek;  contains  2 
cotton  manufactories,  several  taverns 
and  stores,  a  market  house,  and  about 
80  dwellings.  (See  Trenton,  of  which 
it  is  a  suburb.) 

Millington,  post-office,  Somerset 
co.,  219  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and 
48  from  Trenton. 

Millstone  River,  rises  near  Paint 
Island  spring,  Upper  Freehold  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  and  flows  thence  by 
a  N.  course  of  about  5  miles,  to  the 
line  between  Monmouth  and  Mid- 
dlesex cos. ;  thence  N.  W.  13  or 
14  miles,  through  Middlesex  to  the 
mouth  of  Stony  Brook,  thence  N.  E. 
by  Kingston,  into  Somerset  co.,  16 
miles  to  the  river  Raritan.  It  is  a 
strong  and  rapid  stream,  receiving 
the  waters  of  an  extensive  country, 
including  that  drained  by  Stony 
Brook;  and  runs,  in  many  places, 
through  very  narrow  valleys,  and 
consequently  is  subject  to  sudden  and 
great  overflows.  The  Delaware  and 
Raritan  canal  enters  the  valley  of 
this  river,  with  Stony  Brook,  and  fol- 
lows it  to  the  Raritan.  The  whole 
length  of  the  Millstone  may  be  about 
35  miles,  by  comparative  courses. 

Millstone,  post-town  of  Hillsbo- 
rough  t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Millstone  river,  194 
miles  N.  E.  of  W.  C.,  28  from  Tren- 
ton, 5  S.  of  Somerville;  contains  2 
taverns,  3  stores,  a  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  and  between  30  and  40  dwell- 
ings, in  a  level,  fertile,  red  shale 
country.  Some  of  the  dwellings  are 
very  neat  and  commodious. 

Milltown,  a  small  village  in  the 
southern  part  of  Kingwood  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.,  on  the  Laokatong 
creek,  10  miles  S.  W.  from  Fleming- 
ton;  contains  a  mill,  store,  and  8  or 
10  dwellings. 

Millville  t-ship  Cumberland  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Gloucester  and  Salem 
cos.,  and  by  Deptford  t-ship,  S.  E.  by 
Maurice  River  t-ship,  S.  by  Downe, 
and  W.  by  Fairfield  t-ships.  Cen- 


trally distant  E.  from  Bridgeton,  12 
miles;  length  N.  and  S.  16  miles; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  15 ;  area,  73,000 
acres ;  surface,  level ;  soil  sandy,  and 
generally  not  very  productive.  It  is 
drained  by  Maurice  river  and  its  tri- 
butaries, of  which  Manantico  creek 
is  here  the  chief.  Millville  and  Buck- 
shutem,  are  towns  of  the  t-ship;  the 
first  a  post-town.  Population  in  1 880, 
1561.  In  1832,  there  were  in  the 
t-ship  349  taxables,  136  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  830 ; 
7  stores,  6  run  of  stones  for  grinding 
grain,  1  carding  machine,  1  blast  fur- 
nace, 8  saw  mills,  2  glass  manufac- 
tories; and  it  paid  road  tax,  $800, 
and  county  and  state  tax,  $553  58. 

Millville,  p-t.  of  Millville  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  on  the  left  bank  of 
Maurice  river,  20  miles  from  its 
mouth,  11  miles  S.  E.  of  Bridgeton, 
79  from  Trenton,  and  176  N.  E.  from 
W.  C. ;  contains  about  60  dwellings, 
2  taverns,  4  or  5  stores,  a  furnace 
belonging  to  Mr.  D.  C.  Wood,  and 
extensive  glass  works  belonging  to 
Messrs.  Burgin  and  Pearsall;  con- 
sisting of  2  factories,  1  containing  an 
8,  and  the  other  a  7  pot  furnace,  em- 
ployed chiefly  in  the  manufacture  of 
bottles,  demijohns,  carboys,  and  the 
various  kinds  of  vials  used  by  drug- 
gists and  apothecaries,  giving  em- 
ployment to  from  75  to  100  work- 
men*. The  town  lies  near  the  head 
of  sloop  navigation. 

Milton,  post-town  of  Morris  co., 
242  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and 
79  from  Trenton,  and  15  N.  of  So- 
merville. 

Minisink  Island,  formed  by  the 
Delaware  river,  and  making  the  ex- 
treme S.  W.  part  of  Montague  t-ship, 
Sussex  co. 

Mine  Mountain,  composed  of  trap 
rock,  Bernard  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
extends  from  the  north  branch  of  the 
Raritan,  6  miles  to  the  Passaic  river, 
and  is  intersected  by  tributaries  of 
the  respective  rivers;  the  chief  of 
which  is 

Mine  Brook,  rising  near  Logtown, 
on  the  summit  of  the  mountain,and  run- 
ning 6  miles  S.  W.  to  the  north  branch 


MON 


181 


MON 


of  the  Raritan.  It  is  a  mill  stream 
of  great  fall,  and  studded  with  mills. 

Miry  Run,  tributary  of  the  As- 
sunpink  creek,  rises  in  East  Windsor 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  and  flows  N. 
W.  through  Nottingham  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.,  by  a  course  of  8  miles, 
giving  motion  t(l>  several  mills. 

Miry  Run,  small  stream  of  Egg 
Harbour  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  flow- 
ing westerly  about  3  miles  to  the 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river,  having  a 
mill  at  its  mouth. 

Monroe,  p-t.  Hardiston  t-ship,  Sus- 
sex co.,  at  the  cross-roads  N.  W.  of 
Pimple  Hill,  236  miles  from  W.  C., 
78  from  Trenton,  and  9  from  New- 
ton ;  contains  a  mill,  store,  and  seve- 
ral dwellings.  It  is  surrounded  by 
soil  of  primitive  limestone. 

Monroe,  village  of  Hanover  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  near  the  Whippany  river, 
3  miles  N.  E.  of  Morristown ;  con- 
tains a  store,  5  or  6  dwellings,  and  an 
extensive  paper  mill.  It  is  surround- 
ed by  soil  of  loam  and  gravel,  well 
cultivated. 

Monmouth  County ;  the  bounds  of 
this  county  were  established  by  the 
Acts  of  21st  January,  1709-10,  and 
15th  march,  1713-14;  and  it  is  now 
limited  on  the  N.  by  Raritan  bay; 
E.  and  S.  E.  by  the  Atlantic  ocean ; 
S.  W.  and  W.  by  Burlington  co. ; 
and  N.  W.  by  Middlesex;  greatest 
length  65,  breadth  33  miles;  area, 
665,000  acres,  or  about  1030  square 
miles.  Central  lat.  40°  5'  N.,  long, 
from  W.  C.  2°  42'  E.  The  whole  coun- 
try belongs  to  the  alluvial  formation, 
and  consists  of  clay  mingled  with 
sand,  gravel,  and  in  low  places  vege- 
table mould.  In  many  parts  there 
are  large  beds  of  marl,  varying  in 
quality  from  that  composed  almost 
altogether  of  shells,  already  highly 
indurated,  to  that  of  blue  clay  and 
sand,  in  which  the  shells  are  finely 
broken  and  sparsely  strewed.  In  the 
N.  part  of  the  county,  marl  is  gene- 
rally used  as  manure,  and  with  the 
greatest  advantage.  It  has  restored 
many  tracts  of  worn-out  land  to  fer- 
tility, and  preserved  much  more  from 
exhaustion  and  abandonment. 


The  surface  of  the  county,  except 
in  Middletown  t-ship,  is  generally 
level,  and  a  large  portion  of  it  cover- 
ed with  pine  forest ;  N.  of  Manasquan 
inlet  the  sea-coast  is  high,  bold,  and 
clean;  S.  of  that  channel  commences 
a  series  of  sand  beaches,  formed  into 
islands,  by  Barnegat  and  Little  Egg 
Harbour  inlets,  having  a  width,  va- 
rying from  half  a  mile  to  a  mile, 
and  which  extend  in  this  county  to 
Little  Egg  Harbour  inlet,  a  distance, 
southwardly  of  full  40  miles.  Be- 
hind the  beach,  a  bayou,  continues, 
nominally  divided  into  two,  under  the 
names  of  Little  Egg  Harbour,  and 
Barnegat  bays,  which  also  varies 
much  in  width,  being  from  ^  a  mile 
to  4  miles  broad ;  with  a  broad  bor- 
der of  salt  marsh,  on  the  west. 

The  county  is  well  watered,  by 
many  small  streams,  most  of  which 
flow  E.,  to  the  ocean.  The  princi- 
pal of  these  are  Manasquan,  Mete- 
tecunk,  Kettle,  Cedar,  Oyster,  Ma- 
nahocking,  and  Westecunk  creeks, 
Nevisink,  Shrewsbury,  Toms',  and 
Forked  rivers.  From  the  N.  the 
Millstone  and  South  rivers  flow  to  the 
Raritan,  and  the  W.  sends  forth  the 
Assunpink,  the  Crosswick's,  and  the 
Rancocus,  tributaries  of  the  Dela- 
ware. 

The  post-towns  of  the  county  are, 
Allentown,  Barnegat,  Cedar  Creek, 
Colts'  Neck,  Eatontown,  English- 
town,  Freehold,  the  seat  of  justice, 
Holmdel,  Howel  Furnace,  Manohock- 
ing,  Manasquan,  Middletown,  Middle- 
town  Point,  New  Egypt,  Shrewsbury, 
Squankum,  and  Toms'  River.  There 
are  several  other  less  considerable 
villages. 

The  business  of  the  county  is 
chiefly  agricultural,  but  many  per- 
sons are  employed  in  cutting  and 
sawing  timber,  and  in  preparing  and 
carying  cord  wood  to  market,  large 
quantities  of  which  are  sent  from 
Toms'  river,  and  large  quantities  of 
the  finest  pork  are  annually  raised  for 
exportation.  Iron  is  also  made  in 
the  central  parts  of  the  county,  at 
Phoenix,  Dover,  and  other  furnaces. 

The   population,  originally  com- 


MON 


182 


MON 


posed  of  a  few  Dutch,  and  some  New 
England  men,  who  removed  from 
Long  Island,  prior  to,  and  about,  the 
year  1664,  amounted  in  1830,  to 
29,233:  of  whom  there  were,  white 
free  males,  13,900;  free  white  fe- 
males, 13,304;  male  slaves  97;  fe- 
male slaves,  1 30 ;  free  coloured  males, 
1794;  free  coloured  females,  978. 
There  were  also,  19  deaf  and  dumb, 
and  14  blind,  of  the  whites;  1  deaf 
and  dumb,  and  1  blind,  of  the  colour- 
ed population. 


By  returns  of  the  assessors  of  1832, 
there  were  in  the  county,  about  6000 
taxables,  1385  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  603  sin- 
gle men,  103  stores,  52  saw  mills, 
67  run  of  stones  for  grinding  grain, 
6  fulling  mills,  17  caiding  machines, 
5  furnaces,  238  tan  vats,  46  distille- 
ries for  cider,  4942  horses  and  mules, 
and  12,068  neat  cattle,  over  the  age 
of  3  years ;  and  it  paid  county  and 
state  taxes,  $15,492  80. 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  MONMOUTH  COUNTY. 


j 

^ 

Population. 

Townships,  &c. 

bo 
B 

| 

V 

Area. 

Surface. 

£ 

PQ 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Dover, 

24 

22 

200,000 

level. 

1882 

1916 

2898 

Upper  Freehold, 

16 

10 

90,000 

do. 

3843 

4541 

4826 

Lower  Freehold, 

23 

11 

104,000 

do. 

4784 

5146 

5481 

Howell, 

13 

11 

70,000 

do. 

2780 

3354 

4141 

Middletown, 

16 

10 

50,000 

part  hilly. 

3849 

4369 

5128 

Shrewsbury, 

13 

13 

64,000 

do. 

3773 

4284 

4700 

Stafford, 

18 

12 

87,000 

do. 

1239 

1428 

2059 

665,000 

22,150 

25,038 

29,233 

Montague,  N.  W.  t-ship  of  Sussex 
GO.,  bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by  the  state 
of  New  York,  S.  E.  by  the  Blue 
mountains,  S.  W.  by  Sandistone 
t-ship,  and  on  the  N.  W.  by  the  river 
Delaware.  Centrally  distant  from 
Newton,  16  miles ;  greatest  length  8^, 
breadth  7£  miles ;  area,  21 ,620  acres  ; 
surface  on  the  S.  E.  mountainous,  on 
the  N.  W.  line,  river  alluvion.  Po- 
pulation in  1830,  990.  There  were 
in  the  t-ship  in  1832,  85  household- 
ers, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
$30 ;  6  store  keepers,  3  pair  of  mill 
stones,  3  saw  mills,  208  horses  and 
mules  above  3  years  old,  843  neat 
cattle,  above  that  age ;  1 1  tan  vats,  1 
distillery.  The  t-ship  paid  a  school 
tax  of  $150;  state  and  county  tax, 
$364  89;  poor  tax,  100;  and  road 
tax,  $500.  It  is  drained  N.  E.  by 
Mill  brook,  W.  by  Chamber's  Mill 
brook,  and  S.  W.  by  Big  and  Little 
Flat  Kills.  There  is  a  post-office 
here,  bearing  the  name  of  the  t-ship ; 


distant  245  miles  from  W.  C.,  87 
from  Trenton,  and  17  from  Newton. 
Two  turnpike  roads  run  through  the 
t-ship,  and  unite  at  the  Delaware,  op- 
posite Milford  bridge;  this  bridge, 
completed  in  1826,  cost  $20,000.  Be- 
tween the  Blue  mountain  and  Dela- 
ware river,  the  space  is  six  miles, 
through  which  runs  a  vein  of  transi- 
tion limestone,  bordered  by  an  exten- 
sive river  flat.  The  soil  is  fertile  and 
well  cultivated,  producing  much 
wheat.  The  t-ship  was  originally 
settled  by  the  Dutch,  some  years 
prior  to  1680. 

Montgomery  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Hillsborough,  E.  and 
S.  E.  by  Millstone  river,  which  sepa- 
rates it  from  Franklin  t-ship,  W.  by 
Lawrence  and  Hopewell  t-ships,  Hun- 
terdon  co.  Centrally  distant  S.  W. 
from  Somerville  12  miles;  greatest 
length  N.  and  S.  8,  breadth  E.  and 
W.  8  miles;  area,  36,500  acres; 
surface,  hilly;  soil,  clay,  sandy  loam, 


MOR 


183 


MOR 


and  red  shale.  Beden's  Brook  and 
its  tributaries,  Rock,  Pike,  and  No- 
pipe  Brooks  flow  eastwardly  through 
the  t-ship  to  the  Millstone  river,  and 
Stony  Brook  crosses  the  S.  W.  angle. 
Rock  mountain  or  the  Nashanic, 
forms  the  N.  W.  angle,  and  Rocky 
hill  spreads  itself  over  the  south. 
Princeton,  the  northern  side  of  the 
main  street,  Rocky  Hill,  Stoutsville, 
Harlingen,  and  Plainville,  are  towns 
of  the  t-ship.  Population  in  1830, 
2834.  In  1832  the  t-ship  contained 
about  600  taxables,  170  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30; 
and  66  single  men,  15  stores,  5  saw 
mills,  5  grist  mills,  1  fulling  mill,  54 
tan  vats,  5  distilleries,  743  horses 
and  mules,  1295  neat  cattle,  3  years 
old  and  upwards ;  and  paid  state  tax, 
$352  72  ;  county  tax,  $900  94. 

Montville,  village  of  Pequannock 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  lying  in  a  deep 
valley,  through  which  passes  the 
Morris  canal,  by  two  inclined  planes ; 
the  town  lies  between  10  and  11 
miles  N.  E.  from  Morristown,  and 
contains  a  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  2 
stores,  1  tavern,  and  from  10  to  15 
dwellings,  and  a  Dutch  Reformed 
church. 

Moorestown,  p-t.,  Chester  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  on  the  great  road  from 
Camden  to  Monmouth,  10  miles 
from  the  former,  and  8  S.  W.  of 
Mount  Holly,  30  miles  from  Trenton, 
and  147  from  W.  C.  This  is  a  very 
pleasant  town,  situated  on  a  fertile 
plain  of  sandy  loam,  extremely  well 
cultivated,  near  the  north  branch  of 
Pensauken  creek;  contains  a  large 
Quaker  meeting  house,  a  Methodist 
church,  a  school,  3  taverns,  4  or  5 
stores,  and  between  50  and  60  dwell- 
ings, most  of  which  are  neat  and 
commodious,  some  large  and  elegant. 
The  town  has  communication  by 
stages,  daily,  with  Camden  and  Mount 
Holly. 

Morris  County,  was  taken  from 
Hunterdon,  by  act  of  Assembly  of 
15th  March,  1738-9,  directing  that 
the  portion  of  "said  county  lying  to 
the  northward  and  eastward  of  a  well 
known  place,  being  a  fall  of  water, 


in  part  of  the  north  branch  of  the 
Raritan,  called  in  the  Indian  language 
Allamatonck,  to  the  north-eastward 
of  the  north-east  end  of  the  lands 
called  the  New  Jersey  Society  Lands, 
along  the  line  thereof,  crossing  the 
south  branch  of  the  said  river,  and 
extending  westerly  to  a  certain  tree 
marked  with  the  letters  L  M,  stand- 
ing on  the  north  side  of  a  brook 
emptying  itself  into  the  said  south 
branch,  by  an  old  Indian  path  to  the 
northward  of  a  line  to  be  run  north- 
west from  the  said  tree  to  a  branch  of 
Delaware  river  called  Musconetcong, 
and  so  down  the  said  branch  to  Dela- 
ware river."  It  was  named  from 
Lewis  Morris,  then  Governor  of  the 
province.  These  ample  limits  were 
contracted  by  the  erection  of  Sussex 
county,  8th  June,  1753,  from  which 
Warren  was  subsequently  taken. 
Morris  county  is  now  bounded  on 
the  N.  W.  by  Sussex,  N.  E.  by  Ber- 
gen, E.  and  S.  E.  by  Essex,  S.  by 
Somerset,  S.  W.  by  Hunterdon,  and 
W.  by  Warren.  Greatest  length  N. 
E.  and  S.  W.  about  30  miles ;  breadth 
27  miles;  area,  292,900  acres;  cen- 
tral latitude  40°  53'  N.;  longitude 
2°  28"  E.  from  W.  C. 

The  county  is  divided  between  the 
transition  and  primitive  formations, 
two-thirds  of  it  on  the  south  being  of 
the  latter,  but  even  in  it,  the  primitive 
appears  in  the  hills  as  in  the  Trow- 
bridge  mountain,  and  the  ridge  on  the 
north-west  of  Morristown.  The  tran- 
sition also  appears  in  the  range  most 
generally  primitive,  as  in  the  grau- 
wacke  of  the  Copperas  mountain,  and 
the  grey  limestone  at  its  southern  base; 
a  bed  of  which,  probably,  underlays 
the  country  from  Potter's  Falls  on 
the  S.  W.,  to  Charlottesburg  on  the 
N.  E.,  upon  Peqnannock  creek. 
Trap  rocks  are  scattered  over  the 
county  in  various  places,  as  in  the 
Pompton  Hills,  Long  Hill,  and  else- 
where. 

The  northern  portion  of  the  coun- 
ty is  mountainous  and  divided  into 
several  ridges,  whose  continuity  is 
broken  as  they  extend  south  and 
east.  Schooley's,  or  the  Hamburg 


MOR 


184 


MOR 


mountain,  which  is  a  continuation  of 
the  Musconetcong,  continues  in  an 
unbroken  mass  across  the  county, 
varying  from  three  to  six  miles  in 
width.  On  the  north-jeast,  longitu- 
dinal divisions  are  formed  by  the 
branches  of  Rockaway  river,  in  the 
Green  Pond  and  Copperas  mountains ; 
whilst  Pequannock  t-ship  is  covered 
with  short  ridges  and  rounded  knolls. 
The  Trowbridge  mountain  is  a  con- 
siderable eminence  near  the  centre  of 
the  county,  varying  in  breadth  from 
one  to  three  miles,  and  having  a 
length  of  fifteen  miles.  South  and 
east  of  this  ridge  the  county  is-  level, 
or  at  most,  undulating  with  a  soil 
in  which  red  shale  predominates ;  it 
may  be  deemed  the  valley  of  the 
Passaic.  On  the  south-east  border 
of  the  county,  however,  rises  another 
hill,  around  whose  western  extremity 
the  Passaic  turns,  to  follow  its  base 
north-eastwardly. 

The  county  is  rich  in  iron  ore, 
and  we  believe  that  the  great  bed  of 
red  oxide  of  zinc,  found  in  the  Ham- 
burg mountain  near  Sparta,  in  the 
adjacent  county,  extends  into  this. 
Iron  ore  is  indeed  here  very  abundant, 
and  is  chiefly  of  the  magnetic  cha- 
racter. The  great  bed  first  worked  in 
Franconia,  near  the  White  Hills  in 
New  Hampshire,  extends  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  stratification,  into  this 
county,  and  which  is  said  by  Mr. 
M'Clure,  to  lose  itself  near  Black- 
water  ;  but  which  most  probably  ex- 
tends indefinitely  S.  W.;  since  iron  of 
the  same  character  is  abundant  near 
the  spring  at  Schooley's  mountain. 
The  mine  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Dickerson, 
on  the  head  waters  of  the  Black  river, 
is  one  of  the  best  and  most  extensive- 
ly wrought  of  the  district.  (See 
Randolph  t-ship.) 

The  county  is  abundantly  watered  ; 
a  line  drawn  almost  due  south  and 
north  from  the  village  of  Mendham, 
to  Drakesville,  determines  the  course 
of  the  streams  east  and  west.  Thus 
the  Rockaway  with  its  tributaries, 
the  Parcippany  and  Whippany  rivers, 
seek  the  first;  whilst  the  tributaries 
of  the  north  and  south  branches  of 


the  Raritan  river,  have  a  westerly  in- 
clination. The  Passaic  river  has  its 
source  in  a  swamp  near  the  village  of 
Mendham,  and  forms  a  natural  boun- 
dary between  this  and  the  county  of 
Somerset  on  the  south,  and  the  county 
of  Essex  on  the  S.  E.,  receiving  the 
Rockaway  west  of  the  village  of 
Franklin,  and  the  Pequannock,  or 
Pompton  river,  north  of  the  village  of 
Fairfield.  The  last  stream  forms 
the  N.  E.  boundary  of  the  county, 
separating  it  from  Bergen. 

The  chief  villages  and  post-towns 
of  the  county  are  Berkshire  Valley, 
Bottle  Hill,  Chatham,  Chester,  Den- 
ville,  Dover,  Flanders,  Hanover,  Ha- 
nover Neck,  Littleton,  Mendham,  Mil- 
ton, Montville,  Morristown,  the  seat 
of  justice,  Mount  Freedom,  New- 
foundland, New  Vernon,  Parsippany, 
Pompton,  Powerville,  Rockaway, 
Schooley's  Mountain,  Stockholm, 
Suckasunny,  Washington,  &c. 

The  provisions  for  moral  improve- 
ment in  the  county,  consist  in  church- 
es of  the  Presbyterians,  the  Dutch 
Reformed,  the  Methodists,  and  the 
Episcopalians ;  a  county  Bible  Socie- 
ty, a  county  Sunday  school  union, 
and  several  Sunday  schools  and 
temperance  societies  in  various  parts 
of  the  county ;  several  academies  in 
the  larger  villages,  where  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  classics  and  mathe- 
matics are  taught,  and  common  Eng- 
lish schools  in  almost  every  vicinity. 

By  the  census  of  1830,  the  popula- 
tion consisted  of  23,666  souls,  of 
whom  1 0,7 1 9  were  white  males ;  1 1 08 
white  females;  77  male  slaves;  88 
female  slaves;  438  free  coloured 
males ;  364  coloured  free  females  : 
and  of  whom  there  were  20  whites, 
and  4  blacks,  deaf  and  dumb;  11 
whites,  and  1  black,  blind;  and  497 
aliens. 

In  1832,  the  county  contained 
4836  taxables,  1083  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30  in 
value;  528  single  men,  83  stores,  71 
saw  mills,  56  grist  mills,  215  tan 
vats,  53  distilleries,  5  paper  mills,  5 
four  horse  stages,  43  forges  and  2 
furnaces,  9  rolling  and  slitting  mills, 


MOR 


185 


MOR 


12   fulling    mills,    11    carding   ma- ' 
chines,  1  plaster  mill  and  6  cotton  ' 
mills,  4056  horses  and  mules,  and 
11,821    neat  cattle,  above  3    years  ! 
old  ;  and  it  paid  state  tax,  $3171  23 ; 
county  tax,  $7 100;  poor  tax,  $10,900.  ! 

The  courts  of  common  pleas,  or- 
phans' court,  and  quarter  sessions,  are 
holden  at  Morristown,  on  the  follow- 1 
ing    Tuesdays ;    3d   December,    3d  j 
March,  1st  July,  and  4th  September;  : 
and   the   circuit   courts,   on   the   3d  I 
Tuesdays  in  March,  and  4th  of  Sep- 
tember. 

This  county  abounds  with  copper,  ' 
iron,  zinc,  plumbago,  copperas,  man- 
ganese,  ochres  of  various  colours,  ' 
excellent  brick  clay,  freestone,  lime- 
stone, precious  marbles,  oil  stone,  &c. 
&c.  With  such  metallic  resources,  the 
pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  this  por- 
tion of  New  Jersey,  were  rather  ma- 
nufacturers than  agriculturists;  and 
the  narrow  valleys  of  the  mountain 
region,  which  contain  many  and  ex- 
cellent mill  seats,  were  only  partially 
tilled  for  the  subsistence  of  wood 
cutters  and  bloomers.  The  forge 
was  uniformly  the  precursor  of  the 
farm.  The  iron  master  occupied 
large  tracts  of  land,  which,  when 
stripped  of  timber,  were  subdivided 
among  agricultural  successors,  ope- 
rating on  the  smallest  scale.  As  the 


country  was  cleared,  the  makers  of 
iron  gradually  retired  to  the  remote, 
rough,  and  almost  inaccessible  re- 
gions, where  the  cost  of  transporta- 
tion of  the  ores,  and  of  the  metal  to 
market,  rendered  their  operations 
very  unprofitable.  Relief  in  this  re- 
spect will  be  obtained  from  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Morris  canal,  which 
has  been  created  in  a  great  measure 
with  that  view. 

A  region  abounding  so  much  in 
metallic  ores,  necessarily  produces 
mineral  springs ;  but  that  of  Schoo- 
ley's  mountain,  is  the  only  one  which 
has  yet  attained  celebrity.  A  few 
years  since,  the  county  was  famed 
for  its  apple  orchards,  its  cider, 
and  apple  whiskey ;  of  the  last,  large 
quantities  were  annually  made  for 
market.  The  annual  average  pro- 
duct of  the  Morris  orchards  was  esti- 
mated at  800,000  bushels.  But  a 
succession  of  bad  crops,  for  some 
years,  has  discouraged  the  cultivation. 
Few  new  orchards  are  planted,  and 
the  old  ones  are  frequently  neglected. 
Attempts  have  been  made  to  cultivate 
the  foreign  grape  upon  the  hill  sides, 
but  without  success,  the  frosts  prov- 
ing too  severe.  It  is  possible  that  some 
indigenous  qualities  might  be  planted 
with  profit. 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY. 


€ 

^3 

^ 

Population. 

Townships. 

bO 
0 

ri 

l> 

Area. 

Surface. 

3 

f4 

n 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Chatham, 

9 

5 

13,400 

various. 

2019 

1832 

1865 

Chester, 

9 

62 

18,000 

rolling. 

1175 

1212 

1338 

Jefferson, 

14 

3 

25,000 

mountainous. 

1281 

1231 

1551 

Hanover, 

12 

9i 

35,000 

various. 

3843 

8503 

3718 

Mendham, 

6 

42 

14,000 

do. 

1277 

1326 

1314 

Morris, 

13 

6 

33,000 

hilly. 

3753 

3524 

3536 

Pequannock, 

16 

11 

74,000 

mountainous. 

3853 

3820 

4451 

Roxbury, 

12 

10 

35,000 

do. 

1563 

1792 

2262 

Randolph, 

7 

5 

18,000 

do. 

1271 

1252 

1443 

Washington, 

8 

H 

27,500 

do. 

1793 

1876 

2188 

292,900 

21,828 

21,368 

23,666 

2  A 


MOR 


186 


MOU 


Morris  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  bounded 
N.  and  N.  E.  by  Hanover  t-ship ;  E. 
by  Chatham ;  S.  E.  by  New  Provi- 
dence t-ship,  of  Bergen  co. ;  S.  and 
S.  W.  by  Somerset  co. ;  and  W.  by 
Mendham  and  Randolph  t-ships,  Mor- 
ris co.  Greatest  length  N.  and  S. 
13  miles ;  breadth  E.  and  W.  6  miles ; 
surface,  on  the  north,  centre,  and 
south,  hilly;  elsewhere,  generally 
rolling,  with  occasional  plains ;  soil, 
clay  and  sandy  loam ;  drained  on  the 
W.  and  S.  by  the  Passaic  river  (and 
its  tributaries)  which  courses  its  boun- 
dary ;  and  on  the  N.  E.  by  the  Whip- 
pany  river.  The  Elizabethtown  and 
Morris,  Newark  and  Morris,  Morris 
and  Easton,  Morris  and  Milford  turn- 
pike roads  cross  the  t-ship.  Morris- 
town,  Logansville,  New  Vernon, 
Morris's  Plains,  are  villages  of  the 
t-ship.  Morristown  is  the  seat  of 
justice  for  the  county.  Population 
in  1830,  3536.  In  1832  there  were 
in  the  t-ship  780  taxables,  21  stores, 
6  saw  mills,  4  grist  mills,  1 1  distille- 
ries, 1  paper  mill,  1  fulling  mill,  1 
carding  machine,  and  546  horses,  and 
1674  neat  cattle,  above  the  age  of  3 
years.  The  t-ship  paid  state  tax, 
558  85;  county  tax,  1251  19;  poor 
tax,  $600 ;  and  road  tax,  82000. 

Morristown,  Morris  t-ship,  post- 
town  and  seat  of  justice  of  Morris  co., 
on  the  Whippany  river,  by  post-route 
221  miles  N.  E.  of  W.  C.,  71  from 
Trenton,  17  from  Newark  and  Eliza- 
bethtown, and  26  from  New  York  ; 
pleasantly  seated  on  a  high  plain, 
built  upon  several  streets,  with  a  large 
area  or  public  ground  in  the  centre 
of  the  town ;  on  which,  front  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  many  of  the  best 
houses,  and  most  of  the  places  of  bu- 
siness. The  town  contains  1  Pres- 
byterian, 1  Episcopalian,  1  Baptist, 
and  1  Methodist  church ;  an  academy 
in  which  the  classics  and  mathema- 
tics are  taught;  a  very  large  and 
handsome  court-house,  newly  built 
of  brick,  with  the  prison  in  the  base- 
ment story;  a  grist  mill,  saw  mill, 
and  2  paper  mills;  a  bank  with  a 
capital  of  $50,000,  which  may  be  ex- 
tended to  $100,000,  incorporated  by 


act  of  28th  January,  1812,  and  con- 
tinued by  act  19th  February,  1820;  5 
taverns,  18  stores,  4  practising  attor- 
neys, and  3  physicians,  2  printing 
offices,  from  each  of  which  a  weekly 
newspaper  is  issued,  viz.  The  Jersey- 
man  and  The  Palladium  of  Liberty ; 
a  county  bible  society,  Sunday  school 
union,  and  temperance  societies.  This 
is  a  ^beautiful  town.  The  houses  are 
generally  well  built,  neatly  painted, 
surrounded  with  garden  plots,  and  im- 
press upon  the  visiter  the  conviction, 
that  comfort  at  least,  reigns  here. 
The  town  is  supplied  by  water  from 
a  fine  spring  a  mile  and  a  half  distant, 
and  distributed  by  subterraneous  pipes. 
A  stage  runs  to  Elizabethtown  daily  ; 
one  every  other  day  to  Easton  and 
Jersey  City,  and  one  to  Oswego  in 
New  York,  three  times  a  week.  It 
was  a  noted  station  of  the  American 
army  during  the  revolutionary  war, 
and  the  ruins  of  a  small  fort,  over- 
grown by  stately  trees,  still  crown 
the  hill  which  commands  the  town. 

Morris  Plains,  hamlet  and  level 
land,  lying  S.  E.  of  Trowbridge 
mountain,  with  a  tolerable  soil  of 
sandy  loam,  watered  by  a  branch  of 
Whippany  river.  The  hamlet  is  on 
the  line  between  Morris  and  Hanover 
t-ships,  2  miles  north  of  Morristown, 
and  contains  a  half  dozen  dwellings. 

Moses*  Pond,  small  sheet  of  water 
on  the  Pochuck  mountain,  Vernon 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  which  sends  forth 
westerly,  an  inconsiderable  tributary 
to  the  Wallkill  river. 

Mount  Bethel,  hamlet,  on  Stony 
Hill,  Warren  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
7  miles  N.  E.  of  Somerville ;  contains 
a  Baptist  church,  tavern,  store,  and  4 
or  5  dwellings. 

Mount  Carmel,  a  mountain  ham- 
let of  Amwell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
3  miles  N.  W.  from  Flemington; 
contains  a  tavern  and  some  4  or  5 
dwellings,  and  a  store.  The  soil 
around  it  is  clay,  cold,  and  at  present 
not  very  productive,  but  it  is  improv- 
able by  the  use  of  lime. 

Mount  Clinton,  a  village  laid  out 
on  the  Palisade  rocks  on  the  North 
river,  in  Hackensack  t-ship,  Bergen 


MOU 


187 


MUD 


co.,  5  miles  N.  E.  of  Hackensack- 
town. 

Mount's  Creek,  a  small  tributary 
of  the  Cohansey  river,  near  the  S. 
W.  border  of  Hopewell  t-ship,  Salem 
county. 

Mount  Ephraim,  tillage,  of  Glou- 
cester t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  5  miles 
S.  E.  from  Camden,  and  the  same 
distance  N.  E.  of  Woodbury ;  con- 
tains a  store,  tavern,  and  some  20  or 
30  dwellings.  The  hill  from  which 
it  has  its  name  is,  for  this  country, 
elevated,  and  affords  an  extensive 
view  of  the  vicinity,  even  to  the  De- 
laware. 

Mount  Freedom,  p-t.,  Morris  co., 
227  miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and 
61  from  Trenton;  contains  a  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  some  10  or  12 
dwellings. 

Mount  Holly,  p-t.,  Northampton 
t-ship,  and  seat  of  justice  of  Burling- 
ton co.,  on  the  road  from  Camden  to 
Freehold,  and  at  the  head  of  tide  and 
navigation,  on  the  north  branch  of 
Rancocus  creek,  20  miles  N.  E.  from 
the  city  of  Camden,  6  S.  E.  from 
Burlington,  21  from  Trenton,  156 
from  W.  C.,  and  18  from  Philadel- 
phia, has  its  present  name  from  a 
mount  of  sand  and  sandstone  near  it, 
and  some  holly  trees  about  its  base. 
It  was  formerly  called  Bridgetown; 
and  this  name  was  recognised  in  a 
charter  for  a  library  company  here, 
so  early  as  1765.  At  the  period  of 
the  revolutionary  war,  the  town  con- 
tained 200  dwellings,  and  at  present, 
1833,  has  not  more  than  230  ;  many 
of  which  are  good  brick  buildings, 
erected  on  7  streets.  It  contains  a 
court-house  of  brick,  about  40  by  60  ft., 
two  stories  high,  with  cupola  and  bell  ; 
a  stone  prison,  1  Episcopal,  1  Metho- 
dist, 1  Baptist  churches,  and  2  Qua- 
ker meeting  houses ;  1  boarding  school 
for  young  ladies,  4  day  schools,  5 
taverns,  8  stores,  1  grist  mill,  1  saw 
mill,  1  fulling  mill,  woollen  factory, 
plaster  mill,  and  a  paper  mill,  of  the 
latest  and  most  improved  construc- 
tion, where  paper  of  fine  quality  is 
made  by  machinery,  and  from  40  to 
50  hands  are  employed. — 10,000 


reams  of  paper  may  be  manufactured 
in  this  mill  yearly.  The  country 
around  is  flat;  soil,  sandy  loam,  ge- 
nerally of  good  quality,  well  culti- 
vated, and  worth  from  40  to  120 
dollars  the  acre,  in  extensive  farms ; 
corn,  rye,  and  oats,  are  the  chief  pro- 
ducts. A  bank  was  established  here 
in  1816,  with  authority  to  possess 
capital  to  the  amount  of  $200,000  ; 
of  which  $100,000  only  have  been 
paid  in.  There  run  from  the  village, 
2  stages  twice  a  day  to  Burlington,  1 
to  Camden,  1  to  Trenton,  1  to  Pem- 
berton,  1  to  Vincenttown,  1  to  New 
Egypt;  and  2  to  Manahocking,  tri- 
weekly. There  are  2  newspapers 
printed  here,  weekly ;  viz.  the  Herald, 
and  New  Jersey  Mail. 

Mount  Misery,  hamlet  of  North- 
ampton t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  15 
miles  S.  E.  from  Mount  Holly,  in 
the  pine  forest;  contains  a  tavern, 
saw  mill,  and  4  or  5  dwellings. 

Mount  Pleasant,  p-t.,  Alexandria 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  9  miles  N.  W. 
from  Flemington,  43  from  Trenton, 
and  196  from  W.  C.,  on  the  Hake- 
hokake  creek;  contains  a  church, 
grist  mill,  store,  and  some  half  dozen 
dwellings. 

Mount  Pleasant,  small  village  and 
forge,  Pequannock  t-ship,  Morris  co., 
on  the  t-ship  road  leading  from  Mor- 
ristown,  N.  W.  10  miles;  there  are 
here  a  grist  mill,  and  some  half  do- 
zen houses,  and  very  valuable  iron 
mines,  extensively  wrought. 

Mount  Pleasant,  village  of  Middle- 
town  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  on  Mid- 
dletown  creek,  10  miles  N.  of  Free- 
hold; contains  from  12  to  15  dwell- 
ings, a  grist  mill,  a  tavern  and  store. 
The  ground  around  it  is  sandy,  but 
high ;  elevated  at  least  50  feet  above 
the  waters. 

Muddy  Creek,  a  small  marsh 
stream  of  Lower  Alloways  Creek 
t-ship,  Salem  co.,  which  has  a  course 
of  a  mile  or  two;  and  empties  into 
the  Delaware,  between  Stow  and 
Deep  creeks. 

Muddy  Run,  a  branch  of  the  Mor- 
ris river,  running  near  to,  and  form- 
ing in  part,  the  S.  W.  boundary  of 


NAN  11 

Pittsgrove  t-ship.  and   the   lino  be- 
tween Salem  and  Cumberland  I'os. 

Mud  Pond,  a  small  basin  in  the 
Wallkill  mountains,  Veraon 
Sussex  co.,  which  sends  forth  a  tri- 
butary to  the  WaJlkill  river. 

MMca  Hill,  p-t.  and  village  of 
Gloucester  co.,  on  the  line  separating 
Greenwich  from  Woolwich  t-ships, 
and  on  Raccoon  creek,  7  miles  S.  E. 
from  Woodbury,  and  5  E.  from 
>u  >  '.  ;;  s.  from  Tivnton, 
and  153  N.  E.  from  W.  C.;  contains 
a  Friends'  meeting  house,  an  Episco- 
pal church,  2  taverns,  2  stores,  and 
between  50  and  60  dwellings.  The 
country  around  the  village  is  much 
improved  by  the  use  of  marl  which 
abounds  here,  and  in  some  places  is 
found  in  an  indurated  state,  assum- 
ing the  character  of  limestone. 

Mvsconetcong  Creek,  or  River, 
issues  from  the  Hopatcong  pond,  or 
lake,  in  Jefferson  t-ship,  Morris  co. ; 
and  flows  by  a  course  S.  W.  and 
nearly  straight,  through  a  longitudi- 
nal valley  of  the  South  mountains,  for 
nearly  forty  miles.  This  valley  is 
bounded  S.  E.  by  the  Muscouetcong 
and  Schooley's  mountains,  and  on 
the  N.  W.  by  a  southern  continua- 
tion of  the  Hamburg  hills ;  it  is  nar- 
row and  deep,  and  has  throughout  its 
whole  length  a  limestone  base.  The 
stream  has  a  large  volume,  and  gives 
motion  to  a  very  great  number  of 
mills  for  various  purposes. 

Musketoe  Cove,  an  arm  of  Barne- 
gat  bay,  Dover  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co.,  which  makes  about  two  miles 
inward  through  the  marsh,  between 
Toms'  bay  and  Kettle  creek. 

Nacate  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Lit- 
tle EOT  Harbour  river,  rises  by  two 
branches,  Clark's  mill,  and  Moss 
branch,  which  unite  at  Wrangle- 
boro',  in  Galloway  t-ship,  Gloucester 
co.;  the  whole  length  of  the  stream 
is  about  9  miles. 

Nantuxtt  Creek,  said  to  be  more 
properly  called  Antvxet,  Cumberland 
co.,  rises  on  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween Fairfield  and  Downe  t-ships, 
and  flows  along  the  boundary,  about 
9  miles  to  Nautuxet  cove,  in  the  De- 


S  NKV 

laware;    it  is  navigable   near    four 
miles  to  Nantuxet,  or  .Newport  Land- 

nxet    Village.      (See  New- 
JMrfc) 

NoHhtxei  (Vtv,  inlet  to  Nantuxet 
creek,  from  the  1  Via  ware  bay. 

Nashanic  Creek,  a  tributary  of 
the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan  river, 
rises  by  several  branches  at  the  foot 
of  a  range  of  hills  on  the  N.  W. 
line  of  Amwell  t-ship,  Uunterdon  co., 
and  flows  by  an  easterly  course  to  its 
recipient  in  Hillsborough  t-ship,  So- 
merset co.,  giving  motion  to  several 
mills.  It  is  a  large  stream,  and 
witli  its  several  tributaries  drains  the 
easterly  part  of  the  wide  valley  be- 
the  Nashanic  or  Rock  moun- 
tain, and  Mount  Carmel. 

Nashanic  Mountain,  or  Rock 
Mountain,  part  of  the  chain  of  trap 
hills  which  extends  from  below  Lam- 
bertsville,  on  the  Delaware,  to  the 
Raritan  river,  near  Somerville:  it  is 
the  largest  and  most  prominent  of  the 
chain;  is  about  11  miles  long  and 
about  3  miles  over  at  its  widest  part. 
Rock  brook,  a  tributary  of  Beden's 
brook,  almost  passes  through  it. 

Niukamc,  small  stream  on  the 
N.  W.  foot  of  the  Nashanic  moun- 
tain, 7  miles  S.  W.  from  Somerville ; 
contains  a  Dutch  Reformed  church, 
a  store  and  tavern,  and  10  or  rj 
dwellings;  soil,  clay,  sandy  loam, 
and  red  shale. 

Nesochcaqve  Creek,  tributary  of 
Atsion  river,  rises  by  several  branches 
in  Gloucester,  Hereford,  and  Gallo- 
way t-ships,  Gloucester  co.,  and  unites 
with  the  river,  at  Pleasant  Mills,  in 
the  last  named  t-ship. 

Naaisink  Hills,  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  and  extending  across  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  county  of  Monmouth. 
Adjacent  to  the  ocean  these  hills  are 
between  300  and  400  feet  high.  They 
consist  in  the  higher  strata  of  sandy 
earth,  coloured  by  oxide  of  iron,  and 
imbedding  reddish  brown  sand  and 
pudding  stone,  cemented  by  iron,  rest- 
ing on  banks  of  oyster  shells  and 
other  marine  relics,  blended  with 
clay  and  sea  mud.  A  small  portion 


NKW 


160 


NKW 


of    these     hills    only,    is     cultivated, 
Ix'ini;    roii^h,    broken    ;iiul   v.enerally 

covered  \viili  \\ood.     (Sec  Introduc- 
tory C/nii>tcr,  I'nl.    I   :MK|  '.!.) 

\.  risink  <>r  Cnri>fnnr's  /'<»/'///,  :i 
sin.-ill  neck  nf  land  r«>micd  h\  the  I  )e- 
la  \\are  and  Ne\ismk  n\ers,  ;it  the 
extreme  northern  point  of  lite  stale. 

\ti-isink  l\in-i\  <  ailed  above  tide 
water  S\\  ininiinv,  river,  n 
ral  branches  in  I'Yeehold,  Shre\\s- 
liury,  and  Middleinwn  l-slii|»s,  Mmi- 
month  en.  Tin:  main  stream  llnws 
about  I  :t  miles  In  the  sail  \\aler  estua- 
ry or  arm  nr.S.'indy  I  look  ha\  ;  \\liii-li 
is  ahniil  r>  miles  Imi'.r,  to  iln-  S.  K. 
hasenflhe  Ne\  isink  hills,  \  a  r\  in-/  in 
hreadlh  Iroin  :'}  In  I.I.  Swimming 
river  and  its  imrth  and  smith  hranehes 
are  mill  si  reams,  on  which  are  seve- 
ral  mills.  The  !Nevisinl<  is  separated 
from  tl>e  Shrewsbury  river,  by  a 
neck  of  land  about  \i  miles  in  hreadlh. 

A <//•(//•/,•,    p-L,   and  seat  of  justice, 

l\e\\;irk      1-shlp,      Kssex     CO.,     oil     the 
ri^hf    hank    of  (he    I'assaic    river,  he. 
tweeu    1  and  T)  miles  hy  the  emir.-e  ol 
I  he  stream  from  Newark  ha\  ,  !)  miles 
a   little   N.  of  W.   from    New    'S  ork, 
iU5  N.  1C.  from  W.  (!.,  and  -1!)  Irmn 
Trenton;  stands  upon  a  plain  of  fer 
tile    loam,    resting   »>n    old    red    sand- 
slone,    hounded    uesluard     hy    r 
ground  which    was    prohahly  the  pri- 
mitive  hank    nl'  the    river.       I  ,al.    K> 
•M'  N.,    l(.u«r.   1>°  <\\     hi.  from    \V.  ( '. 
This  is,  perhaps,  the  most  llmirishin 
town  nl'lhe  slate.       In   I  SHO  its  popu- 
lation,  t-ship    included,   amounted    In 
10,95:1,  and  in  Nnvemher,  I  H;W,  it  \> 
ascertained  tn  he  nearly    ir>,(l(M);    tin 
merease    having    lieen  greater  diiriu;' 
the  last    lhre<^  years  than    in   the  ten 
preceding.      There   are    17  1:2    dwell- 
ings, of  which  l.r)|s  ;u-e  \\oodeu,  and 
1!M    slnne  and  hrick.     MM)  dwellin 
were    huill    in    I  HJl'J,  and  as   many  ii 
;    many  nf  them    lar.-n-   and  e|e- 
The    town    is    remarkahle    I'm 

its  manufactures,  with  which  it  sup- 

pliesthe  market  thrmi'dinul.  the  dniti 
Stales  ;   and   in  which  the   ";re;il    pro- 
portion    of   the    inhabitants    are    en- 
•aged.   The  principal  oflhese  are  sad 
dlerv  and    harness,   carriages,  shoes 


ind    hats.      Sixteen   extensive   manu- 
actories  of  saddler)  and  harness,, em- 

>lo\     '..'7'J     hands,    and    a     capital    of 

,M(MI,    \  leldiii'j;    an    annual    pro- 

Inct  of  ^.'M<i,'X>,  and  pa  \  iii«    \\a-es 

olio  annually.     Tln^e  ;n-e  mde- 

lelidelll      ol'     the      e«  »ac  h  ma  kers       \\lin 
nake  their  ou  n  ^-addlerx  and  ha  i 
Ten  carriage  mannliictories  have  T/  !> 
\\orkmeii,    an     at"  ipilal    ol" 

1802^00,  and  produee  xr,!>;',,(K)() 
inimalK.  Th«'se  establishments,  ge- 
nei-alls ,  do  all  their  work,  inrlwling 
platinu,  lamp  makiii",  A  c.  Mi"lil« -en 
e  mannlactnries  en^a.Lre  M)7.r> 
hands,  |o  \\hoiii  1 1  I  ~i.\000 

\<arl\  \\ai--es;  have  a  capital  of 
|)|),(|()II,  \\  I,,, -.,-  ;iiuiiial  product  is 
estimated  at  *o(»7,  \:,() :  ||,eV  cut  up 
annually,  $400,000  worth  ol'  leather. 
The  amount  of  .sales  of  boots  and 
shoes,  in  ISM'J,  w;,s  $000,000;  the 
balance, over  the  product  of  the  ton  n, 

having  been  procured  abroad,  in  or- 
der In  supplv  lh<'  orders.  This  large 
amount  is  exclusive  of  the  manii- 
laclure  liu-  home  e,,n sumption,  which, 
it  is  supposed,  empl.  .Idilioiial 

bauds.  Nine  hat  manufactories  rni- 
ploy  -1^  hands, a  capital  of*|  0(i,00()  ; 
pa\  >fiH-v!,000  m  \e;u-|\  \\;i<res.  ;in,| 
make  an  annual  return  of  $551, TOO* 
Thirteen  tanneries  emplo\  !().'{  hands, 
a  capital  of  $7^,000,  ;md  return  an- 
nually, $f>0:i,000.  Mi-side  these  pro- 
mi  i  lent  mauulaclories,  I  here  ;i  re  others 
of  less,  lhoii"h  great  consideration. — 
Thus,  there  are  two  soap  and  can- 
dle manufactories,  with  a  capital  of 
•H«Xil,000,  whose  nross  product  is 
$106.000;  7  iron  and  brass  founde- 
ries,  employing  I'.T)  men;  *J  exlen- 
si\c  fnunderies  of  malleable  iron,  <»m- 
ploying  (iO  men;  *J  coach  spring  fac- 
fories,  employing  .r)()  bauds;  besides 
•-'  others  connected  with  the  carria.L';<'- 
makint;  establishments;  .r»  tin,  sheet 
iron,  and  stove,  factories  ;  I  hardware 
mannlaclor\ ,  emplo\  iii'j,  .r>0  \\ork- 
nien  ;  and  *J  patent  leather  niaiiuliu-- 
lories.  There  are,  also,  more  than 
.'i.r)0  tailors  enirageil  in  making  «jar- 
nx'iits  '<>r  the  home  and  .southern 
markets  ;  I  10  carpenters,  '^b'  sash  ruid 
blind  makers,  100  masons,  60  cabi- 


NEW 


190 


NEW 


netmakers,  51  coach  lace  weavers, 
25  chairmakers,  42  trunkmakers,  9 
looking  glass  manufacturers,  12  stone 
and  marble  cutters,  10  iron  turners, 
50  jewellers,  and  many  other  species 
of  handicrafts,  of  which  we  are  unable 
to  give  particular  details,  such  as 
smitheries,  wagon-making,  manufac- 
tories of  saddle  trees,  watches  and 
clocks,  segars,  silver  plating ;  planes, 
locks,  guns,  whips,  brushes,  cooper- 
ing, ploughs,  pumps,  &c.;  with  the 
usual  number  of  butchers,  bakers, 
confectioners,  painters,  glaziers,  book 
binders,  &c.  &c. 

There  are  here  also,  2  breweries, 
2  grist  mills,  1  extensive  steam  saw 
mill,  5  saw  mills  driven  by  horses,  1 
distillery,  2  rope  walks,  1  pottery, 
and  2  dyeing  establishments. 

Four  printing  offices  employing  22 
hands,  from  which  3  weekly  and  1 
daily  newspapers  are  issued;  40 
schools  with  1669  scholars;  and 
about  1500  scholars  receive  instruc- 
tion in  the  Sunday  schools ;  4  Pres- 
byterian churches  with  large  congre- 
gations, beside  a  small  Presbyterian 
congregation  of  coloured  persons. 
The  first  Presbyterian  church  was 
founded  in  1787,  by  the  Rev.  Alex- 
ander M'Whorter,  D.  D.,  who  pre- 
sided over  the  congregation  from 
1759  until  his  death  in  1807,  nearly 
a  half  a  century;  public  worship 
was  first  offered  in  it  1st  Jan.  1794: 
The  second  Presbyterian  church  in 
1808;  the  third,  in  1824;  and  the 
fourth,  in  1831, 1832.  One  Episcopal 
church,  with  a  large  and  increasing 
congregation,  which  was  commenced 
about  1734,  by  Col.  Isaiah  Ogden  and 
others,  who  left  the  Congregation- 
alists  in  consequence  of  the  rigour 
with  which  his  conduct,  in  saving 
his  grain  in  a  wet  harvest,  by  labour- 
ing otf  the  Sabbath,  was  condemned. 
The  present  house  for  worship  was 
erected  in  1808,  on  a  site  occupied 
by  a  first  and  older  building:  Two 
Baptist  churches ;  the  congregation  of 
the  first  was  constituted  in  1801,  and 
the  church  built  in  1804,  was  rebuilt 
in  1810;  the  second  church  was  con- 
structed in  1833:  1  Dutch  Reformed 


congregration,  recently  organized, 
with  a  settled  minister :  2  large  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  churches ;  the  first 
congregation  was  organized  in  1806, 
and  the  first  chapel  built  in  1810; 
the  second  chapel  was  built  in  1832 : 
1  Primitive  Methodist  church,  and  1 
African  Episcopal  Methodist  chapel, 
built  in  1810:  a  Roman  Catholic 
church,  built  in  1824.  Of  these 
churches  the  first  and  second  Pres- 
byterian, the  Episcopal  and  the  Catho- 
lic, are  of  stone ;  the  third  Presbyte- 
rian, of  brick ;  the  others  of  wood : 
the  fourth  Presbyterian,  second  Bap- 
tist, and  second  Methodist  Episcopal 
churches  are  remarkably  large,  and 
some  of  them  have  great  architectu- 
ral beauty. 

Beside  the  churches,  the  only  pub- 
lic building  of  the  town,  of  much  im- 
portance, is  the  court-house  and  pri- 
son, of  brick,  under  the  same  roof — 
in  which  the  keepers'  apartments  and 
cells  of  the  prisoners  are  on  the  ground 
floor;  the  court  room,  jury  rooms, 
and  sheriff's  office,  on  the  second; 
and  the  apartment  for  insolvents  on 
the  third.  The  offices  of  the  clerk 
and  surrogate  are  also  in  the  same 
building.  An  election  in  1807  for  de- 
termining the  location  of  the  court- 
house, is  still  remembered  by  the  in- 
habitants, as  the  most  exciting  re- 
corded in  their  annals.  The  contest 
was  between  Newark  and  Day's  Hill. 
By  a  construction  given  to  the  state 
constitution,  the  women  were  then 
suffered  to  vote,  and  they  seem  to 
have  been  so  delighted  with  this  pri- 
vilege of  exercising  their  wills,  that 
they  were  unwilling  to  circumscribe 
it  within  the  legal  limit ;  many  ladies 
voting,  we  are  told,  7  or  8  times,  un- 
der various  disguises. 

Of  literary  institutions  in  addition 
to  the  schools,  we  may  name  an  ap- 
prentices' library,  a  circulating  libra- 
ry, and  the  mechanics'  association  for 
literary  and  scientific  improvement, 
which  possesses  a  valuable  library 
and  philosophical  apparatus.  It  is 
to  the  credit  of  the  town,  that  the 
New  Jersey  college  was  located  here 
for  several  years  subsequent  to  1747, 


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191 


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under  the  charge  of  its  second  presi- 
dent, the  Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  father  of 
the  ex-vice  President  of  the  United 
States;  who  was  in  1736,  called  to 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  first  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  was  highly  dis- 
tinguished for  his  learning,  energy, 
and  public  spirit,  which  contributed 
much  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of 
the  town. 

The  commerce  of  Newark,  alrea- 
dy considerable,  rapidly  increases. 
It  is  a  port  of  delivery,  and  efforts 
are  used  to  make  it  a  port  of  entry. 
It  employs  65  vessels,  averaging 
100  tons,  in  the  coasting  trade; 
8  or  9  of  which  are  constantly  en- 
gaged in  transporting  hither  various 
building  materials.  The  Morris  ca- 
nal, which  runs  through  the  town, 
gives  it  many  advantages  for  internal 
trade,  for  which  purpose  25  canal 
boats  are  supplied  by  the  inhabitants. 
The  facilities  for  communication  with 
New  York,  render  the  town  a  suburb 
of  that  great  city.  A  steam-boat 
plies  twice  a  day  between  the  two 
places,  carrying  an  average  of  75 
passengers  each  trip,  each  way  ;  two 
lines  of  stages  communicate  between 
them  almost  hourly,  conveying  at 
least  800  passengers  a  week ;  and 
this  communication  will  be  still  more 
frequent  and  facile,  when  the  New 
Jersey  Rail-road,  now  rapidly  pro- 
gressing, shall  have  been  completed. 
The  Directors  of  the  Rail-road  Com- 
pany have  not  only  Tun  the  road 
through  part  of  the  town,  but  have 
opened  a  splendid  avenue  of  120  feet 
wide,  by  its  side,  and  propose  to  cross 
the  Passaic  river,  about  the  centre  of 
the  town,  upon  a  wooden  bridge  on 
stone  abutments,  which  will  give  an 
additional  trait  of  beauty  to  the  place. 

There  are  three  banks  here,  viz. 
61  The  Newark  Banking  and  Insu- 
rance Company,"  incorporated  in 
1804,  with  an  authorized  capital  of 
$800,000,  of  which  $350,000  have 
been  paid  in;  "The  State  Bank  at 
Newark"  incorporated  in  1812,  with 
an  authorized  capital  of  $400,000,  of 
which  $280,000  have  been  paid  in ; 
and  "  The  Mechanics  Bank  at  New- 


ark" incorporated  in  1831,  with  an 
authorized  capital  of  $250,000,  of 
which  $200,000  have  been  paid  in. 
During  the  year  1833,  the  business 
of  the  town,  manufacturing  and  com- 
mercial, has  greatly  increased,  and 
consequently  the  demand  for  banking 
capital;  to  meet  which,  one  of  the 
banks  has  called  in  a  further  instal- 
ment, and  another  has  availed  itself 
of  the  privilege  given  by  charter,  to 
double  its  capital.  The  rise  in  the 
value  of  real  estate,  the  sure  indica- 
tion of  prosperity,  has  been  astonish- 
ingly great — a  remarkable  instance 
of  which  is  given  us  in  November, 
1833;  where  a  property  was  sold  at 
public  auction  for  $10,000,  which 
but  five  yea*rs,  previously,  was  pur- 
chased by  the  late  vendor  for  $60! 
A  whaling  and  sealing  company  has 
been  incorporated,  (October,  1833) 
which  is  vigorously  prosecuting  its 
object. 

The  town  is  laid  out  upon  broad 
streets,  and  has  a  great  and  salu- 
brious ornament,  in  the  greens  or 
commons,  which  are  shaded  by  noble 
trees,  and  bounded  by  the  principal 
avenues.  It  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  wholesome  water,  by  a  joint 
stock  company,  from  a  fine  and  steady 
spring,  about  a  mile  distant ;  and  se- 
ven miles  of  iron  pipes  have  already 
been  laid  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  inhabitants.  The  present  style 
of  building,  copied  from  that  of  the 
great  cities,  is  costly,  elegant,  and 
commodious.  Granite  basement  sto- 
ries, in  the  places  of  business,  admit 
of  convenient  stores,  whilst  lofty  edi- 
fices give  accommodation  to  families. 
Houses  designed  for  private  residence 
are  now  generally  of  brick,  neat,  and 
frequently  splendid. 

We  close  this  interesting  account 
of  this  thriving  town,  for  which  we 
are  indebted  to  a  committee*  of  the 
Young  Men's  Society,  &c.,  with  a 
brief  historical  notice,  much  of  which 
has  been  abstracted  from  the  town 
records. 

*  Consisting  of  Messrs.  A.  Armstrong, 
C.  H.  Halsey,  S.  H.  Pennington,  D.  A, 
Hays,  and  J.  B.  Congar. 


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192 


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Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Governor 
Carteret,  in  1665,  he  published   in 
New   England,   and  elsewhere,   the 
"  Concessions"  of  the  proprietaries, 
and  invited  settlers  to  the  new  colony. 
The  first  fruit  of  this  measure  was 
the  settlement  of  Elizabethtown.     In 
the  succeeding  year,  agents  were  des- 
patched  from   Guilford,    Brandford, 
and  Milford,  in  Connecticut,  to  sur- 
vey the  country,  and  to  ascertain  the 
state  of  the  Indians  who  inhabited  it. 
Upon  their  favourable  report,  particu- 
larly, of  that  district   "beyond   the 
marshes  lying  to  the  north  of  Eliza- 
bethtown," they  were  empowered  to 
contract  for  a  township,  to  select  a 
proper  site  for  a  town,  and  to  make 
arrangements  for  an  immediate  set- 
tlement.    Thirty  families   from   the 
above  named  towns  and  New  Haven, 
embarked  in  the  same  year,  and  after 
a  passage,  as  long  and  tedious  as  a 
voyage  in  the  present   time   across 
the  Atlantic,  arrived  in  the  Passaic 
river.     Their   landing  was  opposed 
by  the  Hackensack  tribe  of  Indians, 
who  claimed  the  soil  which  the  go- 
vernor had  granted  to  the  emigrants, 
and  insisted  on  a  full  compensation 
therefor,  previous  to  its  settlement. 
The  governor  not  being  able  to  re- 
move this  obstacle,  the  discouraged 
voyagers  prepared  to  return ;  but  were 
at  length,  by  the  solicitation  of  the 
governor  and  others,  induced  to  hold 
a  council   with    the    Indians,   from 
whom  they  eventually  purchased  a 
tract  of  country  on  the  west  side  of 
the    Passaic    river,   extending   from 
WoquaMck  (or  Bound)  creek,  on  the 
south,    to    its    fountain    head;    and 
thence  westerly  about  seven  miles  to 
the   ridge   of   the   Great   mountain, 
called  by  the  Indians  ( Wacchung) ; 
thence  by  the  said  ridge  north  to  the 
line  of  Acquackanonck  t-ship ;  thence 
east   by  that   line  to  the  mouth  of 
(  Yantokah)  Third  river ;  thence  down 
the   Passaic   river   and   bay   to   the 
place   of  beginning.      These   limits 
formed  the  original  t-ship  of  Newark, 
comprehending  the  present  t-ship  of 
that  name,  and  the  t-ships  of  Spring 
field,  Livingston,  Orange,  Bloomfield, 


and  Caldwell.  The  price  of  this 
purchase  was  £130  New  England 
currency,  12  Indian  blankets,  and  12 
Indian  guns.  The  title  thus  derived 
from  the  aborigines,  was  subsequent- 
y  set  up  against  that  of  the  proprie- 
taries, and  was  the  source  of  much 

gation  and  forcible  contention, 
which  for  many  years  disturbed  the 
peace  of  East  Jersey. 

The  settlers  at  first  segregated 
themselves  according  to  the  towns 
whence  they  came;  but  the  sense  of 
mutual  danger  soon  induced  a  change 
in  this  respect.  On  the  21st  May, 
1666,  delegates  from  the  several 
towns  resolved  to  form  one  t-ship, 
to  provide  rules  for  its  government, 
and  "  to  be  of  one  heart  and  hand, 
in  endeavouring  to  carry  on  their 
spiritual  concernments,  as  well  as 
their  civil  and  town  affairs,  accord- 
ing to  God  and  godly  govern- 
ment." And  for  the  more  speedy 
accomplishment  of  their  desires,  "  a 
committee  of  eleven  were  appointed 
to  order  and  settle  the  concernments 
of  the  people  of  the  place."  These 
rules  had  a  full  proportion  of  the  pu- 
ritanical spirit  of  the  people  who  made 
them,  and  of  that  religious  intolerance 
which  was  the  distinguishing  trait 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts, 
whence  they  were  originally  derived ; 
contrasting  strongly  with  the  liberality 
of  the  "Concessions"  of  Berkeley  and 
Carteret,  to  which  these  emigrants 
were  indebted  for  the  very  soil  on 
which  they  had  alighted.  "  No  per- 
son could  become  a  freeman  or  bur- 
gess of  their  town,  or  vote  in  its  elec- 
tions, but  such  as  was  a  member  of 
some  one  of  the  Congregational 
churches : — nor  be  chosen  to  the  ma- 
gistracy, nor  to  any  other  military  or 
civil  office.  "  But  all  others  admitted 
to  be  planters,  were  allowed  to  in- 
herit and  to  enjoy  all  other  privileges, 
save  those  above  excepted."  With 
a  singular  disregard  of  the  rights  of 
the  proprietaries  of  New  Jersey,  and 
apparently  with  a  resolution  of  dis- 
claiming all  fealty  towards  them,  and 
of  depending  on  their  Indian  grants, 
they,  also,  resolved  "  to  be  ruled  by 


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193 


NEW 


such  officers  as  the  town  should  an- 
nually choose  from  among  them- 
selves, and  to  be  governed  by  the 
same  laws  as  they  had,  in  the  places 
from  whence  they  came."  At  this 
period,  (1667,)  there  were  65  effi- 
cient men  in  the  settlement,  beside 
women  and  children. 

At  the  first  distribution  of  land, 
each  man  took  by  lot  six  acres  as  a 
homestead  ;  and  as  the  families  from 
each  of  the  several  original  towns, 
had  established  themselves  at  short 
distances  from  those  of  other  towns, 
the  allotments  were  made  to  them  in 
their  respective  quarters  of  the  new 
settlement.  Seven  individuals,  select- 
ed for  the  purpose,  assessed  on  each 
settler  his  portion  of  the  general 
purchase  money.  The  lands  were 
eventually  divided  into  three  ranges ; 
each  range  into  lots,  and  parcelled 
by  lottery ;  first  setting  apart  certain 
portions,  called  tradesmen's  lots ;  one 
of  which  was  to  be  given  to  the  first 
of  every  trade,  who  should  settle  per- 
manently in  the  place;  reserving 
also,  the  present  Upper  Green  of 
the  town  for  a  market  place,  and  the 
Lower  Green  for  a  military  parade ; 
and  that  part  of  the  town  in  and  adja- 
cent to  Market  street,  where  the  tan- 
neries now  are,  then  a  swamp,  for  a 
public  watering  place  for  cattle.  This 
last  portion  having  been  sold  by 
the  town,  is  altogether  in  possession 
of  individual  owners. 

In  1767,  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pier- 
son,  the  first  minister,  commenced 
his  official  duties  here.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  "  episcopally  ordained" 
at  Newark,  in  South  Britain,  and  to 
have  named  this  town  after  that  of 
his  ordination ;  by  which  name  it 
was  sometimes  called  abroad,  but 
was  known  at  others  by  that  of  Mil- 
ford.  In  the  next  year,  the  first 
"meeting  house,"  26  feet  wide,  34 
long,  and  13  between  the  joists,  was 
erected;  the  town  voting  £30,  and 
directing  that  every  individual  should 
perform  such  labour  as  a  committee 
of  five  might  require,  towards  its 
completion. 

Robert  Treat,  and  Jasper  Crane, 

2B 


vere  chosen  the  first  magistrates,  in 
1668;  and  representatives  to  the  first 
assembly  of  New  Jersey,  convened  at 
Elizabethtown,  26th  May,  of  the 
>ame  year ;  by  which  the  first  state 
:ax,  £12  sterling,  of  which  the  pro- 
portion of  Newark  was  40s.,  was 
laid.  Mr.  Treat  was  also  chosen  first 
recorder  or  town  clerk;  and  after  a 
residence  here  of  many  years,  return- 
ed to  Connecticut,  where  he  became 
;overnor,  and  died.  The  town  also 
established  a  court  of  judicature,  hold- 
ing annually  one  session,  on  the  last 
Wednesday  of  February,  and  another 
on  the  2d  Wednesday  of  September ; 
having  cognizance  of  all  causes  with- 
n  its  limits.  On  the  24th  May,  1669, 
the  first  selectmen,  five  in  number, 
were  chosen.  The  number  was  sub- 
sequently increased  to  seven,  who 
continued  to  administer  affairs  until 
1736,  when  the  present  township  offi- 
cers were  created  by  law.  And  in 
this  year  Indian  hostility  appears  to 
have  displayed  itself  in  petty  robbe- 
ries and  depredations,  the  increase 
of  which,  in  1675,  induced  the  towns- 
men to  fortify  their  church  as  a  place 
of  refuge,  in  case  of  general  attack, 
and  to  take  proper  measures  of  watch 
and  ward. 

On  the  23d  October,  1676,  a  war- 
rant was  granted  by  the  Governor, 
for  200  acres  of  land  and  meadow, 
for  parsonage  ground,  and  also,  for 
so  much  as  was  necessary  for  land- 
ing places,  school  house,  town  house, 
market  place,  &c.;  and  in  1696,  a 
patent  from  the  proprietaries  to  the 
town,  covered  all  the  lots,  in  various 
parts  of  the  township,  called  "  Parson- 
age Lands ;"  which  have  been  since 
divided,  with  some  difficulty  and  con- 
tention, among  five  churches;  viz. 
the  three  Presbyterian,  and  the  Epis- 
copal, at  Newark,  and  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church,  at  Orange. 

In  1721,  the  first  freestone  was 
quarried  for  market ;  and  this  article, 
celebrated  for  its  excellent  quality, 
has  long  been  exported  in  great  quan- 
tities. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  the  town  was  much 


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194 


NEW 


divided  upon  the  questions  agitating 
the  country ;  and  on  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  by  the  State,  seve- 
ral families,  among  whom  was  Mr. 
Brown,  pastor  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
who  had  ministered  from  its  founda- 
tion, joined  the  royalists  in  New 
York.  From  its  vicinage  to  that 
strong  hold  of  the  enemy,  the  town 
suffered  greatly,  by  his  visitations, 
made  by  regular  troops  and  marau- 
ders. On  the  night  of  the  25th  of 
January,  1780,  a  regiment  of  500 
men,  commanded  by  Colonel  Lumm, 
came  from  New  York,  following  the 
river  on  the  ice,  and  burned  the  aca- 
demy, then  standing  on  the  upper 
green.  This  was  a  stone  building, 
two  stories  high,  with  apartments  for 
the  teacher.  On  the  same  night  an- 
other British  party,  unknown  to  the 
first,  fired  the  Presbyterian  church, 
at  Elizabethtown,  the  light  from  which 
affrighted  the  incendiaries  at  Newark, 
and  caused  their  hasty  retreat.  They 
carried  away  with  them  Joseph  Hed- 
dens,  Esq.,  an  active  whig,  who  had 
zealously  opposed  their  previous  de- 
predations ;  dragging  him  from  a 
sick  bed,  and  compelling  him  to  follow, 
with  no  other  than  his  night  cloth- 
ing. The  party  returned  by  the 
route  by  which  they  came;  and  a 
soldier,  more  humane  than  his  fel- 
lows, gave  Mr.  H.  a  blanket,  a  short 
time  before  they  reached  Paules 
Hook.  At  this  place  Mr.  H.  was 
confined  in  a  sugar  house,  where 
he  perished  in  a  few  days,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  sufferings  from  that 
dreadful  night. 

The  prosperity  of  this  enterprising 
and  industrious  town,  is  deservedly 
great ;  and  being  founded  on  the 
indispensable  manufactures  of  the 
country,  will  necessarily  progress 
with  the  general  population,  and  with 
such  increased  momentum  as  the 
highly  stimulated  spirit  of  its  inhabi- 
tants will  not  fail  to  give  it. 

Newark,  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  bound 
on  the  N.  by  Bloom  field  t-ship ;  N. 
E.  by  the  Passaic  river,  which  sepa- 
rates it  from  Bergen  co. ;  E.  by  New- 
ark bay ;  S.  by  Elizabeth  and  Union 


t-ships;  and  W.  by  Orange  t-ship. 
Greatest  length,  E.  and  W.  7  miles; 
breadth,  N.  and  S.  6  miles;  araa, 
about  12,000  acres;  surface  level; 
soil  marsh  and  red  shale;  a  large 
proportion  of  this  t-ship  lying  N.  of 
Boundbrook,  and  E.  of  the  turnpike 
road  from  Elizabethtown  to  Newark, 
is  salt  marsh ;  the  remainder  consists 
of  well  improved  land.  Population, 
in  1830,  including  the  town  of  New- 
ark, 10,953.  In  1832,  there  were 
2500  taxables,  1114  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ; 
527  single  men,  95  merchants,  4 
grist  mills,  3  saw  mills,  3  furnaces, 
1  fulling-mill,  26  tan  vats,  1  wool 
factory,  and  1  distillery.  The  t-ship 
paid  in  state  tax,  $933  72 ;  county, 
$2443  92 ;  poor  tax,  $2500 ;  road  tax, 


Newark  Bay,  a  large  sheet  of 
water,  of  7  miles  in  length,  and  2  in 
breadth,  between  Bergen  and  Essex 
cos.,  and  separated  from  the  New 
York,  by  a  strip  of  land  one  mile 
wide,  but  communicating  therewith, 
by  the  Kill-van-Kuhl.  The  Passaic 
and  Hackensack  rivers  debouch  in 
this  bay.  Its  easterly  shore  is  bold 
and  clean,  but  its  westerly,  has  a 
broad  margin  of  salt  marsh. 

New  Barbadoes,  t-ship,  Bergen 
co.,  bounded  N.  by  Harrington ;  E. 
and  S.  E.  by  Hackensack ;  S.  W.  by 
Lodi,  and  W.  by  Saddle  river  t-ships. 
Greatest  length,  N.  and  S.  7 ;  breadth, 
E.  and  W.  4  miles;  area,  11,500 
acres;  surface  generally  level,  but 
towards  the  N.  there  is  some  undu- 
lating ground ;  soil,  sandy  loam,  and 
red  shale,  extremely  well  cultivated, 
and  productive  in  grass  and  vegeta- 
bles for  the  New  York  market.  The 
farms  are  generally  small,  and  re- 
markable for  their  neatness.  Most 
of  the  dwellings  are  built  in  the  sim- 
ple Dutch  cottage  style,  with  a  single 
story,  high  gable  ends,  and  project- 
ing pent-houses.  The  t-ship  is  drain- 
ed on  the  E.  boundary,  by  the  Hack- 
ensack river,  on  which  are  the  post- 
towns  of  New  Mil  ford,  and  the  ham- 
lets of  Old  and  New  Bridge ;  and  on 
the  W.  line,  by  Saddle  river.  The 


NEW 


195 


NEW 


town  of  Hackensack,  the  county  seat 
of  justice,  lies  in  the  S.  E.  angle. 
Population  in  1830,  1693.  In  1832, 
there  were  in  the  t-ship,  440  taxables, 
85  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  830;  40  single  men,  15 
merchants,  5  grist  mills,  5  saw  mills, 
2  carding  machines,  1  fulling  mill, 
1  wool  factory,  28  tan  vats,  315 
horses,  and  548  neat  cattle,  under  3 
years  old;  and  paid  taxes,  state, 
$188  90;  county,  $339  97;  poor, 
8500;  school,  8100;  road,  81000. 

New  Bargaintown,  Howell  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  upon  Manasquan 
river,  9  miles  S.  E.  of  Freehold; 
contains  a  grist  mill,  and  some  half 
dozen  dwellings,  surrounded  by  a 
sandy  soil,  and  pine  forest. 

Newbold's  Island,  in  the  Dela- 
ware river,  about  2  miles  below  Bor- 
dentown,  and  %  a  mile  from  White 
Hill,  in  Mansfield  t-ship,  Burlington 
co.;  has  a  fertile  alluvial  soil,  and  a 
fine  fishery. 

New  Bridge,  hamlet,  of  Hacken- 
sack t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  on  the  Hack- 
ensack river,  2  miles  above  Hacken- 
sack town ;  contains  a  grist  and  saw 
mill,  a  store,  tavern,  and  10  or  12 
dwellings.  Surrounding  country, 
level ;  soil,  fertile  loam. 

New  Brunswick,  p-t.  and  city,  and 
seat  of  justice  for  Middlesex  co.,  lying 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  Rari- 
tan,  15  miles  from  the  head  of  the 
bay  at  Amboy,  40  miles  by  water 
and  25  by  land  S.  W.  from  New 
York,  26  N.  E.  from  Trenton.  The 
city  is  partly  in  North  Brunswick 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  and  partly  in 
Franklin  t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  the 
post-road  or  Albany  street  forming 
the  line  between  the  t-ships  and  coun- 
ties. 

At  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  the  place  where  the  city 
now  stands,  was  covered  with  woods, 
and  called  after  the  name  of  its  pro- 
prietor, "  Prigmore's  Swamp."  The 
first  inhabitant,  of  whom  any  account 
is  preserved,  was  one  Daniel  Cooper, 
who  resided  where  the  post- road 
crossed  the  river,  and  kept  the  ferry 
which  afterwards,  in  1713,  when  the 


county  line  was  drawn,  was  called 
Inian's  Ferry.  This  ferry  was  grant- 
ed by  the  proprietors,  2d  Nov.  1697, 
for  the  lives  of  Inian  and  wife,  and 
the  survivor,  at  a  rent  of  5  shillings 
sterling  per  annum.  One  of  the  first 
houses  is  said  to  be  still  standing,  at 
the  foot  of  Town  lane;  and  some 
other  buildings,  erected  at  an  early 
period,  may  be  distinguished  by  their 
antique  structure,  in  Burnet  and  Al- 
bany streets.  The  first  inhabitants 
of  European  origin,  were  from  Long 
Island.  About  1730  several  Dutch 
families  emigrated  from  Albany, 
bringing  with  them  their  building 
materials,  in  imitation  of  their  ances- 
tors, who  imported  their  bricks,  tiles, 
&c.  from  Holland.  Some  of  them 
built  their  houses  upon  the  present 
post-road,  which  thence  acquired  the 
name  of  Albany  street ;  though  origi- 
nally it  was  called  French  street,  in 
honour  of  Philip  French,  Esq.  who 
held  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  north 
side  of  it.  About  this  time  the  name 
of  New  Brunswick  was  given  to  the 
place,  which  had,  hitherto,  been  dis- 
tinguished as  "  The  River." 

The  city  was  incorporated  in  1784, 
and  is  now  divided  into  five  wards. 
The  old  market,  called  Coenties'  mar- 
ket, was  of  ancient  date,  and  stood  in 
Commerce  Square;  the  present  was 
built  in  1811.  The  court-house  was 
erected  in  1793;  the  bridge,  original- 
ly, in  1796,  and  was  rebuilt  by  a  joint 
stock  company  in  1811,  at  the  cost 
of  886,687.  It  is  a  wooden  structure 
about  1000  feet  in  length,  divided  into 
two  carriage  ways  by  a  wood  parti- 
tion, and  rests  on  eleven  stone  piers 
and  abutments. 

A  portion  of  the  town  lying  imme- 
diately on  the  river,  is  low,  and  the 
streets  are  narrow,  crooked,  and  lined 
principally  with  small  frame  houses, 
extending  for  near  half  a  mile  from 
the  bridge  to  the  landings  for  steam- 
boats. Albany  street  is  a  broad,  well 
paved  thoroughfare,  ornamented  with 
some  excellent  buildings,  and  the 
streets  upon  the  upper  shelving  bani?", 
are  generally  wide,  and  the  houses 
neat  and  commodious ;  many  of  them 


NEW 


19G 


NEW 


expensively  built,  and  surrounded  by 
gardens.  The  streets  generally,  are 
paved  with  boulders.  Those  unpaved 
are,  in  the  rainy  season,  scarcely 
passable,  the  red  sandy  loam  of  the 
soil,  being  easily  wrought  into  deep 
paste.  From  the  top  of  the  hill  or 
bank,  especially  from  the  site  of  Rut- 
gers' college,  there  is  a  wide  prospect 
of  miles,  terminating  on  the  north  by 
the  Green  Brook  mountains,  and  on 
the  east  by  the  Raritan  bay. 

The  tide  in  the  river  extends  to 
Raritan  Landing,  about  two  miles 
above  the  town ;  but  immediately 
above  the  bridge,  at  the  town,  the 
river  is  fordable.  At  this  point  the 
ice,  when  broken  up  in  the  spring, 
sometimes  lodging,  forms  a  dam, 
which  raising  the  water  many  feet 
above  its  usual  level,  causes  it  to 
overflow  the  lower  streets.  The  De- 
laware and  Raritan  canal  has  its  out- 
let here,  by  a  lock  of  12  feet  lift,  into 
a  basin  200  feet  wide,  made  in  the 
bed  of  the  river,  and  extending  a  mile 
and  a  quarter  in  front  of  the  town, 
where  vessels  of  200  tons  burden 
may  lie.  From  the  canal  a  very  im- 
portant hydraulic  power  will  be  ob- 
tained, under  a  fall  of  14  feet,  with 
all  the  water  of  the  Raritan  river, 
and  all  the  surplus  water  of  the  canal. 
Consequently,  New  Brunswick  may, 
at  no  distant  period,  claim  considera- 
tion among  the  manufacturing  towns 
of  the  United  States. 

The  city  contains  between  5  and 
6000  inhabitants,  about  750  dwell- 
ings, 120  large  stores,  among  which 
are  12  extensive  grain  stores;  20  ta- 
verns, 12  practising  attorneys,  and  8 
physicians ;  1  Methodist  church,  built 
in  1811,  and  another  belonging  to 
blacks  of  the  same  denomination :  A 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  the  present 
house  being  the  third  pertaining  to 
that  profession ;  the  first  was  built  on 
the  corner  of  Schuremem  and  Burnet 
streets,  before  the  year  1717;  the 
second,  on  the  site  of  the  present,  be- 
tween the  years  1750  and  1783,  dur- 
ing the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Johan- 
nes Leydt ;  and  the  present,  com- 
menced in  1812,  was  completed  in 


1828,  by  the  construction  of  a  brick 
stuccoed  steeple — a  Presbyterian  con- 
gregation occupying  their  second 
house  for  worship;  their  first  was 
built  before,  or  during  the  ministry 
of  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  who  be- 
came their  pastor  in  1726,  in  Burnet 
street,  below  Lyell's  Brook ;  and  was 
wantonly  destroyed  by  the  British 
soldiers  in  1776  or  1777;  the  pre- 
sent edifice  was  erected  in  1784  ; — 
The  Episcopal  church,  called  Christ 
church,  was  built  in  1743,  the  steeple 
in  1773  ;  but  the  latter  was  burned  to 
the  stone  basement  in  1802,  and  re- 
built in  the  same  year:  the  Baptist 
church  was  erected  in  1810,  and  a 
small  Catholic  chapel  in  1832.  There 
are  in  the  town  a  college  called  Rut- 
gers' college,  and  grammar  school 
connected  with  it ;  2  academies ;  an 
extensive  boarding  and  day  school  for 
young  ladies ;  a  Lancasterian  school, 
incorporated  and  endowed  with  about 
84000,  and  several  common  schools. 

The  town  has  an  extensive  trade. 
The  enterprising  inhabitants  have 
opened  a  ready  communication  with 
Easton  and  the  valley  of  the  Dela- 
ware, by  the  Jersey  turnpike  road; 
and  have  made  it  the  depot  of  the 
produce  from  a  large  tract  of  fertile 
country ;  its  business  will  be  greatly 
increased  by  the  trade  of  the  Dela- 
ware and  Raritan  canal.  There  are 
now  12  sloops  employed  in  its  com- 
merce, and  300,000  bushels  of  Indian 
corn,  and  50,000  bushels  of  rye  are 
annually  exported.  Two  lines  of 
stages  connected  with  steam-boats 
here  and  at  Lamberton,  on  the  Dela- 
ware, run  daily  from  the  town,  and 
stages  depart  hence  daily  to  various 
parts  of  the  country ;  and  communi- 
cation is  had  four  times,  daily,  by 
steam-boats,  with  New  York.  There 
are  now  two  banks  established  here  : 
the  State  Bank  incorporated  in  1812, 
with  an  authorized  capital  of  $400,000 
of  which  88,000  have  been  called  in ; 
and  the  New  Brunswick  Bank,  incor- 
porated in  1807,  with  a  capital  of 
$200,000,  90,000  of  which  have  been 
paid. 

There  is  a  vein  of  copper  ore  adja- 


NEW 


197 


NEW 


cent  to  the  town,  which  was  formerly 
very  extensively  wrought,  but  which 
has  been  for  many  years  abandoned. 
For  an  account  of  this  mine,  see  pre- 
fatory chapter,  page  10. 

New  Durham,  village  on  the  turn- 
pike-road leading  from  Hoboken  to 
Hackensack,  Bergen  t-ship,  Bergen 
co.,  3  miles  from  the  one  and  seven 
from  the  other ;  contains  2  taverns,  a 
store,  and  some  10  or  12  dwellings. 

New  Durham,  small  village  of 
Piscataway  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  5 
miles  east  of  north  from  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  on  the  turnpike  road  lead- 
ing from  Perth  Amboy  toward  Bound 
Brook ;  contains  a  tavern,  store,  and 
some  half  dozen  dwellings. 

New  Egypt,  p-t.  of  Upper  Free- 
hold t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  on  the 
Crosswicks  creek,  23  miles  S.  W. 
from  Monmouth  Court  House,  170  N. 
E.  from  W.  C.,  and  16  miles  S.  E. 
from  Trenton ;  contains  about  20 
dwellings,  2  taverns,  2  or  3  stores, 
valuable  grist  and  saw  mills,  and  a 
Methodist  church  within  a  mile  of  the 
town.  The  country  around  it  is  le- 
vel ;  soil,  of  clay  and  sand.  The 
name  is  derived  from  the  excellent 
market  the  mills  formerly  afforded 
for  corn. 

New  England,  village  of  Fail-field 
t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  near  Co- 
hansey  creek,  5  miles  S.  of  Bridge- 
ton;  contains  some  12  or  15  dwell- 
ings, scattered  along  the  road  within 
the  space  of  a  mile ;  near  it  is  a  Me- 
thodist church. 

New  England  Creek,  a  small 
stream  of  Lower  t-ship,  Cape  May 
co.,  flowing  into  the  Delaware  bay. 

New  Freedom,  small  village  of 
Gloucester  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  on 
the  road  from  Camden  to  Great  Egg 
Harbour  river,  18  miles  S.  E.  from 
the  former,  and  14  from  the  latter; 
contains  a  Methodist  meeting,  a  glass 
manufactory,  a  tavern  and  store,  and 
some  12  or  15  dwellings.  It  is  in 
the  midst  of  the  pines,  on  Inskeep's 
branch  of  Great  Egg  Harbour  river. 

Newfoundland,  is  the  post-office  of 
Longwood  Valley,  17  miles  N.  W. 
from  Morristown,  245  N.  E.  from 


W.  C.,  and  79  from  Trenton;  there 
is  a  Presbyterian  church  here. 

New  Germantown,  p-t.  of  Tewkes- 
bury  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  on  the 
turnpike-road  leading  from  Laming- 
ton  to  Schooley's  mountain,  14  miles 
N.  E.  from  Flemington,  45  from 
Trenton,  and  211  from  W.  C. ;  con- 
tains about  30  dwellings,  1  tavern, 
3  stores,  1  Lutheran,  1  Methodist, 
and  a  Presbyterian,  church  and  an 
academy.  The  town  lies  near  the 
foot  of  a  spur  of  the  Musconetcong 
mountain,  and  is  surrounded  by  a 
rich  and  highly  cultivated  limestone 
soil,  in  which  there  are  masses  of  bres- 
cia  or  pudding  limestone,  which  are 
perhaps  equal  in  beauty,  to  that  in 
the  capitol  at  Washington. 

New  Hampton,  p-t.  of  Lebanon 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  in  the  N.  W. 
angle  on  the  S.  side  of  Musconetcong 
creek,  and  on  the  turnpike  leading  to 
Oxford  Furnace,  18  miles  N.  W. 
from  Flemington,  41  from  Trenton, 
and  200  from  W.  C. ;  contains  1 
grist  mill,  1  saw  mill,  2  stores,  3  ta- 
verns, and  from  20  to  25  dwellings. 

New  Hamburg,  post-office,  Ber- 
gen co. 

New  Market,  village  of  Amwell 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  8  miles  S.  of 
Flemington;  contains  a  tavern  and 
store,  6  or  8  dwellings.  Snydertown, 
a  small  hamlet,  divided  from  it  by  a 
branch  of  Stony  creek,  contains  a 
grist  mill,  and  2  or  3  dwellings ;  the 
surrounding  country  is  hilly,  stony, 
and  poor. 

New  Market,  formerly  called  Quib- 
bletown,  village  of  Piscataway  t-ship, 
Middlesex  co.,  7  miles  N.  of  New 
Brunswick,  on  the  left  bank  of  Cedar 
creek ;  contains  a  grist  mill,  a  tavern, 
a  store,  and  some  20  dwellings,  in  a 
fertile  country  of  red  shale. 

New  Milford,  village  of  Hacken- 
sack t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  in  the  ex- 
treme N.  W.  angle  of  the  t-ship,  4 
miles  N.  of  Hackensacktown,  upon 
the  Hackensack  river;  contains  2 
mills,  some  half  dozen  dwellings,  a 
store  and  tavern ;  surrounding  coun- 
try, level ;  soil,  sandy  loam,  with  red 
shale,  well  cultivated  and  fertile. 


NEW 


198 


NEW 


New  Mills.     (See  Pemberton.) 

Newport  Creek,  rises  on  the  con- 
fines of  Stow  creek  and  Greenwich 
t-ships,  Cumberland  co.,  and  flows 
westerly  about  6  miles  into  Stow 
creek,  forming  the  south  boundary  of 
the  first,  and  north  boundary  of  the 
second  t-ship. 

Newport,  or  Nantuxet,  said  to  be 
more  properly  called  "  Antuxet" 
p-t.  of  Dover  t-ship,  Cumberland  co., 
on  the  Nantuxet  creek,  5  miles  above 
its  mouth,  10  miles  S.  from  Briclgeton, 
187  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  81  S.  of 
Trenton;  contains  from  20  to  30 
houses,  1  tavern  and  store.  This 
place  is  noted  as  having  been  the  re- 
sort of  refugees  and  tories  during  the 
revolution. 

New  Prospect,  p-t.  of  Franklin 
t-ship,  on  the  Hohokus  creek,  241 
miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  74  from 
Trenton,  and  11  N.  W.  from  Hack- 
ensack ;  very  pleasantly  situated  upon 
high  ground,  on  a  fertile  soil,  and  in 
the  centre  of  a  thriving  manufactur- 
ing settlement;  what  may  appropri- 
ately be  called  the  town,  contains  2 
taverns,  1  store,  2  paper  mills,  2 
grist  mills,  and  chair  manufactory, 
with  lathes  running  by  water,  and  se- 
veral dwellings. 

New  Providence  t-ship,  Essex  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Springfield  t-ship  ; 
E.  by  Westfield;  S.  by  Warren 
t-ships,  Somerset  co. ;  and  W.  and 
N.  W.  by  the  Passaic  river;  which 
separates  it  from  Morris  co.  Cen- 
trally distant  S.  W.  from  Newark, 
13  miles;  greatest  length  6,  breadth 
2£  miles ;  area,  7680  acres ;  surface 
hilly,  on  the  west  mountainous ;  soil, 
clay  loam,  and  red  shale ;  carbonate 
of  lime  is  found  on  the  east,  near 
Green  Brook,  in  which  are  metallic 
appearances  supposed  to  be  gold  and 
silver,  but  are  perhaps  only  the  de- 
ceptive pyrites  of  iron  or  copper. 
Population  in  1830,  910.  In  1832, 
the  t-ship  contained  195  taxables,  45 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30 ;  29  single  men,  3  mer- 
chants, 3  grist  mills,  5  saw  mills,  1 
paper  mill,  13  tan  vats,  147  horses, 
and  503  neat  cattle,  above  3  years  old; 


and  it  paid  state  tax,  $97  43 ;  county, 
$254  92;  poor,  300;  road,  $702. 

New  Providence,  p-t.  of  preceding 
t-ship,  13  miles  S.  W.  of  Newark, 
218  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and  52  from 
Trenton ;  contains  a  Presbyterian  and 
Methodist  church,  a  tavern,  store,  and 
several  dwellings. 

Newton  t-ship,  Gloucester  county, 
bounded  N.  by  the  city  of  Camden ; 
N.  E.  by  Cooper's  creek,  which  sepa- 
rates it  from  Waterford  t-ship ;  S.  E. 
by  Gloucester  t-ship;  S.  W.  by  Glou- 
cestertown  t-ship;  and  W.  by  the 
river  Delaware.  Centrally  distant  N. 
E.  from  Woodbury  6  miles ;  great- 
est length  E.  and  W.  6,  breadth  N. 
and  S.  less  than  4  miles  ;  area,  9000 
acres;  surface,  level;  soil,  sandy; 
timber,  chiefly  yellow  pine ;  the  cul- 
tivated land  employed  principally  in 
raising  vegetables  and  fruit  for  mar- 
ket. Besides  Cooper's  creek  on  the 
N.  W.,  it  has  Newton  creek  on  the 
S.  W.,  which  being  stopped  out, 
makes  some  valuable  meadows. — 
Haddonfield  and  Rowantown  are  vil- 
lages of  the  t-ship,  the  first  a  post- 
town.  Population  in  1830,  including, 
we  presume,  the  city  of  Camden, 
3298.  In  1832  the  t-ship  contained 
199  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  $30 ;  6  stores,  2  fisheries, 
3  grist  mills,  1  saw  mill,  1  fulling 
mill,  1  tan  yard,  2  distilleries,  643 
neat  cattle,  and  2  87  horses  and  mules 
above  3  years  of  age.  The  t-ship 
paid  county  tax,  $532  44  ;  poor  tax, 
$266  47 ;  road  tax,  $700. 

Newton  Creek,  Newton  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  rises  on  the  south 
border  of  the  t-ship,  and  flows  N. 
W.  about  5  miles,  to  the  river  Dela- 
ware. The  influx  of  the  tide  to  the 
creek  is  stopped  by  dam  and  sluice, 
by  which  some  valuable  meadows 
are  gained  along  its  banks. 

Newton  or  Pine  Creek,  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  a  tributary  of 
Little  Egg  Harbour  river. 

Newton  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Frankford  t-ship;  E.  by 
Hardiston  t-ship;  S.  E.  by  Byram 
t-ship;  S.  W.  by  Green  t-ship;  W. 
by  Stillwater,  and  N.  W.  by  Sandi- 


NEW 


199 


NOR 


stone  t-ships.  Greatest  length  N.  and 
S.  12,  breadth  E.  and  W.  10  miles; 
area,  65,920  acres ;  surface,  hilly  on 
the  N.  W.  and  S.  E.;  centrally,  level. 
It  is  watered  chiefly  by  the  Paulins- 
kill,  which  flows  S.  W.  through  it, 
towards  the  Delaware.  (See  Paulins- 
kill.)     The  Newton  and  Bolton  turn- 
pike road  runs  centrally  through  the 
t-ship,  and  through  the  town  of  New- 
ton ;  and  the  turnpike  road  by  Sparta 
to  Milford,  through  the  N.  E.  angle, 
on  which  lies  the  post-town  of  Lafay- 
ette. Population  of  the  t-ship  in  1830, 
3464;  taxables  in  1832,  530.  There 
were  in  the  t-ship  in  1832, 140  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed $30;  14  stores,  14  run  of  stones 
for  grinding   grain,   6    carding  ma- 
chines,  3    fulling   mills,   650  horses 
and   mules,   and    1330   neat   cattle, 
above  the  age  of  3  years ;  4  tan  vats, 
8   distilleries.      The    t-ship   paid  in 
1832,  state  and  county  tax,  $1156 
05 ;  poor  tax,  $400 ;  road  tax,  $1200 
Newton,  borough,  county,  and  post- 
town,  Newton  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  on 
the  Newton  and  Bolton  turnpike  road, 
distant  by  the  post-route  228  miles 
from  W.  C.,  and  75  from  Trenton, 
60  from  New  York,  40  from  Easton, 
and   100   from   Philadelphia.      The 
town  lies  upon  the  slope  of  a  gentle 
hill,  of  mingled  slate  and  limestone, 
at  whose  foot  a  spring  sends  forth  the 
first   waters   of  the   Paulinskill,  the 
chief  river  of  the  county,  whose  vo- 
lume is  swelled  by  the  tribute  from 
Moore's  Pond,  covering  8  or  10  acres, 
distant  about  1  mile  S.  E.  from  New- 
ton.    There  are  several  streets,  anc 
a  large  common  or  public  lot,  front 
the  court-house  and  prison,  and  on 
which  the  public  offices  are  erected. 
It  contains  about  130  dwellings,  anc 
900  inhabitants,  4  taverns,  8  exten- 
sive stores,  2  printing  offices,  at  each 
of  which  a  weekly  journal  is  publish- 
ed, viz.  the  New  Jersey  Herald,  by 
Mr.  Fitch,  and  the  Sussex  Register 
by  Mr.  Hall ;  a  very  large  and  com 
modious     Presbyterian    church,    an 
Episcopal  church,    with  a   valuabl 
glebe  farm  of  200  acres,  near  the 
town;  and   a  Methodist  church; 


seminaries,  in  which  the  classics  are 
aught — one  of  which  is  incorporated 
s  an  academy;  6  common  schools, 
5  Sunday  schools,  a  public  library, 

lyceum  for  the  promotion  of  the 
study  of  letters  and  science ;  a  bank 
vith  a  capital  of  $100,000,  establish- 
:d  in  a  handsome  building,  specially 
erected  for  it.  The  court-house  is  a 
ow  and  ancient  looking  stone  build- 
ng,  finished  in  1765,  having  the  pri- 
son in  the  basement  story.  There 
are  in  the  town  4  practising  attor- 
neys, 4  physicians,  and  2  resident 
clergymen.  Some  of  the  dwellings 
are  very  neat :  the  place  has  an  air 
of  business,  and  there  is  in  fact  a 
very  considerable  trade  carried  on 
with  the  surrounding  country.  In 
healthiness  of  situation,  by  the  report 
of  the  inhabitants,  it  cannot  be  ex- 
celled. 

New  Village,  p-t.,  of  Greenwich 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  on  the  turnpike 
road  from  Schooley's  mountain  to 
Philipsburg,  and  on  the  Morris  canal, 
by  the  post-route  196  miles  from  W. 
C.,  52  from  Trenton,  and  10  miles 
from  Belvidere,  the  county  town ; 
contains  1  store,  1  tavern,  and  10  or 
12  dwellings.  It  is  surrounded  by  a 
fertile  limestone  country. 

New  Vernon,  p-t.,  of  Morris  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  4  miles  S.  W.  from  Mor- 
ristown,  217  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and 
51  from  Trenton;  contains  a  store, 
an  academy,  and  4  dwellings. 

Nischisakawick  Creek,  rises  in 
Alexandria  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
and  flows  S.  W.  into  the  Delaware 
river,  by  a  course  of  7  or  8  miles,  at 
the  town  of  Alexandria. 

Norman's  Pond,  small  lake  of  Har- 
distone  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  on  the 
Hamburg  or  Wallkill  mountain,  near 
the  town  of  Sparta,  a  principal  source 
of  the  Wallkill  river.  The  stream 
from  the  pond  gives  motion  to  a  forge 
immediately  on  issuing  from  the  lake. 

Northampton  t-ship,  Burlington 
co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Springfield 
and  Hanover  t-ships;  E.  by  Mon- 
mouth  co. ;  S.  by  Little  Egg  Harbour 
and  Washington  t-ships;  W.  by 
Evesham  and  Chester  t-ships;  and 


NOP 


200 


NOT 


N.  W.  by  Willingboro'  and  Burling- 
ton t-ships.  Greatest  length  N.  W. 
and  S.  E.  33  miles ;  breadth  E.  and 
W.  18  miles;  area,  135,000  acres; 
surface,  generally  level ;  soil,  sand 
and  sandy  loam ;  the  portion  on  the 
north-west  of  the  t-ship  well  cultivated 
and  productive ;  southern  and  easter- 
ly parts  chiefly  pine  and  oak  forests. 
It  is  drained  north-west  by  the  north 
and  south  branches  of  the  Rancocus 
creek,  and  southerly  by  tributaries  of 
the  Little  Egg  Harbour  river.  Mount 
Holly,  the  county  town,  New  Mills, 
or  Pemberton,  Vincenttown,  Eayrs- 
town,  Buddstown,  Tabernacle,  &c., 
are  villages  of  the  t-ship.  Popula- 
tion in  1830,  5516.  In  1832,  the 
t-ship  contained  1000  taxables,  654 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30;  183  single  men,  2371 
cattle,  and  1005  horses  and  mules; 
13  stores,  7  saw  mills,  and  9  grist 
mills,  2  forges,  1  paper  mill,  2  full- 
ing mills,  1  cotton  factory,  1  plaster 
mill,  50  tan  vats,  3  carding  machines, 
6  distilleries  for  cider,  1  four  horse 
stage,  2  two  horse  stages,  60  dear- 
borns, 154  covered  wagons,  4  chairs 
and  curricles,  43  gigs  and  sulkies; 
and  paid  state  tax,  $675  87  ;  county 
tax,  $2359  50  ;  t-ship  tax,  $3900. 

North  Branch,  or  Bailes*,  p-t.,  of 
Bridgewater  t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  on 
the  turnpike  road  from  Somerville  to 
Easton,  4  miles  from  the  former  and 
29  from  the  latter,  203  N.  E.  from 
W.  C.,  and  29  from  Trenton,  upon 
the  north  branch  of  the  Raritari  river, 
in  a  level,  fertile  country ;  contains  a 
large  grist  mill  and  fulling  mill,  a  ta- 
vern, 2  stores,  and  about  20  dwell- 
ings. There  is  a  Dutch  Reformed 
church  in  the  neighbourhood. 

North  Brunswick.  (See  Bruns- 
wick, North.) 

Northfield,  small  village  of  Li- 
vingston t-ship,  Essex  co.,  8  miles 
W.  of  Newark ;  contains  a  Baptist 
church,  store,  and  3  or  4  dwellings. 

No  Pipe  Brook,  tributary  of  Be- 
den's  brook,  rises  by  two  branches  in 
the  Nashanic  mountain,  on  the  con- 
fines of  Montgomery  and  Hillsbo- 
rough  t-ships,  Somerset  co.,  which 


flow    S.  E.  about  5  or   6  miles  to 
their  recipient. 

Notch,  The,  a  pass  over  the  First, 
or  Newark  mountain,  Acquacka- 
nonck  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  through 
which  the  road  leads  from  Acquacka- 
noncktown  to  the  Little  Falls  of  the 
Passaic,  distant  7  miles  from  the 
former. 

Nottingham  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  N.  W.  by  the  Assunpink 
creek,  which  divides  it  from  Trenton 
and  Lawrence  t-ships,  Hunterdon  co.; 
N.  E.  by  East  and  West  Windsor 
t-ships,  of  Middlesex  co. ;  S.  by  the 
Crosswicks  creek,  and  S.  W.  by  the 
river  Delaware.  Centrally  distant  N. 
E.  from  Mount  Holly,  17  miles; 
greatest  length  N.  and  S.  10  miles; 
greatest  breadth,  7  miles  ;  area, 
25,000  acres;  surface  generally  le- 
vel, varied  only  by  the  abrasion  of 
the  streams,  which  have  worn  their 
courses  through  deep  and  narrow  val- 
leys ;  soil,  various ;  along  the  banks 
of  the  river  and  creeks,  there  is  some 
stiff  clay ;  sandy  loam  and  sand  cha- 
racterize the  remainder.  Much  of 
the  t-ship,  with  due  care,  is  suscepti- 
ble of  beneficial  cultivation,  and  is 
productive  in  wheat,  rye,  corn,  oats, 
and  grass;  the  latter  being  much 
aided  by  the  use  of  marl,  which  is 
abundant.  The  streams  are  the  As- 
sunpink, on  the  north,  with  its  tribu- 
taries, Miry  and  Pond  runs,  and  the 
Crosswicks,  on  the  south,  which  re- 
ceives a  small  stream  from  the  t-ship. 
The  villages  are  Sandtown,  Notting- 
ham Square,  Mill  Hill,  Bloomsbury, 
Lamberton,  and  the  Sand  Hills.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  3900.  In  1832,  there 
were  in  the  t-ship  960  taxables,  430 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30 ;  165  single  men,  11 
merchants,  5  fisheries,  4  saw  mills, 
19  pair  of  grist  mill  stones,  1  paper 
mill,  1  fulling  mill,  3  cotton  manu- 
factories, 75  tan  vats,  2  carding  ma- 
chines, 5  distilleries  for  cider,  3  four 
horse  stages,  3  two  horse  stages,  37 
dearborns,  37  covered  wagons,  50 
chairs  and  curricles,  and  2  gigs  and 
sulkies;  1032  cattle,  and  604  horses 
and  mules  over  3  years  of  age ;  the 


ORA 


201 


ORA 


t-ship  paid  state  tax,  8486  87 ;  coun- 
ty tax,  $1702  05;  township  tax, 
$1900. 

Nottingham  Square,  village  of 
Nottingham  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on 
the  road  from  Trenton  to  Allentown, 
6  miles  E.  of  the  former,  on  a  sandy 
plain ;  contains  1  Presbyterian,  and  1 
Baptist  church,  a  store,  a  tavern,  and 
from  8  to  12  dwellings. 

Obhonon,  an  arm  of  the  south 
branch  of  Toms'  river,  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co. 

Ogdensburg,  village  of  Hardiston 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  about  75  miles  N. 
E.  from  Trenton,  and  about  9  miles 
from  Newton,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Wallkill  river;  contains  21  dwell- 
ings, a  small  store,  and  saw  mill, 
scattered  along  the  road  within  the 
distance  of  a  mile.  There  are  some 
good  lands  in  the  narrow  valley  here, 
but  the  sides  of  the  mountain  are 
broken  and  stony. 

Old  Bridge,  hamlet  of  Hacken- 
sack  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  on  the  Hack- 
ensack  river,  4  miles  N.  of  Hacken- 
sack  town ;  contains  a  store,  tavern, 
and  10  or  12  dwellings;  country 
level ;  soil,  fertile  loam,  well  cul- 
tivated. 

Old  Bridge,  hamlet  of  North 
Brunswick  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  on 
South  river,  and  on  the  turnpike-road 
from  Bordentown  to  South  Amboy, 
6  miles  S.  E.  from  New  Brunswick ; 
contains  a  tavern,  and  some  half  do- 
zen dwelling  houses ;  surrounded  by 
a  sandy  and  light  soil. 

Old  Man's  Creek,  rises  in  Glou- 
cester co.,  Franklin  t-ship,  about  3 
miles  E.  of  a  point  on  the  Salem  co. 
line;  from  which  line  it  runs  N.  W., 
forming  the  boundary  between  Glou- 
cester and  Salem  cos.  for  about  25 
miles,  following  the  meanderings  of 
the  creek  to  the  river  Delaware.  It 
is  a  crooked  stream  flowing  through 
a  flat  country,  and  has  considerable 
tracts  of  banked  meadow  on  its  mar- 
gin, as  high  as  Pedricktown,  to  which 
place  wood  shallops  ascend. 

Ong^s  Hat,  hamlet  of  Northamp- 
ton t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  10  miles 
S.  E.  of  Mount  Holly. 
2C 


Orange  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  W.  by  Caldwell;  N.  E.  by 
Bloomfield ;  E.  and  S.  E.  by  New- 
ark; S.  by  Union;  S.  W.  by  Spring- 
field; and  W.  by  Livingston.  Cen- 
trally distant,  N.  W.,  from  Newark, 

miles;  greatest  length,  N.  and  S., 
7 ;  breadth,  E.  and  W.,  5  miles  ; 
surface,  on  the  west,  hilly ;  the  First 
and  Second  mountains  crossing  it 
here;  elsewhere  rolling;  soil,  red 
shale,  generally  well  cultivated ; 
area,  about  14,000  acres.  Orange, 
the  post  town,  South  Orange,  Camp- 
:own,  Middleville  and  Jefferson 
village,  are  towns  of  the  town- 
ship. It  is  drained  N.  E.  by  Second 
river,  and  S.  W.  by  branches  of  the 
Rahway.  Population  in  1830,  3887  ; 
in  1832,  there  were  in  the  township, 
625  taxables,  172  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 
in  value,  76  single  men,  15  mer- 
chants, 3  grist  mills,  2  saw  mills, 
40  tan  vats,  362  horses  and  mules, 
and  1099  neat  cattle,  above  the  age 
of  three  years ;  and  it  paid  state  tax, 
$298  19;  county,  780  20;  poor, 
$600;  road,  $1050. 

Orange,  is  a  straggling  village  of 
the  preceding  township,  and  a  post- 
town,  extending  about  3  miles  along 
the  turnpike  road,  from  Newark  to 
Dover ;  and  distant  about  3  miles  N. 
W.  from  the  former;  219  N.  E. 
from  W.  C.,  and  53  from  Trenton; 
contains  1  Episcopal,  2  Presbyterian, 
and  1  Methodist  churches,  2  taverns, 
10  stores,  2  saw  mills  and  a  bark 
mill,  from  200  to  230  dwellings, 
many  of  them  very  neat  and  commo- 
dious. A  large  trade  is  carried  on 
here  in  the  manufacture  of  leather, 
shoes  and  hats.  The  country  about 
it  is  level,  red  shale,  and  carefully 
cultivated.  A  chalybeate  spring  near 
the  town  is  much  resorted  to. 

Orange,  South,  a  village  of  the 
same  township,  lies  on  the  turnpike- 
road  from  Newark  to  Morristown,  5 
miles  W.  of  the  first;  it  contains 
about  30  dwellings,  a  tavern  and 
store,  a  paper  mill  and  a  Presbyterian 
church ;  the  lands  around  it  are  also 
rich  and  well  farmed. 


OXF 


202 


PAC 


Oranoken  Creek,  Downe  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  rises  in  the  town- 
ship, and  flows  S.  W.  12  or  14 
miles,  into  Maurice  River  Cove, 
sending  forth  several  small  streams, 
laterally  to  the  west,  which  have 
their  mouths  higher  up  in  the  bay. 

Oswego,  east  branch  of  Wading 
river.  (See  Wading  River.) 

Oxford  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  W.  by  Knowlton;  E.  by  Hard- 
wick  and  Independence;  S.  E.  by 
Mansfield;  S.  by  Greenwich  t-ships, 
and  W.  by  the  Delaware  river.  Great- 
est length,  N.  E.  and  S.  W.,  16 
miles;  breadth,  N.  W.  and  S.  E., 
5£  miles ;  area,  4^,000  acres.  Drain- 
ed chiefly  by  the  Pequest  creek  and 
its  tributary,  Beaver  Brook.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  3665;  taxables,  in 
1832,  800.  In  1832,  the  township 
contained  254  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30  in  value, 
17  stores,  18  pair  of  stones  for 
grinding  grain,  1  carding  machine, 
7  saw  mills,  3  furnaces,  10  tan  vats, 
4  distilleries,  and  862  horses  and 
mules,  and  1407  neat  cattle ;  and 
it  paid  tax  for  township  use,  $1200, 
and  for  state  and  county  purposes, 
$2229  02.  Belviderc,  the  county 
town,  lies  on  the  Delaware  river,  in 
this  township,  and  Bridgeville,  Oxford 
and  Concord  are  small  villages  from 
3  to  4  miles  distant  from  it.  The 
surface  of  the  township  is  much 
broken,  and  it  possesses  a  great  va- 
riety of  soil  and  cultivation.  The 
mountains,  which  are  composed  of 
granitic  rock  and  crowned  with  wood, 
cover  a  considerable  portion  of  it, 
and  are  cultivated  wherever  the  hopes 
of  reward  will  justify  the  labour. 
The  valleys  of  limestone  are  very 
productive;  and  large  quantities  of 
wheat  arc  grown  for  market.  Green- 
pond  is  a  small  lake  1^  mile  long  by 
f  of  a  mile  wide,  on  the  S.  E.  de- 
clivity of  Jenny  Jump  mountain; 
mountain  and  bog  ore  abound,  and 
manganese  on  the  Delaware  below 
Foul  Rift.  The  towns  are  Belvidere, 
the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county, 
Bridgeville,  Oxford,  Concord,  and 
Roxburg. 


Oxford,  small  hamlet  of  Oxford 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  three  miles  S.  E. 
of  Belvidere,  the  county  town ;  con- 
tains a  Presbyterian  church,  a  tavern, 
1  grist  and  1  clover  mill,  and  10  or 

12  dwellings. 

Oxford  Furnace,  and  village,  on 
a  branch  of  the  Pequest  creek,  near 
the  E.  line  of  Oxford  township,  and 
five  miles  E.  of  Belvidere,  the  seat 
of  justice,  at  the  N.  W.  foot  of  Scott's 
mountain.  This  mountain  vale  is  a 
very  ancient  site  for  the  manufacture 
of  iron,  a  furnace  having  been  erect- 
ed here  more  than  seventy  years 
since  by  the  ancestor  of  the  present 
owners,  Messrs.  Robison ;  but  it  had 
been  out  of  blast  for  more  than  20 
years,  when  Messrs.  Henry  and  Jor- 
don,  of  Pennsylvania,  undertook  to 
renew  operations.  These  gentlemen 
have  obtained  a  lease  of  the  furnace, 
with  2000  acres  of  woodland,  and 
have  rebuilt  the  works.  Abundance 
of  excellent  iron  ore  is  found  in  the 
mountain  a  few  hundred  yards  from 
the  furnace;  and  the  lessees  have 
sunk  several  shafts,  and  are  now 
working  a  vein  of  magnetic  ore  about 

13  feet  thick,  enclosed  by  walls  of 
rotten  mica.     This  ore  is  very  rich 
and  easily  smelted.     Old  excavations 
are  visible  in  many  places,  and  shafts 
have  recently  been  discovered  more 
than  100  feet  deep,  and  drifts  exceed- 
ing 120  yards  in  length.   The  rock  of 
Scott's  mountain  is  primitive,  and  its 
constituents  are  found  separately  in 
masses,  and  also  variously  combined 
with  each  other,  with  hornblende  and 
with  iron  of  various  species,  forming 
granite,    sienite,   &c.      The    whole 
range  of  hills,  of  which  Scott's  moun- 
tain is  part,  forms  a  very  interesting 
study  for  the  mineralogist  and  geo- 
logist. 

Oyster  Creek,  Stafford  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  flows  N.  E.  about  10 
miles,  and  empties  into  Barnegat 
bay,  on  the  line  separating  Stafford 
from  Dover  township. 

PacaJc  Creek  rises  in  the  Wawa- 
yanda  mountains,  Vernon  t-ship, 
Sussex  co.,  arid  by  a  southerly 


PAI 


203 


PAR 


course,  of  about  seven  miles,  unites 
with  the  Pequannock  creek,  in  Har- 
distone  township. 

Pahaquarry,  N.  W.  t-ship  oi' 
Warren  co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Wai- 
pack  t-ship;  S.  E.,  by  Hardwick  and 
Knowlton  t-ships  ;  S.  W.  and  W.  by 
the  river  Delaware.  It  lies  wholly 
between  the  Blue  mountain  and  the 
river;  is  centrally  distant,  N.  from 
Belvidere,  15  miles.  Greatest  length, 
N.  E.  and  S.  W.,  13  miles;  breadth, 
2£  miles;  area,  12,800  acres;  sur- 
face, mountain  and  river  bottom. 
Population  by  census  of  1830,  258. 
In  1832,  it  contained  13  household- 
ers, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
$30  in  value ;  but  no  store,  and  but 
one  grist  mill,  4  mill  saws,  59  horses 
and  mules,  and  121  neat  cattle  above 
the  age  of  three  years,  and  paid  a 
state  and  county  tax  of  $109  61. 
Vancamp  brook  flows  southerly 
through  the  N.  W.  part  of  the  town- 
ship. Pahaquarry  is  the  name  given  to 
a  small  cluster  of  houses,  situate  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  township.  The 
Water  Gap,  by  which  the  Delaware 
flows  through  the  Blue  mountain,  is 
on  the  southwestern  boundary  of  the 
township.  Brotzmanville  is  the  post- 
office.  A  road  has  lately  been  made 
through  the  Gap,  and  partly  cut  out 
of  the  mountain  at  the  expense  of  the 
state.  Before  it  was  made,  even  foot 
passengers  were  unable  to  follow  the 
river  through  the  Gap  on  the  Jersey 
side  without  the  aid  of  rope  ladders 
to  assist  them  over  the  precipitous 
rocks.  The  narrow  margin  above 
the  river,  which  nowhere  exceeds 
the  breadth  of  the  fourth  of  a  mile, 
is  fertile.  Upon  the  Pennsylvania 
side  this  margin  is  wider  and  under- 
laid with  limestone. 

Paint  Island  Spring,  on  the  boun- 
dary between  Upper  and  Lower  Free- 
hold t-ships,  Monmouth  co.,  5  miles 
E.  of  Wrightsville,  and  near  the 
source  of  Toms'  river.  This  is  a 
large  chalybeate  spring  whose  waters 
hold  so  great  a  quantity  of  the  super 
carbonate  of  iron,  blended  with  the 
black  oxyde  of  iron  in  solution,  that 
they  leave  a  very  extensive  deposit  of 


this  mineral.  By  exposure  to  the  air 
an  atom  of  carbonic  acid  escapes, 
the  oxyde  takes  another  atom  of  oxy- 
gen from  the  atmosphere,  and  is  preci- 
pitated in  the  form  of  oxy-carbonat, 
an  insoluble  powder  of  a  yellow  co- 
lour. The  colour  may  be  converted 
into  a  beautiful  brown  by  heating  the 
yellow  ochre  sufficiently  to  expel  its 
carbonic  acid,  leaving  behind  the  se- 
cond oxide  of  iron.  The  heat  of 
boiling  water  is  sufficient  for  this 
purpose ;  and  the  ore  so  changed  has 
most  of  the  properties  of  umber.  A 
manufacture  of  this  paint  has  given 
name  to  the  spring.  It  is  esteemed 
by  the  neighbours  for  medicinal  qua- 
lities, and  pic  nic  parties  are  made 
here  frequently  in  the  summer.  It 
was  also  formerly  known  as  Law- 
rence's spring,  but  is  now,  we  believe, 
the  property  of  Samuel  G.  Wright, 
Esq. 

Pamrepau,  small  scattering  settle- 
ment, in  Bergen  t-ship,  Bergen  co., 
on  New  York  bay,  about  5  miles  be- 
low Jersey  City,  occupied  by  de- 
scendants of  the  original  Dutch  set- 
tlers. 

Panther  Pond,  on  the  N.  W.  of 
By  ram  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  one  of  the 
eastern  sources  of  the  Pcquest  creek. 

Papaking  Creek,  rises  in  Frank- 
ford  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  and  flows, 
N.  E.  by  a  course  of  about  10  miles, 
to  Deep  Clove  creek,  below  Decker- 
town,  Wantage  t-ship ;  giving  motion 
to  several  mills. 

Paramus,  small  hamlet,  on  the 
Saddle  River,  and  on  the  boundary 
of  Harrington  and  Franklin  t-ships, 
Bergen  co.;  contains  a  church,  a  ta- 
vern, a  mill  and  several  dwellings, 
about  7  miles  N.  W.  from  Hacken- 
sack. 

Parcipany,  p-t.  of  Hanover  t-ship, 
on  the  turnpike  road  from  Franklin 
to  Mount  Pleasant,  7  miles  N.  of 
Morristown,  229  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
and  63  from  Trenton,  on  the  Parci- 
pany  -river ;  contains  2  grist  mills,  2 
stores,  2  taverns,  a  Presbyterian,  and 
a  Methodist  church,  an  academy, 
and  from  15  to  20  dwellings.  The 


PAS 


204 


PAS 


soil  around  it,  is  sandy  loam,  well  cul- 
tivated. 

Parcipany  Creek,  rises  by  two 
branches,  in  the  Trowbridge  moun- 
tain, Hanover  t-ship,  Morris  co.;  and 
flows  by  a  S.  E.  course  of  about  8  or 

9  miles,   into   the  Whippany  river, 
about  a  mile  above  its  junction,  with 
the  Rockaway,  giving  motion  to  se- 
veral mills. 

Parvirfs  Run,  Fairfield  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  a  tributary  of  the 
Cohansey  creek,  which  joins  its  re- 
cipient, 2  miles  S.  of  Bridgeton;  no- 
table as  part  of  the  boundary  between 
Deerfield  and  Fairfield  t-ships. 

Parvin's  Branch,  of  Maurice  river, 
rises  in  Millville  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.,  and  flows  eastward  ly  to  the  head 
of  the  Pond,  of  Millville  works. 

Paskack  Brook,  tributary  of  Hack- 
ensack  river,  rises  in  Rockland  co., 
New  York,  and  flows  by  a  course, 
S.  and  S.  E.,  of  about  12  miles,  to 
its  recipient,  in  Harrington  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.,  giving  motion  to  many 
mills. 

Passaic  River.  This  stream  is  en- 
dowed with  a  very  singular  charac- 
ter. Rising  in,  and  flowing  through 
a  mountainous  country,  it  is  the  most 
crooked,  sluggish,  and  longest  of  the 
state;  and  yet  presents  the  two  most 
profound  cataracts,  and  the  greatest 
hydraulic  force.  Its  extreme  source 
is  near  Mendham,  Morris  co.,  where 
its  head  waters  interlock  with  those 
of  the  north  branch  of  the  Raritan  : 
thence  it  flows  a  little  E.  of  S.  about 

10  miles;  in  which  distance,  it  has 
considerable  fall — turns  several  mills, 
and  forms  the  boundary  between  So- 
merset and  Morris  cos.;  thence  turn- 
ed by  Stony  Hill,  of  the  former  co., 
at  the  N.  base  of  which  it  receives 
Dead  river,  it  assumes  a  N.  E.  course, 
by  the  foot  of  Long  Hill,  dividing 
Morris  from  Essex  county.     On  this 
line,  for  20  miles,  it  steals  its  way, 
partly  through  a  narrow  vale,  and 
partly  through  a  broad  valley,  with 
scarce  a  ripple  or  a  murmur  to  indi- 
cate its  course;    and   consequently, 
with   few  mill-works   of  any  kind. 
At  the  S.  W.  point  of  the  Horse-Shoe 


mountain,  it  receives  the  Rockaway 
river,  which  having  had  for  many 
miles,  a  rapid,  spirited,  and  useful 
course,  assumes  the  torpor  of  its  re- 
cipient ;  and  spreads  itself  as  if  seek- 
ing rest,  after  its  hurried  flow  and 
mighty  labours.  Collecting  its  wa- 
ters, the  united  stream  meanders  along 
the  curve  of  the  Horse-Shoe,  about  8 
miles,  when  deflected  by  the  north- 
eastern point,  it  inclines  to  the  Second 
mountain,  still  preserving  its  monoto- 
nous and  sluggish  character.  But, 
in  its  way  through  this  mountain, 
that  character  is  suddenly  changed 
for  high  and  admirable  energy.  By 
two  perpendicular  leaps,  and  a  rocky 
rapid,  it  descends,  at  the  Little  Fall; 
51  feet  in  the  distance  of  a  half  mile, 
into  the  valley  N.  of  the  First  moun- 
tain. The  first  fall  has  comparative- 
ly a  gentle,  and  certainly,  a  very  beau- 
tiful appearance.  It  is  10  feet  deep, 
and  more  than  an  hundred  yards 
broad,  and  has  been  artificially  form- 
ed into  a  broad  angle  opening  down 
the  stream,  over  which  the  whole 
river,  but  now  still  and  lifeless,  as  a 
sea  of  glass,  is  precipitated,  in  two 
broad  and  dense  sheets,  which  are 
shaken  by  the  shock  into  clouds  of 
foam,  and  scarce  recover  their  liquid 
form,  until  they  encounter  the  second 
precipice.  This  has  a  depth  of  16 
feet,  over  which  the  flood,  confined, 
in  ordinary  seasons,  to  a  very  limited 
bed,  pours  in  a  deep  mass,  with  tre- 
mendous force,  covering  itself  with 
a  perpetual  halo  of  spray,  and  then 
hastening  rapidly  away,  beneath 
the  bold  and  lofty  arch  of  the  aque- 
duct of  the  Morris  canal,  as  if  regret- 
ting, and  gladly  seeking,  its  broken 
quiet.  The  aqueduct,  a  beautiful 
piece  of  architecture,  formed  of  cut 
stone,  with  a  span  of  80  feet,  and 
height  of  50  feet,  adds  an  admirable 
feature  to  the  scene;  the  whole  of 
which,  including  the  basaltic  colum- 
nar walls  of  the  ravine,  erected  upon 
their  broad  bases  of  red  sandstone, 
is  best  seen  from  the  rocky  brink  of 
the  river,  which  may  be  descended 
to,  from  either  bank,  but  more  com- 
modiously  from  the  left. 


PAS 


205 


PAT 


Between  the  Little  and  the  Great 
Falls,  a  distance  of  5^  miles,  the  river 
is  broken  by  some  inconsiderable  rip- 
ples, which  afford  sufficient  fall  for 
mills,  but  do  not  much  disturb  the 
placidity  of  its  course ;  but  before  the 
great  leap,  it  is  again  composed  into 
a  steady  calm,  as  if  concentrated  for 
a  new  and  more  vigorous  effort.  Ere 
it  reaches  the  perpendicular  pitch,  it 
rolls  over  the  artificial  dam,  erected 
by  the  Passaic  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  a  low  ledge  of  rocks ;  and 
then  pours  itself  in  one  unbroken  co- 
lumn, 50  feet  in  altitude,  into  a  deep 
and  narrow  chasm,  of  about  60  feet 
in  width;  through  which  it  dashes, 
foams  and  roars,  into  a  broad  and 
still  basin,  which  it  has  excavated  for 
itself.  From  this  it  rushes  impetu- 
ously, by  a  rapid  descent  of  20  feet, 
beneath  the  level  of  Paterson  plain, 
curbed  by  walls  of  trap-rock  and  sand- 
stone, whose  loose  and  disjointed 
character,  has  enabled  the  stream  to 
excavate  its  passage  through  the  deep 
chasm. 

From  Paterson  to  the  port  of  Ac- 
quackanonck,  10  miles,  where  the 
river  meets  the  tide,  its  course  is 
again  sweetly  still ;  and  the  tide  wa- 
ters of  no  river  can  present  a  more 
charming  scene.  The  shore  spread- 
ing like  an  amphitheatre  upon  either 
side,  is  covered  with  verdure,  and 
studded  with  dwellings,  and  other 
monuments  of  successful  industry, 
which  give  it  the  appearance  of  a 
highway,  through  a  thrifty  village; 
whilst  the  clear  and  quiet  waters 
tempt  the  spectator  to  venture  upon 
their  bosom.  Few  rivers  possess 
more  attraction  than  the  Passaic, 
between  Paterson  and  Newark, 
above  the  marshes;  nor  are  the 
charms  of  its  beautiful  scenery  di- 
minished, by  the  sport  which  the 
stream  offers,  to  the  patient  follower 
of  Isaac  Walton,  in  the  finny  tribe 
with  which  it  is  stored.  From  Ac 
quackanonck  to  the  head  of  Newark 
bay,  the  distance  may  be  15  miles 
and  thus  the  whole  course  of  the 
river  is  about  70  miles,  in  passing 
through  which,  it  has  looked  to  every 


quarter   of   the  compass,   save    the 
west. 

Paterson.     This   thriving   manu- 
acturing  town  is  one  of  the  creations 
)f  the  genius  of  Alexander  Hamilton, 
he  true  father  of  the  system  of  do- 
mestic industry,  now  cherished  as  the 
American  system.     In  the  early  part 
of  the  year  1791,  on  the  recommen- 
dation, and  by  the  active  and  influen- 
tial exertions  of  this  distinguished  and 
3atriotic  statesman,  a  number  of  pub- 
ic spirited  individuals  of  New  York, 
New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  asso- 
ciated themselves  for  establishing  use- 
ful manufactures,  by  the  subscription 
of  a  capital  of  more  than  $200,000. 
The  number  of  shares  originally  sub- 
scribed was  5000,  at  8100  the  share; 
but  2267  shares  only,  were  fully  paid 
up.     The  general  object  of  the  com- 
pany was  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a 
great  emporium  of  manufactures  for 
all   articles   not  prohibited   by  law. 
Their  immediate  object  was  the  ma- 
nufacture of  cotton  cloths;  and  the 
attempt  is  highly  characteristic  of  the 
enterprising  spirit  of  our  countrymen. 
At  this  period,  the  improvements  of 
Arkwright     in     cotton     machinery, 
though  perfected,  were  not  very  ex- 
tensively used,  even  in  England,  and 
were  absolutely  unknown  in  all  other 
countries.    In  America  no  cotton  had 
been  spun   by  machinery.     Having 
resolved  to   establish   themselves  in 
New  Jersey,  the  "  contributors"  were 
incorporated   by   the   legislature    on 
22d  Nov.  1791,  by  an  act  authoriz- 
ing a  capital  stock  of  one  million  of 
dollars,  with  the  right  to  acquire  and 
hold  property  to  the  amount  of  four 
millions,  and  the  power  to  improve 
the  navigation  of  the  rivers,  make 
canals  for  the  trade  with  the  princi- 
pal site  of  their  works,  and  to  raise 
by  way  of  lottery,  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.     The  act 
of  incorporation,  which  was  drawn, 
or  revised  by  Mr.  Hamilton,  also  gave 
a  city  charter,  with  jurisdiction  over 
a  tract  of  six  square  miles. 

The  society  was  organized  at  New 
Brunswick,  on  the  last  Monday  of 
November,  1791,  by  the  choice  of  its 


PAT 


206 


PAT 


first  board  of  directors,  composed  of 
William  Duer,  John  Dewhurst,  Ben- 
jamin Walker,  Nicholas  Low,  Royal 
Flint,  Elisha  Boudinot,  John  Bayard, 
John  Neilson,  Archibald  Mercer, 
Thomas  Lowring,  George  Lewis, 
More  Furman,  and  Alex.  M'Comb. 
William  Duer  was  chosen  the  first 
governor  of  the  company.  We  give 
these  names,  because  they  are  illus- 
trated by  the  present  flourishing  con- 
dition of  the  society,  the  result  of 
their  labours. 

Mr.  Hamilton,  who  was  not  a  stock- 
holder of  the  company,  and  whose 
disinterested  exertions  in  its  behalf, 
were  prompted  by  higher  motives 
than  pecuniary  gratification,  had, 
previously  to  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion, at  the  request  of  the  company, 
engaged  English  and  Scotch  artizans 
and  manufacturers  of  cotton  machine- 
ry and  cotton  goods,  to  establish  their 
business  here.  After  its  organiza- 
tion, the  society  advertised  their  de- 
sire to  purchase  a  suitable  site  for 
their  city,  with  the  requisite  water 
power,  in  any  part  of  New  Jersey. 
They  received  proposals  from  the 
West  Jersey  Associates,  from  South 
River,  Perth  Amboy,  Millstone,  Bull's 
Falls,  the  Little  Falls  of  the  Passaic, 
and  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  Great 
Falls  of  that  river;  and  in  May,  1792, 
they  selected,  with  admirable  judg- 
ment, the  last  place,as  the  principal  site 
of  their  proposed  operations ;  giving  to 
their  town  the  name  of  Paterson,  after 
governor  William  Paterson,  who  had 
signed  their  charter.  At  this  period 
there  were  not  more  than  ten  nouses 
here. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  directors,  at  the 
Godwin  hotel,  on  the  4th  July,  1792, 
appropriations  were  made  for  build- 
ing factories,  machine  shops,  and 
shops  for  calico  printing  and  weav- 
ing ;  and  a  race-way  was  directed  to 
be  made,  for  bringing  the  water  from 
above  the  falls  to  the  proposed  mills. 
Unfortunately,  the  direction  of  these 
works  was  given  to  Major  L'Enfan, 
a  French  engineer,  not  more  cele- 
brated for  the  grandeur  of  his  con- 
ceptions, than  his  recklessness  of 


expense ;  and  whose  magnificent  pro- 
jects commonly  perished  in  the  waste 
of  means  provided  for  their  attain- 
ment. He  immediately  commenced 
the  race-way  and  canal,  designing  to 
unite  the  Upper  Passaic  with  the 
Lower,  at  the  head  of  tide,  near  the 
present  village  of  Acquackanonck,  by 
a  plan  better  adapted  to  the  resources 
of  a  great  empire  than  to  those  of  a 
private  company. 

In  January,  1793,  Peter  Colt,  Esq. 
of  Hartford,  then  comptroller  of  the 
state  of  Connecticut,  was  appointed 
"  general  superintendent  of  the  affairs 
of  the  company,  with  full  powers  to 
manage  the  concerns  of  the  society, 
as  if  they  were  his  own  individual 
property,"  Major  L'Enfan  being  re- 
tained, however,  as  engineer ;  but  he, 
after  having  spent,  uselessly,  a  large 
sum  of  money,  resigned  his  office  in 
the  following  September.  Mr.  Colt, 
thus  in  sole  charge  of  the  works, 
completed  the  race-way,  conducting 
the  water  to  the  first  factory  erected 
by  the  society.  The  canal  to  tide 
water,  had  been  abandoned  before 
the  departure  of  the  engineer. 

The  factory,  90  feet  long  by  40 
wide,  and  4  stories  high,  was  finish- 
ed in  1794,  when  cotton  yarn  was 
spun  in  the  mill ;  but  yarn  had  been 
spun  in  the  preceding  year,  by  ma- 
chinery moved  by  oxen.  In  1794, 
also,  calico  shawls  and  other  cotton 
goods  were  printed;  the  bleached 
and  unbleached  muslins  being  pur- 
chased in  New  York.  In  the  same 
year  the  society  gave  their  attention 
to  the  culture  of  the  silk  worm,  and 
directed  the  superintendent  to  plant 
the  mulberry  tree  for  this  purpose. 
In  April  of  this  year,  also,  the  socie- 
ty, at  the  instance  of  Mr.  Colt,  em- 
ployed a  teacher  to  instruct,  gratui- 
tously, on  the  Sabbath,  the  children 
mployed  in  the  factory,  and  others. 
This  was  probably  the  first  Sunday 
school  established  in  New  Jersey. 

Notwithstanding  their  untoward 
commencement,  and  the  many  dis- 
couragements attending  their  pro- 
gress, the  directors  persevered  in 
their  enterprise ;  and  during  the  years 


PAT 


207 


PAT 


1795,  and  1796,  much  yarn  of  va- 
rious sizes  was  spun,  and  several  spe- 
cies of  cotton  fabrics  were  made. 
But,  at  length  satisfied  that  it  was 
hopeless  to  contend,  successfully, 
longer  with  an  adverse  current,  they 
resolved,  July,  1796,  to  abandon  the 
manufacture,  and  discharged  their 
workmen.  This  result  was  produced 
by  a  combination  of  causes.  Nearly 
$50,000  had  been  lost,  by  the  failure 
of  the  parties  to  certain  bills  of  ex- 
change purchased  by  the  company, 
to  buy  in  England  plain  cloths  for 
printing ;  large  sums  had  been  wasted 
by  the  engineer ;  and  the  machinists 
and  manufacturers  imported,  were 
presumptuous,  and  ignorant  of  many 
branches  of  the  business  they  en- 
gaged to  conduct ;  and  more  than  all, 
the  whole  attempt  was  premature. 
No  pioneer  had  led  the  way,  and  no 
experience  existed  in  the  country,  re- 
lative to  any  subject  of  the  enter- 
prise. Beside,  had  the  country  been 
in  a  measure  prepared  for  manufac- 
tures, the  acquisition  of  the  carrying 
trade,  which  our  merchants  were 
then  making,  was  turning  public  en- 
terprise into  other  channels.  The 
ruin  of  the  company  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, cannot  now  be  cause  of 
astonishment.  But  to  this  catas- 
trophe the  children  of  Mr.  Colt,  now 
deeply  interested  in  the  operations  of 
the  company,  have  the  just  and  proud 
satisfaction  to  know,  that  their  parent 
was  in  no  way  auxiliary.  On  clos- 
ing their  concerns,  the  directors  una- 
nimously returned  him  their  thanks 
"  for  his  industry,  care  and  prudence, 
in  the  management  of  their  affairs, 
since  he  had  been  employed  in  their 
service;  fully  sensible  that  the  fail- 
ure of  the  objects  of  the  society  was 
from  causes  not  in  his  power,  or  that 
of  any  other  man,  to  prevent." 

The  cotton  mill  of  the  company 
was  subsequently  leased  to  individu- 
als, who  continued  to  spin  candle 
wick  and  coarse  yarn  until  1807, 
when  it  was  accidentally  burned 
down,  and  was  never  rebuilt.  The 
admirable  water-power  of  the  com- 
pany, was  not  however  wholly  unem- 


ployed. In  1801,  a  mill  seat  was 
leased  to  Mr.  Charles  Kinsey,  and 
Israel  Crane;  in  1807,  a  second,  and 
1811,  a  third,  to  other  persons;  and 
between  1812,  and  1814,  several 
others  were  sold  or  leased.  In  1814, 
Mr.  Roswell  L.  Colt,  the  present  en- 
terprising governor  of  the  society, 
purchased,  at  a  depreciated  price,  a 
large  proportion  of  the  shares,  and 
reanimated  the  association.  From 
this  period,  the  growth  of  Paterson 
has  been  steady,  except  during  the  3 
or  4  years  which  followed  the  peace 
of  1815. 

The  advantages  derivable  from  the 
great  fall  in  the  river  here,  have:  been 
improved  with  much  judgment.  A 
dam  of  4^  feet  high,  strongly  framed 
and  bolted  to  the  rock  in  the  bed  of 
the  river  above  the  falls,  turns  the 
stream  through  a  canal  excavated  in 
the  trap  rock  of  the  bank,  into  a 
basin ;  whence,  through  strong  guard- 
gates,  it  supplies  in  succession  three 
canals  on  separate  planes,  each  below 
the  other ;  giving  to  the  mills  on  each, 
a  head  and  fall  of  about  22  feet.  By 
means  of  the  guard-gate,  the  volume 
of  water  is  regulated  at  pleasure,  and 
a  uniform  height  preserved ;  avoiding 
the  inconvenience  of  back-water.  The 
expense  of  maintaining  the  dam,  ca- 
nals, and  main  sluice-gates,  and  of 
regulating  the  water,  is  borne  by  the 
company;  who  have  expended,  in 
raising  the  main  embankment,  and 
constructing  the  feeder  from  the  river 
and  new  upper  canal,  and  for  works 
to  supply  water  to  the  third  tier  of 
mills,  the  sum  of  $40,000. 

The  advantages  which  Paterson 
possesses  for  a  manufacturing  town, 
are  obvious.  An  abundant  and  stea- 
dy supply  of  water ;  a  healthy,  plea- 
sant, and  fruitful  country,  supplying 
its  markets  fully  with  excellent  meats 
and  vegetables — Its  proximity  to  New 
York,  where  it  obtains  the  raw  mate- 
rial, and  sale  for  manufactured  goods  ; 
and  with  which  it  is  connected  by 
the  sloop  navigation  of  the  Passaic, 
by  the  Morris  canal,  by  a  turnpike- 
road,  and  by  a  rail-road,  render  it 
one  of  the  most  desirable  sites  in  the 


PAT 


208 


PAT 


Union.  The  transportation  of  mer- 
chandise to  and  from  New  York,  has 
heretofore  cost  from  two,  to  two 
and  a  half  dollars  the  ton ;  but  will 
be  reduced  on  the  rail-road  to  one 
dollar. 

A  water-power,  consisting  of  as 
much  water  as  may  be  drawn 
through  an  aperture  one  foot  square, 
or  of  144  square  inches,  with  a  lot 
for  buildings,  having  100  feet  on  the 
front  and  rear,  was  let  in  the  first  in- 
stance at  a  rent  of  $75  per  annum ; 
in  the  second,  at  $100 ;  in  the  third, 
at  $160  ;  and  the  price  has  been  ad- 
vanced from  time  to  time,  to  $200, 
$250,  $300,  $400,  and  $500  rent, 
per  annum.  At  present,  the  terms 
of  the  company  for  such  power  and 
lot,  are — rent  of  $500  per  annum, 
on  a  lease  of  21  years;  renewable 
every  21  years  at  the  same  rent, 
on  the  payment  of  a  fine  of  $500,  or 
an  absolute  right  in  fee  simple  for  the 
sum  of  $10,000.  Lots  for  dwellings, 
&c.,  may  be  obtained  at  from  $150, 
to  $1000  each.  In  good  situations, 
the  ordinary  price  is  about  5  or  6 
hundred  dollars  for  25  feet  in  front, 
by  100  in  depth. 

The  city  of  Paterson  is  incorpo- 
rated pursuant  to  26th  and  27th  sec- 
tions of  the  act  of  22d  November, 
1791,  and  the  plot,  lies  partly  in  the 
county  of  Bergen,  and  partly  in  the 
county  of  Essex,  on  both  sides  of  the 
river,  and  covers  36  square  miles,  and 
is  governed  by  a  mayor,  recorder, 
common  council,  &c.  It  is  15  miles 
N.  from  Newark,  and  18  N.  W.  from 
New  York,  61  N.  E.  from  Trenton, 
91  from  Philadelphia,  and  227  from 
W.  C.  The  following  statistics  of 
the  town  are  derived  from  a  very  va- 
luable memoir  prepared  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Fisher,  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church  there,  in  1832.  The 
number  of  dwellings  are  765,  stores, 
&c.  76,  families  1586,  consisting  of 
4515  males,  and  4570  females,  of 
whom  3949  were  under  16  years  of 
age,  and  250  were  coloured  jXTsons. 
During  the  year  ending  4th  July, 
1832,  the  number  of  births  was  321, 
and  of  deaths  170;  excess  of  births 


151.  This  population  is  divided  into 
14  religious  denominations,  strongly 
illustrating  the  diversity  of  religious 
opinion  in  thickly  settled  districts  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  harmony 
which  may  prevail  among  the  wor- 
shippers of  the  Deity,  where  lust  of 
temporal  dominion  cannot  be  grati- 
fied. There  were  here  of  heads  of 
families,  Presbyterians  384,  Reform- 
ed Dutch  323,  Roman  Catholics  288, 
Methodists  269,  Episcopalians  149, 
Baptists  86,  Reformed  Presbyterians 
35,  Dutch  Seceders  6,  Lutherans  6, 
Friends  2,  Christian  Baptist  1,  Uni- 
versalists  2,  Unitarians  2,  Deists  4; 
and  there  were  1 1  persons  who  either 
professed  no  religion,  or  whose  senti- 
ments were  unknown.  There  are  9 
houses  for  religious  worship,  viz: 
Presbyterian  1,  Reformed  Dutch  2, 
Roman  Catholic  1 ,  Methodist  1 ,  Epis- 
copal 1,  Reformed  Presbyterian  1, 
Baptist  1,  True  Reformed  Dutch  1; 
the  eight  first  of  which  had,  each,  its 
settled  minister.  The  provision  for 
education  in  the  town,  consisted  of 
20  pay  schools,  13  for  males  and  7 
for  females,  having  scholars  384 ;  a 
free  school  supported  by  the  town  for 
poor  children,  having  188  pupils;  an 
infant  school  under  the  direction  and 
patronage  of  a  society  of  ladies,  se- 
lected from  the  different  religious  de- 
nominations, in  which  poor  children 
between  the  ages  of  3  and  8  years, 
are  gratuitously  instructed,  without 
regard  to  the  religious  professions  of 
their  parents.  At  this  school,  there 
was  173  pupils,  making  the  whole 
number  of  children  thus  instructed, 
weekly,  1 1 95.  Seven  Sabbath  schools 
taught  1531  scholars,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  whom  attended  no  other 
schools. 

There  is  here  also,  a  philosophical 
society  composed  of  young  gentle- 
men, who  have  associated  for  litera- 
ry improvement,  and  ha.ve  collected 
a"  respectable  library ;  and  a  mecha- 
nics' society,  incorporated  by  the  le- 
gislature, for  advancement  in  science 
and  the  mechanic  arts,  which  has  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  library  and  a  col- 
lection of  philosophical  apparatus. 


PAT 


209 


PAT 


In  1832  the  town  contained  163 
widows,  in  whose  families  there  were 
834  souls,  the  greater  portion  of 
whom,  now  maintained  by  the  ma- 
nufacturing establishments,  would, 
otherwise,  have  been  dependant  upon 
public  or  private  charity,  for  sup- 
port. 

There  were,  at  this  time,  12  black- 
smiths, besides  those  immediately 
connected  with  the  machine  shops — 
in  these  22  fires,  and  37  hands  are 
employed;  34  shoemakers,  employ- 
ing 183  hands;  13  tailors  and  tailor- 
esses,  employing  70  hands;  9  milli- 
ners, employing  34  hands ;  3  book- 
stores; 1  bindery;  1  circulating  li- 
brary, of  1300  volumes;  1  incorpo- 
rated library  company,  with  a  libra- 
ry of  250  volumes ;  1  bank,  viz. 
"  The  People's  Bank  of  Paterson"— 
Alex.  Carrick,  president,  and  James 
Nazro,  cashier;  10  physicians;  6  li- 
censed attorneys ;  2  commissioners ; 

3  masters  in  chancery,  and  5  nota- 
ries ;  3  judges  of  the  county  courts, 
and  10  justices  of  the  peace;  2  print- 
ing offices,  from  which  are  issued  2 
weekly  papers,  viz.  the   "  Paterson 
Intelligencer,"  printed  by  David  Bur- 
nett, the  proprietor,  and  published  on 
Wednesday ;  and  the  "  Paterson  Cou- 
rier," printed  by  A.  S.  Gould,  the 
proprietor,  and  published  on   Tues- 
day :  1  post-office,  Moses  E.  De  Witt, 
post-master;  10  licensed  taverns;  40 
grocery  and  provision  stores ;  and  51 
grogshops,  where  little  else  but  ardent 
spirits  is  sold ;  1  dry  good,  hardware, 
crockery,  and  grocery  store ;  2  dry 
good  and  crockery  stores;  14  fancy 
dry  good  stores ;  2  hardware  stores  ; 
1  fancy  chair  store;    I  fancy  chair 
and  looking-glass  store;  1  apotheca- 
ry and  paint  store,  and  4  medicine 
stores ;  5  shoe  stores ;  1  corset,  mil- 
linery, and  fancy  store ;  2  hat  stores, 
and  1  hatter,  employing  4  hands ;  1 
poor-house,    21    paupers ;   2  brewe- 
ries; 1  file  cutter;  1  girth  manufac- 
turer, and  4  looms;  1  reed  maker; 

4  bakeries ;  2  carpet  weavers ;  1  ma- 
nufactory of  fine  ingrained  carpets, 
employing  7  looms  and  12  hands;  1 
gun  and  locksmith,  &c. ;  2  coopers, 

2  D 


employing  11  hands;  1  sizing  esta- 
blishment; 3  dyeing  establishments, 
separate  from  the  factories,  and  8 
hands;  1  umbrellamaker ;  1  chair 
bottomer;  several  heddlemakers ;  2 
tobacconists,  9  hands;  2  watchma- 
kers, jewellers  and  silversmiths ;  4 
cabinetmakers,  35  hands;  1  candle 
and  2  soap  factories;  2  barbers;  3 
lottery  offices ;  1  tanner  and  currier, 
33  vats  and  9  hands ;  3  hay  scales, 
Bull's  patent;  4  painters  and  gla- 
ziers, 22  hands ;  1  Masonic  hall ;  1 
auction  mart ;  1  counterpane  weaver ; 
1  marble  yard,  6  hands;  1  freestone 
yard,  5  hands;  7  slaughter-houses, 
and  9  butchers ;  4  livery  stables ;  7 
wheelwrights  and  1 9  hands ;  2  sad- 
dle and  harnessmakcrs,  and  trimmers, 
10  hands;  8  confectionery  and  toy 
shops ;  2  copper,  tin,  and  sheet  iron 
manufactories,  and  24  hands ;  2  large 
and  commodious  market-houses,  and 
the  market  is  well  supplied  with  meat, 
fish,  and  vegetables  of  the  various 
kinds ;  1  museum,  fitted  up  with  taste ; 

1  hoe  factory,  4  hands ;  1  sashmaker, 

2  hands ;  4  public  engines  for  extin- 
guishing fires,  and  7  private  ones — 
2  moveable  and  5  attached  to  the  fac- 
tories ;  1 5  master  carpenters,  employ- 
ing 122    hands;    8  master  masons, 
employing  174  hands;  1  public  dis- 
pensary, incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature. 

Paterson  contains  1  saw  mill,  with 
2  saw  carriages  and  2  saws ;  1  grist 
mill,  with  2  run  of  stones ;  4  turning 
and  bobbin  factories,  employing  43 
hands;  2  bleaching  establishments, 
employing  18  hands;  5  millwright 
establishments,  employing  59  hands  ; 
1  manufactory  of  cotton  wadding, 
where  wadding  of  a  superior  quality 
is  manufactured ;  4  machine  factories, 
employing  404  hands.  In  the  last  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  and  other  ma- 
chinery is  brought  to  a  high  state  of 
perfection.  In  that  of  Messrs.  Plun- 
ket  and  Thompson,  are  employed  be- 
tween 60  and  70  hands,  and  being 
recently  established,  it  contains  the 
latest  improvements  in  their  art,  and 
produces  machinery  of  superior  qua- 
lity. 


PAT 


210 


PAT 


Attached  to  the  works  of  Godwin, 
Clark,  and  Co.,  and  of  Rogers,  Ket- 
chum,and  Grosvenor,  are  two  exten- 
sive brass  and  iron  founderies,  where 
mill  shafts,  wheels,  and  the  various 
parts  of  cotton  machinery,  &c.  are 
cast :  20  manufactories  of  cotton  ;  in 
these  are  40,501  spindles  in  opera- 
tion; they  employ  1646  hands,  and 
use  annually  3,360,272  Ibs.  of  raw 
cotton. 

The  Phenix  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, in  addition  to  their  cotton  esta- 
blishment, have  1616  spindles,  em- 
ployed in  spinning  flax ;  the  flax  an- 
nually consumed  is  493,000  Ibs.,  giv- 
ing employment  to  1 96  hands.  This 
flax  is  manufactured  into  duck  and 
bagging. 

In  the  cotton  establishment  of  John 
Colt,  Esq.  were  manufactured  in 
1831,  460,000  yards  of  cotton  duck: 
A  sattinet  factory,  with  a  dyeing  esta- 
blishment annexed,  employs  1322 
spindles,  75  hands,  23  power  looms, 
and  13  hand  looms;  consuming,  an- 
nually, 105,000  Ibs.  of  wool. 

The  power  looms  in  operation  in 
all  the  factories  were  311,  hand  looms 
14.  In  the  village  and  out  of  the  fac- 
tories, there  were  only  50  hand 
looms. 

Total  number  of  power  and  hand 
looms  374.  Total  spindles  43,439. 
Total  cotton,  wool,  and  flax  annually 
consumed  is  3,958,272  Ibs.  Total 
hands  employed  in  all  the  establish- 
ments 2543:  a  large  proportion  of 
whom  are  children. 

A  button  factory,  employing  28 
hands.  In  this  factory  are  made  steel 
buttons,  clasps,  ornaments,  and  a  va- 
riety of  other  articles  of  iron  and 
steel:  A  gilt  button  manufactory, 
employing  20  hands,  and  manufac- 
turing at  the  rate  9000  groce  of  but- 
tons a  year.  The  average  price  of 
these  buttons  is  about  $4  50  a  groce. 
Annual  produce  $40,000.  The  but- 
tons manufactured  at  this  establish- 
ment, as  it  respects  perfection  of 
workmanship  and  elegance  of  finish, 
in  the  opinion  of  competent  judges, 
are  not  surpassed  by  any  gilt  buttons 
imported  from  Europe. 


The  large  four  story  brick  factory 
of  Rogers,  Ketchum,  and  Grosvenor, 
besides  the  room  occupied  by  the 
machinists,  is  capable  of  containing 
5000  cotton  spindles,  with  the  ma- 
chines for  preparation. 

One  large  three  storied  paper  mill. 

In  the  establishment  of  Messrs. 
Collet  and  Smith,  were  manufactured 
in  1831,  900  pieces  of  nankeen,  of  a 
superior  quality,  from  nankeen  cot- 
ton, raised  by  Governor  Forsyth  of 
Georgia. 

That  part  of  the  village  of  Pater- 
son,  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Passaic  river,  usually  called  New 
Manchester,  had 

dwellings,  families,  souls. 
In  1824,       31  48        289 

1827,       66        115        625 
1829,       89        154        852 
1832,     114        217      1214 
In  the  whole  village  of  Paterson,  in 
1824,  there  were, 

814  families,  &  4787  souls. 
In  1825,    849     do.  5084  do. 

1827, 1046     do.  6236  do. 

1829, 1220     do.  7033  do. 

1832,1568     do.  9085  do. 

The  spindles  in  operation  in  1825, 
were  19,036;   in  1827,  25,998;    in 
1829,  30,295;  and  in  1832,  43,439. 
The   raw  material    consumed   in 
1827,  was, 

Cotton,  1,843,100  Ibs. 
Flax,         620,000 


Total,     2,463,1 00  Ibs. 


In  1829,  Cotton,  2,179,600  Ibs. 
Flax,         600,000 


Total,    2,779,600  Ibs. 


In  1832,  Cotton,  3,360,272  Ibs. 
Flax,         493,000 
Wool,        105,000 


Total,     3,958,272  Ibs. 


In  consequence  of  the  great  im- 
provement in  cotton  machinery,  yarn 
of  a  much  finer  thread  is  spun ;  con- 
sequently, the  consumption  of  the 


PAU 


211 


PEN 


raw  material  has  not  increased  in 
proportion  to  the  increased  number 
of  spindles. 

In  1827,  there  were  employed  in 
all  the  manufacturing  establishments, 
1453  hands,  and  the  annual  amount 
of  wages  paid  to  them,  as  ascertained 
from  the  pay  lists  of  the  manufac- 
turers, was  $221,123.  In  1829, 
there  were  employed,  1879  hands; 
annual  wages,  $285,453;  in  1832, 
there  were  employed,  2543  hands; 
annual  amount  of  wages,  $367,003. 

The  salutary  influence  of  this  thriv- 
ing town,  is  sensibly  felt  throughout 
the  whole  ,of  the  N.  E.  section  of  the 
state.  The  agriculturist  has  parti- 
cipated, in  no  small  degree,  in  its 
prosperity.  His  lands  have  greatly 
increased  in  marketable  value,  and 
his  physical  and  moral  condition  has 
been  in  all  respects  improved.  If  wise, 
he  will  maintain  this  source  of  pre- 
sent enjoyment  to  himself,  and  of  fu- 
ture happiness  to  his  posterity,  with 
a  zeal  becoming  its  value. 

Pattenbury,  small  village  of  Beth- 
lehem t-ship,  at  the  S.  foot  of  Mus- 
conetcong  mountain,  on  Alberson's 
brook,  12  miles  N.  W.  of  Fleming- 
ton,  Hunterdon  county,  contains  a 
gristmill,  a  store,  6  dwellings.  Soil, 
red  shale,  through  or  near  which  a 
vein  of  limestone  probably  passes. 

Paulinskill,  creek  of  Sussex  and 
Warren  counties,  which  rises  by 
two  branches ;  the  easterly  one  from 
a  pond  on  the  south  of  Pimple  hill, 
in  Hardiston  t-ship,  and  flowing 
thence  N.  W.,  through  Newton  town- 
ship, into  Frankford  township ;  the 
westerly  one,  from  Long  and  Cul- 
ver's ponds,  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue 
mountain,  in  Frankford,  in  which, 
township  the  branches  unite  near  the 
town  of  Augusta,  and  flow  thence  by 
a  south-west  course  of  22  or  23  miles, 
to  the  Delaware  river :  the  whole 
length  of  the  stream,  by  its  eastern 
branch,  may  be  35  miles.  It  gives 
motion  to  many  mills,  and  flows 
through  a  very  fertile  country  of  lime 
and  slate  formations,  separating  them 
for  a  considerable  part  of  its  course. 

Paulsboro\    town  of  Greenwich 


t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  near  Mantua 
creek,  4  miles  W.  of  Woodbury; 
contains  a  tavern,  store,  10  or  12 
dwellings,  and  a  Methodist  church. 

Paxtorfs  Island,  in  the  Delaware 
river,  Amwell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co. 

Pectis  Beach,  on  the  coast  of  the 
Atlantic  ocean,  in  Upper  t-ship,  Cape 
May  co.,  extends  about  10  miles, 
from  Corson's  to  Egg  Harbour  inlet. 

Pedricktown,  p-t.  of  Upper  Penn's 
Creek  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  lying  on 
Oldman's  creek,  about  8  or  9  miles 
from  its  mouth  ;  contains  between  20 
and  30  dwellings,  1  Friends'  meeting 
house,  1  tavern,  2  stores,  1  school; 
and  is  inhabited  by  agriculturists  and 
mechanics.  The  soil  around  it  is 
a  sandy  loam  and  well  cultivated,  by 
means  of  the  marl  found  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. The  Palma  Christi,  or 
castor  bean,  is  extensively  produced 
here,  and  about  1500  galls,  of  oil 
manufactured  annually.  The  town 
is  distant,  16  miles  N.  E.  from  W. 
C. ;  54  S.  from  Trenton,  and  14  or 
15  N.  from  Salem. 

Pemberton,  or  New  Mills,  p-t.  of 
Northampton  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
on  the  north  branch  of  the  Rancocus 
creek,  6  miles  above  Mount  Holly, 
13  from  Burlington,  27  from  Tren- 
ton, and  162  from  W.  C. ;  contains 
a  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  fulling  mill,  a 
cotton  manufactory,  a  cupola  fur- 
nace, 1  Methodist  and  1  Baptist 
church,  a  school  house,  2  taverns,  5 
stores,  and  about  100  dwellings. 
This  is  a  thriving  town,  growing 
rapidly  by  reason  of  its  manufac- 
tures. 

Pennington,  p-t.  of  Hopewell  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.  Centrally  situated, 
8  miles  N.  of  Trenton;  174  from 
W.  C.,  and  15  S.  from  Flemington; 
in  a  level  country  of  red  shale,  fer- 
tile and  well  cultivated;  contains  1 
Methodist  and  1  Presbyterian  church, 
both  good  buildings  of  brick,  the  lat- 
ter having  a  cupola  and  bell,  3  ta- 
verns, as  many  stores,  and  about 
30  dwellings,  a  public  library  and  an 
academy.  This  is  a  very  neat  and 
pleasant  village,  surrounded  by  weal- 
thy and  liberal  farmers. 


PEN 


212 


PEN 


Penn's  Grove,  small  hamlet  and 
ferry,  on  the  Delaware  river,  in 
Upper  Perm's  Neck  t-ship,  Salem  co., 
distant  about  15  miles  N.  of  Salem; 
there  are  here  6  or  8  dwellings,  a 
tavern  and  store.  The  Wilmington 
and  Philadelphia  steam  boat  touches 
here  daily,  to  receive  and  land  pas- 
sengers, and  a  4  horse  stage  runs 
daily  between  the  ferry  and  the  town 
of  Salem. 

Penn's  Neck,  (see  Williamsburg,) 
lies  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  Stony 
Brook  and  Millstone  river,  West 
Windsor  township,  Middlesex  county, 
about  a  mile  S.  E.  of  Princeton. 

Perm's  Neck,  Lower,  t-ship,  of 
Salem  co,  bounded  N.  by  Upper 
Penn's  Neck ;  E.  and  S.  E.  by  Salem 
river,  which  divides  it  from  Man- 
nington ;  and  S.  W.  and  W.  by  the 
river  Delaware.  Centrally  distant, 
N.  W.  of  Salem,  5  miles ;  greatest 
length,  9;  breadth,  6  miles;  area, 
12,645  acres;  surface,  level;  soil, 
partly  rich  clay  loam,  partly  sandy 
loam,  and  partly  excellent  marsh 
meadow.  Products,  wheat,  rye,  corn 
and  vegetables  for  market.  Popula- 
tion in  '1830,  994.  In  1832,  the 
township  contained  228  taxables; 
73  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  $30  in  value ;  4  school 
houses,  an  Episcopal,  a  Presbyterian 
and  a  Methodist  church,  2  taverns, 
2  stores,  2  fisheries ;  and  it  paid  town- 
ship tax,  8300 ;  county  tax,  $722  76 ; 
state  tax,  $226  50. 

A  canal,  of  two  miles  in  length, 
near  the  northern  boundary,  cut 
through  a  dead  level,  unites  the  Sa- 
lem river  with  the  Delaware  at  about 
12  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  for- 
mer, saving  to  vessels  from  this  point, 
a  circular  navigation  of  25  miles. 
Kinseyville  is  a  small  village  on  the 
Delaware,  at  which  there  is  a  ferry. 

Penn's  Neck,  Upper,  t-ship,  Sa- 
lem co.,  bounded  N.  and  E.  by  Wool- 
wich t-ship,  Gloucester  co. ;  S.  E. 
by  Piles  Grove  t-ship,  Salem  co. ;  S. 
by  Mannington  t-ship;  S.  W.  by 
Lower  Penn's  Neck ;  and  W.  by  the 
river  Delaware.  Centrally  distant 
from  Salem,  10;  greatest  length,  9; 


breadth,  7£  miles ;  surface  level ; 
soil  light  sandy  loam;  generally  cul- 
tivated with  rye  and  Indian  corn; 
area,  21,053  acres.  There  are,  in 
the  township,  1  Friends'  and  1  Me- 
thodist meeting,  5  schools,  5  taverns, 
6  stores,  1  grist  and  1  saw  mill,  1 
ferry,  1  distillery.  In  1832,  there 
were  340  horses  and  mules,  and  900 
neat  cattle,  over  three  years  of  age ; 
117  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  $30 ;  330  taxable  inha- 
bitants. In  1830,  the  population  by 
census,  was  1638.  In  1832,  the 
township  paid  township  tax,  $400; 
county  tax,  $738  20;  state  tax, 
$230  75. 

A  valuable  bed  of  shell  marl  lies  in 
the  township,  near  Pcdricktown ;  the 
extent  of  which  has  not  yet  been  ex- 
plored. Large  quantities  have  been 
dug  and  used  with*  great  advantage 
in  this  and  the  neighbouring  town- 
ships. It  is  found  most  useful  on  the 
light  and  sandy  soils,  in  the  culture 
of  grass  and  grain,  when  applied  in 
quantities  of  10  or  12  two  horse  wa- 
gon loads  to  the  acre.  In  opening 
the  pits  a  bed  of  oyster  and  other 
shells,  at  irregular  distances  from  the 
surface,  from  three  to  twenty  feet, 
presents  itself.  This  bed  is  about 
three  feet  thick.  Beneath  it  is  a  mass 
of  undiscovered  depth,  composed  of 
black  earth  and  shells,  known  as  gun- 
powder marl,  but  it  is  not  in  as  much 
repute  as  the  stratum  of  shells. 
These  shells,  when  exposed  to  the 
air,  disintegrate  rapidly.  The  marl 
is  sold  at  about  50  cts.  the  wagon 
load.  More  than  an  acre  of  this  bed 
has  been  already  excavated. 

Pennypot,  name  of  a  small  tribu- 
tary of  the  Great  Egg  Harbour  river, 
and  also  of  a  tavern  and  mill,  near 
the  junction  of  Hospitality  branch, 
with  the  main  stream,  in  Hamilton 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co. 

Pensaukin  Creek,  rises  by  two 
branches,  one  in  the  N.  part  of  Eves- 
ham  t-ship,  and  the  other  on  the  line 
between  that  t-ship,  in  Burlington  co., 
and  Waterford  t-ship,  of  Gloucester 
co.,  uniting  about  four  miles  above 
the  mouth,  and  flowing  into  the  De- 


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213 


PEQ 


laware,  three  miles  above  Petty's 
island.  It  is  a  mill  stream,  naviga- 
ble for  5  or  6  miles,  and  forms  part 
of  the  boundary  line  between  Bur- 
lington and  Gloucester  counties. 

Pepack  Creek,  mill  stream,  and 
tributary  of  the  N.  branch  of  the  Ra- 
ritan ;  rises  in  Chester  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  and  flows  to  its  recipient,  by  a 
southerly  course  of  about  7  miles,  in 
Bedminster  t-ship,  Somerset  co. 

Pepack,  p-t.,  of  Bedminster  t-ship, 
Somerset  co.,  11  miles  N.  W.  from 
Somerville,  212  from  W.  C.,  and  46 
from  Trenton;  contains  a  tavern, 
store,  grist  mill,  and  some  10  or  12 
dwellings,  in  a  fertile  limestone  coun- 
try. 

Pequannock,  t-ship,  Morris  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  the  Pequannock 
creek,  which  separates  it  from  Pomp- 
ton  t-ship,  Bergen  co.;  E.  by  Pomp- 
ton  river,  dividing  it  from  Saddle  river 
t-ship,  of  the  same  co. ;  S.  E.  by 
Caldwell  t-ship,  Essex  co. ;  S.  by 
Hanover  and  Randolph  t-ships,  and 
W.  by  Jefferson  t-ship.  Centrally  dis- 
tant, N.  from  Morristown,  10  miles. 
Greatest  length,  E.  and  W.  16, 
breadth,  11  miles;  area,  74,000 
acres.  The  surface  of  the  t-ship  is 
hilly,  being  covered  with  mountain 
ridges  and  knolls.  On  the  northern 
boundary,  is  Green  Pond  mountain, 
girding  a  narrow  valley,  through 
which  flows  the  Burnt  Meadow  branch 
of  the  Rockaway  river,  and  bounded 
southward,  by  Mount  Hope,  and  Cop 
peras  mountain.  Between  these  and 
the  next  ridge,  is  a  wider  valley,  drain 
ed  by  the  Beaver  Branch  of  the  same 
river,  and  south  of  this,  innominate 
knolls  and  ridges  make  valleys, 
through  which  run  minor  tributaries 
of  the  river.  The  soil  of  the  t-ship 
is  generally  loam  and  clay,  but  grey 
limestone  is  found  in  the  valley,  S.  of 
Copperas  mountain,  and  probably  in 
other  places.  Iron  abounds  in  the 
hills  in  the  N.  W.,  and  is  of  excellent 
quality,  from  which  many  iron  work* 
in  the  neighbourhood  are  supplied. 
From  the  sulphate  of  iron  in  the  Cop- 
peras mountain,  much  copperas  was 
formerly  made.  Green  Pond  is  a 


large  sheet  of  water,  nearly  3  miles 
long,  by  a  half-mile  in  width ;  in  the 
vale  between  Green  Pond  and  Cop- 
peras mountain,  much  resorted  to  for 
boating  and  fishing;  and  the  wild 
scenery  around  it  is  much  admired. 
The  valley  is  inhabited  sparsely,  by 
persons  dependant  upon  the  iron 
works.  Pompton  plains,  on  the  east 
border  of  the  t-ship,  are  level  and 
sandy,  but  densely  inhabited,  and  to- 
lerably cultivated.  Pompton,  Mont- 
ville,  Powerville,  &c.,  are  post-towns 
of  the  t-ship.  Population  in  1830, 
4451.  In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained 
129  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  $30  in  value,  132  single 
men,  1050  taxables,  8  stores,  9  saw 
mills,  5  grist  mills,  37  tan  vats,  2 
distilleries,  30  chairs  and  sulkies,  14 
forges  for  making  iron,  1  furnace,  1 
four  horse  stage,  4  rolling  and  slit- 
ting mills,  1  fulling  mill,  690  horses 
and  mules,  and  2265  neat  cattle, 
above  the  age  of  3  years;  and  it 
paid  state  tax,  $574;  county  tax, 
$128510;  poor  tax,  $800 ;  road  tax, 
$3000.  The  Newark  and  Milford 
turnpike  road  crosses  the  western, 
and  the  Newark  and  Hamburg,  and 
Paterson  and  Hamburg,  turnpike 
roads,  cross  the  eastern  end  of  the 
t-ship,  and  the  Morris  canal  runs 
through  the  southern  part,  and  for 
some  distance  along  the  valley  of  the 
Rockaway  river. 

Pequannock  Creek,  rises  in  the 
Wallkill  and  Wawayanda  mountains, 
in  Sussex  co.,  and  flows  by  a  south- 
east and  south  course,  of  about  27 
miles,  to  the  Passaic  river;  forming 
the  boundary  between  Morris  and 
Bergen  cos.  Below  Pompton  village 
it  takes  the  name  of  Pompton  river. 
It  has  a  rapid  current,  through  a  nar- 
row valley,  and  considerable  volume ; 
and  is,  therefore,  an  excellent  mill 
stream. 

Pequest  Creek,  rises  by  two  branch- 
es, in  the  eastern  part  of  Sussex  co., 
which  unite  in  Independence  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  and  flow  thence  by  a 
S.  W.  course,  through  Oxford  t-ship, 
to  the  Delaware  river,  at  the  town  of 
Belvidere.  Its  whole  length  is  about 


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214 


PER 


?N)  miles.  This  is  a  large  and  rapid 
stream,  affording  abundant  watei;- 
power,  and  draining,  by  the  main 
stem  and  brandies,  an  extensive  val- 
ley of  primitive  limestone.  (See  Bel- 
videre.) 

Perryville,  small  p-town  of  Beth- 
lem  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  on  the 
turnpike  road  from  Somerville  to 
Philipsburg,  about  10  miles  N.  of 
Flemington,  35  from  Trenton,  and 
194  fromW.  C. 

Perth  Amboy  City,  p-t.,  t-ship, 
and  port  of  entry  of  Middlesex  co., 
at  the  head  of  the  Raritan  bay,  and 
at  the  confluence  of  the  Raritan  river 
with  the  Arthur  Kill,  or  Staten  Island 
Sound.  It  lies  14  miles  from  the 
sea,  at  Sandy  Hook,  25  miles  by  the 


Sound  from  New 
and   10  b 


river, 


York,  15  by  the 
land,  from  New 
Brunswick ;  36  by  post-route  from 
Trenton,  65  by  rail-road  from  Phila- 
delphia, and  212  from  W.  C.  The 
port,  large  and  safe,  and  one  of  the 
best  on  the  continent,  is  easily  ap- 
proached from  the  sea  by  a  broad 
estuary,  having  generally  12  feet 
water,  and  in  the  main  channel  from 
24  to  26  feet. 

This  advantageous  site  for  a  town, 
was  early  noticed  by  the  agents  of  the 
East  Jersey  proprietors;  in  the  lan- 
guage of  deputy  governor  Lawrie, 
in  1684,  "  there  being  no  such  place 
in  all  England,  for  conveniency  and 
pleasant  situation."  The  place  was 
known  to  the  aborigines  as  Ambo, 
the  Point;  and  was  greatly  resorted 
to  by  them  on  account  of  its  fish  and 
oysters,  the  latter  of  which  are  yet 
abundant  here.  The  relics  of  Indian 
festivities,  are  still  visible  in  the  large 
quantities  of  oyster  shells  which  min- 
gle with,  and  enrich  portions  of  the 
soil.  The  name  of  Perth  was  given 
to  it  in  honour  of  James,  Earl  of 
Perth,  one  of  the  24  proprietaries ; 
and  it  was  called  by  that  name  only  in 
the  instructions  of  the  proprietaries, 
until  1698,  when  we,  for  the  first 
time,  in  the  instructions  to  the  deputy 


governor,  Basse, 
"  Perth  Amboy." 


find  the  name  of 


The  town  was  laid  out  into  150 
lots,  by  Samuel  Groome,  one  of  the 
proprietaries,  and  surveyor  general, 
as  early  as  1683.  In  the  following 
year,  Gawn  Lawrie,  a  proprietary 
and  deputy  governor,  added  large 
tracts  for  out-lots.  The  town  plot 
was  designed  to  contain  1500  acres ; 
and  lots  were  sold  at  20  pounds,  with 
condition  that  the  purchasers  should 
each  build  a  house  30  feet  long,  by 
18  feet  wide.  Lawrie  contracted  at 
this  time  for  the  erection  of  several 
houses  for  the  proprietaries,  and  one 
60  feet  long  and  18  wide,  for  the  go- 
vernor. He  was  directed  to  make 
the  town  the  seat  of  government  and 
the  chief  mart  of  the  province,  and  to 
incorporate  the  inhabitants  by  char- 
ter, with  the  necessary  privileges  and 
jurisdiction  of  a  city. 

This  was  a  favourite  spot  with  the 
East  Jersey  proprietaries,  who  used 
many  efforts  to  render  it  the  site  of  a 
large  city,  but  it  was  overshadowed 
by  New  York,  and  their  exertions 
were  in  vain.  After  the  surrender  of 
the  proprietary  governments  to  the 
crown,  the  general  assembly  and  the 
supreme  court  of  the  province,  as- 
sembled at  this  place  and  Burlington, 
alternately. 

The  city  was  incorporated  under 
the  proprietary  and  royal  govern- 
ments, but  its  present  charter  em- 
bracing the  provisions  of  the  prior 
ones,  is  under  the  act  of  21st  Decem- 
ber, 1784,  and  gives  the  following 
boundaries.  "  Beginning  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  waters  of  the  Raritan  river 
with  those  of  the  Sound,  at  that  part 
of  Staten  Island  from  the  main  to  the 
southward  of  the  flat  or  shoal  that 
runs  off  from  Cole  Point;  thence  up 
the  Sound,  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
channel  as  the  same  runs  to  Wood- 
bridge  creek ;  thence  up  the  creek  to 
the  mouth  of  the  stream  on  which 
Cutler's  mill  stands ;  thence  up  said 
creek  to  a  lane  leading  to  a  line  be- 
tween George  Herriott  and  Grace 
Innsley ;  thence  by  said  lane  to  the 
road  leading  from  Amboy  to  New 
Brunswick ;  thence  by  said  road  south 


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215 


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to  a  lane  leading  to  Florida  Landing ; 
thence  by  said  lane  to  the  north  cor- 
ner of  the  farm  late  of  Samuel  Ne- 
ville ;  thence  by  the  line  of  the  same 
to  Raritan  river,  and  across  the  same 
to  the  south  bank  of  the  channel 
thereof;  and  thence  to  the  place  of 
beginning."  The  government  of  the 
city  is  under  a  mayor,  recorder,  three 
aldermen,  who  are  justices  of  the 
peace,  ex-officio,  and  appointed  by 
the  legislature  for  seven  years ;  and 
six  common  councilmen,  sheriff,  coro- 
ner, and  sergeant-at-mace,  and  town- 
ship officers,  elected  annually  by  the 
people.  The  mayor,  recorder,  and 
aldermen,  have  power  to  grant  tavern 
licenses,  and  to  hold  a  court  of  re- 
cord, having  jurisdiction  of  all  causes 
of  a  commercial  nature,  wherein  the 
matter  in  dispute  shall  have  arisen 
within  the  corporation,  and  subsists 
between  foreigner  and  foreigner,  or 
between  foreigner  and  citizen  of  the 
United  States.  And  to  induce  the  set- 
tlement of  merchants  here  the  port 
was  declared  free,  and  they  exempt 
from  taxation  for  25  years.  The 
township  contains  2577  acres  of  land, 
of  alluvial  formation,  consisting  of 
clay,  sand  loam,  and  gravel,  in 
which,  at  various  depths,  are  found 
organic  remains.  It  is  elevated  above 
the  tide  some  40  or  50  feet,  and  is  un- 
dulating in  its  surface.  The  popula- 
tion, which  is  principally  gathered 
near  the  point,  there  not  being  more 
than  20  dwellings  separated  from  the 
town,  amounted  in  1830,  to  879. 
The  township  in  1832,  contained 
about  140  dwellings,  78  household- 
ers, whose  ratable  estates  did  not  ex- 
ceed $30  in  value;  39  single  men, 
10  storekeepers  or  traders,  5  taverns, 
an  Episcopal,  Presbyterian,  and  a 
Baptist  church,  1  school  for  boys, 
another  for  girls,  and  a  third  esta- 
blished under  the  school  fund  of  the 
state.  St.  Peter's  the  Episcopal 
church,  was  founded  probably  about 
the  year  1685.  In  July  30th,  1718, 
it  was  incorporated  by  George  I  ; 
and  William  Eier,  and  John  Barclay, 
were  appointed  the  first  church  war- 
dens, and  Thomas  Gordon  Esq., 


John  Rudyard,  Robert  King,  and 
John  Stevens,  the  first  vestrymen. 
The  church  is  indebted  to  Thomas- 
Gordon,  George  Willocks,  and  Mar- 
garetta  Willocks,  his  wife,  and  major 
John  Harrison,  for  considerable  en- 
dowments, upon  which  its  prosperity  is 
based.  There  is  an  extensive  pottery 
of  excellent  stone- ware  in  the  town  in 
which  the  clay  from  South  Amboy 
is  chiefly,  if  not  solely  used.  But  the 
chief  business  of  the  city  is  the  oys- 
ter fishery.  The  shell-fish  are  abun- 
dant in  the  bay,  and  the  bottom  is  so 
favourable  to  their  growth,  that  large 
numbers  are  transplanted  thither,  not 
only  from  the  river  above,  but  also 
from  Virginia.  A  capital  of  more 
than  $40,000  is  said  to  be  thus  em- 
ployed, yielding  an  annual  profit  of 
more  than  $20,000.  The  state  of 
New  Jersey  has  leased  about  250 
acres  of  land,  covered  with  water, 
here,  in  small  lots,  of  a  few  acres 
each,  whose  tenants  rear  oysters 
upon  them.  But  the  state  of  New 
York,  claiming  exclusive  right  of 
property,  in  the  soil  under  water,  to 
the  line  of  low-water  mark,  on  the 
shore  of  the  state ;  conflicting  claims 
have  induced  vexatious  disputes,  and 
even  alarming  riots,  which  have  pre- 
vented the  quiet  enjoyment  of  the 
tenants,  and  the  collection  of  rents. 
In  1832,  the  city  paid  poor  tax,  $350; 
county  tax,  $135  87;  and  state  tax, 
$110  56. 

From  its  agreeable  position,  vicini- 
ty to  the  ocean,  and  sea-water  baths, 
Perth  Amboy  is  a  pleasant  residence 
during  the  hot  months,  and  is  much 
visited  for  recreation,  by  the  citizens 
of  New  York.  Some  years  since,  a 
very  large  and  commodious  hotel, 
called  Brighton,  was  erected  for  their 
accommodation;  but,  at  that  period, 
there  was  not  sufficient  support  to 
sustain  it,  and  Brighton-house  is  now 
a  handsome  country-seat. 

The  destiny  of  this  town,  long  ob- 
scured, notwithstanding  its  fine  port, 
and  pleasant  and  healthy  position,  is 
probably  about  to  receive  a  favoura- 
ble change,  through  the  agency  of 
the  Delaware  and  Raritan  canal,  and 


PIL 


216 


PIS 


the  rail-roads  to  Philadelphia.  The 
ready  transportation  of  merchandise, 
by  these  means,  may  convert  this 
into  an  out-port  of  Philadelphia . 

The  collection  district  of'  Perth 
Amboy,  comprehends  all  that  part  of 
East  New  Jersey,  (that  part  excepted 
which  is  included  in  the  district  of 
Little  Egg  Harbour)  south  of  Eliza- 
bethtown,  together  with  all  the  waters 
thereof,  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
state.  The  towns  of  New  Brunswick, 
and  Middletown  Point,  are  ports  of 
delivery  only.  The  collector  resides 
at  Amboy,  and  a  surveyor  at  New 
Brunswick. 

Peter's  Beach ,  on  the  Altantic 
ocean,  Galloway  t-ship,  Gloucester 
co.,  at  the  mouth  of  Absecum  inlet, 
and  between  it  and  Quarter  inlet. 

Philipsburg,  town  of  Greenwich 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Delaware  river,  opposite  the 
borough  of  Easton,  in  Pennsylvania, 
14  miles  below  the  town  of  Belvidere, 
and  about  60  above  Trenton.  Con- 
tains about  20  dwellings,  4  stores, 
and  2  taverns.  The  Morris  canal 
communicates  with  the  Delaware 
here,  opposite  to,  and  a  short  distance 
below,  the  basin  of  the  Lehigh  canal. 
A  bridge  of  wood  of  three  arches, 
covered,  600  feet  long,  and  24  feet 
wide,  over  the  Delaware,  which  cost 
$80,000,  connects  Philipsburg  with 
Easton. 

Pike  Brook,  tributary  of  No-Pipe 
Brook,  rises  in  the  Nashanic  moun- 
tain, Montgomery  t-ship,  Somerset 
co.,  and  flows  S.  E.  about  5  miles  to 
its  recipient. 

Pilesgrove,  t-ship,  Salem  co., 
bounded,  N.  E.  by  Woolwich  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  from  which  it  is  di- 
vided by  Oldman's  creek ;  S.  E.  by 
Pittsgrove  t-ship;  S.  W.  by  Upper 
Alloways,  and  Mannington  t-ships, 
and  N.  W. .  by  Upper  Penn's  Neck 
t-ship.  Centrally  distant,  N.  E.  from 
Salem,  10  miles.  Greatest  length  9, 
breadth  6^  miles ;  area,  about  24,000 
acres;  of  which,  little  more  than  1000 
may  be  unimproved.  Surface,  level ; 
soil,  stiff  clay  and  deep  loam,  well 
cultivated  in  wheat,  rye,  oats,  and 


corn.  The  Salem  creek  flows  N.  W. 
through  the  t-ship,  and  gives  motion 
to  a  woollen  factory,  and  several  mills. 
Population  in  1830,  2150.  In  the 
year  1832,  there  were  in  the  t-ship, 
128  householders,  whose  ratables 
did  not  exceed  $30 ;  3  grist  mills,  3 
saw  mills,  4  tan  yards,  2  distilleries 
for  cider,  553  horses  and  mules,  and 
966  head  of  neat  cattle,  above  the  age 
of  3  years.  Sharptown  and  Woods- 
town  are  villages  and  post-towns  of 
the  t-ship.  Near  the  latter  are  some 
valuable  marl  beds.  There  are  1 
Quaker,  1  Baptist,  and  1  African 
Methodist  church  in  the  t-ship. 

Pimple  Hill,  a  noted  eminence  of 
Hardiston  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  near 
the  eastern  line  of  the  t-ship. 

Pine  Brook,  Caldwell  t-ship,  Essex 
co.,  rises  in  the  Second  mountain, 
and  flows  W.  to  the  Passaic  river, 
by  a  course  of  about  3  miles.  It  is  a 
mill  stream. 

Pine  Mount  Creek,  Greenwich 
t-ship,  Salem  co.,  rises  on  the  E.  line 
of  the  t-ship,  and  flows  southward, 
some  ^  or  4  miles,  when  dividing  into 
two  branches,  in  opposite  directions, 
it  isolates  an  eminence  covered  with 
pines,  and  bounded  southward  by  the 
Cohansey  river,  of  which  the  creek  is 
a  tributary. 

Piscataivay,  t-ship,  Middlesex  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Westfield  t-ship ;  E. 
by  Woodbridge;  S.  and  S.  W.  by 
the  Raritan  river,  and  N.  W.  by 
Green  Brook,  separating  it  from  War- 
ren t-ship,  Somerset  co.  Centrally 
distant,  N.  from  New  Brunswick,  5 
miles.  Greatest  length,  N.  and  S.  9 
miles;  breadth,  E.  and  W.  7^  miles; 
area,  27,000  acres.  Green  Brook 
receives  from  the  t-ship  two  tributa- 
ries, Amherst  and  Cedar  Brooks.  New 
Market,  post-town ;  Samptown,  Green 
Brook,  Brooklyn,  New  Durham,  Pis- 
cataway,  and  Raritan  Landing,  are 
villages  of  the  t-ship.  Population  in 
1830,  3969.  In  1832,  the  t-ship 
contained  an  Episcopalian  church, 
695  taxables,  85  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30  in  value  ; 
91  single  men,  10  stores,  2  saw  mills, 
6  grist  mills,  1  plaster  mill,  4  distil- 


PIT 


217 


PLA 


leries,  709  horses  and  mules,  and 
1501  neat  cattle,  above  the  age  of  3 
years;  and  it  paid  state  tax,  8495  91; 
county  tax,  8609  72;  poor  tax,  $1400; 
road  tax,  81000.  The  surface  of 
the  t-ship  is  level,  soil  of  loam,  clay, 
and  red  shale,  generally  very  well 
cultivated. 

Piscataway,  village  of  the  above 
t-ship,  3  miles  E.  from  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  1  N.  from  the  Raritan 
river,  on  the  turnpike  road  from  New 
Brunswick  to  Woodbridge;  contains 
an  Episcopal  church,  a  store,  tavern, 
and  some  10  or  12  dwellings,  in  a 
tolerably  fertile  country.  This  was 
an  old  Indian  village,  and  is  re- 
markable for  having  been  the  seat 
of  justice  for  Middlesex  and  Somer- 
set cos.,  so  early  as  the  year  1683. 
At  that  period,  the  courts  were  holden 
sometimes  at  this  place,  and  some- 
times at  Woodbridge. 

Piscot  Brook,  a  small  tributary 
of  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan 
river,  rises  in  Round  valley,  in  the 
S.  E.  angle  of  Lebanon  t-ship,  Hun- 
terdon  co. 

Pittsgrove,  t-ship,  Salem  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Franklin  and 
Woolwich  t-ships,  of  Gloucester  co.  ; 
S.  E.  by  Millville  t-ship,  of  Cumber- 
land co. ;  S.  W.  by  Upper  Deerfield 
t-ship,  of  Cumberland,  and  by  Upper 
Alloway's  Creek  t-ships,  of  Salem 
co.  Centrally  distant,  E.  from  Sa- 
lem, 16  miles.  Greatest  length,  15, 
breadth,  7  miles ;  area,  about  44,000 
acres,  of  which  26,000  acres  are  un- 
improved. Population  in  1830,  2216. 
Surface,  partly  undulating,  and  part- 
ly level ;  the  soil  is  chiefly  sandy  and 
rvelly  loam.  A  proportion  on  the 
W.  part,  is  forest,  of  pine  and 
white  oak  timber,  which  has  been 
much  cut  over,  and  is  known  as  the 
Barrens.  It  is  drained  on  the  S.  E. 
and  S.  W.  by  branches  of  Maurice 
run,  and  on  the  N.  W.  by  the  head 
waters  of  Salem  and  Oldman's  creeks. 
Daretown,  Centrevillc,  and  Pittstown, 
are  villages  of  the  t-ship;  the  last 
two  of  which  are  post-towns.  There 
were  in  1832,  in  the  t-ship,  1  Pres- 
byterian, 1  Baptist,  and  3  Methodist 
2E 


churches;  161  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  830  in  value ; 
510  taxables,  6  stores,  2  grist  mills, 
5  saw  mills,  2  fulling  mills,  1  large 
tan  yard,  5  cider  distilleries,  525 
horses  and  mules,  and  933  neat  cat- 
tle, above  3  years  of  age.  The  t-ship 
paid  tax  for  t-ship  purposes,  8300; 
county,  8921  92 ;  state  tax,  8294  42. 
By  the  act  of  19th  Nov.,  1821,  and 
its  supplement,  19th  Nov.,  1823,  a 
township  called  Centreville,  was  taken 
from  this,  but  was  returned  to  it,  by 
act  18th  Feb.,  1829. 

Pittstown,  p-t.,  of  Salem  co. ;  cen- 
trally situate  in  Pittsgrove  t-ship,  16 
miles  E.  of  Salern;  180  N.  E.  of 
W.  C.,  and  74  S.  from  Trenton; 
contains  15  dwellings,  2  taverns,  and 
2  stores,  a  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  school 
house,  and  masonic  hall.  The  soil 
around  it,  light  and  sandy. 

Pittstoivn,  Alexandria  t-ship,  Hun- 
terdon  co.,  on  the  line  of  Kingwood 
t-ship,  and  on  a  tributary  of  the  S. 
branch  of  the  Raritan  river,  8  miles 
N.  W.  of  Flemington,  31  from  Tren- 
ton, and  190  from  W.  C.;  contains 
1  tavern,  1  store,  a  grist  mill,  and  be- 
tween 15  and  20  dwellings.  The 
soil  around  it  is  clay,  cold  and  poor ; 
surface  hilly. 

Plainfield,  a  large  and  thriving 
village  of  Westfield  t-ship,  Essex  co., 
on  Green  Brook,  the  line  between 
that  arid  Somerset  co.  211  miles  N. 
E.  from  W.  C.,  65  from  Philadelphia, 
45  from  Trenton,  20  S.  W.  from 
Newark,  16  from  Elizabethtown,  25 
from  New  York,  and  11  N.  E.  from 
New  Brunswick ; — on  a  plain  of  very 
level  land,  between  2  and  3  miles 
wide,  and  about  11  long;  contains 
1  Presbyterian,  1  Baptist,  and  1  Me- 
thodist church,  2  Friends'  meeting 
houses,  (Hicksite  and  Orthodox)  2 
grist  mills,  1  saw  mill,  4  stores,  3 
schools,  2  clergymen,  1  lawyer,  2 
physicians,  2  taverns,  4  stores,  13 
master  hatters,  who  manufacture 
about  875,000  worth  of  hats  annual- 
ly; 5  master  tailors,  employing  70 
hands,  who  work  for  the  southern 
market ;  a  fire  engine,  and  company, 
a  mutual  insurance  company,  esta- 


Wished  in  1833,  which  in  a  few 
months,  executed  policies  to  the 
amount  of  more  than  $150,000; 
and  120  dwellings ;  a  ladies'  library, 
an  apprentices'  library.  A  four- 
horse  mail  stage,  to  New  York,  three 
times  a  week,  and  as  often  to  Phila- 
delphia, on  alternate  days,  runs 
through  the  village.  The  country 
around  the  town  is  rich,  well  culti- 
vated, and  healthy ;  the  water  good, 
and  the  society  moral  and  religious, 
and  ambitious  of  improvement.  The 
neighbouring  mountain,  about  a  mile 
N.  of  the  town,  affords  an  abundant 
supply  of  cheap  fuel,  and  screens  the 
valley  from  the  violence  of  the  N. 
and  N.  W.  winds ;  and  gives  a  very 
pleasing  prospect  to  the  S.  and  E., 
over  a  space  of  30  miles. 

Plainsborough,  hamlet  of  South 
Brunswick  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  14 
miles  S.  W.  of  New  Brunswick,  14 
S.  E.  from  Trenton;  contains  a  ta- 
vern, store,  and  8  or  10  dwellings. 
Soil,  light,  gravelly  and  sterile. 

Plainville,  Montgomery  t-ship, 
Somerset  co.,  8  miles  S.  W.  from 
Somerville ;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
and  4  or  5  dwellings. 

Pleasant  Grove,  on  Schooley's 
mountain,  Washington  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  on  the  turnpike  road  from  Mor- 
ristown  to  Easton,  21  miles  from  the 
former,  and  20  from  the  latter ;  con- 
tains a  tavern,  store,  and  several 
dwellings,  and  a  very  neat  stone 
church,  belonging  to  Presbyterians. 
The  surrounding  country  is  pleasant, 
and  is  improving  much  by  the  use  oj 
lime;  the  soil  is  a  stiff  clay. 

Pleasant  Mills,  p-t.  of  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  on  the  Atsion 
river,  30  miles  S.  E.  from  Woodbury, 
65  from  Trenton,  and  173  from  W. 
C. ;  contains  a  tavern,  2  stores,  a 
glass  factory,  belonging  to  Messrs. 
Coffan  &  Co.,  a  cotton  factory,  with 
3000  spindles,  and  from  20  to  30 
dwellings. 

Pleasant  Valley,  of  the  South 
mountain,  Mansfield  t-ship,  Warren 
co.,  through  which  runs  a  small  tri- 
butary of  the  Pohatcong  creek.  The 
soil  here,  as  in  other  valleys  of  the 


t-ship-,  is  of  primitive  limestone. 
s  a  small  hamlet  in  the  valley,  at 
which  there  is  a  grist  mill,  and  seve- 
ral dwellings,  upon  the  turnpike  road 
to  Easton. 

Pleasant  Valley,  Randolph  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  through  which  flows 
Dell's  brook.  The  sides  of  the  vale 
are  of  gentle  ascent ;  part  of  the  land 
good,  and  well  cultivated. 

Pluckemin,  p-t.  of  Bedminster 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  6  miles  N.  W. 
from  Somerville,  at  the  foot  of  Bask- 
ing Ridge,  205  miles  N.  E.  from  W. 
C.,  and  39  from  Trenton ;  contains 
1  tavern,  2  stores,  and  from  25  to  30 
dwellings. 

Pochuck  Mountain,  on  the  W. 
side  of  Vernon  t-ship,  Sussex  co., 
extends  about  8  miles  northwardly. 
Along  its  eastern  foot  runs  the  Po- 
chuck turnpike  road,  leading  from 
Hamburg  towards  the  state  of  New 
York.  The  mountain  is  composed 
of  primitive  rock,  of  which  horn- 
blende is  a  principal  constituent.  Its 
base  is  surrounded  with  primitive 
limestone. 

Pohatcong  Creek,  Warren  co., 
rises  near  the  N.  E.  boundary  of 
Mansfield  t-ship,  and  flows  S.  W. 
through  that  and  Greenwich  t-ships, 
by  a  course  of  three  or  four  and 
twenty  miles  to  the  Delaware  river, 
8  or  9  miles  below  Philipsburg. 
This  fine  stream  flows  through  and 
drains  a  wide  and  fertile  valley  of  pri- 
mitive limestone,  which  is  very  well 
cultivated,  and  produces  large  quanti- 
ties of  wheat.  There  is  a  fine  view 
of  the  valley  from  the  south-eastern 
acclivity  of  Scott's  Mountain,  on  the 
road  to  Oxford  furnace;  the  creek 
runs  somewhat  parallel  with  the  Mus- 
conetcong,  both  following  the  range 
of  the  mountains,  and  at  their  mouths 
are  scarce  two  miles  asunder. 

Point  Comfort,  west  cape  of  Sandy 
Hook  bay,  Middleton  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth  co.,  projecting  into  the  Raritan 
bay,  8  miles  S.  E.  of  Perth  Amboy, 
and  about  an  equal  distance  from 
Sandy  Hook  light-house. 

Pole  Tavern,  a  noted  tavern  and 
cluster  of  houses  in  Pitsgrove  t-ship, 


POM 


219 


PON 


about  4  miles  N.  W.  of  Pittstown, 
and  14  E.  of  Salem. 

Pompeston  Creek,  mill  stream  of 
Chester  t-ship,  Burlington  co.5  flow- 
ing by  a.  N.  W.  course  of  about  5 
miles,  and  emptying  into  the  Dela- 
ware river,  nearly  opposite  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Pennepack  creek. 

Pompton  t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Orange  co.,  New  York;  E. 
by  Franklin  t-ship;  S.  by  Pequan- 
nock   and   Jefferson   t-ships,   Morris 
co. ;  and  W.  by  Hardiston  and  Ver- 
non  t-ships,   Sussex   co.     Centrally 
distant  N.  W.  from  Hackensack,  23 
miles ;   greatest  length  E.   and   W. 
14   miles;    breadth   N.    and   S.   12 
miles;  area,  about  70,000  acres,  of 
which     about    55,000     are     unim- 
proved, and  much  of  it  covered  with 
forest;  surface,  very  hilly;  the  Ra- 
mapo  mountain,  extending  over  the 
eastern    boundary,   and    Bear   Foot 
mountain  along  the  western ;  the  in- 
tervening space  is  broken  into  knolls 
of  various  sizes  and  shapes.     The 
soil  is  generally  clay  and  loam,  but 
some  primitive  limestone  appears  near 
Mackepin   lake.     In    these   hills    is 
found  an  extensive  deposit  of  iron,  in 
the  same  vein  which  runs  through 
Schooley's  mountain.     Ringwood  ri- 
ver bathes  the  western  base  of  the 
Ramapo   mountain;   Long  Pond  or 
Greenwood  lake,  which  crosses  the 
northern  boundary  from  New  York, 
sends  a  tributary  to  it  called  Long 
Pond  river.     Dunker,  Buck,  Cedar, 
Hanks,  and  Mackepin  ponds,  in  the 
south-west  part   of  the   t-ship,  give 
their  surplus  waters  to  the  Pequan- 
nock,   which,    under    the    name   of 
Pompton  river,  flows  along  the  south- 
ern boundary ;   Long  House   creek 
flows  northerly  through  the  north 
west   angle.      Population    in    1830, 
3085.     In  1832,  the  t-ship  contained 
750  taxables,  229  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  79  sin- 
gle men,  6  stores,  15  grist  mills  14 
saw  mills,  16  forge  fires,  2  fulling 
mills,  20  tan  vats,  2  distilleries,  519 
horses  and  mules,  and  1816  neat  cat- 
tle over  3  years  of  age;  and  paic 
state  tax,  $340  13;  county,  $649  17 


The  Morris  canal  crosses  the  Pomp- 
ton  river  about  2  miles  above  its 
mouth  in  this  t-ship,  by  a  wooden 
aqueduct  236  feet  long,  supported  by 
9  stone  piers. 

Pompton  Plain,  lies  between  the 
Pompton  mountain  and  the  Preakness 
hills,  and  is  nearly  20  miles  in  cir- 
cumference, with  a  variable  breadth 
seldom  exceeding  four  miles.  It  is  a 
fresh  water  alluvion,  and  strata  of 
gravel,  sand,  and  clay,  without  rocks 
in  place,  are  uniformly  found  here 
wherever  wells  have  been  dug.  It 
was,  probably,  at  some  remote  period, 
the  bed  of  a  lake.  The  Pequannock, 
rlingwood,  and  Ramapo  rivers,  unit- 
"ng  at  the  head  of  the  Plain,  form 
,he  Pompton  river,  which  flows  along 
.ts  eastern  side  to  the  Passaic,  about 
8  miles.  The  southern,  and  much 
of  the  western  part  of  the  plain  is 
marshy,  and  embraces  about  1500 
acres  of  peat  ground,  the  fuel  from 
which,  so  far  as  can  be  determined 
by  a  ditch  running  four  miles  through 
it,  appears  to  be  good.  In  the  south- 
rn  part  of  the  plain,  good  granular 
argillaceous  oxide  of  iron,  or  pea  ore 
is  raised  from  a  space  of  about  200 
acres.  There  is  a  straggling  village 
upon  the  plain,  comprising  a  Dutch 
Reformed  church,  a  tavern,  3  stores, 
an  academy,  and  about  30  dwellings : 
and  at  the  head  of  the  plain  is 

Pompton,  p-t.,  18  miles  N.  E.  of 
Morristown,  236  from  W.  C.,  and  70 
from  Trenton ;  containing  a  tavern, 
store,  grist  mill,  and  12  or  15  dwell- 
ings, and  a  Dutch  Reformed  church. 
(See  Ryersons.) 

Pompton  Mountain,  an  angular 
hill,  of  Pequannock  t-ship,  Morris  co., 
bounding  the  Pompton  plains,  W. 
and  N.  W.  The  sides  of  the  angle 
are  respectively  about  4  miles  long. 

Pond  Creek,  Downe  t-ship,  Cum- 
berland co.,  a  short  inlet  to  the 
marsh  on  the  W.  side  of  Maurice 
river  cove. 

Pond  Creek,  a  small  stream  flow- 
ing from  Lower  t-ship,  Cape  May  co., 
into  the  Delaware  bay,  near  2  miles 
N.  of  the  Light-house. 

Pond  Run,  small  tributary  of  the 


POT 


220 


PHI 


Assunpink  creek,  Nottingham  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  unites  with  its  reci- 
pient, after  a  N.  W.  course  of  about 
5  miles. 

Ponds;  name  given  to  a  neighbour- 
hood of  the  S.  W.  part  of  Franklin 
t-ship,  Bergen  co. ;  so  called,  possi- 
bly, from  a  small  lake.  There  is  a 
German  Reformed  church  here,  also 
called  Ponds. 

Port  Elizabeth,  p-t.  of  Maurice 
river  t-ship,  Cumberland  co.,  upon 
the  Manamuskin  creek,  near  its  con- 
fluence with  the  Maurice  river,  about 
14  miles  from  the  Delaware  bay,  16 
S.  E.  from  Bridgeton,  85  from  Tren- 
ton, and  182  from  W.  C. ;  contains 
from  80  to  100  dwellings,  1  tavern, 
4  stores,  a  Baptist  church,  an  acade- 
my— a  commodious  building;  some 
large  glass  works,  managed  by  a 
company  of  Germans,  under  the  firm 
of  Getz,  Zinger,  and  Co.,  at  which 
large  quantities  of  window  glass  and 
hollow  ware  are  made.  The  hands 
of  this  establishment  speak  the  Ger- 
man language  altogether,  and  are  re- 
markable for  their  cultivation  of  music. 
A  considerable  lumber  trade  is  carried 
on  from  the  town,  and  some  ship  build- 
ing is  done  there.  The  town  is  16 
miles  from  the  Delaware  bay,  by  the 
sinuosities  of  Maurice  river,  and  8  by 
land.  The  river  is  navigable  for  ves- 
sels of  120  tons.  There  are  4  grist, 
and  3  saw  mills  within  3  miles  of  the 
town.  Much  business  is  done  here 
in  wood,  lumber,  and  rails.  The 
town  is  built  on  good  land,  and  is 
surrounded  by  very  valuable  mea- 
dows, worth  $100  the  acre. 

Port  Norris,  landing  and  store- 
house, with  a  tavern,  store,  and  6  or 
8  dwellings,  on  the  west  side  of  Mau- 
rice river,  about  10  miles  from  the 
mouth,  5  miles  from  Dividing  Creek 
village,  and  22  from  Bridgeton. 

Pottersville,  p-t.  of  Hunterdon  co., 
on  the  line  separating  Readington 
from  Tewkesbury  t-ship,  and  on  the 
turnpike  road  leading  from  Somer- 
ville  to  Philipsburg,  10  miles  N.  E. 
from  Flemington,  43  miles  from 
Trenton,  and  211  from  W.  C. ;  con- 


tains  a  tavern,  store,  and  a  few  dwell- 
ings. 

Potter's  Falls,  on  the  Lamington 
river,  at  the  angle  of  junction  of  Hun- 
terdon, Morris,  and  Somerset  cos. 

Poverty  Beach,  on  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  immediately  north  of  Cape 
May  Island,  Lower  t-ship,  Cape  May 
co.,  extends  about  three  miles  in 
length  by  half  a  mile  in  breadth. 

Povershon,  small  village  of  Bloom- 
field  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  5  miles  north 
of  Newark ;  contains  a  school  house 
and  several  dwellings.  The  poor- 
house  of  the  t-ship  is  in  the  valley 
near  it. 

Powerville,  p-t.  of  Pequannock 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Rockaway  river,  10  miles  N.  E.  from 
Morristown,  234  from  W.  C.,  and  68 
from  Trenton ;  contains  a  tavern,  2 
stores,  a  forge,  a  grist  and  saw  mill, 
and  from  10  to  15  dwellings.  Coun- 
try around  rough  and  sterile. 

Prallsmlle,  p-t.  of  Amwell  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.,  on  the  river  Dela- 
ware, 10  miles  S.  W.  from  Fleming- 
ton,  20  N.  from  Trenton,  and  174 
from  W.  C. ;  contains  1  store,  1  ta- 
vern, some  6  or  8  dwellings,  and  a 
grist  mill,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wick- 
hechecoke  creek.  There  is  a  fine 
bridge  here  over  the  Delaware,  erect- 
ed on  stone  piers,  by  an  incorporated 
company.  The  surrounding  country 
is  hilly. 

Preakness  Mountain,  a  distin- 
guished hill  of  Saddle  River  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.,  commencing  about  three 
miles  N.  W.  from  Paterson,  and  run- 
ning in  a  semicircular  direction  se- 
veral miles.  It  is  formed  by  sand- 
stone surmounted  by  trap  rock,  and 
embosoms  an  extensive  valley. 

Preakness  Brook,  Saddle  River 
t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  which,  after  a 
south  course  of  about  6  miles,  flows 
into  the  Passaic  river,  about  2  miles 
above  the  Little  Falls.  Preakness 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  is  in  the 
valley  of  this  stream,  near  its  source. 

Primrose  Creek,  tributary  of  the 
Passaic  river,  Morris  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  has  a  course  of  about  six  miles 
from  its  source  to  its  recipient. 


PRI 


221 


RAH 


Prospect  Plains,  level  tract  of 
country  extending  between  Cranber- 
ry Brook  and  Manalapan  Brook,  with 
a  light  sandy  soil,  in  South  Amboy 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co. 

Princeton,  p-t.  and  borough,  partly 
in  Montgomery  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
and  partly  in  Windsor  t-ship,  Middle- 
sex co.,  on  the  main  road  between 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  50  miles 
from  the  one,  and  40  from  the  other, 
11  from  Trenton,  25  from  New 
Brunswick,  and  177  from  W.  C.; 
situated  in  a  very  pleasant  country  of 
red  shale  and  alluvion,  and  remark- 
able for  the  salubrity  of  its  climate, 
the  beauty  of  its  villas,  and  the  neat- 
ness, generally,  of  its  buildings.  It 
was  incorporated  as  a  borough  in 
1813,  and  contains  about  185  dwell- 
ing houses,  and  at  least  1100  inhabi- 
tants, exclusive  of  the  youth  connect- 
ed with  the  public  institutions,  of 
whom  there  are,  at  present,  (1833) 
about  350. 

The  Delaware  and  Raritan  canal 
runs  within  a  half  mile  of  the  bo- 
rough, and  has  already  contributed, 
in  no  small  degree,  to  its  prosperity. 
The  office  of  the  company  is  esta- 
blished here. 

Besides  the  buildings  belonging  to 
the  literary  institutions,  (for  these  see 
pages  84,  85,)  there  are  in  Prince- 
ton, a  Presbyterian  church,  an  Epis- 
copal church,  and  two  other  houses 
for  public  worship,  belonging  to  the 
Presbyterian  society ;  one  of  which 
is  for  the  use  of  the  coloured  popu- 
lation. The  literary  institutions  of 
Princeton  are  a  college,  a  theological 
seminary,  three  classical  schools,  two 
schools  for  the  instruction  of  young 
ladies,  and  three  or  four  common 
schools;  all  independent  of  each 
other. 

The  name  of  Princeton  is  associ- 
ated, not  only  with  the  literary  repu- 
tation of  our  country,  but  also  with 
her  struggle  for  independence ;  since, 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  this  place, 
was  fought  the  memorable  battle  of 
January  3d,  1777,  in  which  the  Bri- 
tish army  was  routed  by  the  Ameri- 
cans, under  the  command  of  General 


Washington,  and  in  which  the  la- 
mented Mercer  was  mortally  wound- 
ed. A  large  painting  commemorative 
of  these  events,  is  suspended  in  the 
chapel  of  the  college. 

Quarter's  Inlet,  from  the  Atlantic 
ocean  to  Reed's  bay,  between  Brigan- 
tine  beach  on  the  east,  and  Peter's 
beach  on  the  west,  Galloway  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co. 

Quaker  Bridge,  over  Batsto  river, 
Washington  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
6  miles  S.  E.  of  Shamong  village, 
and  4  from  Atsion  Furnace.  There 
is  a  tavern  here. 

Quakertown.     (See  Fairmew.) 

Quintotfs  Bridge,  small  village 
and  p-t.  on  Alloways  creek,  in  Upper 
Alloways  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  5  miles 
S.  E.  of  Salem,  174  N.  E.  from  W. 
C.,  and  68  S.  from  Trenton;  contains 
some  12  or  15  dwellings,  1  tavern, 
and  2  stores.  It  is  a  landing  at 
which  much  wood  is  delivered  for 
the  Philadelphia  market.  The  bridge 
is  noted  in  the  county  for  a  massa- 
cre of  some  militia,  by  a  party  of 
British  troops,  while  on  a  foraging 
party,  during  the  occupancy  of  Phi- 
ladelphia by  Sir  William  Howe,  in 
the  revolutionary  war. 

Raccoon  Creek,  rises  in  Franklin 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  and  flows 
thence  N.  W.  through  Woolwich 
t-ship,  by  a  course  of  17  miles  to  the 
River  Delaware,  opposite  to  Shiver's 
island.  It  is  navigable  for  sloops  7 
or  8  miles  to  Swedesborough,  and  for 
boats  to  Mullica  Hill,  5  miles  further. 

Rahway  River,  called  by  the  abo- 
rigines Rahawack,  anglice,  Man's 
River,  rises  in  the  valley  between  the 
First  and  Second  mountains,  Orange 
t-ship,  Essex  co.,  and  flows  thence 
S.  W.  and  S.  to  Springfield,  where  it 
receives  several  considerable  tributa- 
ries; thence  by  a  south  course  of 
about  8  miles  it  passes  by  Rahway 
village,  where  it  meets  the  tide ;  and 
thence  by  a  south-east  course  of  about 
5  miles,  dividing  Middlesex  from  Es- 
sex co.,  it  unites  with  Staten  Island 
Sound,  9  or  10  miles  N.  E.  of  Perth 
Amboy.  It  is  navigable  to  Rahway 
village  for  vessels  of  80  tons  burden, 


RAH 


222 


RAH 


and  receives  at  the  village  the  Mid- 
dle or  Robinson's  branch,  and  the 
South  branch.  Upon  these  branches 
there  are  severable  valuable  mill 
seats,  and  on  the  main  branch  be- 
tween Springfield  and  tide-water, 
there  are  20  mills  employed  in  grind- 
ing grain,  sawing  lumber,  and  manu- 
facturing paper,  cotton,  and  wool. 
On  the  river,  there  is  some  of  the 
best  brick  clay  of  the  United  States  ; 
and  the  manufacture  of  bricks  was,  at 
one  period,  so  great  here,  as  to  em- 
ploy steadily  about  40  sloops  in  their 
transport  to  New  York.  Owing  to 
the  scarcity  of  fuel,  this  manufacture 
has  declined. 

Rahway,  p-t.,  including  what  was 
formerly  called  Bridgetown,  lies  upon 
the  Rahway  river,  at  the  head  of 
tide,  five  miles  from  its  mouth,  partly 
in  Woodbridge  t-ship,  Middlesex  co., 
and  partly  in  Rahway  t-ship,  Essex 
co.;  distant  N.  E.  205  miles  from 
W.  C.,  39  from  Trenton,  11  from 
Brunswick  S.  W.,  10  from  Newark, 
18  from  Jersey  City,  and  8  from 
Amboy;  consists  of  four  detached 
villages,  Rahway  Proper,  north  of 
Robinson's  branch,  Union,  Bridge- 
town, and  Leesville,  on  the  south. 
This  diversity  of  names  is  productive 
of  some  irregularity  in  the  transit  of 
letters  to  the  town,  and  has  induced 
a  wish  to  change  the  name;  and 
some  of  the  inhabitants  propose  to 
substitute  that  of  "  Athens"  There 
are  here,  about  350  dwellings,  con- 
taining, it  is  said,  3000  inhabitants, 
mostly  of  New  England  origin  ;  this 
would  give  a  greater  average  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  to  a  house,  than 
in  any  other  district  of  the  state ;  an 
elegant  Presbyterian  church  erected 
in  1831,  a  Methodist,  Baptist,  and  an 
African  Episcopal  church,  and  two 
Quaker  meeting  houses  pertaining  to 
the  Orthodox  and  Hicksite  parties,  re- 
spectively. The  citizens,  with  enter- 
prise and  liberality  worthy  of  high 
commendation,  have  established,  un- 
der the  general  incorporation  law  of 
the  state,  a  library  company,  and  a 
Sunday  school  association,  which  has 
erected  a  commodious  house,  sup- 


posed to  be  the  first  designed  ex- 
pressly and  exclusively  for  Sunday 
schools  in  the  world ;  and  a  second 
Sunday  school  house  is  about  to 
be  built  by  the  Methodists  here.  A 
joint  stock  company  have  reared 
the  "Athenian  Academy"  a  noble 
building  68  feet  long  by  36  wide, 
two  stories  high ;  the  upper  used  as 
a  lecture  room;  costing  5000  dol- 
lars, and  which  was  opened  for  lite- 
rary exercises  12th  August,  1833,  by 
a  neat  and  exciting  address  from  the 
president  of  the  trustees  of  the  insti- 
tution, Mr.  Robert  Lee.  The  tutors 
of  this  seminary  have  fixed  sala- 
ries, and  are  thus  relieved  from  the 
anxiety  and  distraction  of  mind  aris- 
ing from  uncertain  and  precarious 
compensation.  But  we  may  observe 
also,  that  the  stimulus  to  exertion 
and  the  attainment  of  excellence,  has 
been  in  a  great  measure  thereby  re- 
moved. The  professors  in  the  schools 
of  Germany,  certainly  inferior  to 
none  in  the  world,  are  supported  by 
their  pupils,  whose  number  depends 
on  the  reputation  of  the  teachers. 
Perhaps  the  best  mode  of  compensa- 
tion, is  that  which,  providing  certain 
subsistence,  leaves  merit  to  find  its 
own  reward  from  popular  favour. 
"The  Athenian  Academy",  had  106 
pupils  in  the  first  week  of  its  exist- 
ence. Besides  this  institution,  Rahway 
has  six  common  public  schools,  and 
a  very  large  and  commodious  literary 
institution,  built  and  directed  by  Mr. 
Samuel  Oliver.  There  are  also  in 
the  village  a  bank,  called  the  "  Farm- 
ers and  Mechanics,"  incorporated  in 
1828,  with  an  authorized  capital  of 
8200,000,  of  which  60,000  have 
been  paid  in ;  a  fire  engine,  a  mutual 
insurance  company,  and  a  printing 
office;  from  which  issues  a  weekly 
paper,  called  the  Rahway  Advocate ; 
25  stores,  4  taverns,  (and  be  it  re- 
membered, 10  schools,)  a  large  build- 
ing called  "  The  Taurino  Factory," 
originally  designed  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  coarse  cloth  and  carpets  from 
cow's  hair,  but  about  to  be  employed 
in  the  colouring  and  printing  of  silk  ; 
the  "Mammoth  Saw  Mill,"  said  to 


RAH 


223 


RAM 


be  the  largest  in  the  state ;  belonging 
to  Mr.  Joseph  O.  Lufberry,  and  for 
the  supply  of  which,  there  was  in 
the  river,  in  September,  1833,  more 
than  $30,000  worth  of  pine  and  oak 
timber ;  a  steam-boat  company,  whose 
operations  will  probably  be  super- 
seded by  the  Jersey  rail-road  now 
making ;  5  lumber  and  coal  yards,  1 
soap  and  candle  manufactory,  3 
bakeries,  2  watchmakers,  4  millinery 
shops,  and  extensive  manufactories 
of  hats,  boots,  shoes,  carriages,  cabi- 
net furniture,  and  clothing  for  export ; 
clock,  earthenware,  coach-lace,  plated 
ware  for  carriages,  &c.  &c.  On  the 
Rahway  river,  some  distance  above 
the  town,  are  extensive  cotton  bleach- 
ing and  printing  works,  employing 
about  100  hands.  The  amount  of 
capital  vested  in  manufactures  here 
and  in  the  neighbourhood,  is  estimat- 
ed at  356,000  dollars,  and  the  sur- 
plus product  of  the  town  and  its  vici- 
nity, at  from  1,000,000  to  1,200,000 
annually.  Thriving  as  this  place 
certainly  is,  new  stimulus  will  be 
given  to  its  activity  by  the  rail-road 
now  being  made  from  "  Jersey  City" 
to  New  Brunswick,  which  will  pass 
through  the  village,  and  thus  bring 
it  within  an  hour's  journey  of  New 
York.  The  town  has  now  commu- 
nication thrice  daily  with  New  York, 
by  stages  and  steam-boats  via  Eliza- 
bethtown  Point,  and  also  by  other 
conveyances. 

The  soil,  for  many  miles  around 
the  town,  is  well  adapted  to  grass 
and  grain,  consisting  of  a  fertile 
loam  resting  on  sand,  gravel  and  red 
shale,  and  much  hay  and  grain  are 
annually  sent  to  market.  In  1830, 
the  population  of  Woodbridge  town- 
ship was  3909,  and  of  Rahway  town- 
ship, 1983,  making  in  the  two  town- 
ships in  which  the  village  lies,  5952 
souls.  It  is  said,  the  population  of 
these  townships,  now,  1833,  amounts 
to  10,000;  but,  though  the  increase 
is  certainly  great,  we  fear  it  has  been 
overrated. 

We  insert  verbatim,  the  following 
remark,  which  needs  no  comment, 
made  by  a  highly  respectable  inha 


bitant  of  the  town.  "Leesville,  at 
the  southern  part  of  the  town,  takes 
ts  name  from  a  family  named  Lee, 
who  have  long  resided  there,  and 
furnished  our  most  enterprising  and 
public  spirited  citizens ;  and  as  mer- 
chants and  manufacturers,  were  the 
first  to  lead  the  way  to  our  extensive 
trade  with  the  southern  states,  and 
who  have,  by  their  industry  and  per- 
severance, liberality  and  enlightened 
views  in  other  respects,  greatly  added 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  town." 

Rahway  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  bound- 
ed N.'  W.  by  Union,  and  N.  E.  by 
Elizabeth  t-ship ;  E.  by  Staten  Island 
Sound ;  S.  by  Woodbridge  t-ship, 
Middlesex  co.;  and  W.  by  West- 
field  t-ship.  Centrally  distant,  S. 
W.  from  Newark,  9  miles.  Greatest 
length,  E.  and  W.,  8 ;  breadth,  N. 
and  S.,  4-|  miles  ;  area,  10,000  acres; 
surface,  level;  soil,  red  shale  and 
well  cultivated.  Drained  by  the  Rah- 
way river,  which  runs  S.  centrally 
through  the  township,  and  bounds  it 
on  the  S.  E. ;  by  Robinson's  brook, 
a  tributary  of  that  stream;  and  by 
Moss's  creek,  which,  after  a  crooked 
course  of  about  7  miles,  empties  into 
the  Sound,  on  the  N.  E.  boundary. 
Rahway  post-town,  is  the  only  vil- 
lage of  the  township,  and  one-half  of 
that  is  in  the  adjoining  county.  Po- 
pulation in  1830,  1983.  In  1832, 
there  were  in  the  township,  375  tax- 
ables,  177  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30;  117  single 
men,  5  merchants,  6  grist  mills,  4 
saw  mills,  1  paper  mill,  1  printing 
and  bleaching  establishment,  254 
horses  and  mules,  and  711  neat  cat- 
tle, over  3  years  of  age ;  and  it  paid 
state  tax,  $212  98 ;  county,  $557  25  ; 
poor,  $600;  road,  $400. 

Ramapo  River,  rises  in  the  re- 
cesses of  Sterling  mountain,  Orange 
co.,  New  York;  and  flows  thence  by 
a  S.  course,  dividing  the  Ramapo 
mountain,  to  the  boundary  between 
that  state  and  New  Jersey,  14  miles; 
thence,  deflecting  S.  W.  it  follows 
the  base  of  the  mountain,  13  miles 
to  Pompton  river,  about  2  miles  be- 
low Ryerson's,  forming  in  part,  the 


RAN 


224 


RAR 


boundary  between  Franklin  and 
Pompton  townships.  It  is  a  fine  mill 
stream,  receiving  several  small  tri- 
butaries from  the  east,  which  also 
move  mills. 

Ramapo  Mountain,  Bergen  co.,  is 
a  high  hill  of  angular  form,  with  its 
base  upon  Ramapo  river,  in  the  state 
of  New  York,  and  enclosed  by  that 
river  on  the  east,  and  Ringwood  river 
on  the  west;  partly  in  Pompton  and 
partly  in  Franklin  townships.  Its 
breadth,  at  the  base,  is  about  5  miles, 
and  its  length  about  10.  Its  height 
under  1000  feet,  composed  of  primi- 
tive rock,  and  covered  with  wood. 

Ramsaysburg,  p-t.  of  Knowlton 
t-ship,  Warren  co.,  on  the  bank  of 
the  Delaware,  215  miles  N.  E. 
from  W.  C.,  and  59  from  Trenton, 
and  5  miles  N.  from  Belvidere.  Con- 
tains a  tavern,  store,  an  Episcopal 
church,  and  some  half  dozen  dwell- 
ings. 

Rancocus  Creek,  rises  by  two 
branches ;  the  north,  on  the  western 
border  of  Monmouth  county,  flowing 
a  little  north  of  west,  about  28  miles, 
passing  by  the  town  of  Mount  Holly, 
to  which  place  it  is  navigable;  the 
south  branch,  composed  of  several 
streams,  which  have  their  source  in 
Burlington  county,  and  flow  north- 
westward, uniting  at  Eayrstown,  and 
thence  running  by  Lumberton,  to  the 
junction  with  the  north  branch,  four 
miles  below  that  town.  This  branch 
is  navigable  to  Eayrstown.  The  uni- 
ted streams  continue  a  N.  W.  course 
for  about  7  miles,  to  the  Delaware. 
The  wood,  timber,  and  produce  of  a 
large  extent  of  country  find  their  way 
to  market  by  this  stream. 

Randolph  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Rockaway  river,  which  se- 
parates it  from  Pequannock  t-ship; 
E.  by  Hanover  and  Morris  t-ships ; 
S.  by  Mendham ;  S.  E.  by  Chester, 
and  W.  by  Roxbury  t-ships.  Cen- 
trally distant,  N.  W.,  from  Morris- 
town,  7  miles ;  greatest  length,  7 ; 
breadth,  5  miles ;  area,  18,000  acres; 
surface,  mountainous — Schooley's 
mountain,  filling  the  northern  part, 
and  Trowbridge  mountain  crossing 


the  southern.  In  the  valley,  between 
them,  rises  and  flows  Den  branch  of 
Rockaway  river.  Black  river  has 
one  of  its  sources  in  the  northern 
mountain,  near  the  seat  of  the  ho- 
nourable Mahlon  Dickerson,  Esq., 
near  which  also  rises  Dell's  brook,  a 
tributary  of  the  Rockaway,  flowing 
eastward  through  Pleasant  valley. 
The  great  bed  of  magnetic  iron  ore 
which  may  be  traced  in  the  direction 
of  the  stratification  from  the  White 
Hills,  in  New  Hampshire,  terminates 
in  this  township  near  the  Black  river, 
upon  its  western  boundary.  On  this 
becV  the  mine  of  Mr.  Dickerson  is 
remarkable  for  the  abundance  and 
excellent  quality  of  its  product,  and 
the  skill  with  which  it  is  wrought ;  and 
the  ore  is  transported  in  wagons  and 
by  the  Morris  canal,  to  the  furnaces 
and  forges,  not  only  of  this  county, 
but  of  the  neighbouring  counties  and 
states.  This  mine  has  been  wrought 
many  years.  Shafts  have  been  sunk 
to  the  depth  of  70  feet,  and  drifts  dri- 
ven more  than  120  feet.  There  is 
carbonate  of  lime  mingled  with  the 
iron,  which  renders  any  other  flux 
unnecessary  in  smelting.  In  1830, 
the  population  of  the  township  was 
1443  souls;  and  in  1832,  the  town- 
ship contained  324  taxables,  78 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  830;  40  single  men,  5  stores, 
6  saw  and  4  grist  mills,  1  furnace,  1 
forge,  1  oil  mill,  1  fulling  mill,  1 
carding  machine,  35  tan  vats,  250 
horses,  and  770  neat  cattle  over  three 
years  of  age,  4  distilleries ;  and  it 
paid  state  tax,  $156  70;  county  tax, 
$350  82 ;  poor  tax,  $800 ;  road  tax, 


Raritan  River,  is  formed  by  three 
great  branches,  the  North,  the  South, 
and  the  Millstone  river.  (For  a  de- 
scription of  the  last,  see  article  Mill- 
stone River.)  The  North  Branch 
rises  in  the  valley  N.  of  Trowbridge 
mountain,  in  Randolph  t-ship,  Morris 
co.,  and  flows  S.  through  that  and 
Somerset  co.,  to  the  main  branch  in 
Bridgewater  t-ship,  of  the  latter,  about 
4  miles  W.  of  Somerville,  receiving 
in  its  course,  Black  or  Lamington 


RAR 


225 


REA 


river,  a  stream  longer  and  larger 
than  itself,  and  several  smaller  tribu- 
taries. Passing  through  a  mountain- 
ous country,  it  is  a  rapid  stream,  with 
a  pretty  direct  course,  and  gives  mo- 
tion to  several  mills.  The  South 
Branch  has  its  source  in  Budd's  pond 
or  lake,  on  the  summit  of  Schooley's 
mountain,  and  within  three  miles,  be- 
comes an  efficient  mill  stream,  turn- 
ing several  water  works.  It  flows 
by  a  S.  W.  course,  through  the  chain 
of  hills  of  the  South  mountain  to 
Clinton;  thence  deflects  easterly 
through  the  same  chain,  passing 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Fleming- 
ton,  to  the  western  boundary  of  So- 
merset co. ;  thence  turned  to  the  N. 
W.  by  the  Nashanic  mountain,  it 
receives  the  North  Branch,  and  by 
an  easterly  course,  traverses  that 
county  to  the  eastern  boundary: 
flowing  within  two  miles  of  Somer- 
ville,  and  receiving  the  Millstone 
river  from  the  south,  about  three 
miles  from  that  town.  From  Bound 
Brook  it  reassumes  a  S.  E.  course, 
and  forms  the  boundary  between  So- 
merset and  Middlesex  counties,  to 
New  Brunswick ;  thence  through  the 
latter  county  by  a  winding  course  in 
the  salt  marsh,  it  meets  the  ocean  at 
Perth  Amboy.  From  this  point  the 
Raritan  bay  extends  to  the  light- 
house on  Sandy  Hook,  14  miles. 
The  length  of  the  river  is  from  Am- 
boy to  New  Brunswick,  by  the  wind- 
ings 15  miles;  from  New  Brunswick 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Millstone  10; 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Millstone  to 
the  mouth  of  the  North  Branch  7; 
and  from  thence  to  its  source,  42 
miles;  in  all  74  miles.  It  may  be 
navigated  by  small  boats  beyond 
Bound  Brook ;  but  we  believe  this  is 
never  attempted  above  New  Bruns- 
wick. To  that  town,  sloops,  schoon- 
ers, and  steam-boats  of  considerable 
burden  ascend.  The  Delaware  and 
Raritan  canal  enters  the  valley  of  the 
river  at  the  mouth  of  the  Millstone, 
and  terminates  at  New  Brunswick. 
Immediately  above  Brunswick  the 
river  may  be  forded  at  low  water 
when  below  the  town  a  20  gun  ship 

2F 


may  securely  ride.  In  high  tide, 
however,  sloops  may  pass  a  mile 
ibove  the  ford.  The  bridge  opposite 
he  city,  near  1000  feet  in  length, 
wide  enough  for  two  carriages  to  pass 
abreast,  with  a  foot  way,  built  of 
wood,  on  11  stone  piers  beside  the 
abutments,  was  first  completed  in 
1796;  and  rebuilt  by  a  joint  stock 
company,  in  1811. 

Raritan  Bay,  extends  from  the 
mouth  of  Raritan  river,  at  Perth  Am- 
3oy  eastward,  14  miles  to  the  ocean, 
at  Sandy  Hook,  and  is  about  2  miles 
wide  at  Amboy  Point,  but  increases 
"n  width  between  Sandy  Hook  and 
the  Narrows  at  Fort  Richmond  on 
Staten  Island.  There  are  two  chan- 
nels through  the  bay.  The  northern 
carries  from  24  to  28  feet  water  to 
Amboy;  the  southern  about  12  feet. 
The  bay  abounds  with  oysters,  and 
the  lands  beneath  the  water,  claimed 
by  the  state,  are  in  part  divided  into 
small  lots,  and  granted  on  rent  (bad- 
ly paid)  to  the  fishermen.  More  than 
250  acres  have  been  thus  leased,  on 
which  oysters  are  planted  from  time 
to  time,  whose  increase  gives  large 
annual  profits  to  those  concerned  in 
the  fishery.  (See  Perth  Amboy.) 

Raritan  Landing,  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Raritan  river,  at  the  head  of 
tide  water,  and  two  miles  above  New 
Brunswick,  in  Piscataway  township, 
Middlesex  co.  This  is  a  place  of 
considerable  business ;  contains  some 
20  dwellings,  2  stores  and  a  tavern, 
chiefly  on  the  primitive  bank  of  the 
river,  which  is  here  high,  and  having 
between  it  and  the  water,  a  broad  bot- 
tom of  rich  alluvial  land.  There  is  a 
wooden  bridge  here  across  the  river. 

Rattle  Snake  Run,  branch  of  Mill 
creek,  Fairfield  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.,  uniting  with  its  recipient  at  the 
village  of  Fairton. 

Readington  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Tewkesbury  t-ship; 
E.  by  Bridgewater  t-ship,  Somerset 
co.;  S.  and  S.  W.  by  Amwell  t-ship ; 
W.  by  Kingwood,  and  N.  W.  by 
Bethlehem  t-ship.  Centrally  distant 
N.  E.  from  Flemington  8  miles; 
length  N.  and  S.  12  milee;  breadth 


RED 


226 


RIN 


E.  and  W.  7£  miles;  surface,  hilly, 
except  on  the  S.  E.  where  it  is  level ; 
soil,  red  shale,  clay,  and  loam.  The 
South  Branch  of  the  Raritan  river, 
flows  on  the  S.  W.,  S.,  and  S.  E.  of 
the  t-ship,  and  receives  from  it  Camp- 
bell's and  Holland's  Brooks.  The 
northern  part  is  drained  by  Rocka- 
way  creek  and  its  branches.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  2102.  In  1832  there 
were  in  the  t-ship  7  merchants,  5 
saw  mills,  7  grist  mills,  6  distilleries, 
2  carding  machines,  and  2  fulling 
mills,  705  horses  and  mules,  1200 
neat  cattle  over  3  years  of  age.  The 
t-ship  paid  state  and  county  taxes, 
81323  75.  White  House  and  Pot- 
terstown  are  post-towns  of  the  t-ship. 

Recklesstown,  p-t.  of  Chesterfield 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  12  miles  N. 
E.  of  Mount  Holly,  5  S.  E.  from  Bor- 
dentown,  11  from  Trenton,  and  177 
from  W.  C. ;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
and  10  or  12  dwellings,  in  a  very 
fertile  country  of  sandy  loam. 

Red  Sank,  p-t.  of  Shrewsbury 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  on  the  south 
shore  of  the  Nevisink  river,  46  miles 
E.  from  Trenton,  13  miles  N.  E.  from 
Freehold,  3  N.  from  Shrewsbury; 
contains  within  a  circle  of  a  mile  in 
diameter  about  100  dwellings,  3  ta- 
verns and  4  stores.  The  surrounding 
country  is  fertile  and  pleasant;  a 
steam-boat  runs  between  it  and  New 
York,  and  many  persons  from  that 
city  spend  the  hot  weather  of  summer 
here;  finding  very  agreeable  enter- 
tainment in  the  families  of  respectable 
farmers,  in  visits  to  the  sea  shore, 
in  fishing,  and  other  rural  sports. 
A  bridge  near  300  feet  in  length, 
resting  on  wooden  piers,  has  been 
thrown  across  the  river  here,  at  the 
expense  of  the  county. 

Red  Bank,  on  the  Delaware  river, 
between  Big  Timber  and  Woodbury 
creeks,  named  from  the  colour  of  the 
earth  of  which  it  is  composed;  re- 
markable for  a  fort  called  Mercer, 
erected  here  during  the  revolutionary 
war,  and  its  brave  and  successful  de- 
fence by  Col.  Green,  against  a  de- 
tachment from  the  British  army,  com- 
manded by  Count  Donop,  on  the  22d 


Oct.  1777;  in  which  the  Count  and 
many  officers  were  made  prisoners, 
and  a  lieutenant  colonel,  3  captains, 
4  lieutenants,  and  70  privates  were 
killed.  In  commemoration  of  this 
event,  a  monument  of  handsome  grey 
marble  has  been  reared,  bearing  the 
following  inscription. 

THIS  MONUMENT 

was  erected  on  the  22d  October,  1829, 
To  transmit  to  posterity,  a  grateful  re- 
membrance of  the 
Patriotism  and  Gallantry  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Christopher  Green,  who  with 
400  men,  conquered  the  Hessian  army 
of  2000  troops,  then  in  the  British 
service,  at  the  Red   Bank,  on 

the  22d  October,  3777. 
Among  the  wounded  was  found  their 

commander, 
COUNT  DONOP, 

who  died  of  his  wounds,  and  whose  body 
is  interred  near  the  spot  where  he  fell. 

A  number  of  the 
New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania 

volunteers, 

Being  desirous  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
of  the  distinguished  officers  and  sol- 
diers, who  fought  and  bled  in 
the  glorious  struggle  for 
American  Independence, 

HAVE 

Erected  this  Monument,  on  the  22d  day 
of  October,  Anno  Domini,  1829. 

Red  Lion,  hamlet  of  Northamp- 
ton t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  9  miles  S. 
W.  from  Mount  Holly. 

Reed's  Bay,  a  salt  marsh  lake  of 
Galloway  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  about 
2  miles  in  length,  and  I  in  breadth, 
communicating  with  Absecum  bay, 
and  with  the  ocean,  by  a  channel 
flowing  through  Absecum  inlet. 

Repaupo  Creek,  Gloucester  co., 
rises  on  the  line  separating  Green- 
wich from  Woolwich  t-ship,  and  flows 
N.  W.  7  or  8  miles,  to  the  Delaware 
river,  opposite  to  Chester  Island. 

Rice's  Pond,  Knowlton  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  source  of  Beaver  Brook, 
which  flows  thence  to  Pequest  creek, 
by  a  S.  W.  course  of  10  miles,  turn- 
ing several  mills  in  its  course. 

Ringwood  River,  rises  in  Sterling 
pond,  Sterling  mountain,  state  of  New 
York,  and  runs  by  a  southerly  course 
of  16  miles,  through  Pompton  t-ship, 
Bergen  co.,  to  the  Pequannock  creek, 
forming  with  it  Pompton  river.  It  is 


ROC 


227 


ROC 


a  rapid  mill  stream,  and  receives  seve- 
ral tributaries,  which  also  turn  mills. 

Ringwood,  village,  on  the  above 
stream,  and  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  the  state  line ;  contains  a  blast  fur- 
nace, a  forge,  a  store,  and  three  dwell- 
ings beside  those  for  the  workmen  at 
the  iron  works.  Surrounding  coun- 
try, mountainous  and  barren ;  distant 
24  miles  from  Hackensack. 

Ringoestown,  p-t.  of  Amwell  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co.,  6  miles  S.  of  Fle- 
mington,  17  N.  of  Trenton,  and  176 
N.  E.  from  W.  C.;  contains  1  ta- 
vern, 3  stores,  1  Presbyterian  church, 
an  academy,  and  26  dwellings,  sad- 
dlery, and  smith  shop,  cotton  and 
woollen  factory,  and  grist  mill.  This 
is  a  delightful  village,  lying  in  the 
valley  immediately  at  the  foot  of 
the  Rock  mountain,  and  upon  a  soil 
of  loam,  composed  of  red  shale  and 
clay,  very  deep,  and  highly  cultivated 
in  grain  and  grass.  Lands  imme- 
diately round  the  village,  readily 
bring  8100  the  acre,  and  those  more 
distant  in  the  valley,  $50  the  acre. 

Roadstown,  p-t.  of  Cumberland 
co.,  on  the  line  dividing  Stow  Creek 
and  Hopewell  t-ships,  5  miles  W.  of 
Bridgeton,  179  N.  E.  of  W.  C.,  and 
73  by  post-route  from  Trenton;  con- 
tains 20  dwellings,  1  tavern,  2  stores, 
and  a  large  Baptist  church  of  brick. 
The  town  is  peopled  principally  by 
the  cultivators  of  the  soil ;  the  soil  is 
good  loam,  and  improving  by  the  use 
of  marl. 

Robinhood,  branch  of  Maurice 
river,  a  small  tributary,  flowing  from 
the  east  into  the  river,  about  2  miles 
below  Maul's  bridge. 

Robin's,  branch  of  Batsto  river, 
rises  in  Northampton  t-ship,  Burling- 
ton co.,  and  flows  S.  W.  about  10 
miles,  to  its  recipient  in  Washington 
t-ship.  It  is  a  mill  stream. 

Robinson's  Brook,  tributary  of 
Rah  way  river,  rises  on  the  S.  W. 
border  of  Rahway  t-ship,  and  flows 
E.  by  a  course  of  about  6  miles,  to 
its  recipient  at  Bridgetown  or  Rah- 
way. 

Rockaway  river,  Morris  co.,  rises 
by  two  principal  branches  in  the 


mountains  of  Pequannock  and  Jeffer- 
son t-ships ;  the  one  flowing  through 
Longwood  valley,  and  the  other 
through  Green  Pond  valley,  and 
commingling  about  a  mile  S.  E.  of 
Mount  Pleasant.  The  united  streams, 
thence,  flow  through  a  deep  and  rapid 
channel,  by  a  very  serpentine  course 
of  about  20  miles,  to  the  Passaic  river. 
The  volume  and  fall  of  this  stream 
adapt  it  admirably  to  hydraulic  pur- 
poses, and  there  are  many  mills  upon 
it,  principally  for  working  of  iron,  as 
at  Dover,  Rockaway  village,  Boon- 
ton,  &c. 

Rockaway  Valley,  of  Hanover  and 
Pequannock  t-ships,  Morris  co.,  north 
of  Trowbridge  mountain ;  a  narrow 
vale  crossed  by  the  Rockaway  river. 

Rockaway,  p-t.  of  Morris  co.,  on 
both  banks  of  the  Rockaway  river, 
8  miles  N.  of  Morristown,  229  N.  E. 
from  W.  C.,  and  63  from  Trenton ; 
contains  1  rolling  mill,  2  forges,  1 
grist  and  saw  mill,  4  stores,  1  tavern, 
a  Presbyterian  or  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  and  from  20  to  25  dwellings. 
The  Morris  canal  passes  through  the 
village. 

Rocky  Hill,  one  of  the  chain  of 
trap  rock  hills,  which  extend  from 
the  Delaware,  below  Lambertsville, 
N.  E.  across  the  state,  in  Amwell 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  and  in  Mont- 
gomery t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  about  2 
miles  N.  of  Princeton.  The  sur- 
face of  this  hill  is  rugged;  soil,  deep 
clay,  covered  with  heavy  timber.  It 
extends  E.  and  W.  about  6  miles,  to 
the  Millstone  river,  which  seems  to 
have  forced  a  passage  through  it. 

Rocky  Hill,  p-t.,  Montgomery 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,  at  the  N.  E. 
base  of  Rocky  hill,  on  the  Millstone 
river,  and  turnpike  road  from  New 
Brunswick  to  Lambertsville,  12  miles 
S.  W.  of  Somerville,  185  N.  E.  from 
W.  C.,  and  14  from  Trenton;  con- 
tains a  grist  and  saw  mill,  a  woollen 
manufactory,  2  stores,  2  taverns,  and 
12  or  15  dwellings. 

Rockaway  Creek,  Hunterdon  co., 
rises  by  two  branches ;  one  from  the 
northern  part  of  Tewkesbury  t-ship, 
and  the  other  from  the  western  border 


ROU 


228 


RYE 


of  Readington  t-ship,  uniting  in  the 
latter  t-ship,  and  thence  flowing  into 
Lamington  river,  or  the  north  branch 
of  the  Raritan.  By  its  longest  arm 
the  stream  has  a  course  of  12  miles. 
It  is  a  fine,  rapid  mill  stream. 

Rock  Brook,  tributary  of  Beden's 
Brook,  rises  in  the  Nashanic  moun- 
tain, Amwell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
and  by  a  S.  E.  course  of  about  6 
miles,  unites  with  its  recipient  near 
the  centre  of  Montgomery  t-ship,  So- 
merset co. 

Rock  Mountain,  fills  the  S.  E. 
angle  of  Amwell  t-ship,  and  the  N. 
E.  angle  of  Hopewell  t-ship,  Hunter- 
don co.,  and  extends  N.  E.  into  So- 
merset co.,  having  a  length  of  about 

10  miles,    with    a    very    irregular 
breadth.    On  the  north  it  sends  forth 
tributaries  to  the  south  branch  of  the 
Raritan  river,  and  on  the  south  to 
the  Millstone  river.     The  hill  is  of 
trap  rock,  imposed  on  old,  red  sand- 
stone. 

Rocksbury,  village  of  Oxford  t-sp, 
Warren  co.,  5  miles  S.  of  Belvidere, 
upon  the  road  leading  to  Philipsburg ; 
contains  a  tavern,  store,  2  grist  and  1 

011  mill,  an  air  furnace  for  small  cast- 
ings,  and  from  15  to  20  dwellings. 

Rocktown,  small  hamlet,  of  Am- 
well t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  7  miles 
S.  of  Flemington ;  contains  1  tavern, 
1  store,  and  some  2  or  3  dwellings. 
It  lies  in  the  pass  through  the  Rock 
mountain,  and  is  named  from  the 
abundance  of  large  rocks  around  it. 

Rocky  Brook)  a  tributary  of  Mill- 
stone river,  rises  in  Upper  Freehold 
t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  above  Imlay's 
mill,  and  flows  by  a  N.  W.  course 
through  East  Windsor  t-ship,  Middle- 
sex co.,  about  9  miles  to  its  recipient, 
on  the  boundary  of  South  Brunswick 
t-ship,  passing  through  Hightstown, 
and  turning  several  mills. 

Rotten  Pond)  covering  about  150 
acres,  on  the  boundary  between  Frank- 
lin and  Pompton  t-ships,  Bergen  co., 
and  on  the  Ramapo  mountain. 

Round  Valley,  in  the  S.  E.  angle 
of  Lebanon  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
nearly  surrounded  by  mountains; 
drained  by  Piscot  Brook,  a  tributary 


f  the  south  branch  of  the  Raritan 
iver. 

Rowandtown,  small  village  of 
Newton  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  on  the 
road  from  Camden  to  Haddonfield, 
about  4  miles  from  the  former,  and  2 
from  the  latter ;  contains  some  6  or  8 
dwellings,  and  several  mechanics;  sur- 
rounded by  a  country  of  sandy  loam. 

Roxbury  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  and  W.  by  the  Hopatcong 
lake  and  Musconetcong  river,  which 
separates  it  from  Warren  and  Sussex 
counties;  N.  E.  by  Jefferson  t-ship; 
E.  by  Randolph;  S,  E.  by  Chester; 
and  S.  W.  by  Washington  t-ships. 
Centrally  distant  from  Morristown  N. 
W.  14  miles;  greatest  length  N.  and 
S.  12,  breadth  E.  and  W.  10  miles; 
area,  35,840  acres ;  surface,  gene- 
rally mountainous;  but  the  Sucka- 
unny  Plains  extend  some  miles  in 
length,  by  two  or  three  in  breadth. 
Schooley's  mountain  fills  the  greater 
portion  of  its  area.  On  its  summit 
lies  Budd's  Pond,  two  miles  in  length 
by  one  in  breadth,  whence  flows  a 
tributary  of  the  south  branch  of  the 
Raritan  river;  the  main  stream  of 
which  has  its  source  in  a  small  pond, 
two  miles  north  of  Drakesville,  in 
this  t-ship.  Black  river  forms,  in  part, 
its  eastern  boundary.  On  the  moun- 
tain the  soil  is  clay  and  loam,  but 
limestone  is  even  there  mixed  with 
the  granitic  rock,  and  is  found  in  the 
valley  on  the  S.  W.  Flanders,  Sucka- 
sunny,  Drakestown,  and  Drakesville, 
are  villages  of  the  t-ship ;  at  the  two 
first  of  .which  are  post-offices.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  2262.  In  1832  the 
t-ship  contained  410  taxables,  92 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  830  in  value;  44  single  men, 
4  stores,  9  saw,  10  grist,  and  2  full- 
ing mills,  16  tan  vats,  8  distilleries, 
15  chairs  and  sulkies;  and  it  paid 
state  tax,  8261  07;  county  tax, 
$584  51 ;  poor  tax,  8300  ;  and  road 
tax,  8800. 

Roxbury.     (See  Rocksbury.) 

Ryersons,   a  village  at  and  near 

the  junction   of  Ringwood  and  Pe- 

quannock  rivers,  in  the  S.  E.  angle 

of  Pompton  t-ship.     There  are  here 


SAD 


229 


SAL 


1  tavern,  3  grist  mills,  a  carding  ma- 
chine, a  furnace,  and  store,  a  Dutch 
Reformed  church,  an  academy,  and 
from  15  to  20  dwellings;  surrounded 
by  a  rich  and  productive  country.  The 
post-office  is  at  Pompton,  on  the  right 
side  of  the  river,  in  Morris  co. 

Roy"*s  Brook,  a  tributary  of  the 
Millstone  river,  rising  at  the  S.  E. 
foot  of  Nashanic  mountain,  and  flow- 
ing by  a  devious,  but  generally,  N. 
E.  course  of  about  7  or  8  miles,  to 
its  recipient,  below  Rogers'  mill. 

Saddle  River ,  rises  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  3  or  4  miles  beyond  the 
northern  boundary  of  this  state,  and 
flows  thence,  southwardly,  about  18 
miles,  through  Bergen  co.,  forming 
the  boundary  between  Franklin  and 
Harrington  t-ships,  Saddle  River,  and 
New  Barbadoes,  and  Lodi  t-ships,  to 
its  recipient,  the  Passaic  river,  about 
a  mile  above  Acquackanonck.  It  has 
a  rapid  course,  and  considerable  vo- 
lume, and  mills  are  strung  thickly 
along  its  banks.  The  valley  through 
which  it  flows  is  broad,  and  shows 
evidence  in  the  gravel,  and  boulders, 
and  water-worn  hills,  that  at  some 
day,  a  much  larger  volume  of  water 
ran  through  it. 

Saddle  River  t-ship.  The  t-ship 
and  river  both  have  their  name  from 
the  shape  of  the  former,  which  re- 
ceives from  the  Passaic  river  the 
shape  .of  a  saddle.  It  is  bounded  N. 
by  Franklin  t-ship;  E.  by  Saddle 
river,  separating  it  from  Harrington, 
New  Barbadoes,  and  Lodi  t-ships ; 
S.  by  the  Passaic  river;  and  W.  by 
Pompton  river,  which  divides  it  from 
Morris  co.,  and  by  Pompton  t-ship. 
Centrally  distant  N.  W.  from  Hack- 
ensacktown  8  miles:  greatest  length 
E.  and  W.  10  miles;  breadth  N.  and 
S.  8  miles;  area,  41,000  acres,  of 
which,  about  17,000  are  improved: 
the  surface  is  generally  hilly,  the 
First  and  Second  mountains  of  Essex 
co.,  crossing  the  Passaic  and  continu- 
ing through  it.  On  the  east,  how- 
ever, between  the  Passaic  and  Saddle 
rivers,  there  is  a  neck  of  low  and 
level  land ;  soil,  red  shale  and  loam  ; 
the  valleys  fertile  and  well  cultivated, 


and  the  hills  well  wooded.  Through 
the  valleys  flow  several  small  brooks, 
such  as  Singack,  Preakness,  Kro- 
kaevall,  Goffle,  and  Ackerman's 
Brooks.  Goffle,  and  New  Manches- 
ter, a  part  of  Paterson  City,  are  the 
chief  villages  of  the  t-ship.  Popula- 
tion in  1830,  3397.  In  1832  there 
were  741  taxables,  496  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30  in 
value;  80  single  men,  7  stores,  8 
grist  mills,  1  cotton  manufactory,  1 
furnace,  10  saw  mills,  13  tan  vats,  2 
distilleries,  1  wool  factory,  506  horses 
and  mules,  and  1 324  neat  cattle  over 
3  years  of  age  ;  and  it  paid  state  tax, 
$364  10;  and  county  tax,  $690  26. 
Salem  County  has  its  name  from 
its  chief  town  and  seat  of  justice,  Sa- 
lem, founded  by  John  Fenwicke,  in 
the  year  1675.  By  the  act  for  ascer- 
taining the  bounds  of  all  the  counties 
in  the  province,  passed  21st  January, 
1710,  the  following  were  the  bounda- 
ries given  to  it :  "  Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  a  creek  on  the  west  side  of 
Stipson's  island,  called  Jecak's  creek, 
now  West  creek;  thence  by  said 
creek  as  high  as  the  tide  floweth; 
thence  by  a  direct  line  to  the  mouth 
of  a  small  creek  at  Tuckahoe,  where 
it  comes  into  the  southernmost  main 
branch  of  the  fork  of  the  Great  Egg 
Harbour  river;  thence  up  the  said 
branch  to  the  head  thereof;  thence 
along  the  bounds  of  Gloucester  coun- 
ty to  the  river  Delaware,  and  thence 
by  the  river  and  bay  to  the  place  of 
beginning;  and  thus  it  included  the 
whole  of  Cumberland  county.  The 
latter  county  was  taken  from  it  by 
the  act  of  19th  Jan.  1748;  and  the 
boundaries  then  established,  confirm- 
ed by  the  act  of  7th  Dec.  1763,  by 
which  the  southern  boundary  of  Sa- 
lem county  was  then  fixed  as  follows  : 
Commencing  at  the  middle  of  the 
mouth  of  Stow  creek ;  thence  by  the 
same,  opposite  to  the  mills  formerly 
of  John  Brick ;  thence  up  the  middle 
of  Stow  creek  branch  opposite  the 
house  of  Hugh  Dunn ;  thence  by  a 
direct  line  to  said  house,  leaving  it  in 
Cumberland  county ;  and  thence  by  a 
straight  line  N.  51°  15'  E.  94  chains, 


SAL 


230 


SAL 


to  the  house  of  Aziel  Pierson,  leav- 
ing that  also  in  Cumberland  county  ; 
thence  N.  E.  by  a  line  intersecting 
the  line  of  Pilesgrove  t-ship,  305 
chains ;  thence  by  Pilesgrove  line  S. 
47°  E.  to  the  middle  of  Maurice  river, 
below  the  mouth  of  Muddy  run ;  thence 
up  the  middle  of  said  river  to  the  foot 
of  Scotland  branch ;  thence  up  the 
middle  of  said  branch  to  Gloucester 
line."  The  county  is,  therefore,  now 
bounded  by  the  Delaware  bay  and 
river  on  the  S.  W.,  W.,  and  N.  W.; 
by  Gloucester  co.  on  the  N.  E ;  and 
Cumberland  co,  on  the  S.  E.  Great- 
est length  N.  and  S.  about  30  miles ; 
breadth  E.  and  W.  26  miles ;  area, 
320  square  miles,  or  204,936  acres  ; 
central  lat.  39°  33';  long,  from  W. 
C.  1°  50'  E. 

The  surface  of  the  county  is  gene- 
rally flat.  Its  soil,  in  the  northern 
and  western  parts,  clay  and  loam, 
mixed  more  or  less  with  sand,  and 
generally  productive,  in  wheat,  grass, 
oats,  &c.  In  the  south-eastern  parts, 
the  soil  is  sandy  and  gravelly,  and 
less  fertile,  but  yielding  much  tim- 
ber and  cord  wood  of  oak  and  pine, 
which  succeed  alternately  when  a 
clearing  is  made.  This  is  particu- 
larly the  case  with  a  strip  of  about 
20  miles  long,  extending  across  Lower 
and  Upper  Alloways  Creek  and  Pitts- 
grove  t-ships,  denominated  the  Bar- 
rens. The  county  is  well  watered, 
having  Oldman's  creek  on  its  north- 
ern boundary,  Salem  and  Alloways 
creeks  running  through  it  centrally, 
and  Stow  creek  on  the  southern  li- 
mits. 

The  county  consists  of  alluvial  and 
diluvial  formation,  the  washings  of 
the  ocean  and  the  primitive  strata, 
being  very  irregularly  mingled,  and 
beds  of  stiff  clay,  loam,  and  gravel, 
are  interspersed  with  white  sea  sand. 
From  two  to  twenty  feet  below  the 
surface,  in  several  places,  there  is 
found  a  species  of  greenish  blue  marl, 
as  at  Pedricktown  and  Woodstown, 
which  is  used  as  manure.  In  it  there 
are  shells,  as  the  ammonite,  belem- 
nite,  ovulite,  ostrea,  terebratula,  dec. 
similar  to  those  found  in  the  limestone 


and  grauwacke  of  the  transition ;  and 
in  the  horizontal  limestone  and  sand- 
stone. We  have  not  heard  of  any 
bog  iron  ore  in  the  county,  though  it 
probably  exists;  but  sandstone  and 
puddingstone,  cemented  with  iron  ore, 
are  not  uncommon. 

Salem,  Woodstown,  Sharptown, 
Sculltown,  Pedricktown,  Daretown, 
Pittstown,  Allowaystown,  Friesburg, 
Canton,  Hancock's  Bridge,  and  Quin- 
ton's  Bridge,  are  villages  of  the  co. 

The  county  was  originally  settled 
by  Dutch  and  Swedes;  and  subse- 
quently by  the  English,  companions 
of  John  Fenwicke,  who  landed  here 
in  1675;  and  it  derived  its  principal 
inhabitants  from  the  same  source. 
Some  Dutch  fixed  themselves  at, 
and  gave  name  to,  Friesburg,  in  Up- 
per Alloways  Creek  t-ship.  The 
population  by  the  census  of  1830, 
amounted  to  14,155,  of  whom,  6443 
were  white  males;  6300  white  fe- 
males; 1  slave;  673  free  coloured 
males,  and  638  free  coloured  females. 
There  were  also  in  the  county,  6 
whites,  deaf  and  dumb;  7  blind,  and 
27  aliens;  and  in  1832,  taxables, 
3092;  1103  householders,  whose  ra- 
tables  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  47  store- 
keepers, 6  fisheries,  13  grist  mills,  19 
saw  mills,  2  carding  machines  with 
spinning  machines  for  wool,  6  fulling 
mills,  7  tanneries,  15  distilleries,  19 
stud  horses,  3103  horses  and  mules, 
7300  neat  cattle,  over  3  years  of  age ; 
and  the  county  paid  for  t-ship  pur- 
poses, $5076;  for  county  purposes, 
$7000;  and  state  tax,  $2156  60. 

There  were  in  the  county  7  Friends' 
meeting  houses,  6  Methodist,  5  Bap- 
tist, 1  Seven-day  Baptist,  2  Episco- 
palian, 2  Presbyterian,  and  2  Afri- 
can Methodist  churches ;  1  academy 
at  Salemtown,  and  sufficient  other 
schools  there,  and  in  every  t-ship,  to 
teach  the  rudiments  of  an  English 
education. 

The  other  public  buildings  of  the 
county  consist  of  a  large  court-house, 
with  fire  proof  offices  detached,  of 
brick;  a  stone  prison,  a  large  poor- 
house,  with  a  farm  annexed,  and  two 
buildings  erected  for  masonic  halls. 


SAL 


231 


SAL 


The  trade  of  the  county  consists 
of  wheat,  rye,  Indian  corn,  oats,  and 
garden  vegetables  for  market,  lumber, 
and  cord  wood.  Considerable  quan- 
tities of  grain  are  annually  exported 
from  Salem  to  the  Eastern  states. 

The  courts  of  common  pleas  and 
general  quarter  sessions  of  the  peace, 
for  the  county,  are  annually  holden 


at  Salem,  on  the  first  Tuesdays  of 
March  and  December,  the  second 
Tuesday  of  June,  and  the  third  Tues- 
day of  September;  and  the  circuit 
court,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  June 
and  the  first  Tuesday  of  September. 
The  county,  by  virtue  of  the  constitu- 
tion, elects  one  member  of  council, 
and  three  members  of  the  Assembly. 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  SALEM  COUNTY. 


rf 

I 

Population. 

Townships. 

"So 
a 

* 

rt 
v 

Area. 

Surface. 

« 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Upper  Alloways  Creek, 

104 

9 

34,000 

p't  level,  rolling. 

192li     2194 

2136 

Lower  Alloways  Creek, 

12 

9 

30,000 

level. 

1182 

1217 

1222 

Elsinborough, 

6 

4 

8000 

do. 

517 

505 

503 

Mannington, 

9 

8 

20,000 

do. 

1664 

1732 

1726 

Upper  Penn's  Neck, 

9 

7^ 

21,053 

do. 

1638 

1861 

1638 

Lower  Penn's  Neck, 

9 

6 

12,645 

do. 

1163 

1158 

994 

Pilesgrove, 

9 

Gv 

24,000 

do. 

1756 

2012 

2150 

Pittsgrove, 

15 

7 

44,000 

p't  level,  p't  roll. 

1991 

2040 

2216 

Salem, 

2 

2 

1238 

level. 

929 

1303 

1570 

204,936 

12,761  14,022 

14,155 

Salem  t-ship  and  post-town,  and 
seat  of  justice  of  Salem  county,  situ- 
ate 171  miles  N.  E.  of  W.  C.,  65  S. 
of  Trenton,  and  34  S.  E.  from  Phi- 
ladelphia; lat.  39°  32';  long,  from 
W.  C.  1°  35'.  The  t-ship  is  of  cir- 
cular form,  and  is  nearly  surrounded 
by  water,  having  on  the  N.  W.  the 
Salem  creek,  on  the  N.  E.  and  E. 
Fenwicke's  creek,  a  tributary  of  that 
stream,  and  on  the  W.  another  small 
tributary  of  the  same  stream.  The 
town  is  distant  from  the  Delaware, 
by  the  creek,  3£  miles.  The  t-ship 
is  about  2  miles  in  diameter,  and  con- 
tains 1238  acres  of  well  improved 
land,  of  a  rich  sandy  loam,  divided 
into  town  lots  and  12  farms.  The 
town  contains  about  250  dwellings ; 
a  fine  court-house,  about  60  by  40 
feet,  of  brick,  with  brick  fire  proof 
offices  adjacent;  1  Episcopalian,  1 
Methodist,  1  Presbyterian,  1  Baptist, 
1  African  Methodist,  and  2  Quaker 
(one  being  orthodox  and  the  other 
Hicksite)  churches;  1  building  of 
brick,  of  gothic  architecture,  designed 
for  a  masonic  hall,  but  which  is  now 


appropriated  to  other  purposes,  the 
lodge  being  extinct ;  a  bank  with  ca- 
pital paid  in  of  $75,000 ;  a  stone  jail 
with  yard,  surrounded  by  a  high 
stone  wall,  both  of  small  dimensions; 
I  market  house,  2  fire  engines,  2 
public  libraries,  1  academy,  and  5 
daily  schools  for  teaching  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  English  education;  5 
Sunday  schools,  2  printing  offices,  at 
each  of  which  is  printed  a  weekly 
newspaper, called, respectively,  "The 
Salem  Messenger"  and  "  The  Ame- 
rican Statesman;"  21  stores,  2  ho- 
tels, 7  physicians,  5  lawyers,  3  lum- 
ber yards,  1  steam  mill  which  grinds 
much  grain,  1  horse  mill,  5  apotheca- 
ries' stores,  1  livery  stable.  A  steam- 
boat leaves  the  town  daily,  for  Dela- 
ware City  and  Newcastle,  to  meet 
the  morning  steam-boat  from  Phila- 
delphia ;  1  four  horse  stage  runs  daily 
to  Philadelphia,  another  to  Penns- 
grove,  on  the  Delaware,  to  meet  the 
Wilmington  steam-boat  for  Philadel- 
phia ;  a  two  horse  daily  line  to  Bridge- 
town, and  a  two  horse  line  to  Center- 
ville,  once  a  week.  The  creek  at  the 


SAL 


232 


SAN 


town,  is  152  yards  wide,  over  which 
is  a  wooden  bridge,  resting  on  wooden 
piers,  with  a  draw  for  the  passage  of 
vessels.  Over  Fenwicke  creek,  a 
short  distance  above  its  junction  with 
Salem  creek,  is  another  wooden 
bridge,  a  neat  structure,  roofed.  Ves- 
sels of  50  tons  may  approach  the 
town  safely,  but  the  bar  at  the  mouth 
of  the  creek  prevents  the  entry  of 
vessels  drawing  more  than  eight  feet 
water.  Large  quantities  of  wheat, 
rye,  oats,  and  corn,  are  exported  from 
this  place  to  the  eastern  states.  The 
streets  of  the  town  are  wide — foot- 
ways paved,  and  bordered  with  trees ; 
the  houses  of  frame  and  brick,  the 
former  painted  white,  are  surrounded 
with  gardens  and  grass  lots,  and 
adorned  with  flowers,  giving  to  the 
place,  a  cheerful  and  healthy  appear- 
ance, surpassed  by  few  villages  in  the 
United  States.  The  t-ship  contained 
in  1830,  1570  inhabitants:  in  1832, 
267  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  $30  in  value;  and  397 
taxables,  2  tan  yards,  1  distillery; 
and  it  paid  taxes  for  t-ship  purposes, 
$426 ;  county  use,  $ 738  25 ;  and  state 
use,  $233  35. 

The  site  of  the  town  of  Salem  was 
the  first  spot  visited,  and  we  believe, 
the  first  settled,  by  the  English  emi- 
grants to  West  Jersey.  Soon  after 
the  sale  by  Lord  Berkeley  of  one 
moiety  of  the  province,  to  Edward 
By  Hinge,  John  Fenwicke,  the  agent 
of  the  latter  set  sail,  (in  1675)  to 
visit  the  new  purchase  in  a  ship  from 
London,  called  the  Griffith.  After  a 
short  passage,  he  landed  at  this  plea- 
sant spot,  which,  from  its  aspect  of 
peace,  he  called  Salem.  He  brought 
with  him  two  daughters,  and  several 
servants,  two  of  which,  Samuel  Hedge 
and  John  Adams,  afterwards  married 
his  daughters.  Other  passengers 
were,  Edward  Champness,  Edward 
and  Samuel  Wade,  John  Smith,  Sa- 
muel Nichols,  Richard  Guy,  Rich- 
ard Noble,  Richard  Hancock,  John 
Pledger,  Hypolite  Lefever,  and  John 
Matlock,  and  others,  who  were  mas- 
ters of  families. 

Salem  Creek,  Salem  co.,  rises  in 


Pittsgrove  t-ship,  and  flows  N.  W. 
through  that  and  Pilesgrove  t-ship, 
by  Woodstown  and  Sharptown,  about 
17  miles  to  the  S.  W.  angle  of  Upper 
Penn's  Neck  t-ship;  thence  turning 
S.  and  S.  W.,  it  divides  Mannington 
and  Lower  Penn's  Neck  t-ships,  and 
passing  by  Salem,  empties  into  the 
Delaware  river,  3^  miles  below  that 
town.  There  is  a  bar  at  the  mouth, 
on  which  at  high  tide  there  are  eight 
feet  water.  Vessels  of  50  tons  ap- 
proach the  town  safely;  but  within 
the  bar,  there  is  water,  it  is  said,  for 
vessels  of  300  tons  burden.  The 
whole  length  of  the  creek  may  be 
about  30  miles,  and  it  is  navigable 
for  shallops  nearly  half  that  distance. 
A  short  canal  of  3  or  4  miles,  through 
Upper  and  Lower  Penn's  Neck 
t-ships,  unites  the  creek  with  the  De- 
laware, saving  a  distance  to  the  craft 
which  navigate  the  creek,  of  about 
20  miles. 

Samptown,  Piscataway  t-ship,  Mid- 
dlesex co.,  about  8  miles  N.  from 
New  Brunswick,  on  the  left  bank  of 
Cedar  creek;  contains  a  Baptist 
church,  10  or  12  houses,  tavern  and 
store,  in  a  tolerably  fertile  country  of 
red  shale. 

Sand  Hills,  small  hamlet  of  Not- 
tingham t-ship,  Burlington  co.  There 
is  a  tavern,  and  12  or  15  dwellings 
here;  the  turnpike  road,  and  the 
Camden  and  Amboy  rail-road,  run 
near  it.  The  carriages  from  and  for 
Trenton  meet  the  rail-road  cars  here. 
Distance  from  Trenton,  about  5,  and 
from  Bordentown,  3  miles. 

Sand  Hills,  noted  hills  in  the  N. 
W.  part  of  South  Brunswick  t-ship, 
Middlesex  co.,  covering  an  area  of 
about  4  miles  by  2;  about  7  miles 
W.  from  Brunswick. 

Sandy  Hook,  Sandy  Hook  bay: 
the  first  is  a  sandy  beach,  extending 
northward,  from  Old  Shrewsbury  in- 
let, and  the  S.  point  of  the  highlands 
of  Nevisink,  6  miles,  of  an  irregular 
width,  varying  from  half  a  mile  to 
a  mile,  forming  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  bay.  The  bay  sets  in  from 
the  Raritan  bay,  southwards,*  and  is 
about  7  miles  wide,  between  Point 


SAN 


233 


SCH 


Comfort,  the  western  cape,  and  the 
point  of  the  Hook.  Its  depth  to  the 
S.  point  of  the  Nevisink  hills,  which 
form  the  coast  for  about  6  miles,  is 
about  6  miles.  The  western  shore 
encroaches,  eastwardly,  upon  the 
water  until  it  is  narrowed  to  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile. 

Sand  Pond,  a  small  sheet  of  water, 
in  Wallkill  mountains,  Vernon  t-ship, 
Sussex  co.,  which  sends  forth  a  small 
tributary  to  the  Wallkill  river. 

Sand  Pond,  the  source  of  Stout's 
brook,  on  the  N.  line  of  Hardwick 
t-ship. 

Sandtown,  or  Berkely,  village  of 
Greenwich  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  on 
Mantua  creek,  4  miles  S.  W.  from 
Woodbury ;  contains  a  store,  tavern, 
12  or  15  dwellings,  and  an  Episcopal 
church. 

Sandtown,  Nottingham  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  on  the  road  from 
Trenton  to  Cranberry,  about  5  miles 
E.  of  the  former,  on  a  sandy  plain  ; 
contains  a  tavern,  smithery,  and  some 
half-dozen  dwellings. 

Sandistone  t-ship,  Sussex  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by  Montague 
t-ship;  S.  E.  by  the  Blue  mountain, 
which  divides  it  from  Newton,  Frank- 
ford,  and  Wantage  t-ships;  S.  W.  by 
Walpack  t-ship ;  and  W.  by  the  De- 
laware river;  centrally  distant,  N. 
W.  from  Newton,  12  miles;  greatest 
length,  8£,  breadth,  7  miles;  area, 
19,320  acres;  surface  on  the  E. 
mountainous,  and  on  the  W.  river 
alluvion.  Population  in  1830,  1097. 
There  were  in  the  t-ship  in  1832, 
65  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  $30 ;  taxable  inhabitants, 
240;  4  merchants  or  traders,  5  pair 
of  stones  for  grinding  grain,  1  card- 
ing machine,  4  saw  mills,  204  horses 
and  mules,  and  841  neat  cattle  over 
3  years;  13  tan  vats,  1  distillery. 
The  t-ship  paid  state  and  county  tax, 
$426  77;  poor  tax,  $100;  road  tax, 
$500.  It  is  watered  by  the  Big  and 
Little  Flat  Kill  creeks,  and  their  tri- 
butaries, and  by  the  river  Delaware. 
The  Morristown  and  Milford  turn- 
pike road  crosses  it  north-westward- 
)y,  on  which  lies  the  post-office,  dis- 
2  G 


tant  241  miles  from  W.  C.,  83  from 
Trenton,  and  13  from  Newton.  Be- 
tween the  Blue  mountain  and  the 
Delaware,  there  is  a  rich  flat,  increas- 
ing from  two  to  six  miles  in  width, 
through  which  runs  a  bed  of  transi- 
tion limestone,  girded  by  an  alluvial 
belt.  This  flat  produces  excellent 
crops  of  wheat.  The  t-ship  was 
originally  settled  by  Dutch,  whilst 
that  people  held  possession  of  New 
York. 

Sandy  New,  small  hamlet  of  Mid- 
dletown  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  9  miles 
N.  E.  of  Freehold ;  contains  a  tavern, 
and  some  3  or  4  dwellings,  in  a  fine 
fertile  country. 

Sargeantsville,  p-t.  of  Amwell 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  6  miles  S.  W. 
from  Flemington,  23  N.  from  Tren- 
ton, and  177  N.  E.  from  W.  C. ;  con- 
tains a  tavern,  store,  and  some  6  or  8 
dwellings.  Surrounding  country  hilly 
and  poor;  lands  rated  at  $20  per 
acre.  Near  this  village,  on  a  farm 
of  150  acres,  Mr.  R.  Rittenhouse  has 
established  the  Mantua  Manual  La- 
bour Institute,  with  accommodations 
for  about  30  students,  and  the  pur- 
pose to  increase  them  as  they  may 
be  required.  At  this  institute  are 
taught  the  Greek  and  Latin  lan- 
guages, and  all  other  branches  of 
learning,  taught  at  similar  institu- 
tions. About  three  hours  every  day, 
Saturday  and  Sunday  excepted,  are 
employed  in  manual  labour,  by  the 
students,  for  which  they  receive  rea- 
sonable compensation.  The  charge 
for  tuition,  board,  washing,  lodging, 
candles,  and  fuel,  is  $25  per  quarter. 
.  Saw  Mill  Creek,  a  marsh  stream 
about  2  miles  in  length,  in  Lodi  t-sp, 
Bergen  co. 

Saxtonmlle,  small  hamlet  of  Am- 
well t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  on  the 
river  Delaware,  12  miles  S.  W.  from 
Flemington;  contains  some  3  or  4 
dwellings;  named  from  the  proprie- 
tor. 

Schooley^s  Mountain,  SchugTs 
Hills,  form  part  of  the  central  gra- 
nitic chain,  which  extends  in  a  N.  E. 
and  S.  W.  direction,  across  the  state 
of  New  Jersey,  from  the  Delaware  to 


sen 


234 


SCH 


the  Hudson  river.  The  name,  Schoo- 
ley's  Mountain,  derived  from  a  family 
formerly  owning  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  its  soil,  is  applied  chiefly,  to 
that  portion  of  the  chain  which  crosses 
the  N.  W.  part  of  Morris  county. 
The  height  of  the  mountain  above  its 
base,  has  been  determined  by  geo- 
metrical measurement,  to  be  more 
than  600  feet;  and  a  calculation, 
made  by  approximation,  on  the  falls 
of  water,  on  the  different  mill  dams 
along  the  rapid  channel  of  the  Mus- 
conetcong  river,  to  its  junction  with 
the  Delaware,  and  on  the  descent, 
thence  to  Trenton,  gives  to  that  base 
an  elevation  of  500  feet  above  tide  ; 
making  the  height  of  the  mountain, 
above  the  level  of  the  ocean,  some- 
what more  than  1100  feet. 

From  the  top  of  the  mountain  a 
turnpike  road  runs  northward  to 
Sussex,  another  westward  to  Easton, 
a  third  eastward  to  New  York,  and 
a  fourth  southward  towards  Tren- 
ton. The  mineral  spring  near  the 
top  has  given  much  celebrity  to 
this  region.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
known  to  the  aborigines,  and  to  have 
been  employed  by  them  as  a  re- 
medy, which,  with  characteristic  sel- 
fishness, they  would  have  concealed 
from  the  whites.  The  latter,  however, 
have  resorted  to  it,  since  the  settlement 
of  the  country.  Remarkable  cures 
have  been  ascribed  to  it,  and  some  per- 
sons have  habitually  frequented  it,  sea- 
son after  season,  on  account  of  the  be- 
nefit they  have  derived  from  the  use  of 
its  waters.  It  is  situated  in  Washington 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  19  miles  N.  W.  of 
Morristown,  50  from  New  York,  70 
N.  E.  from  Philadelphia,  56  from 
Trenton,  and  213  from  W.  C. 

The  spring  is,  in  strictness,  a  rill 
which  issues  from  a  perpendicular 
rock,  having  an  eastern  exposure, 
between  40  and  50  feet  above  the 
level  of  a  brook,  which  gurgles  over 
the  stones,  and  foams  down  the  rocks 
in  the  channels  beneath.  A  small 
wooden  trough  is  adapted  to  the  fis- 
sure, so  as  to  convey  the  water  to  a 

latform  where  the  visiters  assemble, 
-i  to  the  structure  containing  the 


baths.  The  temperature  of  the  water 
is  56°  F.  being  6°  warmer  than  the 
spring  water  nearer  the  summit.  The 
fountain  emits  about  30  gallons  per 
hour ;  which  quantity  does  not  vary 
with  any  change  of  season  or  wea- 
ther. The  water,  like  other  chaly- 
beates,  leaves  a  deposit  of  oxidized 
iron,  as  it  flows,  which  discolours  the 
troughs,  baths,  and  even  the  drinking 
vessels.  The  bare  taste  and  appear- 
ance shows  that  it  is  a  chalybeate ; 
and  it  is  strongly  characterized  by  the 
peculiar  astringency  and  savour  of 
ferruginous  impregnations.  Though 
remarkably  clear  when  first  taken, 
the  water  becomes  turbid  upon  stand- 
ing for  some  time  in  the  open  air,  and 
after  a  long  interval,  an  irridescent 
pellicle  forms  on  its  surface.  Ochre 
and  other  indications  of  iron  are  dis- 
persed extensively  through  the  sur- 
rounding rocks  and  soil.  Iron  ore  is 
so  plentiful  in  the  vicinity  that  fur- 
naces are  worked,  both  in  the  eastern 
and  western  district  of  the  chain,  and 
much  of  the  ore  is  magnetic.  Grey 
limestone  is  found  at  the  base  of  the 
hills  and  along  the  valleys.  The  ana- 
lysis of  the  water,  by  Dr.  M'Nevin 
of  New  York,  has  given  the  follow- 
ing result : 

Vegetable  extract  92,  muriate  of 
soda  43,  muriate  of  lime  2.40,  muri- 
ate of  magnesia  50,  carbonate  of  lime 
7.99,  sulphate  of  lime  65,  carbonate 
of  magnesia  40,  silex  80,  carbonated 
oxide  of  iron  2,  loss  41 — total  16.50. 

The  iron  from  the  mineral  water 
is  very  easily  separated.  Exposure 
to  the  atmosphere  induces  metallic 
precipitation ;  and  transportation  to  a 
distance,  even  in  corked  bottles,  pro- 
duces a  like  effect;  and  when  thus 
freed  from  its  iron,  the  water  may  be 
used  in  making  tea.  The  heat  of  ebul- 
lition, also,  seems  to  separate  the  fer- 
ruginous ingredient,  and  to  prevent 
any  dusky  or  black  tint ;  for  if  an  in- 
fusion of  green  tea  be  mixed  with  wa- 
ter fresh  from  the  spring,  a  dark  and 
disagreeable  hue  is  instantly  produced. 
The  carbonic  acid  which  this  water 
contains,  is  altogether  in  a  state  of 
combination,  and  hence  it  never  oc- 


SCH 


235 


SCO 


casions  flatulence  or  spasm  in  the 
weakest  stomach,  whilst  it  gradually 
strengthens  the  digestive  powers. — 
This  chalybeate  is  considered  by  me- 
dical men,  as  one  of  the  purest  of  this, 
or  any  other  country,  and  as  benefi- 
cial, in  most  cases  of  chronic  disease, 
and  general  debility,  and  especially 
in  cases  of  calculus  in  the  bladder  or 
kidneys. 

To  those  in  pursuit  of  health  or 
pleasure,  this  region  presents  equal 
attraction.  A  short  journey  brings 
the  patient  from  the  level  of  tide 
water  to  a  very  desirable  elevation, 
which  tempers  the  summer's  heat,  and 
braces  the  relaxed  frame.  The  plain 
on  the  top  of  the  mountain,  affords 
very  pleasant  rides  amid  ever  chang- 
ing and  delightful  scenery,  in  which 
cheering  views  of  improved  and  pro- 
fitable agriculture  are  blended  with 
the  velvet  plain,  the  craggy  hill,  and 
shadowy  vale.  Thus  the  invalid  has 
every  incentive  to  exercise,  by  the 
highest  gratification  from  his  exer- 
tions. To  him  who  seeks  relaxation 
from  the  cares  of  business,  or  to 
change  sedentary  occupation  and 
feebleness  for  activity  and  vigour, 
the  excellent  society  which  assembles 
here  during  the  summer  months,  the 
abundant  sport  in  fowling  and  fish- 
ing, arid  the  delightful  scenery,  hold 
forth  strong  inducements;  to  which, 
we  would  be  unjust  not  to  add  the 
excellent  fare,  cheerful  attention,  and 
comfortable  accommodation  given  to 
visiters  at  the  three  hotels,  and  seve- 
ral farm  houses  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
spring.  Belmont  Hall,  kept  by  Mr. 
G.  Bowne,  situate  on  the  highest 
part  of  the  mountain,  shadowed  and 
embowered  by  various  fruit,  forest, 
and  ornamental  trees,  is  a  fine  build- 
ing, 50  feet  square  and  three  stories 
high,  with  very  extensive  wings ;  and 
the  Heath  House  of  Mr.  E.  Marsh, 
less  showy,  but  not  less  commodious 
or  pleasant,  afford  the  visiter  all  the 
means  of  enjoyment  usual  at  water- 
ing places ;  whilst  their  distance  from 
the  fountain,  (about  f  of  a  mile)  by 
adding  the  benefits  of  exercise,  does 
not  diminish  the  salubrious  effects  of 


the  water.  There  is,  however,  a  third 
house,  immediately  at  the  spring, 
where  such  visiters  as  desire  to  be 
near  it,  can  be  accommodated.  The 
season  commences  here  on  the  1st  of 
June,  and  continues  during  the  hot 
weather. 

For  the  man  of  science,  the  mine- 
ral region,  and  geological  formation 
of  the  country,  possesses  much  inte- 
rest. It  abounds  with  iron  and  other 
minerals.  The  first,  in  a  mine  open- 
ed within  gun-shot  of  the  Heath 
House,  is  highly  magnetic ;  so  much 
so,  indeed,  as  to  render  the  use  of 
iron  tools  about  it  very  inconvenient. 
The  following  extraordinary  circum- 
stances we  give  on  the  authority  of 
Mr.  Marsh.  The  tools,  by  continued 
use,  become  so  strongly  magnetized, 
that  in  boring  the  rock,  the  workman 
is  unable,  after  striking  the  auger 
with  his  hammer,  to  separate  them 
in  the  usual  mode  of  wielding  the 
hammer,  and  is  compelled  to  resort 
to  a  lateral  or  rotatory  motion  for  this 
purpose ;  and  the  crowbar  has  been 
known  to  sustain,  in  suspension,  all 
the  other  tools  of  the  mine,  in  weight 
equal  to  a  hundred  pounds.  These 
facts  are  supported  by  the  assurance 
of  General  Dickenson,  that  the  mag- 
netic attraction  of  the  tools,  used  in 
his  mine,  adds  much  to  the  fatigue 
of  the  workmen ;  and  that  it  is  of  or- 
dinary occurrence  for  the  hammer 
to  lift  the  auger  from  the  hole  during 
the  process  of  boring. 

Besides  the  houses  for  public  enter- 
tainment, at  and  near  the  springs, 
there  are  several  others,  which,  with 
a  church  and  school  house  built  by  Mr. 
Marsh,  with  the  aid  of  the  visiters, 
and  a  post-office,  give  the  neighbour- 
hood a  village-like  appearance.  And, 
among  the  attractions  of  the  moun- 
tain, we  must  not  forbear  to  mention 
the  fishing  and  boating  on  Budd's 
Pond,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  two 
miles  in  length  by  one  in  breadth,  at 
seven  miles  distance  from  the  spring. 
This  little  mountain  lake  of  great 
depth  and  clear  as  crystal,  abounds 
with  perch,  sun,  pike,  and  other  fish. 

Scotch   Plains,  p-t.  of  WestfieM 


SEC 


236 


SHI 


t-ship,  Essex  county,  14  miles  from 
Newark,  Somerville,  New  Bruns- 
wick, Morristovvn,  Elizabethtown 
Point,  and  Amboy ;  214  miles  N.  E. 
from  W.  C.,  and  48  from  Trenton, 
on  the  road  from  Springfield  to  So- 
merville ;  contains,  within  the  diame- 
ter of  a  mile,  1  Baptist  church,  an 
academy,  1  tavern,  2  stores,  3  grist 
mills,  2  saw  mills,  1  oil  mill,  1  straw 
paper  mill,  and  about  70  dwellings. 
The  surface  of  the  adjacent  country 
is  level,  except  on  the  W.  and  N.  W. 
which  is  mountainous;  soil,  clay  loam, 
well  cultivated,  and  productive,  and 
valued,  in  farms,  at  $40  the  acre. 
Within  2  miles  of  the  village,  a  bed 
of  carbonate  of  lime  has  been  lately 
discovered,  in  which  are  metallic  ap- 
pearances supposed  to  be  gold  and 
silver,  but  which  are,  probably,  only 
deceptive  pyrites. 

Scott' 's  Mountain,  lying  in  Green- 
wich, Oxford,  and  Mansfield  t-ships, 
Warren  co.,  forms  part  of  the  chain 
of  the  South  mountain,  of  which  this 
portion  covers  much  of  the  area  of 
the  three  t-ships  above  named.  The 
height  of  the  mountain  here  may  be 
from  700  to  800  feet  above  tide,  and 
it  is  composed  of  granitic  rock,  based 
on,  or  breaking  through  limestone. 
It  abounds  with  iron  of  several  varie- 
ties, which,  for  near  a  century,  has 
been  extensively  worked,  near  Oxford 
furnace;  where  Messrs.  Henry  and 
Jordan  are,  now,  extensively  engaged 
in  the  iron  manufacture.  The  moun- 
tain is  generally  well  wooded,  and 
the  valleys  fruitful. 

Scrabbletown,  hamlet  of  Hanover 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  10  miles  E. 
from  Mount  Holly,  and  12  S.  E.  from 
Bordentown ;  contains  a  tavern,  and 
6  or  8  cottages,  in  a  poor,  sandy,  pine 
country. 

Sculltown,  a  village  of  Upper 
Penn's  Neck  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  on 
Oldman's  Creek,  at  the  head  of  navi- 
gation; containing  from  20  to  30 
dwellings,  a  tavern,  and  2  or  3  stores. 
It  is  about  12  miles  N.  E.  of  Salem. 

Secaucas,  island  in  the  Cedar 
swamp,  of  the  Hackensack  river,  in 
Bergen  t-ship,  Bergen  co.  It  is  near 


4  miles  long  by  half  a  mile  wide; 
terminating  in  a  very  distinguished 
elevation,  called  Snake-hill.  The 
island  is  crossed  by  the  turnpike  and 
rail-road  from  Hoboken  to  Paterson. 

Serepta,  a  post-office,  Warren  co. 

Seven  Causeways,  noted  union  of 
7  roads,  near  the  junction  of  4  mile 
branch,  with  Inskeep's  branch  of  the 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river,  25  miles 
S.  E.  from  Camden,  on  the  line  of 
Deptford  and  Gloucester  t-sps,  Glou- 
cester co. 

Shabacung  Island,  formed  by  the 
Delaware  river,  and  part  of  the  t-ship 
of  Montague,  Sussex  co.,  near  the 
remote  N.  end  of  the  state. 

Shark  River,  mill  stream,  rises  in 
Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
and  flows  along  the  boundary,  be- 
tween that  and  Howell  t-ship,  about 
6  miles,  into  a  broad  estuary,  and 
thence  about  3  miles  through  Shark 
inlet,  into  the  Atlantic  ocean. 

Sharptown,  p-t.  and  village  of 
Pilesgrove  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  on  Sa- 
lem creek,  between  3  and  4  miles 
below  Woodstown,  and  8  or  9  miles 
N.  E.  from  Salem,  162  from  W.  C., 
and  56  S.  from  Trenton;  contains 
between  40  and  50  dwellings,  1  ta- 
vern, 2  stores,  1  grist  mill,  and  one 
school  house,  used  occasionally  as  a 
church.  The  surrounding  country  is 
level  and  fertile. 

Shawpocussing  Creelc,  small  tri- 
butary of  the  Delaware  river,  which 
rises  in  Knowlton  t-ship,  Warren  co., 
at  the  foot  of  the  Blue  mountain,  and 
flows  S.  W.  to  its  recipient,  having  a 
course  of  five  miles. 

Shelltown,  on  the  line  between 
Hanover  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  and 
Upper  Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co.,  on  a  small  branch  of  the  Cross- 
wicks  creek ;  contains  some  half- 
dozen  dwellings.  There  is  a  Friends' 
meeting  house  near  it,  in  Monmouth 
county. 

Shiloli,  p-t.  in  the  S.  W.  angle  of 
Hard  wick  t-ship,  Warren  co.,  12 
miles  N.  E.  of  Belvidere,  and  60  miles 
from  Trenton. 

Shiloh,  hamlet  of  Cumberland  co., 
on  the  line  dividing  Hopewell  from 


SHR  2 

Stow  Creek  t-ship,  about  5  miles  N. 
W.  of  Bridgeton ;  contains  8  or  10 
dwellings,  and  a  Seventh-day  Baptist 
church.  The  country  around  it  is  of 
light  loam,  but  in  an  improving  con- 
dition. 

Shipetaukin,  small  branch  of  the 
Assunpink  creek,  rising  in  Lawrence 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  and  flowing  S. 
by  a  course  of  5  or  6  miles  to  its  re- 
cipient, through  an  extensive  body  of 
meadow  land. 

Shoal  Harbour  Creek,  small 
stream  at  the  N.  W.  foot  of  the  Ne- 
visink hills;  runs  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  N.  E.  into  Sandy  Hook  bay. 

Shrewsbury  Inlet,  Old,  was  open- 
ed in  1778,  from  the  ocean  into  the 
estuary  formed  by  the  Nevisink  and 
Shrewsbury  rivers,  Monmouth  co.; 
was  closed  by  the  moving  of  the 
sands  in  1810,  but  was  reopened  in 
1830.  Vessels  now  pass  through  it. 

Shrewsbury  River,  so  called,  is  a 
continuation  of  Sandy  Hook  bay, 
Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
which  receives  from  the  t-ship, 
Shrewsbury  river  proper,  a  small 
stream  of  6  or  7  miles  long,  Long 
Branch,  and  several  other  tributaries. 
This  arm  of  the  bay,  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Nevisink  river,  is  about  5  miles 
long,  with  an  average  breadth  of  a 
mile  and  a  half,  and  has  a  considera- 
ble quantity  of  salt  marsh  on  its  bor- 
ders. It  is  separated  from  the  Nevi- 
sink by  a  high  neck  of  land,  2  miles 
wide. 

Shrewsbury,  p-t.  of  Shrewsbury 
t-sp.,  Monmouth  co.,  between  Shrews- 
bury and  Nevisink  rivers,  12  miles 
E.  from  Freehold,  50  S.  E.  from 
Trenton,  and  215  N.  E.  from  W.  C.; 
contains  12  or  15  dwellings,  an  Epis- 
copalian and  Presbyterian  church,  1 
tavern,  and  2  stores.  Soil,  sandy 
and  light. 

Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Middletown  t-ship; 
E.  by  the  Atlantic  ocean;  S.  by 
Howell  t-ship,  and  W.  by  Freehold. 
Centrally  distant  7  miles  E.  from 
Freehold;  length  N.  and  S.  13, 
breadth  E.  and  W.  13  miles;  area, 
64,000  acres ;  drained  on  the  N.  E. 


7  SIX 

by  the  Nevisink  and  Shrewsbury 
rivers,  and  their  tributaries;  E.  by 
White  Pond,  and  Deal  creeks,  and 
S.  E.  by  Shark  river;  surface  level; 
soil,  clay  and  sandy  loam,  on  marl, 
of  good  quality  on  Swimming  river, 
and  its  tributaries ;  on  the  S.  of  these, 
sandy,  poor,  and  covered  with  pine. 
On  the  E.,  along  the  shore  near  and 
below  the  Long  Branch  boarding- 
houses,  is  a  very  fertile  black  sand. 
The  sea  shore  in  this  t-ship,  is  gene- 
rally high  and  bold,  and  without 
marsh.  The  celebrated  Long  Branch 
boarding  houses,  so  named  from  their 
vicinity  to  a  long  branch  of  Shrews- 
bury river,  are  in  this  township. 
Population  in  1830,  4700.  In  1832 
the  t-ship  contained  about  900  taxa- 
bles ;  265  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30;  and  150 
single  men;  21  stores,  5  saw  mills, 
12  run  of  stones,  for  grinding  grain, 

1  carding  machine,  60  tan  vats,  730 
horses  and  mules,  1650  neat  cattle, 
3  years  old  and  upwards ;  and  paid 
state    and   county   tax,    $2144   69. 
Shrewsbury,  Eatontown,  Colts  Neck, 
Long   Branch,  and   Tinton's   Falls, 
are  villages  and   post-towns  of  the 
t-ship. 

Several  thousand  acres  in  this 
t-ship  were  settled  in  1682,  and  the 
inhabitants  were  then  computed  at 
400.  Lewis  Morris  of  Barbadoes, 
the  brother  of  Richard  Morris,  the 
first  settler  at  Morrisania,  New  York, 
and  uncle  of  Lewis  Morris,  subse- 
quently governor  of  New  Jersey,  had 
iron  works  and  other  considerable 
improvements  here. 

Singack,  small  tributary  of  Preak- 
ness  brook,  Saddle  River  t-ship,  Ber- 
gen co. 

Six  Mile  Run,  village  and  stream. 
The  first,  a  post-town  on  the  Prince- 
ton and  Brunswick  turnpike,  (and  on 
the  line  between  New  Brunswick 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  and  Franklin 
t-ship,  Somerset  co.,)  12  miles  from 
the  one,  and  4  from  the  other,  189 
from  W.  C.,  and  23  from  Trenton; 
contains  a  Dutch  Reformed  church, 

2  taverns,  1  store,  and  from  10  to  12 
dwellings.    Soil,  red  shale,  level,  and 


SNU 


238 


SOM 


well  cultivated. — The  stream  flows 
from  North  Brunswick,  through 
Franklin  t-ship,  by  a  W.  course  of 
about  6  miles,  to  the  Raritan  river. 

Slabtown,  hamlet  of  Springfield 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  road 
from  Mount  Holly  to  Bordentown,  4 
miles  N.  of  the  former ;  contains  a 
Friends'  meeting  house,  and  10  or  12 
dwellings,  1  store,  and  2  taverns. 

Slab  Cabin  Branch,  of  the  Ran- 
cocus  creek,  rises  in  Monmouth  co., 
and  flows  a  S.  W.  course  of  10  miles, 
to  its  recipient,  the  North  Branch  of 
that  creek,  on  the  south  boundary  of 
Hanover  t-ship,  Burlington  co.  Ha- 
nover furnace  lies  upon  it,  and  it  turns 
several  mills. 

Slab  Cabin  Brook,  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  a  small  stream  about 
3  miles  in  length,  which  flows  into 
the  south  side  of  Toms'  Bay. 

Sleepy  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Atsion 
river,  rises  in  Hereford  t-ship,  and 
flows  by  a  S.  E.  course  of  about  6 
miles,  to  its  recipient,  in  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co. 

Smith's  Creek,  a  small  mill  stream, 
which  rises  near  Herbertstown,  in 
Hopewell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  and 
flows  S.  W.  by  a  course  of  6  miles, 
to  the  river  Delaware,  at  the  foot  of 
Belle  Mount. 

Smithville,  village  of  Galloway 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  42  miles  S.  E. 
of  Woodbury,  and  2  miles  E.  from 
Leed's  Point ;  contains  a  tavern,  store, 
Methodist  meeting  house,  and  10  or 
12  dwellings;  surrounded  by  pines, 
and  near  the  salt  marsh. 

Snake  Hill,  a  noted  eminence  of 
Secaucas  Island,  in  the  marsh  on 
Hackensack  river,  and  a  very  pro- 
minent object  from  the  road,  between 
Jersey  City  and  Newark.  Its  for- 
mation is  of  trap  rock,  on  sandstone 
base. 

Snover's  Brook,  rises  in  Sucker 
Pond,  Stillwater  t-ship,  Sussex  co., 
and  flows  by  a  S.  W.  course  of  about 
8  or  9  miles  through  the  north  part 
of  Hardwicke  t-ship,  into  Paulinskill, 
on  the  northern  part  of  Hamilton  t-sp, 
Warren  co. 

Snuffletown,  a  small  village  of  San- 


distone  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  at  the  east 
foot  of  the  Wallkill  mountain,  and  in 
the  valley  of  the  Pacake  creek,  on 
the  Paterson  and  Hamburg  turnpike 
road,  about  15  miles  N.  E.  of  New- 
ton; contains  a  Methodist  meeting 
house,  a  store,  tavern,  and  tannery, 
and  6  or  8  dwellings. 

Sodom,  p-t.  of  Knowlton  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  on  Paulinskill,  12  miles 
N.  of  Belvidere,  4  E.  from  Columbia; 
contains  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  tavern, 
store,  and  some  half-dozen  dwellings. 
Some  smelting  works  have  lately 
been  erected  here,  said  to  be  for  pre- 
cious metals,  discovered  in  the  Jenny 
Jump  mountain. 

Sodom,  Lebanon  t-ship,  Hunter- 
don co.  (See  Clarkesville.) 

Somerset  County,  was  taken  from 
Middlesex,  by  an  act  of  the  proprie- 
taries in  1688.  Its  bounds  were  sub- 
sequently modified  by  the  legislative 
acts  of  1709,  1713,  and  1741.  It  is 
now  bounded  on  the  N.  and  N.  E. 
by  Morris  co. ;  on  the  E.  by  Essex 
and  Middlesex ;  on  the  S.  E.  by  Mid- 
dlesex ;  and  on  the  S.  W.  and  N.  W. 
by  Hunterdon  co. :  greatest  length 
N.  and  S.  28  miles ;  breadth  E.  and 
W.  20  miles;  area,  189,800  acres,  or 
about  297  square  miles :  central  lat. 
40°  34';  long.  2°  15'  from  W.  C. 

The  whole  county  lies  within  the 
transition  formation,  if  the  old  red 
sandstone  be  included  within  it.  Hills 
of  trap  rock,  upon  the  sandstone  base, 
are  scattered  over  it,  as  at  Rock  Hill, 
near  the  southern  boundary,  Rocky, 
or  Nashanic  mountain  on  the  S.  W., 
and  Stony  Hill  N.  of  Somerville. 
The  ridges  N.  of  the  last,  contain 
grauwacke,  and  the  valleys  transi- 
tion limestone,  generally  of  a  grey 
colour.  The  surface  of  the  county 
is  various:  the  N.  W.  section  being 
mountainous ;  the  S.  and  S.  W.  hilly, 
whilst  the  centre  and  S.  E.,  the  val- 
ley of  the  Raritan,  is  either  level,  or 
gently  undulating.  The  soil  varies 
with  the  surface :  that  of  the  hills  is 
generally  of  clay  and  stiff  loam,  whilst 
that  of  the  plains  is  a  sandy  loam, 
formed  of  the  red  shale;  and  the 
mountain  vales,  as  we  have  already 


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239 


SOM 


observed,  are  of  limestone.  All  are, 
however,  fertile  under  proper  culture, 
and  the  county  may  vie  with  her 
neighbours  of  Hunterdon,  Essex,  and 
Middlesex,  in  the  variety  and  quanti- 
ty of  agricultural  products. 

The  county  is  well  watered.  It  is 
cut  into  two,  almost  equal  parts,  by 
the  main  stem  and  south  branch  of 
the  Raritan  river,  which  receives  the 
north  branch,  flowing  southward  and 
centrally  through  the  northern  sec- 
tion, and  the  Millstone  river,  flowing 
northward  and  centrally  through  the 
southern  section;  and  it  is  thus  by 
these  three  streams,  divided  into  four 
parts,  intersected  by  smaller  brooks 
arid  creeks,  in  almost  every  direction. 
The  Delaware  and  Raritan  canal 
enters  the  county  at  Kingston,  with 
the  Millstone  river,  and  follows  that 
stream  to  its  junction  with  the  Rari- 
tan, 3  miles  S.  E.  of  Somerville, 
whence  it  pursues  the  valley  of  the 
last  stream  to  Brunswick. 

Copper  ore  has  been  discovered  in 
considerable  veins  in  the  first  range 
of  hills,  N.  E.  from  Somerville ;  and 
mines  have  been  opened  in  at  least 
two  places;  the  first  within  2,  and 
the  second  within  6  miles  of  the  town. 
Attempts  have  been  made  to  work 
both,  but  every  effort  has  hitherto 
been  unsuccessful:  and  yet  the  ore 
is  said  to  contain  not  only  a  very  va- 
luable proportion  of  copper,  but  to  be 
worth  working  on  account  of  the  gold 
which  it  yields.  Public  opinion  at- 
tributes these  failures  more  to  the 
want  of  adequate  capital  to  sustain 
the  expense  of  the  first  steps  in  min- 
ing, than  to  the  want  of  skill,  or  po- 
verty of  ore.  It  is  said,  also,  that 
particles  of  gold  and  silver  have  been 
discovered  in  a  gangue  of  carbonate 
of  lime,  on  Green  Brook,  N.  of  the 
Scotch  Plains. 

A  turnpike  road  from  Brunswick, 
enters  the  county  by  a  bridge  over 
Bound  Brook,  and  passes  through 
Somerville,  to  North  Branch,  and 


thence  to  Philipsburg,  opposite  to 
Easton.  From  North  Branch  a  turn- 
pike road  runs  northward  over  Schoo- 
ley's  mountain  to  Hacketstown,  in 
Warren  co. ;  and  a  rail-road  is  in 
contemplation,  through  Somerville  to 
Belvidere. 

The  post-towns  of  the  county  are 
Baskingridge,  Bound  Brook,  Flagg- 
town,  Harlingen,  Kline's  Mills,  Les- 
ser Cross-Roads,  Liberty  Corner, 
Martinsville,  Millington,  Millstone, 
North  Branch,  Peapack,  Pluckemin, 
Princeton,  Rocky  Hill,  Somerville, 
the  county  town,  and  Warren. 

The  county  was  early  settled  by 
the  Dutch,  whose  industrious  habits 
soon  rendered  it  remarkable  for  its 
fruitfulness,  and  it  became  soon  one 
of  the  most  thickly  settled  of  the  pro- 
vince. By  the  census  of  1830,  the 
population  amounted  to  17,689  souls, 
of  whom  7665  were  white  males, 
7717  white  females ;  945  free  colour- 
ed males,  914  free  coloured  females; 
214  male  slaves,  234  female  slaves. 
Among  these  there  were  118  aliens; 
deaf  and  dumb,  14  whites — blind, 
whites,  17,  coloured,  3. 

In  1832,  there  were  in  the  co., 
3500  taxables;  668  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30; 
391  single  men,  68  merchants;  44 
saw  mills,  64  grist  mills,  or  run  of 
stones  for  grinding  grain,  8  fulling 
mills,  211  tan  vats,  28  distilleries,  11 
carding  machines,  4621  horses  and 
mules,  and  8634  neat  cattle,  above 
the  age  of  3  years ;  and  it  paid  in 
state  tax,  82642  86,  and  in  county 
tax,  $6000. 

The  courts  for  the  county  are 
holden  at  Somerville;  the  common 
pleas,  orphan's  court,  and  general 
quarter  sessions,  on  the  following 
Tuesdays:  viz.  last  in  January,  3d 
in  April,  3d  in  June,  and  1st  in  Oc- 
tober; and  the  circuit  courts  on  the 
3d  Tuesday  in  April,  and  the  1st  in 
October. 


SOM 


240 


SOU 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  SOMERSET  COUNTY. 


^d 

•£n 

ji 

H3 

Population. 

Townships. 

a 

| 

<U 

Area. 

Surface. 

3 

« 

1810 

1820 

1830 

Bedminster, 

8 

4* 

19,300 

hilly, 

1312 

1393 

1453 

Bernard, 

9 

7 

25,000 

mountainous, 

1879 

2063 

2062 

Bridgewater, 

13 

11 

35,000 

level, 

2906 

3147 

3549 

Franklin, 

13 

8 

30,000 

do.          [level, 

2539 

3071 

3352 

Hillsborough, 

10 

7 

36,000 

part  hilly,  part 

2456 

2885 

2878 

Montgomery, 

8 

8 

26,500 

hilly, 

2282 

2495 

2834 

Warren, 

8 

4 

18,000 

mountainous, 

1354 

1452 

1561 

189,800 

14,728 

16,506 

17,689 

Somers'  Point,  p-t.  and  port  of 
entry  for  Great  Egg  Harbour  dis- 
trict, upon  the  Great  Egg  Harbour 
bay,  about  43  miles  S.'E.  from  Wood- 
bury,  88  from  Trenton,  and  by  post- 
route  196  from  W.  C.  There  is  a 
tavern  and  boarding  house  here,  and 
several  farm  houses.  It  is  much  re- 
sorted to  for  sea  bathing  in  summer, 
and  gunning  in  the  fall  season. 

Somerville,  p-t.  and  seat  of  justice, 
of  Somerset  co.,  situate  about  a  mile 
N.  of  the  Raritan  river,  on  the  turn- 
pike road  from  New  Brunswick  to 
Philipsburg,  11  miles  N.  W.  from 
the  former,  33  S.  E.  from  the  latter, 
or  from  Easton,  28  N.  E.  from  Tren- 
ton, and  199  from  W.  C.  It  lies  upon 
a  high  well  cultivated  plain  of  red 
shale,  about  2  miles  south  of  a  ridge 
of  the  South  mountains ;  in  which  are 
some  noted  copper  mines.  It  contains 
a  Dutch  Reformed  church,  a  Methodist 
meeting,  an  academy  where  the  clas- 
sics and  mathematics  are  taught,  a 
boarding  school  for  young  ladies,  3 
taverns  well  kept,  and  7  stores,  1  large 
grist  mill,  5  practising  attorneys,  4 
physicians,  and  1  resident  clergy- 
man, 600  inhabitants,  and  about  100 
dwellings.  The  court-house  and  other 
public  buildings,  are  large  and  com- 
modious, and  many  of  the  private 
dwellings  are  very  neat ;  and  the 
town  is  a  healthy,  pleasant,  and  de- 
sirable place  of  residence.  The  pro- 
posed rail  road  from  Elizabethtown 
to  the  Delaware,  at  Belvidere,  is  de- 
signed to  pass  through  it. 


South  Amboy,  p-t.  of  South  Amboy 
t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  at  the  head  of 
the  Raritan  bay  and  mouth  of  the 
Raritan  river,  15  miles  below  New 
Brunswick,  and  35  N.  E.  from  Tren- 
ton; contains  a  hotel  and  some  15  or 
20  dwellings,  and  an  extensive  ma- 
nufactory of  stone  ware,  made  from 
clay  obtained  in  the  vicinity.  This 
clay  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  much 
of  it  is  exported  to  various  parts  of 
the  country.  It  is  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  delf  ware  at  Jersey  City, 
and  in  the  fabrication  of  china  at  Phi- 
ladelphia. The  beds  extend  in  the 
hills  for  several  miles  around  the 
point.  The  turnpike  road  from  Bor- 
dentown,  and  the  Camden  and  Am- 
boy rail  road  terminate  here.  There 
is  a  safe  harbour  here  for  vessels, 
and  deep  water  at  the  landing. 

South  Amboy  t-ship,  Middlesex 
co.,  bounded  N.  by  the  Raritan  river; 
N.  E.  by  the  Raritan  bay ;  S.  E.  by 
Middletown  and  Upper  Freehold 
t-ships,  of  Monmouth  co.;  S.  W.  by 
Millstone  river;  and  N.  W.  by  North 
Brunswick  and  South  Brunswick 
t-ships.  Centrally  distant  S.  E.  from 
New  Brunswick  9  miles :  greatest 
length  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  18,  and 
breadth  6  miles ;  area,  64,000  acres ; 
surface,  flat ;  soil,  sandy ;  drained 
on  the  S.  W.  by  the  Millstone,  and 
on  the  N.  E.  by  South  river  and  its 
tributaries,  Tenant's  run,  Deep  run, 
Matchaponix  brook,  and  Manala- 
pan  creek.  The  turnpike  and  rail 
road  from  Bordentownto  Amboy  run 


SPR 


241 


SPR 


through  the  t-ship.  Upon  the  former 
lie  the  post-towns  of  Cranberry  and 
Spotswood,  and  South  Amboy.  Po- 
pulation in  1830,  3782. 

South  River.  (See  Manalapan 
Brook.) 

South  Brunswick.  (See  Bruns- 
wick, South.) 

Sparta,  p-t.  of  Hardistone  t-ship, 
Sussex  co.,  at  the  west  foot  of  the 
Wallkill  mountain,  236  miles  N.  E. 
of  W.  C.,  78  from  Trenton,  and  8 
from  Newton,  on  the  Union  turn- 
pike road,  in  the  valley,  and  near 
the  source  of  the  Wallkill  river. 
This  is  a  pleasant  village,  having 
some  very  good  houses,  a  neat  Pres- 
byterian church  with  cupola,  a  school 
house,  2  grist  mills,  2  saw  mills,  4 
forges  for  making  iron,  in  which 
there  are,  together,  6  fires ;  1  tavern, 
3  stores,  and  from  35  to  40  dwell- 
ings. Iron  and  zinc  ores  are  abun- 
dant in  the  neighbourhood ;  but  only 
a  small  portion  of  the  first  is  used  in 
making  iron  here ;  the  chief  part  being 
carted  from  the  mines  in  Morris  co., 
at  the  cost  of  $2  50  the  ton.  The 
zinc  ore  is  not  worked.  The  soil  in 
the  valley  is  limestone,  and  tolera- 
bly well  cultivated. 

Speertown,  agricultural  village  of 
Bloomfield  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  7  miles 
N.  of  Newark,  near  the  foot  of  the 
First  mountain  ;  contains  from  20  to 
30  dwellings,  1  tavern,  1  store,  a 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  and  school ; 
surrounded  by  a  country  of  red  shale, 
carefully  cultivated. 

Spottswood,  thriving  p-t.  of  South 
Amboy  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  on  the 
turnpike  road  and  rail  road  from  Bor- 
dentown  to  South  Amboy,  about  25 
miles  from  the  former,  202  from  W. 
C.,  and  26  from  Trenton,  and  on  the 
South  river ;  contains  a  large  grist- 
mill, a  fine  Presbyterian  church  of 
wood,  a  Dutch  Reformed  church,  1 
tavern,  2  stores,  2  tobacco  manufac- 
tories, and  about  30  dwellings. 

Spruce  Run,  Lebanon  t-ship,  Hun- 
terdon  co.,  flows  S.  W.  through  the 
north  part  of  the  t-ship,  and  along 
the  west  boundary,  and  is  a  branch 
of  the  Raritan  river. 
2  H 


Springfield  t-ship,  Essex  county, 
bounded  N.  by  Livingston  t-ship; 
E.  by  Orange  and  Union  t-ships ;  S. 
by  Westfield  and  New  Providence 
t-ships  ;  and  W.  by  the  Passaic  river, 
which  divides  it  from  Chatham  t-ship, 
Morris  co.  Centrally  distant  W.  from 
Newark  8  miles :  greatest  length  N. 
and  S.  6,  breadth  E.  and  W.  5  miles ; 
area,  13,500  acres;  surface,  gene- 
rally hilly ;  soil,  clay  loam  and  red 
shale.  It  is  washed  on  the  eastern 
boundary  by  the  Rahway  river, 
which  receives  several  tributaries 
from  the  t-ship.  Springfield  the  post- 
town  ;  Vauxhall  and  part  of  Chat- 
ham are  villages  of  the  t-ship.  The 
pretensions  of  Springfield,  as  an  agri- 
cultural t-ship,  are  not  high,  but  it 
claims  consideration  for  its  paper  ma- 
nufactories. Population  in  1830, 
1653.  In  1832  thejre  were  365  tax- 
ables,  97  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  830;  93  single 
men,  7  merchants,  1  grist  mill,  3 
carding  machines,  12  paper  mills,  6 
tan  vats,  1  woollen  manufactory,  1 
distillery,  220  horses  and  mules,  and 
818  neat  cattle,  above  the  age  of  3 
years.  It  paid  state  tax,  198  96; 
county,  8520  56 ;  poor,  $500 ;  road, 
88. 

Springfield  p-t.  of  the  preceding 
t-ship,  on  the  turnpike  road  from  Eli- 
zabethtown  to  Morristown,  7  miles 
W.  from  the  one,  and  10  E.  from  the 
other,  216  N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  and 
50  from  Trenton,  and  upon  the  Rah- 
way river,  at  the  foot  of  the  First 
mountain;  contains  about  200  dwell- 
ings, some  of  which  are  neat  struc- 
tures; 1  Presbyterian  church,  with 
cupola  and  bell ;  1  Methodist  church, 
3  taverns,  5  stores,  2  grist  mills,  1 
saw  mill,  and  10  paper  mills.  The 
surface  of  the  country  around  it,  is 
rugged,  and  the  soil,  a  stiff  cold  clay, 
unproductive ;  and  farms  are  not 
averaged  at  more  than  20  dollars  the 
acre. 

Springfield,  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  *N.  by  Chesterfield,  and 
Mansfield  t-ships ;  S.  E.  by  Hanover 
t-ship ;  S.  W.  by  Northampton  t-ship, 
and  W.  and  N.  W.  by  Burlington 


SQU 


242 


STA 


t-ship;  centrally  distant  N.  E.  from 
Mount  Holly,  5  miles ;  greatest  length, 
E.  and  W.  10  miles ;  breadth,  N.  and 
S.  6  miles;  area,  18,000  acres;  sur- 
face level;  soil,  sand  and  sandy 
loam,  well  cultivated,  and  productive; 
drained,  N.  by  the  Assiscunk  creek, 
which  forms  the  northern  boundary, 
and  its  branches,  and  S.  by  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  north  branch  of  the  Ran- 
cocus  creek.  Slabtown,  Jobstown, 
and  Juliustown,  are  villages  of  the 
t-ship,  at  the  two  last  of  which,  are 
post-offices.  The  population,  a  great 
portion  of  which  are  Friends,  was, 
in  1830,  1531.  In  1832,  the  t-ship 
contained,  3  Friends'  meeting  houses, 
147  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  830,  in  value;  61  single 
men,  330  taxables;  3  stores,  14  tan 
vats,  1  distillery  for  cider,  31  dear- 
borns, 100  covered  wagons,  17  chairs, 
11  gigs  and  curricles,  1975  neat  cat- 
tle, and  507  horses  and  mules,  over 
3  years  of  age ;  and  paid  state  tax, 
8388  85;  county  tax, 81 358  29;  and 
township  tax,  8500. 

Spring  Garden,  or  North  Belle- 
ville, Bloomfield  t-ship,  Essex  co., 
upon  the  Third  river,  and  about  a 
mile  W.  of  the  Passaic  river ;  con- 
tains from  50  to  70  dwellings,  a  cot- 
ton manufactory,  a  school,  and  a  Me- 
thodist church.  (See  Belleville.) 

Spring  Mills,  village  of  Alexan- 
dria t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  13  miles 
N.  W.  from  Flemington,  on  a  small 
stream,  which  empties  into  the  Dela- 
ware; contains  a  grist  mill,  and  seve- 
ral dwellings. 

.  Springtown,  small  village  of  Schoo- 
ley's  mountain,  on  the  Somerville 
and  Easton  turnpike  road,  18  miles 
W.  of  Morristown,  and  3  miles  E.  of 
the  mineral  spring;  contains  some  6 
or  8  dwellings. 

Spring  Valley,  hamlet  of  Morris 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  4  miles  S.  E.  of 
Morristown;  contains  a  tavern,  and 
some  half-dozen  dwellings. 

Squan  Beach,  extends  from  Old 
Cranberry  inlet,  N.  10  miles  to  Ma* 
nasquan  inlet,  dividing  for  part  of  that 
distance,  Barnegat  bay,  from  the  At- 


antic  ocean.     It  no  where  exceeds 
lalf  a  mile  in  width. 

Squan,  a  vicinage  in  the  S.  E.  part 
of  Ho  well  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  be- 
tween Manasquan  and  Metetecunk 
rivers.  It  is  much  frequented  for 
sea-bathing;  and  comfortable  accom- 
modations are  found  at  the  farm- 
houses, of  which  there  are  several 
where  boarders  are  received. 

Squankum,  p-t.  of  Howell  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  10  miles  S.  E.  from 
Freehold,  44  from  Trenton,  and  209 
N.  E.  from  W.  C. ;  contains  a 
Friends'  meeting  house,  a  grist  mill, 
and  fulling  mill,  2  taverns,  1  store, 
and  12  or  15  dwellings,  surrounded 
by  pine  forest,  and  sandy  soil. 

Squankum,  tavern,  and  creek ;  the 
creek  is  a  tributary  of  Inskeep's 
branch  of  the  Great  Egg  Harbour 
river,  Deptford  t-ship,  Gloucester 
county. 

Stafford  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  by  Dover  t-ship ; 
E.  and  S.  E.  by  the  Atlantic  ocean; 
S.  W.  by  Little  Egg  Harbour  t-ship ; 
and  W.  by  Northampton  t-ship,  Bur- 
lington co.  Centrally  distant  S.  from 
Freehold,  38  miles ;  greatest  length, 
N.  and  S.  18  miles,  breadth  12  miles; 
area,  87,000  acres;  surface  level; 
soil,  sand,  gravel,  and  marsh.  On 
the  E.  front  of  the  t-ship,  Long 
Beach  extends  upon  the  ocean,  about 
11  miles,  with  an  average  breadth  of 
about  1  mile,  separating  Little  Egg 
Harbour  bay  from  the  sea.  The  bay 
varies  from  2  to  3  miles  in  width, 
and  between  it  and  the  fast  land,  there 
is  a  body  of  salt  marsh  of  like  width, 
through  which  flow  several  creeks; 
the  principal  are  Manahocking,  Gun- 
ning, Cedar,  and  Westecunk.  Bar- 
negat, Manahocking,  Cedar  Bridge, 
and  Westecunk,  are  villages;  the 
two  first  post-towns  of  the  t-ship. 
Population  in  1830,  2059.  In  1832 
the  county  contained  about  400  tax- 
ables ;  64  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles did  not  exceed  830;  30  single 
men ;  4  stores,  2  saw  mills,  1  grist 
mill,  1  furnace,  210  horses  and  mules, 
and  802  neat  cattle,  above  3  years 
of  age. 


STE 


243 


STI 


Stanhope,  forge,  and  post-town,  on 
the  Musconetcong  river,  and  on  the 
Morris  canal,  on  the  S.  boundary  of 
Byram  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  by  the  post 
route,  222  miles  from  W.  C.,  59  from 
Trenton,  11  S.  of  Newton,  and  16 
N.  W.  of  Morristown ;  contains  a 
grist  mill,  3  forges,  2  taverns,  2  stores, 
and  from  20  to  30  dwellings,  and  one 
large  school  house.  The  creek  has 
here  been  led  from  its  bed,  by  which 
means  a  fine  waterfall  of  30  feet,  avail- 
able for  mill  purposes,  has  been  ob- 
tained ;  an  inclined  plane  of  the  canal 
at  this  place,  surmounts  an  elevation 
of  76  feet.  This  thriving  little  town 
was  founded  by  Mr.  Silas  Dickenson; 
and  is  surrounded  by  an  excellent  soil 
of  limestone. 

Staten  Island  Sound,  or  Arthur- 
Kill,  the  strait  which  divides  Sta- 
ten Island  from  New  Jersey.  It  has 
a  devious,  but  general  N.  E.  course, 
from  the  head  of  Raritan  bay,  and 
including  the  Kill-van- Kuhl,  extends 
to  New  York  bay,  a  distance  of  about 
18  miles,  having  a  breadth,  common- 
ly much  under,  and  no  where  ex- 
ceeding half  a  mile.  It  is  the  or- 
dinary passage  of  the  steamboats 
which  ply  between  Brunswick,  Am 
boy,  and  New  York.  As  the  tide 
flows  from,  and  into  both  bays,  from 
and  into  this  strait,  the  navigator 
never  has  a  current  with  him  through 
its  whole  length.  The  channel  is 
skirted  on  both  sides  by  an  agreeable 
country.  That  of  New  Jersey  is  the 
more  level,  and  that  of  Staten  Island 
the  more  variegated  and  picturesque. 
For  several  miles  from  New  York 
bay,  the  shore  of  the  island  is  so 
closely  covered  with  houses,  as  to 
have  the  appearance  of  a  continued 
street. 

SteddanCs  Neck,  a  strip  of  lane 
lying  in  the  N.  W.  angle  of  Green- 
wich t-ship,  formed  by  the  junction 
of  Newport  and  Stow  creeks. 

Steelmarfs  Creek,  small  tributary 
flowing  eastwardly  into  the  Grea 
Egg  Harbour  river,  Weymouth  t-ship 
Gloucester  co. 

Stephen's  Creek,  Weymouth  t-ship 
Gloucester  co.,  tributary  of  Great 


Igg  Harbour  river,  having  an  eas- 
erly  course  of  8  or  9  miles.     Two 
miles  from  its  mouth,  is  a  village  and 
ost-town  which  bears  its  name;  39 
liles  S.  E.  from  Woodbury,  78  from 
Trenton,  and  106  N.  E.  from  W.  C. 
t  contains  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  ta- 
vern, store,  and  6  or  8  dwellings. 

Stewartsmlle,  p-t.  of  Greenwich 
ship,  Warren  co.,  centrally  situate 
n  the  t-ship,  on  Merritt's  branch  of 
3ohatcong  creek,  10  miles  S.  E.  of 
Belvidere;  contains  a  tavern,  a  store, 
and  10  or  12  dwellings;  surrounded 
>y  a  fertile  limestone  country,  and 
ying  about  a  mile  south  of  the  Mor- 
ris canal,  and  about  5  miles  east  from 
Easton,  Pennsylvania. 

Still  Valley,  of  Greenwich  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  lying  between  Lopat- 
cong  and  Pohatcong  creeks,  and  ex- 
tending N.  E.  from  the  river  Dela- 
ware. This  is  a  rich  valley  of  lime- 
stone land,  thickly  settled,  and  highly 
productive  in  wheat.  There  is  a 
post-office  here  name.d  after  the  val- 
ley, on  the  turnpike  road,  between  4 
and  5  miles  from  Easton,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Stillwater  t-ship,  Sussex  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Newton  t-ship  ; 
S.  E.  by  Greene  t-ship  ;  S.  W.  by 
Hardwick  t-ship,  Warren  co.;  and 
N.  W.  by  Walpack  t-ship.  Cen- 
trally distant  from  Newton,  E.  7 
miles;  greatest  length  N.  and  S.  10 
miles;  breadth  E.  and  W.  7  miles; 
area,  28,160  acres;  surface  hilly,  on 
the  N.  W.  mountainous.  It  is  drain- 
ed by  Paulinskill,  which  crosses  it 
centrally,  and  receives  a  tributary 
from  Swartwout's  pond  in  the  t-ship. 
Population  in  1830, 1381.  Taxables 
in  1832,  230.  Stillwater  and  Cour- 
senville  are  post-offices  of  the  t-ship, 
which  contained,  in  1832,  40  house- 
holders, whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed 830,  4  run  of  stones  for  grind- 
ing grain,  4  stores,  6  saw  mills,  277 
horses  and  mules,  and  692  neat  cat- 
tle above  three  years  of  age,  1  distil- 
lery, 64  tan  vats.  It  paid  state  and 
county  tax,  $378  85;  poor  tax, 
$200;  road  tax,  $600.  S.  E.  of  the 
Paulinskill,  the  soil  is  slate;  N.  W. 


STO 


244 


STR 


the  creek,  lime,  slate,  and  grey 
rock,  and  is  generally  fertile. 

Stillwater,  p-t.  of  the  above  t-ship, 
by  the  post-route,  236  miles  from  W. 
C.,  78  from  Trenton,  and  7  S.  W. 
from  Newton;  contains  a  tavern, 
store,  a  grist  and  oil  mill,  a  Presby- 
terian church,  formerly  Dutch  Re- 
formed, arid  8  or  10  dwellings.  The 
soil  around  it  is  limestone,  well  culti- 
vated. 

Stipsorfs  Island,  a  neck  of  fast 
land,  near  the  west  boundary  of  Den- 
nis t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  projecting 
into  the  marshes,  having  a  length  of 
about  3  miles. 

Stockholm,  post-office  and  forge  of 
Jefferson  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  upon  the 
Pequannock  creek,  at  the  N.  E.  end 
of  the  Greenpond  mountain,  18  miles 
N.  W.  of  Morristown,  249  N.  E. 
from  W.  C.,  and  83  from  Trenton. 

Stockingtown,  a  small  hamlet  of 
6  or  8  dwellings,  of  Upper  Alloways 
Creek  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  about  9  miles 
E.  of  Salem  t-ship,  and  3  from  Allo- 
waystown. 

Stone  House  Brook,  branch  of  the 
Pompton  river,  rising  in  Pequannock 
t-ship,  and  flowing  by  a  course  of  6 
miles  N.  W.  to  its  recipient,  giving 
motion  to  some  forges. 

Stony  Brook,  Pequannock  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  small  tributary  of  the 
Rockaway  river,  which  flows  by  se- 
veral branches,  in  length  from  4  to  5 
miles,  through  Rockaway  valley. 

Stony  Hill,  extends  from  the  north 
branch  of  the  river  Raritan,  in  Ber- 
nard and  Bridge  water  t-ships,  through 
Warren  t-ship,  in  Somerset  co.,  into 
Essex  co.,  hi  the  form  of  a  crescent; 
formed  of  trap  rock,  on  old  red  sand- 
stone base.  Under  this  name  the 
mountain,  following  its  curve,  is 
about  12  miles  long. 

Stop-the-Jade  Creek,  tributary  of 
the  S.  branch  of  the  Rancocus  creek, 
Northampton  t-ship,  Burlington  co. ; 
unites  with  the  latter  at  Vincenttown, 
after  a  westerly  course  of  9  miles. — 
A  mill  stream. 

Stout's  Branch,  of  Paulin's  creek, 
rises  in  Sand  Pond,  Hardwick  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue 


mountain,  and  flows  by  a  southerly 
course  of  7  or  8  miles,  to  its  reci- 
pient. 

Stoutsville,  on  the  line  dividing 
Montgomery  t-ship.,  Somerset  co., 
from  Hope  well  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
and  on  the  turnpike  road  from  Bruns- 
wick to  Lambertsville,  13  miles  S. 
W.  from  Somerville;  contains  a  ta- 
vern, and  6  or  8  dwellings,  in  a  fertile, 
pleasant  valley. 

Stow  Creek  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.,  bounded  N.  and  W.  by  Stow 
creek,  which  divides  it  from  Salem 
co. ;  E.  by  Hopewell  t-ship,  and  S. 
by  Greenwich- t-ship.  Centrally  dis- 
tant, N.  W.  from  Bridgeton,  7  miles ; 
greatest  length,  E.  and  W.  7;  breadth, 
N.  and  S.  6  miles;  area,  10,240 
acres;  surface,  partly  level,  partly 
rolling;  soil,  clay,  loam,  sand,  and 
gravel.  Population  in  1830,  791.  In 
1832,  the  t-ship  contained  170  taxa- 
bles,  21  householders,  whose  ratables 
did  not  exceed  830 ;  4  grist  mills,  1 
saw  mill,  198  horses  and  557  cattle, 
above  the  age  of  3  years,  1  store; 
and  paid  road  tax,  $200 ;  state  and 
county,  8437  81.  Newport  creek 
forms  the  boundary  between  this  and 
Greenwich  t-ship. 

Stow  Creek,  rises  on  the  confines 
of  Salem  and  Cumberland  cos.,  and 
Hopewell  and  Upper  Alloways  Creek 
t-ships,  and  by  a  S.  W.  and  S.  course, 
forms  the  line  between  these  coun- 
ties, by  the  meanders  of  the  creek ; 
25  miles  to  the  Delaware  bay.  It  is 
navigable  for  sloops,  about  18  miles, 
and  has  some  good  banked  meadow 
on  its  borders,  for  the  distance  of  9 
miles,  commencing  9  miles  from  its 
mouth. 

Straw,  hamlet  of  Greenwich  t-ship, 
Warren  co.,  about  5  miles  S.  E.  of 
Philipsburg,  and  12  miles  S.  of  Bel- 
videre ;  contains  3  or  4  dwellings  only. 

Stralenberg,  hamlet,  Hackensack 
t-ship,  Bergen  co.,  about  5  miles  N. 
E.  of  Hackensacktown ;  contains  1 
Dutch  Reformed,  and  1  Seceder's 
church,  some  8  or  10  dwellings,  a 
store  and  tavern ;  surrounded  by  a 
pleasant,  level  country,  of  fertile 
loam,  well  cultivated. 


sus 


245 


SUS 


Stretch's  Point,  on -Stow  creek, 
Lower  Alloways  Creek  t-ship,  Salem 
co.,  about  7  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
the  creek. 

Suckasunny,  the  name  of  a  village 
and  plain;  the  latter  extending  in 
width  from  2£  to  3  miles,  and  in 
length  about  6  miles ;  is  sandy  and 
not  very  fertile,  and  is  drained  by 
Black,  or  Lamington  river.  On  the 
N.  E.  of  this  plain,  terminates  the 
great  vein  of  iron  which  has  conti- 
nued a  S.  W.  course  from  the  White 
Hills  in  New  Hampshire. 

The  village  and  post-town  is  situ- 
ate on  the  Morristown  and  Easton 
turnpike  road,  11  miles  N.  W.  from 
the  former,  63  N.  E.  from  Trenton, 
and  226  from  W.  C. ;  contains  a 
Presbyterian  church,  a  store  and  ta- 
vern, and  some  12  or  15  dwell- 
ings. 

Sucker  Pond,  a  small  basin  of  wa- 
ter, at  the  east  foot  of  the  Blue  moun- 
tain, in  Stillwater  t-ship,  Sussex  co. 

Sussex  County,  was  taken  from 
Morris,  by  act  of  Assembly,  8th  June, 
1753,  with  bounds  which  included 
the  present  county  of  Warren.  War- 
ren was  erected  by  act  of  20th  Nov. 
1824;  and  Sussex  is  now  bounded 
S.  by  the  Musconetcong  river  and 
Hopatcong  pond;  thence  by  a  line 
running  N.  E.  dividing  it  from  Mor- 
ris and  Bergen  counties,  to  the  line 
of  the  state  of  New  York;  thence 
along  that  line  N.  W.,  to  the  Dela- 
ware river,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nevi- 
sink,  or  Macacomac  river ;  thence  by 
the  river,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Flat- 
kill;  and  thence  by  a  line  S.  E.,  se- 
parating it  from  Warren  co.,  to  the 
Musconetcong  river,  somewhat  more 
than  a  mile  below  Andover  furnace. 
Its  form  approaches  an  oblong,  with 
a  mean  length  of  26,  and  breadth  of 
22  miles;  area,  about  572  square 
miles,  or  366,000  acres  :  central  lat. 
41°  8'  N.;  long.  2°  15'  from  W.  C. 

The  county  is  divided  geologically 
by  the  primitive  and  transition  forma- 
tions. The  former  passing  N.  E.  by 
Sparta,  and  including  within  its  li- 
mits, the  Hamburg  or  Wallkill,  and 
the  Wawayanda  mountains.  These 


mountains  abound  with  a  variety  of 
minerals,  of  which  iron  and  zinc  are 
the  most  considerable.  The  country 
between  these  hills  and  the  Blue  moun- 
tain is  rolling;  nay,  hilly;  in  which, 
ridges  of  slate,  alternate  with  valleys 
of  limestone;  and  is  highly  fertile, 
and  every  where  well  cultivated. 
The  Blue,  or  Kittatinny  mountain,  is 
skirted  on  the  east  by  grey  rock, 
which  bears  great  resemblance  to 
the  primitive,  and  certainly  contains 
little  evidence  of  recombination.  The 
mountain  itself  appears  to  be  com- 
posed partly  of  similar  rock,  of  a 
bluish  green  and  red  sandstone,  the 
colours  of  which  are  singularly  and 
intimately  blended.  Upon  the  N.  W. 
the  mountain  is  bounded  by  a  broad 
strip  of  grey  limestone. 

A  dividing  ridge  running  from  Blue 
mountain,  in  Frankford  t-ship,  north 
of  Culver's  Pond,  through  the  S.  E. 
angle  of  that  t-ship,  on  towards  Spar- 
ta, gives  a  determination  to  the  wa- 
ters of  the  county,  sending  part  N. 
E.  towards  the  Hudson,  and  part  to- 
wards the  Delaware  river.  Thus  all 
the  waters  of  the  eastern  portion  pour 
from  the  hills  north  and  south,  into 
the  valley  of  the  Wallkill,  where  the 
flatness  of  the  surface  causes  them  to 
spread  over  a  considerable  space, 
and  occasions  an  extensive  marsh 
along  the  borders  of  that  stream, 
greatly  enlarged  within  the  bounds 
of  the  state  of  New  York.  The  west- 
ern portion  of  the  county  is  drained 
chiefly  by  the  Paulinskill,  flowing  by 
a  deep  and  rapid  course,  through  this 
and  Warren  county,  to  its  recipient 
near  Columbia. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  dotted 
with  large  ponds,  or  small  lakes,  some 
of  which  are  on  the  highest  hills. 
Swartwoufs  and  Culver's  ponds  are 
the  largest — the  first  being  3  miles 
in  length,  by  1  in  breadth,  and  the 
other  2  miles  in  length,  by  the  same 
breadth.  But  the  most  remarkable 
are  the  White  Ponds,  which  have 
been  so  called,  from  the  appearance 
of  their  shores  and  bottoms,  covered 
with  shells  of  the  snail,  in  very  ex- 
tensive masses.  Two  of  these  lie  on 


sus 


246 


SUS 


the  line  between  Newton  and  Hardis- 
ton  townships. 

The  agriculture  of  the  county  is  in 
a  state  of  progressive  improvement, 
and  is  now  very  productive.  The 
limestone  lands  yield  large  crops  of 
wheat,  and  the  slate,  where  the  rock 
does  not  come  too  near  to  the  surface, 
is  scarce  less  fertile.  Lime  is  not 
yet  much  employed  as  manure,  but 
its  use  is  growing,  and  will  doubtlessly 
be  extensive,  when  its  benefits  shall 
be  generally  known.  Wheat,  rye, 
oats,  corn,  and  iron,  are  staple  pro- 
ducts. 

The  principal  towns  and  post  of- 
fices, are  Newton,  the  county  town, 
Deckertown,  Hamburg,  Ogdensburg, 
Sparta,  Andover,  Greenville,  Still- 
water,  Branchville,  Augusta,  and  La- 
fayette. Benville,  Coursenville,  Flat- 
brookville,  Fredon,  Gratitude,  Har- 
mony, Hamburg,  Lafayette,  Liberty- 
ville,  Lockwrood,  Monroe,  Montague, 
Sandystone,  Stanhope,  Vernon,  Wai- 
pack,  and  Wantage. 

By  returns  of  the  assessors,  for 
the  year  183&,  there  were  1075 
householders,  58  merchants,  shop- 
keepers, and  traders,  87  run  of  stones 
for  grinding  grain,  18  carding  ma- 
chines, 3  iron  furnaces,  55  saw  mills, 
28  forge  fires,  7  fulling  mills,  3875 
horses  and  mules,  13,070  neat  cattle 
3  years  old  and  upwards,  6  ferries 
and  toll  bridges,  227  tan  vats,  36 
distilleries,  and  101,887  acres  of  im- 


proved land.  The  amount  of  state 
and  county  tax,  was  $7500  95 ;  poor 
tax,  $3300  ;  road  tax,  $8600. 

By  the  census  of  1830,  the  popu- 
lation of  the  county  amounted  to 
20,346  souls,  of  whom  10,240  were 
white  males;  9654  white  females; 
206  free  coloured  males ;  195  free 
coloured  females ;  21  male,  and  30 
female  slaves.  Of  these  inhabitants, 
89  were  aliens;  6  deaf  and  dumb; 
14  blind. 

The  provision  for  moral  improve- 
ment in  the  county,  consist  of  2  clas- 
sical seminaries  at  Newton,  6  com- 
mon schools  in  that  town,  and  others 
in  sufficient  numbers  for  the  wants  of 
the  people  throughout  the  county ;  £ 
Lyceum  for  the  cultivation  of  letters 
and  science,  and  a  public  library  at 
Newton;  a  county  Bible  society,  a 
county  Sunday  school  union,  and 
district  Sunday  schools  and  tempe- 
rance societies. 

The  county  elects  1  member  to  the 
legislative  council,  and  2  to  the  As- 
sembly. The  courts  of  common 
pleas,  orphans',  and  quarter  sessions, 
are  holden  at  Newton,  on  the  last 
Tuesday  of  January,  the  4th  Tuesday 
•  of  May,  the  3d  of  August,  and  the 
I  4th  of  November ;  and  the  circuit 
courts,  and  sessions  of  oyer  and  ter- 
miner  and  general  jail  delivery,  are 
holden  on  the  4th  Tuesdays  of  May, 
and  November. 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


j 

J3 
T3 

Population. 

Townships. 

bD 

c 

a 
• 

Area. 

Surface. 

3 

« 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

By  ram, 

10 

8 

21,760 

mountainous. 

591 

672 

958 

Frankfort, 

11 

8* 

28,800 

valley. 

1637 

2008 

1996 

Green, 

9 

4 

14,080 

p't  hilly,  p't  level. 

801 

Hardiston, 

13 

9 

41,960 

mountainous. 

1702 

2160 

2588 

Montague, 

8^ 

Tj 

21,620 

moun.  &riv.  flat. 

661 

964 

990 

Newton, 

12 

10 

65,920 

hilly,  p't  level. 

2082 

2743 

3464 

Sandistone, 

8* 

7 

19,320 

moun.  &riv.  flat. 

703 

1945 

1097 

Stillwater, 

10 

7 

28,160 

moun.  level. 

1381 

Walpack, 

10 

4 

15,360 

moun.  &  riv.  flat. 

591 

822 

660 

Wantage, 

11 

ei 

42,880 

do.              do. 

2969 

3307 

4034 

Vernon, 

11 

10 

52,480 

mountainous. 

1708 

2096 

2377 

352,300 

12,644 

16,617;  20,346 

sus 


247 


SUS 


We  have  already,  in.  our  introduc- 
tory chapter,  noted  generally  the 
geological  and  mineralogical  charac- 
ter of  this  county.  But  the  reader 
will  be  gratified  with  the  following 
special  notice  from  Dr.  Samuel  Fow- 
ler, whose  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
subject,  renders  the  account  highly 
valuable. 

Perhaps  in  no  quarter  of  the  globe  is 
there  so  much  found  to  interest  the  mine- 
ralogist, as  in  the  white  crystalline  cal- 
careous valley,  commencing  at  Mounts 
Adam  and  Eve,  in  the  county  of  Orange, 
and  state  of  New  York,  about  three  miles 
from  the  line  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey, 
and  continuing  thence,  through  Vernon, 
Hamburg,  Franklin,  Sterling,  Sparta  and 
Byram,  a  distance  of  about  twenty-five 
miles,  in  the  county  of  Sussex,  and  state 
of  New  Jersey.  This  limestone  is  highly 
crystalline,  coniaining  no  organic  re- 
mains, and  is  the  great  imbedding  matrix 
of  all  the  curious  and  interesting  minerals 
found  in  this  valley.  When  burned,  it 
produces  lime  of  a  superior  quality.  A 
considerable  quantity  of  this  stone  is 
burned  into  lime  near  Hamburg,  and  when 
carted  to  the  towns  below,  as  Patterson, 
Newark,  &c.  is  sold  for  one  dollar  per 
bushel.  It  is  principally  used  in  masonry, 
for  whitewashing,  cornice  work,  and  wall 
of  a  fine  hard  finish,  and  is  considered  su- 
perior to  the  best  Rhode  Island  lime. 
Some  varieties,  particularly  the  granular, 
furnish  a  beautiful  marble ;  it  is  often 
white,  with  a  slight  tinge  of  yellow,  re- 
sembling the  Parian  marble  from  the 
island  of  Paros;  at  other  times  clouded, 
black,  sometimes  veined,  black,  and  at 
other  times  arborescent. 

F ranklinite  ;  a  new  metalliferous  combi- 
nation, containing,  according  to  Berthier, 
of  oxide  of  zinc  17,  of  iron  66,  and  man- 
ganese 16,  is  very  abundant ;  indeed  it 
appears  inexhaustible.  It  commences 
about  half  a  mile  north-east  of  Franklin 
furnace,  and  extends  two  miles  south- 
west of  Sparta,  a  distance  of  nine  miles. 
It  is  accompanied  in  this  whole  distance 
by  the  red  oxide  of  zinc,  mutually  enve- 
loping each  other.  The  greatest  quantity 
appears  to  be  at  Franklin  furnace.  The 
bed  here,  is  about  100  feet  high  above  the 
adjoining  land,  on  the  west  side  of  it,  and 
from  ten  to  forty  feet  wide.  Various  at- 
tempts have  been  made  to  work  this  ore  in 
a  blast  furnace,  but  without  success.  It 
frequently  congeals  in  the  hearth,  before 
time  is  allowed  to  get  it  out  in  a  liquid 
state,  in  consequence  of  a  combination  of 
the  iron  with  manganese.  All  this  dif- 
ficulty I  apprehend  might  be  overcome, 
if  a  method  could  be  discovered  of  smelt- 


ing iron  ore  in  a  blast  furnace  with  an- 
thracite coal ;  as  the  Franklinite  requires 
a  greater  degree  of  heat  to  cause  it  to  re- 
tain its  liquid  state,  than  can  be  obtained 
by  the  use  of  charcoal.  It  occurs  in  grains 
imbedded  in  the  white  carbonate  of  lime, 
and  detached  in  concretions  of  various 
sizes,  from  that  of  a  pin's  head  to  a  hickory 
nut;  also,  in  regular  octahedral  crystals, 
emarginated  on  the  angles,  small  at  Frank- 
lin, but  very  perfect,  with  brilliant  faces. 
At  Sterling,  the  crystals  are  large  and 
perfect.  I  have  one  from  that  place  that 
measures  sixteen  inches  around  the  com- 
mon base. 

Red  Oxide  of  Zinc.— At  Sterling,  three 
miles  from  Franklin,  a  mountain  mass  of 
this  formation  presents  itself  about  200 
feet  high.  Here,  as  Mr.  Nuttall  truly  ob- 
serves, the  red  oxide  of  zinc  forms  as  it 
were  a  paste,  in  which  the  crystals  of 
Franklinite  are  thickly  imbedded  ;  in  fact 
a  metalliferous  porphyry.  This  appears  to 
be  the  best  adapted  for  manufacturing 
purposes.  The  Franklinite  imbedded  in 
the  zinc  ore  here,  is  highly  magnetic,  and 
may  be  all  separated  by  magnetic  cylin- 
ders, recently  brought  into  u&e  to  separate 
the  earthy  portion  of  magnetic  iron  ore. 
It  was  long  since  observed,  that  this  ore 
is  well  adapted  for  the  manufacture  of  the 
best  brass,  and  may  be  employed  without 
any  previous  preparation.  It  is  reduced 
without  any  difficulty  to  a  metallic  state, 
and  may  be  made  to  furnish  the  sulphate 
of  zinc  (white  vitriol). 

It  is  remarked  by  Professor  Bull,  "  that 
this  ore,  from  its  abundance,  and  the  many 
uses  to  which  it  may  be  applied,  promises 
to  be  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  manu- 
facturing interest  of  the  United  States." 
Berthier  found  it  to  contain  oxide  of  zinc 
88,  red  oxide  of  manganese  12. 

Magnetic  Iron  Ore.  On  the  west  side 
of  the  Franklinits,  and  often  within  a  few 
feet  of  it,  appears  an  abundance  of  mag- 
netic iron  ore,  usually  accompanied  by 
hornblende  rock.  In  some  places  it  soon 
runs  into  the  Franklinite,  which  destroys 
its  usefulness ;  and  the  largest  beds  are 
combined  with  plumbago,  which  renders 
it  unprofitable  to  work  in  a  blooming 
forge,  but  valuable  in  a  blast  furnace. 
On  the  Franklin  or  Warwick  mountain, 
about  four  miles  east  of  the  furnace,  are 
numerous  beds  of  iron  ore,  from  which 
many  thousand  tons  have  been  taken; 
and  which  still  contain  a  large  quantity 
of  the  best  quality  of  ore,  either  for  a 
blooming  forge  or  blast  furnace.  Iron 
pyrites  occur  here,  both  in  the  valley  and 
on  the  mountain,  of  a  proper  quality  to 
manufacture  sulphate  of  iron — (copperas.) 
It  also  occurs  crystallized,  in  cubes,  in 
octahedrons,  and  dodecahedrons,  fre- 
quently perfect,  and  highly  splendid. 

The  other  minerals  found  in  this  dis- 


sus 


248 


SUS 


trict  are  numerous,  rare,  interesting,  and 
several  of  them  new,  and  not  found  in 
any  other  place,  but  better  calculated  to 
instruct  the  naturalist  and  adorn  his  cabi- 
net, than  for  any  particular  uses  to  which 
they  have  as  yet  been  applied.  A  catalogue 
of  which  I  have  subjoined,  designating 
the  minerals  as  they  occur  in  each  town- 
ship. 

In  Byram  t-ship,  considered  the  south 
western  extremity  of  the  white  carbonate 
of  lime. 

1.  Spinelle,    colour    reddish    brown, 
green,  and  black,  in  octahedral  crystals, 
associated  with  orange  coloured  brucite. 

2.  Brucite  of  various  shades,  from  that 
of  a  straw  colour,  to  a  dark  orange,  and 
nearly  black. 

3.  Grey  hornblende  in  six-sided  prisms, 
with  diedral  summits. 

In  the  Township  of  Hardiston. 

At  Sparta: 

1.  Brucite  of  a  beautiful  honey  colour — 
the  finest  we  have  is  found  here. 

2.  Augite   in   six-sided   prisms,  colour 
brownish  green. 

At  Sterling : 

1.  Spinelle,  black,  green,  and  grey,  in 
octahedral  crystals. 

2.  Brucite  of  various  shades. 

3.  Brutile,  colour   steel   grey;    lustre 
metallic,  in  acicular  prisms,  with  longitu- 
dinal striad. 

4.  Blende,  black  and  white;  the  white 
sometimes  in  octahedral  crystals,  the  lus- 
tre brilliant. 

5.  Dysluite,  in  octahedral  crystals,  colour 
brown    externally,    internally    yellowish 
brown  ;  lustre  metallic — (a  new  mineral.) 

6.  Ferruginous  silicate  of  manganese, 
in  six-sided  prisms,  colour  pale    yellow, 
associated  with  Franklinite. 

7.  Tourmaline,  imbedded  in  white  feld- 
spar, in  six-sided   prisms,   longitudinally 
striated  ;  colour  reddish  brown. 

8.  Green   and  blue  carbonate  of  cop- 
per.   A  number  of  large  excavations  were 
made  at  the   Sterling   mine  for  copper, 
during  the  revolutionary  war,  under  an 
erroneous  impression,  that  the  red  oxide 
of  zinc,  was  the  red  copper  ore.     It  was 
the  property  of  Lord  Sterling ;  hence  the 
name  of  the  Sterling  mine.     Of  copper, 
we  only  find  there  a  trace  of  the  green 
and  blue  carbonate. 

At  Franklin : 

1.  Spinelle,  black  and  red  crystallized. 

2.  Ceylonite,  green  and  bluish  green, 
in  perfect  octahedrons  truncated  on  the 
angles ;  lustre  of  the  brilliance  of  polish- 
ed steel. 

5.  Garnets,  black,  brown,  yellow,  red, 
and    green — crystallized     in     dodecahe- 
drons. 

6.  Silicate  of  Manganese,  light  brown- 
ish red. 

7.  Ferro  Silicate  of  Manganese,  of  Pro- 
fessor Thomson,  and  the  Fowlerite,  of 


Nuttall,  light  red  or  pink,  foliated  and 
splendent,  has  much  the  appearance  of 
Feldspar,  is  also  in  rectangular  prisms. 

8.  Lesqui-Silicate   of   Manganese,   la- 
mellar in  scales  or  small  plates;  colour, 
brownish  black. 

9.  Hornblende,  crystallized. 

10.  Actynolite,  do. 

11.  Tremolite,  do. 

12.  Augite,  common  variety,  do. 

13.  Jeffersonite,  do.  do. 

14.  Plumbago,  foliated  and  crystallized 
in  six-sided  balls. 

15.  Brucite  of  various  shades. 

16.  Scapolite,  white,  crystallized. 

17.  Wernerite,  yellow,  do. 

18.  Tourmaline,  black,  do. 

19.  Fluate  of  Lime,  earthy  and  do. 

20.  Galena. 

21.  Oolite,  in  small  grains  about  the 
size  of  a  mustard  seed,  disseminated  in 
blue  secondary  carbonate  of  lime. 

22.  Asbestos,   connected   with   Horn- 
blende rock. 

23.  Green  Beryl. 

24.  Feldspar,  green  and  white,  crystal- 
lized. 

25.  Epidote    and   Pink    Carbonate    of 
Lime. 

26.  Arsenical  Pyrites. 

27.  Serpentine. 

28.  Sahlite. 

29.  Cocolite,  green  and  black. 

30.  Sphene,  honey  colour,  crystallized. 

31.  Quartz. 

32.  Jasper. 

33.  Chalcedony. 

34.  Amethyst,  crystallized. 

35.  Agate. 

36.  Mica,  black  and  orange  coloured, 
crystallized. 

37.  Zircon,  crystallized. 

38.  Sulphate  of  Molybdena. 

39.  Phosphate  of  Iron. 

40.  Carbonate  of  Iron. 

41.  Steatite,  foliated  with  yellow  Gar- 
net. 

42.  Phosphate  of  Lime,  crystallized. 

43.  Pale  Yellow-blende,  of  a   foliated 
structure — lustre,  vitreous. 

JVear  Hamburgh. 

1.  An  ore  of  Manganese,  and  iron  of  a 
light  reddish  brown,  very  compact  and 
heavy. 

2.  Augite  and  Brucite. 

In  the  Township  of  Vernon. 

1.  Green  Spinelle  and  Brucite,  in  octa- 
hedral crystals. 

In  Newton  Township. 

1.  Sulphate   of   Barytes    in    lamellar 
masses,  and  tabular  crystals,  in  a  vein 
traversing  secondary  limestone. 

2.  Sapphire,  blue  and  white,  in  rhombs 
and  six-sided  prisms. 

3.  Red  Oxide  of  Titanium 


TAN 


249 


TIM 


4.  Grey  Spinelle   in   large   octahedral 
crystals. 

5.  Mica,  copper  coloured,  in  hexahe- 
dr&l  crystals. 

6.  Idocrase,     crystallized,     yellowish 
brown. 

7.  Steatite,  presenting  the  pseudomor- 
phous  form  of  quartz,  scapolite,  and  spi- 
nelle. 

8.  Scapolite,  in  four-sided  prisms.     For 
a  more  particular  account  of  the  Newton 
minerals,  see  Silliman's  Journal,  vol.  XXI. 
page  319. 

In  Frankford  Township. 
Serpentine,  of  a  light  yellowish  green, 
bears  a  fine  polish,  has  a  glistening  lustre, 
and  is  quite  abundant. 

Swartwou? s  Pond,  a  large  sheet 
of  water,  of  Stillwater  t-ship,  Sussex 
co.,  which  sends  forth  a  tributary  to 
Paulinskill. 

Swedesboro\  p-t.  of  Woolwich 
t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  13  miles  S.  W. 
from  Woodbury,  49  miles  from  Tren- 
ton, and  155  from  W.  C.,  at  the  head 
of  sloop  navigation,  on  Raccoon  creek, 
about  5  miles  from  its  mouth;  con- 
tains about  100  dwellings,  an  Epis- 
copal and  a  Methodist  church,  an 
academy,  2  taverns,  4  stores,  a  mer- 
chant grist  mill,  and  an  extensive 
woollen  factory,  belonging  to  C.  C. 
Stratton,  Esq.  The  country  around 
it  is  level;  soil,  sandy  loam,  fertile, 
and  well  cultivated.  Battentown,  a 
mile  distant  from  it,  contains  1  tavern, 
and  a  few  dwellings. 

Swede's  Branch,  mill  stream  of 
Chester  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  flows 
by  a  N.  W.  course  of  more  than  3 
miles,  to  the  Delaware  river. 

Swimming  River.  (See  Shrews- 
bury river.} 

Tabernacle,  village  of  Northamp- 
ton t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  12  miles 
S.  W.  of  Mount  Holly;  contains  a 
Methodist  church,  a  tavern,  and  10 
or  12  houses. 

Taiwan's  Creek,  small  tributary 
of  the  Rancocus  creek,  rising  in 
Evesham  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  near 
Evesham  village,  and  flows  six  miles 
to  its  recipient. 

Tansboro\   village  of  Gloucester 

t-ship,  of  Gloucester  co.,  on  the  road 

from  Long-a-coming,  to  Great  Egg 

Harbour  river,  15  miles  S.  E.  from 

2  1 


Woodbury,  18  from  Camden;  con- 
tains a  tavern,  and  some  half  dozen 
dwellings.  Surrounded  by  a  sandy 
soil,  and  pine  forest. 

Tarkiln  Creek,  mill  stream  of 
Maurice  River  t-ship,  Cumberland 
co.,  rising  in  the  t-ship,  and  flowing 
by  a  southerly  course,  of  10  miles 
into  the  Delaware  bay. 

Taunton  Furnace,  on  Haines' 
creek,  Evesham  t-ship,  Burlington 
co.,  11  miles  S.  W.  from  Mount  Hol- 
ly, and  14  S.  E.  from  Camden. 

Tenants'  Run,  a  tributary  of  South 
river,  South  Amboy  t-ship,  Middlesex 
co.,  flowing  N.  W.,  between  3  and  4 
miles  to  its  recipient. 

Tewkesbury,  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Washington  t-ship, 
Morris  co. ;  E.  by  Bedminster  t-ship, 
Somerset  co. ;  S.  by  Readington 
t-ship,  and  W.  and  S.  W.  by  Leba- 
non t-ship ;  centrally  distant  N.  E. 
from  Flemington,  14  miles;  great- 
est length,  N.  and  S.,  8;  breadth,  E. 
and  W.  6^  miles;  area,  23,000  acres  ; 
surface  hilly;  soil,  on  the  mountain, 
clay  and  loam,  and  in  the  valley,  at 
its  foot,  grey  limestone,  rich  and  well 
cultivated;  drained  by  Rockaway 
creek,  and  its  tributaries,  flowing  S. 
E.  through  the  township,  and  by 
Lamington  river,  which  runs  on  the 
eastern  boundary.  New  German- 
town,  and  Pottersville,  are  post-towns 
of  the  t-ship.  Population  in  1830, 
1659.  In  1832  the  t-ship  contained 
8  stores,  6  saw  mills,  3  grist  mills, 
28  tanner's  vats,  2 -carding  machines, 
2  fulling  mills,  9  distilleries,  417 
horses  and  mules,  696  neat  cattle, 
above  3  years  of  age ;  and  paid  poor 
tax,  $350;  road  tax,  $600 ;  state  and 
county  tax,  $706  68. 

Tice's  Pond,  at  the  foot  of  the 
Ramapo  mountain,  Pompton  t-ship, 
Bergen  co. ;  covers  about  200  acres 
of  ground,  and  is  the  source  of  a  tri- 
butary of  Ringwood  river. 

Timber  Creek,  Big,  Gloucester 
co.,  rises  by  two  branches,  the  lesser 
in  Gloucester,  and  the  greater  in 
Deptford  t-ship,  uniting  about  6  miles 
above  the  mouth.  The  north  branch 
is  navigable  for  sloops  from  the  De- 


TOM 


250 


laware  to  Chew's  landing,  a  distance 
of  8  or  9  miles,  and  the  south,  nearly 
to  Blackwoodtown,  a  distance  of  about 
10  miles.  The  whole  length  of  the 
stream,  by  its  meanders,  may  be  13 
or  14  miles.  It  receives  several 
small  tributaries  in  its  course,  and 
drives  some  valuable  mills. 

Timber  Creek,  Little,  of  Wool- 
wich t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  rises  in 
the  t-ship,  and  flows  N.  W.  7  or  8 
miles,  to  the  Delaware  river,  below 
Chester  Island.  There  is  a  mill  upon 
it,  near  its  head. 

Tinton  Falls,  village,  and  mill  site 
of  Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
upon  a  branch  of  the  Nevisink  river, 
9  miles  E.  from  Freehold ;  contains 
from  15  to  20  dwellings,  a  grist  and 
saw  mill,  1  tavern,  and  2  stores.  The 
water  of  the  S.  E.  branch  of  Swim- 
ming river,  falls  over  a  sand  rock, 
filled  with  animal  remains,  and  form- 
ing a  cascade  of  about  30  feet  high. 
From  this  rock  flows  a  copious  cha- 
lybeate spring,  which  is  frequently 
visited  by  those  who  seek  health  or 
amusement  at  the  boarding  houses 
near  the  coast. 

Titusville,  post-office,  Hunterdon 
county. 

Tows'  River,  p-t.,  of  Dover  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  upon  the  head  of 
Toms'  River  bay,  and  tide  water, 
25  miles  S.  E.  from  Freehold,  221 
from  W.  City,  and  69  from  Tren- 
ton, and  6  from  the  confluence  of  the 
river  with  Barnegat  bay ;  a  flourish- 
ing village,  lying  on  both  sides  of  the 
creek,  united  by  a  wooden  bridge,  of 
near  200  feet  in  length;  contains 
from  50  to  60  frame  dwellings,  some 
of  which  are  very  neat  and  commo- 
dious ;  2  taverns,  5  or  6  stores,  and 
a  Methodist  meeting.  Many  sloops 
and  schooners  are  built  here,  and 
more  than  $200,000  worth  of  timber 
and  cord-wood,  annually  exported. 

Toms'  River,  mill  stream  of  Mon 
mouth  co. ;  its  main  branch  rises  on 
the  line  dividing  Freehold  and  Upper 
Freehold  t-ships,  and  near  Paint 
Island  spring;  and  flows  thence  by 
a  S.  E.  and  E.  course  of  30  miles, 
into  Barnegat  bay.  Above  the  village 


of  Toms'  river,  about  4  miles,  it  re- 
ceives the  south  branch,  which  is 
formed  by  many  streams  from  Dover 
and  Upper  Freehold  t-ships ;  and  about 
a  mile  above  the  village,  Wrangle 
Brook  also  unites  with  it.  It  drains 
a  wide  expanse  of  forest  land,  and  by 
the  main  stream  and  branches  turns 
many  mills  and  iron  works. 

Townsbury,  post-office,  Warren 
county. 

Tranquility,  small  tributary  of  the 
west  branch  of  Wading  river,  rises 
and  flows  about  4  miles  in  the  neck 
of  land,  between  the  east  and  west 
branches  of  the  river. 

Trap,  hamlet  of  Shrewsbury  t-ship, 
Monmouth  co.,  near  Shark  river,  11 
miles  S.  E.  from  Freehold  ;  contain- 
ing 6  or  8  dwellings,  surrounded  by 
a  sandy  soil  and  pine  forest. 

Trenton  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Hopewell,  E.  by 
Lawrence  t-ships;  S.  E.  by  Not- 
tingham t-ship,  of  Burlington  co. ; 
and  S.  W.  and  W.  by  the  river  De- 
laware. Greatest  length  N.  W.  and 
S.  E.  8  miles;  breadth  E.  and  W. 
6  miles;  area,  10,609 acres;  surface, 
level;  soil,  clay  and  red  shale,  gene- 
rally well  cultivated,  and  productive. 
It  is  drained  by  Jacob's  creek  on  the 
north,  and  by  the  Assunpink  and  its 
tributaries,  on  the  south.  The  town 
of  Birmingham,  and  the  city  of  Tren- 
ton, are  within  its  boundary.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  3925.  In  1832, 
there  were  in  the  t-ship  1 1  merchants, 
3  fisheries,  2  saw  mills,  3  grist  mills, 
2  ferries  and  bridges,  220  tan  vats, 
2  grain  distilleries,  469  horses  and 
mules,  and  590  neat  cattle,  above  3 
years  old ;  and  it  paid  poor  tax, 
8900;  road  tax,  $400;  and  county 
tax,  $1264  98.  (See  Trenton  City.) 

Trenton,  city,  and  seat  of  govern- 
ment of  the  state,  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Delaware  river,  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  above  the  tide,  opposite  the 
lower  falls  of 'the  river,  and  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Assunpink  creek, 
Trenton  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  30 
miles  from  Philadelphia,  58  from 
New  York;  lat.  40°  13'  41"  N.; 
long.  0°  21'  15"  E.  of  Philadelphia, 


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and  2°  8'  15"  of  Washington  City. 
Incorporated  by  the  act  of  13th  No- 
vember, 1792,  which  established  its 
government  under  a  mayor,  recorder, 
3  aldermen,  and  13  assistants,  with 
the  usual  city  privileges,  and  power 
to  license  taverns  within  the  city; 
and  by  the  act  of  3d  January,  1817, 
the  mayor,  recorder,  and  aldermen, 
or  any  three  of  them,  of  whom  the 
mayor  and  recorder  must  be  one,  are 
empowered  to  hold  a  court  of  general 
quarter  sessions.  There  are  here,  a 
state  house,  100  by  60  feet,  with 
bow  at  either  end,  cupola,  and  bell ; 
the  building  is  of  stone,  stuccoed 
in  imitation  of  dark  granite,  and 
beautifully  situated  on  the  bank  of 
the  river,  commanding  a  fine  view  of 
the  stream,  the  airy  bridge  which 
has  been  thrown  over  it,  and  of  the 
undulating  shore  of  Pennsylvania  :  a 
house  for  the  residence  of  the  gover- 
nor of  the  state ;  3  fire-proof  offices, 
a  bank  incorporated  in  1804,  with 
an  authorized  capital  of  $600,000, 
of  which  $214,740  only  have  been 
paid  in;  an  academy  in  which  the 
languages  are  taught,  3  boarding  and 
day  schools  for  females,  and  several 
common  schools.  These  are,  how- 
ever, in  the  city  proper ;  but  Trenton, 
as  known  in  common  parlance,  in- 
cluding the  villages  of  Mill  Hill, 
Bloomsbury,  and  Lamberton,  extend- 
ing If  miles  down  the  river  bank,  has 
an  Episcopal,  Presbyterian,  Friends', 
Baptist,  Reformed  Baptist,  Roman 
Catholic,  Methodist,  and  African  Me- 
thodist churches.  Trenton  proper 
contains  425  dwellings,  13  taverns, 
about  30  stores,  among  which  are  3 
bookstores,  and  3  silversmith  shops ; 

3  printing  offices,  each  of  which  is- 
sues a  weekly  paper,  viz.  the  Union, 
the  True  American,  and   the  New 
Jersey  Gazetteer ;  a  public  library,  es- 
tablished about  the  year  1750,  and  a 
lyceum  or  literary  associJfton.     Mill 
Hill  has  78  dwellings,  4  stores,  and 

4  taverns.     Bloomsbury,  145  dwell- 
ings, 2  stores,  and  5  taverns ;  and 
Lamberton,  64  dwellings,  2  stores, 
and   2   taverns.      The   Philadelphia 
steam-boats  ply  daily,  and  sometimes 


several  times  a  day,  one  from  Lam- 
Derton,  and  others  from  Bloomsbury ; 
and  stages  run  3  times  a  day  by  the 
rail-road  to  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia. Stages  also  run  hence  by 
Princeton  to  Brunswick,  and  to  va- 
rious other  parts  of  the  country 
The  Delaware  and  Raritan  canal  re 
ceiyes  its  feeder  here,  on  which  is  an 
xtensive  basin  for  vessels  and  boats, 
and  the  main  canal  crosses  the  As- 
unpink  east  of  the  town,  over  a  no- 
ble stone  aqueduct.  The  state  prison 
is  at  Lamberton,  where  a  new  prison 
is  also  being  erected,  adapted  to  the 
confinement  of  150  convicts.  The 
famed  bridge  over  the  Delaware,  is 
thrown  from  Bloomsbury  to  Morris- 
ville,  a  span  of  1100  feet,  having  a 
double  carriage-way  and  foot-paths 
resting  on  the  chords  of,  and  suspend- 
ed from,  a  series  of  five  arches,  sup- 
ported on  stone  piers.  This  struc- 
ture has  been  much  admired  for  its 
lightness,  grace,  and  strength.  There 
are  on  the  Assunpink,  within  the 
town,  two  cotton  mills,  having  5400 
spindles,  and  one  mill  for  power 
looms,  and  on  the  Delaware,  two 
mills  for  looms;  the  whole  number 
of  looms  exceed  200. 

For  some  years  past  Trenton  has 
not  been  in  a  very  thriving  state,  but 
the  late  improvements  have  given 
new  life  to  business  and  enterprise, 
and  much  prosperity  is  anticipated 
from  the  completion  of  the  canal,  and 
particularly  from  the  construction  of 
the  mill  race,  now  being  made  by  the 
Trenton  Falls  Company. 

This  company  was  incorporated  by 
an  act  of  the  legislature,  16th  Feb. 
1831,  with  power  to  purchase,  lease, 
or  sell  lands,  mills,  and  water  privi- 
leges useful  in  the  creation  of  water 
power ;  to  cut  a  wing  dam  in  the  De- 
laware river,  between  the  mouth  of 
the  Assunpink  and  the  head  of  Wells' 
Falls,  and  a  race-way  along  the  bank, 
not  extending  more  than  one  and  a 
half  miles  below  the  Trenton  Falls ; 
to  make  lateral  race-ways  and  other 
works;  to  sell  lots,  sites,  and  privi- 
leges under  the  charter ;  and  with  a 
general  power  of  taking  lands  neces- 


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sary  for  their  purposes,  at  the  ap- 
praisement of  the  commissioners;  and 
with  the  customary  powers  granted 
to  other  corporations.  Their  charter 
is  perpetual,  protecting  the  company 
from  any  tax  exceeding  the  half  of 
one  per  cent,  on  the  actual  amount  of 
capital  expended  in  the  construction 
of  the  work,  with  the  privilege  of  ex- 
tending its  capital  to  $200,000.  Each 
share,  in  the  election  of  managers,  is 
entitled  to  one  vote. 

The  capital  subscribed  is  $90,000 ; 
the  cost  of  constructing  the  work  is 
estimated  at  $140,000  exclusive  of 
the  lands  purchased  by  the  company 
for  mill  sites  and  building  lots.  The 
canal  and  race-way  commences  at 
the  head  of  Scudder's  Falls,  directly 
opposite  the  upper  end  of  Slack's 
Island,  and  continues  down  the  mar- 
gin of  the  river,  to  a  point  opposite 
the  centre  of  White's  Island,  where, 
leaving  the  bank,  it  enters  upon  the 
meadows  bordering  the  river,  through 
which  it  passes  to  the  Assunpink,  in 
Trenton;  thence,  it  is  designed  to 
cross  this  creek  by  an  aqueduct,  and 
to  pass  through  Bloomsbury,  to  the 
precincts  of  Lamberton,  where  it  de- 
bouches into  the  river. 

The  fall  in  the  river  Delaware,  be- 
tween the  head  and  foot  of  the  race- 
way is  20  feet,  of  which,  one  foot  and 
a  half  descent  is  given  to  the  race- 
way, leaving  a  head  and  fall  at  the 
Assunpink  of  14  feet,  and  below  the 
foot  of  the  Trenton  Falls  18£  feet. 

The  entire  column  of  the  water  de- 
scending the  race-way  is  estimated  at 
23,868  cubic  feet  per  minute,  at  the 
lowest  known  state  of  the  water. — 
This  at  the  Assunpink,  will  afford  a 
power  equal  to  335  horses;  or  if  all  be 
expended  below  the  Assunpink,  equal 
to  575  horses:  or  should  one-third  of 
the  water  be  used  above,  and  two- 
thirds  below  the  creek,  the  power 
above  will  be  equal  to  145  horses, 
and  that  below,  to  384  horses.  This 
calculation  is  based  on  a  depth  of  six 
feet  water  only,  in  the  race-way ;  the 
minimum  supply,  after  all  deductions 
for  leakage  and  evaporation  at  the 
lowest  water. 


This,  however,  is  the  view  of  the 
power,  in  what  is  deemed  its  first 
stage.  The  work  commences  at  the 
upper  end  of  Slack's  Island,  which  is 
of  considerable  extent,  situate  near 
the  middle  of  the  river.  The  main 
channel  of  the  stream  wras  formerly 
on  the  right,  or  Pennsylvania  side  of 
the  island,  but  a  loose  stone  wall  hav- 
ing, some  years  since,  been  thrown 
across  this  channel  to  improve  the 
navigation  of  the  river,  the  larger 
portion  of  the  water  was  thrown  into 
the  Jersey  channel.  This  wall  re- 
mains, but  it  is  overflowed  at  the 
lowest  water.  By  raising  this  dam 
and  throwing  the  whole  current  of 
the  river  into  this  channel,  or  by  en- 
tirely removing  it,  and  erecting  a  dam 
from  the  head  of  the  company's  works 
to  Slack's  Island,  and  reopening  the 
channel  on  the  other  side,  the  water 
in  the  raceway  would  be  raised  two 
feet  beyond  its  present  elevation ;  and 
in  constructing  their  work,  the  com- 
pany have  adapted  it  to  the  reception 
of  that  body  of  water.  A  column  of 
eight  feet  instead  of  six,  would  thus 
be  gained  in  the  race;  the  velocity 
of  its  current  increased  to  122  feet 
per  minute,  and  the  quantity  of  water 
to  52,704  cubic  feet  in  the  same  time. 
The  power  of  the  water  would  then 
be  equal  to  960  horses  at  the  Assun- 
pink, or  1260  below  it :  or  should 
one-third  of  the  power  be  employed 
above,  and  two-thirds  below  the  creek, 
it  would  afford  the  company  a  power 
above,  equal  to  330  horses,  below, 
840,  in  the  whole  1170. 

The  company  propose  to  let  their 
lands  for  the  erection  of  mills,  above 
the  Assunpink,  at  30  cents,  and  be- 
low the  creek,  at  from  40  to  50  cents 
the  foot,  perpetual  rent,  according  to 
situation ;  with  the  right  of  the  free 
use  of  the  company's  wharf,  rail-road, 
&c. :  and  their  lands  for  dwellings, 
in  lots  20  ^by  75  feet,  at  $6  per  an- 
num. The  buildings,  in  all  cases,  to 
be  fire  proof.  And  they  propose  to 
let  the  water  from  the  main  race-way 
for  mill  power,  at  a  perpetual  rent 
of  three  dollars  above,  and  four  dol- 
lars below  the  Assunpink  creek,  for 


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every  square  inch  area  of  the  aper- 
ture, through  which  it  shall  be  drawn 
off  by  a  flume,  the  plan  of  which  is  in 
the  office  of  the  company.  The  aper- 
ture to  be  measured  and  made  accord- 
ing to  the  standard  measure,  also 
kept  by  the  company,  and  similar  to 
that  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
State,  at  Washington,  and  according 
to  other  regulations  published  by  the 
company. 

The  advantages  of  this  site  for 
manufacturing  purposes  are  perhaps 
unsurpassed  by  any  in  the  country. 
Intermediately  situated  between  the 
great  markets  of  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  30  miles  from  the  former, 
and  60  from  the  latter — surrounded  by 
a  rich  agricultural  country,  producing 
a  large  surplus  quantity  of  grain  of 
every  description,  and  capable  of  quad- 
rupling its  productions — upon  a  river, 
navigable  to  the  ocean,  and  for  near  250 
miles  above  the  falls,  flowing  through 
a  wide  and  fertile  country,  whose  pro- 
ducts may  find  a  ready  market  here  ; 
having  also  the  feeder  of  the  Dela- 
ware and  Raritan  canal,  connecting 
with  the  main  canal  in  the  heart  of 
the  city  plot,  whilst  the  canal  itself 
unites  with  the  Delaware,  below  the 
bar  at  Bordentown,  and  passing 
through  Trenton,  along  the  Millstone 
and  Raritan  rivers,  to  New  Bruns- 
wick, affords  a  fine  sloop  navigation, 
and  all  the  advantages  of  cheap  and 
rapid  water  transportation  from  and 
to  Philadelphia  and  New  York : — the 
facility  of  obtaining  an  abundant  and 
cheap  supply  of  anthracite  coal  by 
the  river  and  the  Pennsylvania  canal, 
on  the  opposite  bank : — the  rail-roads 
made,  and  in  progress  towards  New 
York  and  Philadelphia,  of  which, 
there  are  two  leading  to  the  latter, 
one  on  each  side  of  the  river ;  that  on 
the  west  running  directly  from  the 
city,  and  that  on  the  east  from  Bor- 
dentown, combine  all  that  the  ma- 
nufacturer can  require: — a  healthy 
country,  abundant  and  cheap  provi- 
sions, an  adequate  supply  of  labour- 
ers, convenience  in  obtaining  raw 
materials,  unfailing  power  for  its  ma- 
nipulation, and  a  chance  of,  and  rea- 


dy access  to,  the  best  markets  of  the 
country. 

The  following  is  a  description  of 
Trenton,  in  1748,  as  given  by  the 
Swedish  traveller  Kalm — which  the 
citizen  will  delight  to  compare  with 
its  present  condition : 

"Trenton  is  a  long,  narrow  town, 
situate  at  some  distance  from  the 
river  Delaware,  on  a  sandy  plain. 
It  is  reckoned  30  miles  from  Phila- 
delphia. It  has  two  small  churches, 
one  for  the  people  belonging  to  the 
Church  of  England,  the  other  for  the 
Presbyterians.  The  houses  are  part- 
ly built  of  stone,  though  most  of  them 
are  made  of  wood  or  planks,  com- 
monly two  stories  high,  together  with 
a  cellar  below  the  building,  and  a 
kitchen  under  ground,  close  to  the 
cellar.  The  houses  stand  at  a  mode- 
rate distance  from  one  another.  They 
are  commonly  built  so  that  the  street 
passes  along  one  side  of  the  houses, 
while  gardens  of  different  dimensions 
bound  the  other  side ;  in  each  garden 
is  a  draw-well ;  the  place  is  reckoned 
very  healthy.  Our  landlord  told  us 
that  22  years  ago,  when  he  first  set- 
tled here,  (1726)  there  was  hardly 
more  than  one  house :  but  from  that 
time,  Trenton  has  increased  so  much, 
that  there  are  at  present  near  an  hun- 
dred houses.  The  houses  were  with- 
in, divided  into  several  rooms  by  their 
partitions  of  boards.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  place  carried  on  a  small  trade 
with  the  goods  which  they  got  from 
Philadelphia;  but  their  chief  gain 
consisted  in  the  arrival  of  the  nume- 
rous travellers  between  that  city  and 
New  York ;  for  they  are  commonly 
brought  by  the  Trenton  yachts  from 
Philadelphia  to  Trenton,  or  from 
thence  to  Philadelphia.  But  from 
Trenton,  further  to  New  Brunswick, 
the  travellers  go  in  wagons,  which 
set  out  every  day  for  that  place.  Se- 
veral of  the  inhabitants  also  subsist 
on  the  carriage  of  all  sorts  of  goods, 
which  are  sent  in  great  quantities, 
either  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York, 
or  from  thence  to  the  former  place—- 
for between  Philadelphia  and  Tren- 
ton, all  goods  go  by  water ;  but  be- 


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254 


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tween  Trenton  and  New  Brunswick, 
they  are  all  carried  by  land,  and  both 
these  conveniences  belong  to  people 
of  this  town.  For  the  yachts  which 
go  between  this  place  and  the  capital 
of  Pennsylvania,  they  usually  pay  a 
shilling  and  sixpence,  Pennsylvania 
currency,  per  person,  and  every  one 
pays  beside  for  his  baggage.  Every 
passenger  must  provide  meat  and 
drink  for  himself,  and  pay  some  set- 
tled fare.  Between  Trenton  and  New 
Brunswick,  a  person  pays  2s.  6d.,  and 
the  baggage  is  likewise  paid  for  sepa- 
rately." 

The  town  was  founded  a  few  years 
prior  to  1720,  by  William  Trent,  an 
enterprising  trader,  who  was  distin- 
guished For  public  spirit,  and  private 
character,  in  the  provinces  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey.  He  was 
at  one  time,  Speaker  of  the  Assembly 
of  the  former,  and  at  another,  Speak- 
er of  the  Assembly  of  the  latter,  pro- 
vince. The  site  of  Trenton,  before 
it  bore  his  name,  was  significantly 
called  Littleworth.  Mr.  Trent  died 
on  the  29th  December,  1724. 

Trowbridge  Mountain,  a  long  and 
irregularly  shaped  hill,  of  Morris  co., 
extending  from  the  N.  branch  of  the 
Raritan,  through  Mendham,  Ran- 
dolph, and  Hanover  t-ships,  to  the 
Rockaway  river,  ranging  S.  W.  and 
N.  E.  It  is  of  granitic  formation; 
many  parts  of  it  in  cultivation,  but 
generally  sterile. 

Troy,  hamlet  of  Hanover  t-ship, 
Morris  co.,  on  the  Parcipany  river, 
about  7  miles  N.  E.  of  Morristown ; 
contains  a  forge,  1  grist  mill,  a  saw 
mill,  and  12  or  15  dwellings.  Soil, 
sandy  loam. 

Tubmill,  branch  of  Wading  river, 
rises  in  the  west  plains  of  Little  Egg 
Harbour  t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  and 
flows  S.  W.  7  miles  to  its  recipient, 
about  a  mile  below  Bridgeport. 

Tuckahoe  Creek,  rises  on  the  line 
between  Weymouth  t-ship,  Glouces- 
ter co.,  and  Maurice  river  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  and  forms,  in  part, 
the  western  boundary  of  the  former 
co.,  and  also,  its  southern  boundary, 
separating  it  in  the  latter  case,  from 


Cape  May  co.  Its  course,  for  about 
11  miles,  is  S.,  thence  due  E.  for 
about  12  miles;  emptying  into  C4reat 
Egg  Harbour  bay.  It  is  a  fine  mill 
stream,  driving  several  mills,  at  Mar- 
shallville,  Etna,  and  other  higher 
points,  and  is  navigable  for  sloops, 
above  the  village  of  Tuckahoe,  more 
than  10  miles  from  the  ocean. 

Tuckahoe,  p-t.  on  both  sides  of  the 
Tuckahoe  river,  over  which  there  is 
a  bridge,  10  miles  above  the  sea,  46 
miles  S.  E.  from  Woodbury,  and  by 
post-route  1 92  from  Washington ; 
contains  some  20  dwellings,  3  ta- 
verns, several  stores.  It  is  a  place 
of  considerable  trade  in  wood,  lum- 
ber, and  ship  building.  The  land 
immediately  on  the  river  is  good,  but 
a  short  distance  from  it,  is  swampy 
and  low. 

Tuckerton,  p-t,  and  port  of  entry, 
for  Little  Egg  Harbour  district,  about 
35  miles  S.  E.  of  Mount  Holly,  65 
from  Trenton,  and  189  N.  E.  from 
W.  C. ;  situate  on  a  narrow  tongue 
of  land,  projecting  into  the  marsh  on 
Little  Egg  Harbour  bay,  Little  Egg 
Harbour  t-ship,  Burlington  co. ;  con- 
tains between  30  and  40  dwellings, 
4  taverns,  5  stores,  2  Methodist 
churches,  a  Quaker  meeting  house. 
It  lies  upon  a  navigable  stream,  call- 
ed Shord's  Mill  Branch,  6  miles  from 
the  bay,  whence  wood  scows  and 
flats  ascend  to  the  town.  There  is  a 
large  business  done  here  in  timber 
and  cord-wood ;  and  salt  is,  or  was 
manufactured  in  the  vicinity.  The 
town  is  frequented  during  the  sum- 
mer season,  by  many  persons  for  the 
benefits  of  sea-bathing,  &c.  A  stage 
plies  regularly  between  it  and  Phila- 
delphia. 

Tulipehankin  Creek,  tributary  of 
the  west  branch  of  Wading  river, 
rises  in,  and  has  its  whole  course  of 
about  8  miles,  through  Washington 
t-ship,  Burlington  co. 

Turpentine,  hamlet  of  Northamp- 
ton t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  road 
from  Mount  Holly  to  Freehold,  about 
a  mile  east  from  the  former ;  contains 
a  tavern,  a  store,  and  some  8  or  10 
dwellings. 


UPP 


255 


VAU 


Turtle  Gut  Inlet,  Lower  t-ship, 
Cape  May  co.,  between  Five  Mile 
and  Two  Mile  Beach. 

Tuscomusco  Creek,  a  small  tribu- 
tary of  the  Atsion  river,  Evesham 
t-ship,  Burlington  co. 

Two  Mile  Beach,  on  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  Lower  t-ship,  Cape  May  co., 
between  Turtle  Gut  and  Cold  Spring 
'Inlet. 

Union  Cross  Roads,  hamlet  of 
Deptford  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  4 
miles  S.  E.  of  Woodbury ;  contains 
3  or  4  dwellings. 

Union  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  bounded 
N.  by  Orange  and  Newark  t-ships  ; 
E.  by  Elizabethtown  t-ship;  S.  by 
Rahway,  and  W.  by  Westfield  and 
Springfield  t-ships.  Centrally  distant 
from  Newark  S.  W.  6  miles:  great- 
est length  N.  and  S.  5|,  breadth  E. 
and  W.  5  miles  ;  area,  12,000  acres  ; 
surface,  rolling;  soil,  red  shale,  well 
cultivated  ;  watered  by  Elizabeth  river 
on  the  east,  and  Rahway  river  on  the 
west.  Population  in  1830,  1405.— 
In  1832  the  t-ship  contained  350  tax- 
ables,  56  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30  in  value ;  40 
single  men,  2  stores,  7  saw  mills,  1 
woollen  factory,  21  tan  vats;  and 
paid  state  tax,  $179  65;  county, 
470  04;  poor,  $300.  There  is  a 
fine  body  of  turf  here,  upon  the  south 
branch  of  Elizabeth  river. 

Union  or  "  Connecticut  Farms" 
is  the  post-town  of  the  preceding 
t-ship,  situated  on  the  road  from  Eli- 
zabethtown to  Morristown,  4  miles 
N.  W.  of  the  former,  5  miles  S.  E. 
from  Newark,  213  N.  E.  from  W. 
C.,  and  47  from  Trenton ;  contains 
a  Presbyterian  church,  and  within  a 
half  a  mile  of  it,  3  taverns,  a  store, 
and  about  30  dwellings. 

Up-Clearing  Creek,  a  small  tribu- 
tary of  Cohansey  creek,  which  flows 
westerly  into  it,  from  Hopewell  t-sp, 
Cumberland  co. 

Upper  t-ship,  Cape  May  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Tuckahoe  creek,  which  di- 
vides it  from  Weymouth  t-ship,  Glou- 
cester co. ;  E.  and  S.  E.  by  the  At- 
lantic ocean;  S.  W.  by  Dennis  t-sp; 
and  N.  W.  by  Maurice  river  t-ship, 


Cumberland  co.  Centrally  distant 
from  Cape  May  court-house  N.  E. 
13  miles:  greatest  length  N.  E.  and 
S.  W.  12  miles;  breadth  S.  E.  and 
N.  W.  ll£  miles;  area,  37,000 
acres ;  surface,  flat ;  soil,  sand  and 
clay;  timber,  generally  oak  and  cedar. 
Population  in  1830,  1067.  In  1832 
there  were  in  the  t-ship  about  200 
taxables,  173  householders,  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  1  grist 
mill,  6  saw  mills,  6  stores,  140 
horses,  and  560  cattle  above  the  age 
of  three  years.  There  are  1  Baptist 
and  1  Episcopalian  church,  here.  The 
t-ship  paid  for  t-shjp  expenses,  $77 
38 ;  county,  $466  65 ;  state  tax, 
$150  73.  It  is  drained  by  Tuckahoe 
river  and  Cedar  Swamp  creek.  The 
last  flows  N.  E.  from  the  S.  W. 
boundary  of  the  t-ship,  through  an 
extensive  cedar  swamp  into  the  river. 
On  the  Atlantic  front  is  Ludlam's  and 
Peck's  Beaches,  having  a  width  of 
near  half  a  mile,  between  which 
the  tide  flows  into  several  marsh  ca- 
nals and  small  lagunes.  The  marsh 
may  have  an  average  width  of  about 
two  miles.  Tuckahoe  village  lies  on 
the  Tuckahoe  river,  partly  in  this, 
and  partly  in  Gloucester  co.,  having 
a  post-office  in  the  latter.  Marshall- 
ville  lies  on  the  line  between  Cum- 
berland and  Cape  May  counties,  but 
in  the  former. 

Vancamp  Brook,  rises  from  two 
ponds  at  the  west  foot  of  the  Blue 
mountain,  Walpack  t-ship,  Sussex 
co.,  and  by  a  S.  W.  course  of  about 
8  miles  empties  into  the  Delaware 
river,  in  Pahaquarry  t-ship. 

Vansicldes,  tavern,  store,  and  post- 
office,  of  Bethlehem  t-ship,  Hunter- 
don  co.,  on  the  S.  E.  foot  of  the  Mus- 
conetcong  mountain,  10  miles  N.  W. 
i  from  Flemington,  36  from  Trenton, 
'and  195  from  W.  C. 

Varmintowri,  hamlet  of  Upper 
Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  6 
miles  S.  E.  of  Allentown,  and  16  S. 
W.  of  Freehold ;  contains  a  wheel- 
wright and  smith  shop,  and  2  or  3 
cottages,  in  a  fertile  country  of  sandy 
loam. 

Vauxhall,  small  hamlet  of  Spring- 


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256 


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field  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  7  miles  W. 
from  Newark,  and  2£  N.  from 
Springfield. 

Vealtown,  in  a  vale  of  Mine  moun- 
tain, on  Mine  Brook,  Bernard  t-ship, 
Somerset  co.,  11  miles  N.  of  Somer- 
ville;  contains  a  mill  and  some  half 
dozen  dwellings. 

Vernon  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  bounded 
N.  by  the  state  of  New  York ;  E. 
by  Pompton  t-ship,  Bergen  co. ;  S. 
by  Hardiston  t-ship;  and  W.  by 
Wantage  t-ship,  from  which  it  is  se- 
parated by  the  Wallkill  river.  Great- 
est length  11,  breadth  10 miles;  area, 
52,480  acres.  The  whole  surface  of 
the  t-ship  is  covered  by  mountains ; 
the  Wallkill  and  Wawayanda  moun- 
tains being  on  the  south  and  east, 
and  the  Pochuck  mountain  on  the 
west.  It  is  drained  north  by  War- 
wick creek  and  its  tributaries,  Black 
creek  and  Double  Pond  creek ;  south 
by  Pacak  creek,  a  tributary  of  the 
Pequannock,  and  by  some  small  tri- 
butaries of  the  Wallkill  river.  Popu- 
lation in  1830,  2377;  taxables  in 
1832,  382.  There  were  in  the  t-ship 
in  1832,158  householders,  whose  ra- 
tables  did  not  exceed  830 ;  2  store- 
keepers, 5  pairs  stones  for  grinding 
grain,  1  carding  machine,  1  furnace, 
3  forges,  8  mill  saws,  1  fulling  mill, 
311  horses  and  mules,  and  1650  neat 
cattle,  3  years  old  and  upwards,  and 
6  distilleries.  The  t-ship  paid  for 
school  tax,  8116;  state  and  county 
tax,  8921  10;  poor  tax,  8300;  and 
road  tax,  81200.  Hamburg  and  Ver- 
non are  villages  and  post-towns  of  this 
t-ship.  The  mountains,  which  on  the 
east,  rise  to  the  height  of  1000  feet, 
are  composed  of  primitive  rock,  in 
which  hornblende  is  a  principal  con- 
stituent ;  the  valleys  are  uniformly  of 
primitive  limestone.  The  mountains 
yield  iron  abundantly. 

Vernon,  p-t.  of  the  above  named 
t-ship,  lying  in  the  valley  between 
the  Wawayanda  and  Pochuck  moun- 
tains, 246  "miles  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
88  from  Trenton,  and  18  from  New- 
ton. It  contains  a  tavern,  store,  and 
from  10  to  12  dwellings. 

Vienna,  p-t.  of  Independence  t-ship, 


Warren  co.,  on  the  Pequest  creek, 
near  the  S.  W.  boundary  of  the  t-sp, 
by  the  post-road  220  miles  from  W. 
C.,  54  from  Trenton,  and  12  from 
Bel  vide  re,  upon  the  verge  of  the  Great 
Meadows ;  contains  a  Presbyterian 
church,  a  store,  tavern,  and  6  or  8 
dwellings. 

Vincenttown,  p-t.  of  Northampton 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  at  the  junction 
of  Stop-the-Jade  creek  with  the  south 
branch  of  the  Rancocus  creek,  5  miles 
S.  of  Mount  Holly,  12  miles  S.  E. 
from  Burlington,  32  from  Trenton, 
and  159  N.  E.  from  W.  C.;  contains 
a  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  2  taverns,  4 
stores,  from  30  to  40  dwellings,  a 
Quaker  meeting  house,  and  a  house 
of  public  worship,  free  to  all  denomi- 
nations ;  surrounded  by  a  fine  fertile 
country. 

Wading  River,  a  considerable 
arm  of  Little  Egg  Harbour  river, 
which  rises  by  two  branches;  the 
east  in  Dover  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
and  flows  S.  W.  15  miles,  into 
Washington  township;  the  west  in 
Northampton  t-ship,  and  flows  S.  W. 
about  15  miles,  to  unite  with  the  east, 
near  Bodine's  tavern.  The  main 
stem  flows  by  a  south  course,  thence 
of  8  miles  to  the  Little  Egg  Harbour 
river,  below  Swan's  Bay. 

Waertown,  hamlet  of  Stafford  t-sp, 
Monmouth  co.,  upon  Barnegat  bay, 
near  the  mouth  of  Waertown  creek, 
a  small  mill  stream,  of  about  3  miles 
long,  35  miles  S.  E.  from  Freehold, 
and  opposite  to  Barnegat  Inlet ;  con- 
tains 10  or  12  dwellings,  a  tavern 
and  store;  in  a  sandy  soil,  covered 
with  pine  forest. 

Wallkill  Mountains.  (See  Ham- 
burg.) 

Wallkill  River,  rises  in  Byrain 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  and  flows  by  a  N. 
E.  course  of  23  or  24  miles,  through 
Hardiston  t-ship,  dividing  Wantage 
from  Vernon  t-ship,  into  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  thence  by  a  like 
course  of  35  or  40  miles,  through 
Orange  and  Ulster  counties,  falls  into 
the  Hudson  river,  3  miles  S.  E.  from 
the  village  of  Esopus  or  Kingston. 
This  stream  is  remarkable  for  beinji 


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257 


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the  drain  of  a  large  and  valuable 
tract  of  marsh  meadow  land,  exceed- 
ing 50,000  acres,  elevated  more  than 
325  feet  above  tide  water.  The  wa- 
ters which  descend  from  the  surround- 
ing hills,  being  slowly  discharged 
from  the  river,  cover  these  vast  mea- 
dows every  winter,  and  would  render 
them  extremely  fertile,  could  they  be 
effectually  drained. 

Walnut  Valley,  post-office,  War- 
ren CO. 

Walpack  t-ship,  of  Sussex  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Sandistone  t-ship ; 
S.  E.  by  the  Blue  mountain,  which 
separates  it  from  Stillwater  t-ship ;  S. 
W.  by  Pahaquarry  t-ship;  and  W. 
by  the  river  Delaware.  Greatest 
length  10  miles ;  breadth  4  miles ; 
area,  15,360  acres;  surface  on  the 
east,  mountainous ;  on  the  west,  river 
alluvion.  Population  in  1830,  660; 
taxables  137.  There  were  in  the 
t-ship  in  1832, 24  householders  whose 
ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ;  1  store- 
keeper, 2  saw  mills,  146  horses  and 
mules,  3  years  old  and  upwards; 
354  neat  cattle  of  like  age;  14  tan 
vats.  It  paid  state  and  county  tax, 
$293  80 ;  and  road  tax,  $350.  It  is 
drained  by  the  Flatkill,  which  runs 
centrally  through  the  t-ship,  and 
empties  into  the  Delaware  at  the 
Wralpack  Bend;  and  by  Vancamp 
Brook,  which  rises  in  Long  Pond,  in 
the  Blue  mountain.  There  is  a  post- 
office  here,  called  after  the  t-ship,  dis- 
tant from  Washington  240,  from 
Trenton  82,  and  from  Newton  12 
miles.  The  Blue  mountain  covers 
nearly  half  the  t-ship;  between  its 
base  and  the  river  is  a  margin,  of  an 
average  width  of  two  miles,  of  lime- 
stone, bordered  and  partly  covered 
by  alluvion,  rich  and  highly  produc- 
tive of  wheat,  corn,  &c.  There  is  a 
German  Reformed  church  in  the 
t-ship. 

Walpack  Bend,  a  remarkable 
bend  of  the  river  Delaware,  at  the 
S.  W.  angle  of  Walpack  t-ship,  about 
85  miles  above  the  city  of  Trenton. 

Wantage    t-ship,   of  Sussex   co., 
bounded  N.   by   the   state   of  New 
York;  E.  by  Vernon  t-ship;  S.  by 
2K 


Frankford  and  Hardiston  t-ships; 
and  W.  by  the  Blue  mountain,  which 
separates  this  from  Sandistone  and 
Montague  t-ships.  Greatest  length 
11  miles;  breadth  8|  miles;  area, 
42,880  acres ;  surface  on  the  west, 
mountainous  and  hilly;  on  the  east, 
rolling.  Population  in  1830,4034; 
taxables  643.  There  were  in  the 
t-ship  in  1832,  208  householders,  11 
storekeepers  or  traders,  18  pairs  of 
stones  for  grinding  grain,  6  saw 
mills,  1  fulling  mill,  5  carding  ma- 
chines, 939  horses  and  mules,  and 
3481  neat  cattle,  over  3  years  of 
age;  18  tan  vats,  and  3  distilleries. 
The  t-ship  paid  a  school  tax  of  $500 ; 
state  and  county  tax,  $1706  27; 

rr  tax,  $300;  and  road  tax,  $1500. 
s  drained  by  Deep  Clove  river 
and  Papakating  creek,  uniting  south 
of  Deckertown,  and  thence  flowing 
into  the  Wallkill  river,  which  forms 
the  whole  eastern  boundary  of  the 
t-ship.  The  Paterson  and  Hamburg 
turnpike  road  runs  N.  E.,  and  the 
Newton  and  Bolton  N.  W.,  through 
the  t-ship;  and  at  their  intersection, 
is  the  small  village  of  Deckertown. 
There  is  a  post-office  at  Decker-town, 
444  miles  from  W.  C.,  86  from  Tren- 
ton, and  16  from  Newton;  and  ano- 
ther called  Libertyville,  241  miles 
from  W.  C.,  83  from  Trenton,  and 
10  from  Newton.  Wantage  is  a  rich 
t-ship,  consisting  of  limestone  and 
slate  soils ;  the  one  on  the  east,  and 
the  other  on  its  western  side,  highly 
cultivated.  Along  the  Wallkill  river, 
there  is  a  margin  of  swamp,  known 
as  the  Drowned  Lands,  caused  by  the 
collection  of  the  waters  from  the  high 
ground,  in  a  deep  and  flat  valley, 
hrough  which  the  river  moves  slug- 
gishly. These  lands  are,  in  places, 
leavily  timbered. 

War  die1  s  Beach,  on  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  Shrewsbury  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co.,  extending  south  from  Old  Shrews- 
)ury  Inlet. 

Warren  County,  was  taken  from 
Sussex,  by  Act,  20th  Nov.,  1824, 
which  directed,  That  all  the  lower 
)art  of  the  latter,  southwesterly  of  a 
ine,  beginning  on  the  river  Dela- 


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258 


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ware,  at  the  mouth  of  Flat  Brook,  in 
the  t-ship  of  Walpack,  and  running 
thence  a  straight  course  to  the  N.  E. 
corner  of  Hardwicke  church,  and 
thence  in  the  same  course  to  the  mid- 
dle of  the  Musconetcong  creek,  thence 
down  the  middle  of  the  said  creek,  to 
the  Delaware,  should  be  a  new  coun- 
ty. Warren  is  bounded  N.  E.  by 
Sussex  co.;  S.  E.  by  the  Musco- 
netcong creek,  which  divides  it  from 
Morris  and  Hunterdon,  and  W.  and 
N.  W.  by  the  river  Delaware.  Its 
greatest  length,  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  is 
35  miles;  greatest  breadth,  E.  and 
W.  17  miles;  area,  about  350  square 
miles ;  central  lat.  40°  50'  N. ;  long. 
1°58'  E.,  from  W.  C. 

The  county  is  divided  between  the 
primitive  and  transition  formations. 
A  strip  of  the  former  crosses  it,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Beattystown, 
towards  Philipsburg,  and  the  other 
fills  the  portion  N.  of  a  line  running 
N.  W.  and  S.  E.  by  Sparta,  towards 
Belvidere,  including  the  Blue  moun- 
tain ;  leaving  an  intervening  strip  of 
primitive,  of  a  wedge-like  form,  hav- 
ing its  broader  part  resting  on  New 
York.  From  these  formations  we 
may  expect  a  great  variety  of  soils ; 
and  indeed  all  the  rocks  which  be- 
long to  them,  are  singularly  blended 
The  valley  of  the  Musconetcong,  on 
the  N*W.  side,  abounds  with  transi- 
tion limestone,  bordered  by  a  vein 
of  dark  slate;  and  all  the  valleys, 
whether  of  the  primitive  or  transition, 
are  fertilized  by  the  decomposition  of 
the  limestone  rock,  mingling  with  the 
sand,  loam  and  clay,  washing  from 
the  mountains,  making  a  compound, 
various  as  the  rocks  from  which  it  is 
derived. 

The  metals  found  within  the  coun- 
ty, are  magnetic  iron,  brown  hema 
tite,  and  bog  ore,  in  several  places 
but  principally  in  Scott's  mountain 
Jenny  Jump,  and  on  the  Delaware 
river,  near  Foul  Rift.  A  mine  o 
magnetic  iron  ore  is  wrought  in 
Scott's  mountain,  Oxford  .t-ship 
where  a  furnace  was  established  near- 
ly a  century  since,  and  has  lately 
been  repaired  and  put  into  operation. 


Zinc,  or  lead,  appears  in  the  hills 
.vhich  bound  the  Musconetcong  val- 
ey,  on  the  N.  W. ;  but  most  proba- 
bly zinc,  inasmuch  as  these  hills  are 
n  the  range  of  the  Wallkill  moun- 
tain, where  that  metal  lies  in  large 
masses.  Gold  and  silver  are  said  to 
have  been  discovered  in  the  Jenny 
Jump  mountain,  but  which,  though 
possibly  true,  may  in  all  likelihood, 
be  iron  or  copper  pyrites,  which  have 
so  often  been  mistaken  for  the  pre- 
cious metals.  Marble,  steatite,  or 
oapstone,  roofing  slate,  and  manga- 
nese, may  also  be  obtained  in  the 
county,  sufficiently  near  to  naviga- 
tion, to  render  them  valuable  in  com- 
merce. The  state  quarries,  near  the 
Blue  mountain,  are  already  exten- 
sively worked. 

The  county  is  marked  by  several 
prominent  mountain  ridges,  which 
determine  its  water  courses,  and  the 
surface  is  every  where  uneven.  En- 
tering it  from  the  south,  we  cross  the 
natural  boundary,  the  Musconetcong 
creek,  which  is  confined  to  a  narrow 
valley,  by  hills,  forming  a  continua- 
tion of  the  Wallkill  mountain,  whose 
north-western  base  is  washed  by  the 
Pohatcong  creek,  for  nearly  the  whole 
breadth  of  the  county ;  and  the  val- 
ley of  that  stream  is  divided  from 
that  of  the  Pequest,  by  Scott's  moun- 
tain, which  breaks  into  small  and 
diminished  knolls,  near  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  county.  North  of 
the  main  branch  of  the  Pequest,  but 
embraced  by  it  and  its  chief  tributa- 
ry, Beaver  brook,  lies  the  Jenny 
Jump  mountain,  a  narrow  and  iso- 
lated ridge.  Beaver  brook  drains  a 
valley  of  several  miles  in  width,  and 
covered  with  knolls  of  slate,  and  beds 
of  limestone,  and  circumscribed  north- 
ward by  a  long,  unbroken,  slaty 
ridge,  which  bounds  the  valley  of  the 
Paulinskill.  Between  that  stream, 
and  the  Blue  mountain,  the  mean 
distance  may  be  about  five  miles. 
The  Blue  mountain  covers  the  re- 
maining portion  of  the  county,  with 
the  exception  of  a  small  strip  of  allu- 
vial, which  borders  the  Delaware 
river. 


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259 


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As  in  most  parts  of  the  primitive 
and  transition  formations,  the  streams 
are  rapid  and  precipitous,  affording 
advantageous  use  of  their  volumes 
for  hydraulic  purposes,  but  are  in  no 
instance  navigable.  The  waters  of 
the  county,  without  exception,  seek 
the  Delaware;  and  whilst  that  river 
boldly  cuts  its  way  through  the  moun- 
tains, these  tributaries  are  compelled 
to  pursue  the  course  of  the  ridges 
whose  bases  they  lave. 

The  only  artificial  road  of  the 
county,  is  that  from  Morristown  to 
Philipsburg,  opposite  to  Easton.  A 
rail-road  has  been  authorized  by  the 
Legislature,  which  is  designed  to  unite 
with  a  similar  road,  opposite  to  Belvi- 
dere,  on  the  Delaware,  and  to  proceed 
thence  to  the  Susquehanna  river. 

The  business  of  the  county  is  chief- 
ly agricultural,  and  its  staples  are 
wheat,  corn,  rye,  oats,  and  flax ;  and 
in  the  northern  part  buckwheat. 
Within  a  few  years,  husbandry  has 
made  great  advances,  and  yet  conti- 
nues to  improve.  The  use  of  lime 
as  a  manure  is  becoming  general; 
and  the  rich  valley  lands  yield  very 
large  crops  of  wheat,  which  find  a 
ready  market  at  Easton.  Flax-seed 
is  also  grown  in  great  quantities ;  of 
which  12,000  bushels  are  annually 
purchased  in  Belvidere,  alone. 

In  1830,  the  county  contained, 
18,627  inhabitants,  of  whom  9463 
were  white  males,  8695  white  fe- 
males; 214  free  coloured  males,  208 
free  coloured  females;  21  male,  and 
26  female  slaves.  Of  this  popula- 
tion, 286  were  aliens,  10  were  deaf 
and  dumb,  and  14  were  blind.  The 
inhabitants  are  chiefly  of  English  ex- 
traction, and  a  considerable  portion 
from  New  England  parents. 

By  the  abstract  of  the  assessors, 
reported  to  the  Legislature,  in  1832, 
there  were  102,377  acres  of  improved 
land,  making  nearly  one-half  the  area 
of  the  county;  1062  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30 ; 


411  single  men;  3489  taxables;  56 
merchants,  45  grist  mills,  41  saw 
mills,  16  carding  machines,  7  fur- 
naces for  casting  iron,  2  cotton  and 
woollen  factories,  2  fulling  mills,  3 
oil  mills,  and  1  plaster  mill,  235  tan 
vats,  1  glass  factory,  3  distilleries  of 
grain,  and  25  of  cider;  14  carriages, 
with  steel  springs;  177  ridkig  chairs, 
gigs  and  sulkies;  4324  horses,  and 
7772  neat  cattle,  over  3  years  of  age  ; 
and  it  paid  for  t-ship  purposes,  $5700; 
and  for  state  and  county  purposes, 
$8999  20.  The  t-ship  of  Greenwich 
alone  honourably  distinguished  itself, 
by  appropriating  money  to  school  use, 
and  paid  for  this  object,  $500. 

The  religious  sects  of  the  county 
are  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  Epis- 
copalian, Baptists,  and  Chris-ti-ans. 
The  last  has,  we  believe,  two  church- 
es, and  admits  women  to  officiate  in 
the  ministry.  These  sects  rank  in 
number  in  the  order  we  have  placed 
them. 

The  towns  and  post-offices  of  the 
county  are,  Belvidere,  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice ;  Finesville,  Hughesville,  Blooms- 
bury,  Asbury,  Imlaydale,  Pleasant 
Valley,  Mansfield,  Anderson,  Beattys- 
town,  Hackettstown,  Alamuche,  Long 
Bridge,  Johnsonburg,  Lawrenceville , 
Marksborough,  Philipsburg,  Stew- 
artsville,  New  Village,  Broadway, 
Concord,  Rocksbury,  Oxford,  Hope, 
Shiloh,  Columbia,  Knowlton  Mills, 
Centreville,  Sodom,  Gravel  Hill,  &c. 

The  courts  of  .common  pleas,  or- 
phan's courts,  and  quarter  sessions, 
are  holden  at  Belvidere,  on  the  2d 
Tuesday  of  February,  1st  Tuesday  of 
June,  4th  Tuesday  of  August,  and 
the  1st  Tuesday  after  the  4th  in  No- 
vember. The  circuit  court  and  ses- 
sions of  oyer  and  terminer,  and  ge- 
neral jail  delivery,  are  holden  on  the 
1st  Tuesday  in  June,  and  the  1st 
Tuesday  after  the  4th  in  November. 

The  county  elects  one  member  to 
the  council,  and  two  to  the  general 
Assembly. 


WAR 


260 


WAS 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  WARREN  COUNTY. 


J3 

•5 

"T3 

Population. 

Townships. 

C 

rt 
<D 

Area- 

Surface. 

^ 

|4 

P9 

1830. 

Greenwich, 

13 

11 

38,000 

hilly. 

4486 

Hard  wick, 

11 

8 

24,320 

do. 

1962 

Independence, 

9 

8^ 

29,440 

hills  and  vales. 

2126 

Knowlton, 

10 

10 

44,800 

do. 

2827 

Mansfield, 

15 

62 

33,000 

mountainous. 

3303 

Oxford, 

16 

5^ 

42,000 

do. 

3665 

Pahaquarry, 

13 

2j 

12,800 

do. 

'258 

224,360 

18,627 

Warren  t-ship,  Somerset  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Bernard  t-ship  and 
by  Morris  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  the  Passaic 
river;  N.  E.  by  New  Providence; 
S.  E.  by  Westfield  t-ship,  of  Essex 
co.;  S.  by  Piscataway  t-ship,  Mid- 
dlesex co.;  and  S.  W.  by  Bridge- 
water  t-ship,  Somerset  co.  Greatest 
length  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  8  miles; 
breadth  N.  and  S.  4  miles :  centrally 
distant  N.  E.  from  Somerville  6 
miles;  area,  18,000  acres;  surface, 
mountainous,  the  whole  t-ship  being 
covered  with  hills ;  bent  into  elliptic 
form,  with  a  single  narrow  valley 
drained  by  Middle  Brook.  These 
hills  are  low,  well  wooded,  and  com- 
posed of  trap  rock,  upon  old  red  sand- 
stone, whose  disintegration  gives  a 
soil  of  stiff  clay  and  sandy  loam. 
They  contain  veins  of  copper  ore,  ap- 
parently, very  rich,  and  said  to  be 
valuable  not  only  for  the  copper  they 
contain,  but  also  for  their  gold.  Se- 
veral efforts  have  been  made  to  work 
them,  but  none  have  been  success- 
fully prosecuted.  Mines  have  been 
opened  within  2  miles  N.  E.  of  So- 
merville, which  were  lately  wrought 
by  Mr.  Cammams  and  Dr.  Stryker, 
who  have  suspended  their  operations ; 
others,  within  a  mile  of  the  village 
of  Green  Brook,  and  six  of  Somer- 
ville, were  worked  some  40  years 
ago.  The  southern  base  of  these 
mineral  hills  is  washed  by  Green 
Brook.  Mount  Bethel  is  a  small 
hamlet  at  which  we  believe  the  post- 


office  of  the  t-ship  is  kept,  called 
"  Warren."  Population  in  1830, 
1501.  In  1832  the  t-ship  contained 
about  300  taxables,  56  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  830 ; 
42  single  men,  4  stores,  8  saw  mills, 
4  grist  'mills,  2  fulling  mills,  4  tan 
vats,  5  distilleries,  3  carding  ma- 
chines, 259  horses  and  mules,  and 
873  neat  cattle,  over  3  years  of  age. 

Warwick  Creek,  rises  in  Orange 
co.,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  from 
Wickham's  Pond,  and  flows  thence 
by  the  town  of  Warwick  S.  W.  into 
Vernon  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  and  into  the 
valley  between  Wawayanda  and  Po- 
chuck  mountains;  thence  by  a  N. 
W.  course  re-enters  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  unites  with  the  Wallkill 
river,  in  the  Great  Marsh.  This 
stream  gives  motion  to  several  mills. 

Washington  t-ship,  Morris  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Roxbury  t-ship;  E. 
by  that  t-ship  and  Chester;  S.  by 
Tewkesbury  and  Lebanon  t-ships, 
Hunterdon  co. ;  and  W.  by  Mansfield 
and  Independence  t-ships,  Warren 
co.,  from  which  it  is  separated  by 
Musconetcong  creek.  Centrally  dis- 
tant W.  from  Morristown  1 8  miles : 
greatest  length  E.  and  W.  8,  breadth 
N.  and  S.  7£  miles;  area,  27,500 
acres ;  surface,  mountainous,  Schoo- 
ley's  mountain  covering  the  western 
portion;  on  the  east  of  which,  lies 
the  German  valley,  drained  by  the 
south  branch  of  the  Raritan  river: 
the  intervening  country  between  that 
and  the  Black  river,  near  the  south- 


WAS 


261 


WAT 


eastern  boundary,  is  hilly.  The  soil 
of  the  highlands  is  generally  clay 
and  loam,  with  grey  limestone  in  the 
valleys.  Much  of  the  mountain  is 
cultivated,  and  with  lime,  brings 
abundant  crops.  The  German  valley 
is  very  rich,  and  settled  by  the  indus- 
trious descendants  of  Germans.  The 
celebrated  mineral  spring  and  houses 
of  public  entertainment,  are  on  the 
mountain.  (See  Schoolers  Moun- 
tain.) Springtown  and  Pleasant 
Grove  are  villages  of  the  t-ship. — 
Population  in  1830,  2188.  In  1832 
the  t-ship  contained  397  taxables,  124 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30  in  value;  8  stores,  11 
saw,  6  grist  mills,  3  forges,  20  tan 
vats,  10  distilleries,  532  horses,  and 
1015  neat  cattle,  above  3  years  of 
age;  and  paid  the  following  taxes: 
state,  8314;  county,  $703  74;  poor, 
8300 ;  road,  8500. 

Washington,  village  of  North 
Brunswick  t-ship,  Middlesex  co.,  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  South  river,  5 
miles  S.  E.  from  New  Brunswick, 
and  about  3  miles  from  the  conflu- 
ence of  that  river  with  the  Raritan. 
There  are  here  2  taverns,  3  stores, 
and  from  30  to  40  dwellings.  An 
unsuccessful  attempt  has  been  made 
to  cut  a  canal,  a  mile  long,  between 
the  South  river  and  the  Raritan,  in 
order  to  save  several  miles  in  the 
navigation  from  the  town  to  Perth 
Amboy. 

Washington  t-ship,  Burlington  co., 
bounded  N.  and  N.  E.  by  Northamp- 
ton t-ship ;  S.  E.  by  Little  Egg  Har- 
bour t-ship ;  S.  W.  and  W.  by  Gal- 
loway and  Waterford  t-ships,  Glou- 
cester co. ;  and  N.  W.  by  Evesham 
t-ship.  Centrally  distant  S.  from 
Woodbury,  22  miles.  Greatest 
breadth,  N.  and  S.  19  miles;  great- 
est length,  E.  and  W.  20  miles ;  area, 
112,000  acres.  Surface,  level ;  soil, 
generally  sandy,  and  covered  with 
forest.  Drained  S.  by  the  Little  Egg 
Harbour  river,  and  its  several  branch- 
es; Atsion,  the  main  branch,  being 
on  the  W.  boundary,  and  Wading 
river  running  centrally  through  the 
t-ship.  Shamong,  Washington,  and 


Greenbank,  are  villages  of  the  t-ship. 
Population  in  1830,  1315.  In  1832 
the  t-ship  contained  141  household- 
ers, whose  ratables  did  not  exceed 
830;  59  single  men;  287  taxables; 
6  stores,  3  fisheries,  7  saw  mills,  4 
grist  mills,  2  furnaces,  1  forge,  6 
dearborns,  19  covered  wagons,  4  gigs 
and  sulkies,  333  neat  cattle,  265 
horses  and  mules;  and  paid  state 
tax,  8117  12;  county  tax,  8371  10; 
township  tax,  8450. 

Washington,  p-t.  of  Washington 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  in  the  German 
valley,  Schooley's  mountain,  on  the 
turnpike  road  from  Morristown  to 
Easton,  and  on  the  south  branch  of  the 
Raritan  river,  18  miles  W.  of  Morris- 
town,  54  N.  E.  from  Trenton,  and 
220  by  post  route  from  W.  C. ;  con- 
tains 1  Presbyterian,  and  1  Lutheran 
church,  a  school,  1  store,  2  taverns, 
and  about  20  dwellings.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  fertile,  well  improved, 
limestone  country.  (See  German 
Valley.) 

Washington,  village  of  Mansfield 
t-ship,  Warren  county.  (See  Mans- 
field.) 

Waterford  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  N.  E.  by  Chester  t-ship ;  E. 
by  Evesham  t-ship,  Burlington  co. ; 
S.  E.  by  Galloway  t-ship;  W.  by 
Gloucester  and  Newton  t-ships ;  and 
N.  W.  by  the  river  Delaware.  Cen- 
trally distant  W.  from  Woodbury  12 
miles.  Greatest  length,  N.  W.  and 
S.  E.,  25;  breadth,  8  miles.  Its 
form  is  very  irregular,  being  deeply 
indented  by  the  adjacent  county  of 
Burlington,  and  being  near  the  mid- 
dle of  its  length,  scarce  more  than  a 
mile  in  width.  Its  surface  is  level, 
broken  only  by  the  streams  which 
run  through  it;  soil,  sandy,  mixed  in 
the  northern  part,  more  or  less  with 
loam,  but  generally  light,  producing 
tolerable  grass,  when  manured  with 
marl,  ashes  or  lime,  and  is  cultivated 
in  fruit  and  vegetables  for  market. 
The  southern  part  of  the  t-ship,  has 
a  sandy  soil,  covered  with  a  pine 
forest,  and  is  valuable  chiefly  on  ac- 
count of  its  timber.  It  is  drained, 
N.  E.  by  Pensauken  creek;  N.  W. 


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262 


WES 


by  Cooper's  creek,  which,  respective- 
ly, are  boundaries ;  and  on  the  S.  E. 
by  several  branches  of  the  Atsion 
river,  of  which  Atquatqua  creek  runs 
along  the  S.  E.  boundary.  Shell 
marl  is  found  in  the  t-ship,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Long-a-coming,  and 
other  places.  Waterfordville,  and 
Ellisville,  are  villages  of  the  t-ship, 
and  Long-a-coming  is  on  the  western 
t-ship  line.  Population  in  1830,  3088. 
In  1832  the  t-ship  contained  an  Epis- 
copal church,  404  householders, 
whose  ratables  did  not  exceed  $30, 
in  value ;  7  stores,  5  fisheries,  5  grist 
mills,  4  saw  mills,  7  distilleries,  2 
glass  factories;  and  paid  poor  tax, 
§660  52;  county  tax,  $1321  06; 
township  tax,  $1200. 

Waterfordville,  village  of  Water- 
ford  t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  on  the 
road  from  Camden  to  Moorestown, 
about  5  miles  from  either;  contains 
a  tavern,  store,  and  8  or  10  dwell- 
ings. 

Water  Street,  village  of  Mendham 
t-ship,  Morris  co.,  on  the  line  between 
that  and  Morris  t-ship,  and  on  the 
head  waters  of  Whippany  river,  3 
miles  W.  of  Morristown;  contains  a 
grist  mill,  store,  and  half  a  dozen  of 
dwellings. 

Watson's  Creek,  Middletown  t-sp., 
Monmouth  co.,  runs  N.  E.  2  miles, 
into  Sandy  Hook  bay. 

Wawayanda  Mountain,  Vernon 
t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  extends  northerly, 
across  the  eastern  part  of  the  t-ship, 
about  9  miles.  It  interlocks  on  the 
S.  with  the  Wallkill  mountain. 

Waycake  Creek,  Middletown  t-sp., 
Monmouth  co.,  flows  N.  about  5 
miles,  into  the  Raritan  bay,  W.  of 
Point  Comfort. 

Weasel;  the  name  of  a  dense  set- 
tlement, of  Acquackanonck  t-ship, 
Essex  co.,  extending  for  near  4  miles, 
along  the  right  bank  of  the  Passaic, 
between  Acquackanonck  village,  and 
Paterson.  There  may  be  in  the  set- 
tlement, about  40  dwellings,  many  of 
which  are  very  neat.  The  country 
is  fertile,  and  extremely  well  culti- 
vated;— land,  in  farms,  valued  at 
$100  the  acre. 


West  or  Jecak  Creek,  forms  the 
S.  E.  boundary  of  Cumberland  co., 
between  that  and  Cape  May  co.  It 
is  a  mill  stream  between  6  and  7 
miles  in  length,  upon  which  are 
Hughes'  grist  and  saw  mills. 

Westfield,  small  village  of  Chester 
t-ship,  Burlington  co.,  on  the  road 
from  Camden  to  Burlington,  7  miles 
N.  of  the  former,  and  1 1  S.  W.  from 
Mount  Holly;  contains  a  Friends' 
meeting  house,  and  some  half  dozen 
farm  houses,  in  a  very  fertile  well 
cultivated  country.  Soil,  sandy  loam. 

Westfield  t-ship,  Essex  co.,  bound- 
ed N.  by  Springfield ;  E.  by  Union  ; 
S.  E.  by  Rahway  t-ships ;  S.  by  Mid- 
dlesex co.;  W.  by  Warren  t-ship, 
Somerset  co.,  and  by  New  Provi- 
dence t-ship.  Centrally  distant  S. 
W/from  Newark  13  miles:  greatest 
length  7,  breadth  6  miles;  area, 
18,000  acres;  surface  on  the  N. 
W.  hilly,  but  subsiding  to  a  plain  on 
the  south ;  soil,  clay  loam  northward, 
and  red  shale  southward :  the  latter 
rich  and  carefully  cultivated.  Rah- 
way river  courses  the  eastern,  and 
Green  Brook  the  western,  boundary. 
A  more  abundant  and  delightful 
country  is  scarce  any  where  to  be 
found,  than  that  along  from  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  north  of  Scotch 
Plains  through  the  t-ship.  West- 
field,  Plainfield,  and  Scotch  Plains 
are  villages  and  post-towns  of  the 
precinct.  Population  in  1830,  2492. 
In  1832  the  t-ship  contained  475  tax- 
ables,  124  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles did  not  exceed  $30 ;  64  single 
men,  5  merchants,  5  grist  mills,  2 
saw  mills,  1  paper  mill,  423  horses 
and  mules,  and  1111  neat  cattle, 
above  3  years  old;  and  paid  state 
tax,  $264  78;  county,  $692  77; 
poor,  $420 ;  road,  $800. 

Westfield,  p-t.  of  the  above  t-ship, 
11  miles  S.  W.  from  Newark,  218 
N.  E.  from  W.  C.,  52  from  Trenton, 
and  3£  from  Scotch  Plains,  on  the 
road  leading  thence  to  Elizabethtown ; 
contains  a  Presbyterian  church,  a  ta- 
vern, store,  and  smithery,  and  25 
dwellings.  The  vicinage  is  level, 
with  a  stiff  clay  cold  soil.  Lands 


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263 


WHI 


valued  at  an  average  of  25  dollars 
per  acre. 

Westecunk  Creek,  rises  by  several 
branches  in  Little  Egg  Harbour  t-sp, 
Burlington  co.,  and  flows  S.  E.  about 
8  miles,  through  Stafford  t-ship,  Mon- 
mouth  co.,  into  Little  Egg  Harbour 
bay.  There  was  formerly  a  forge 
upon  the  stream.  There  are  now  a 
grist  and  saw  mill,  and  in  the  vicini- 
ty, some  15  or  20  dwellings.  The 
Palma  Christi,  or  castor  bean,  is  ex- 
tensively cultivated  here. 

West  Mil  ford,  post-office  of  Ber- 
gen co.,  248  miles  from  W.  C.,  and 
82  N.  E.  from  Trenton. 

Weston,  p-t.,  on  the  Millstone  river, 
and  on  the  Delaware  and  Raritan 
canal,  formerly  called  Rogers'  Mill, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  its  con- 
fluence with  the  Raritan  river,  and  2 
miles  below  the  village  of  Millstone, 
3  miles  in  a  direct  line  S.  E.  of  So- 
merville,  Somerset  co.,  and  about  30 
from  Trenton;  contains  a  saw  mill, 
grist  mill,  store,  and  some  10  or  12 
dwellings. 

Weymouth,  blast  furnace,  forge, 
and  village,  in  Hamilton  t-ship,  Glou 
cester  co.,  upon  the  Great  Egg  Har- 
bour river,  about  5  miles  above  the 
head  of  navigation.  The  furnace 
makes  about  900  tons  of  castings 
annually :  the  forge  having  four  fires 
and  two  hammers,  makes  about  200 
tons  bar  iron,  immediately  from  the 
ore.  There  are  also  a  grist  and  a 
saw  mill,  and  buildings  for  the  work 
men,  of  whom  100  are  constantly 
employed  about  the  works,  and  the 
persons  depending  upon  them  foi 
subsistence,  average  600  annually 
There  are  85,000  acres  of  land  per 
taining  to  this  establishment,  within 
which  May's  Landing  is  included 
The  works  have  a  superabundan 
supply  of  water,  during  all  seasons 
of  the  year. 

Weymoutli  t-ship,  Gloucester  co. 
bounded  N.  by  Hamilton;  E.  b; 
Great  Egg  Harbour  river;  S.  an 
W.  by  Tuckahoe  river.  Centrall; 
distant  from  Woodbury  41  miles 
greatest  length  N.  and  S.  12  miles 
breadth  E.  and  W.  10  miles ;  area 


0,000  acres;  surface,  level;  soil, 
andy:  eastern  boundary  on  the 
iver,  and  the  portion  on  the  S.  E. 
ying  between  the  two  rivers  is  salt 
narsh.  Stephens'  Creek  and  Tucka- 
loe  are  villages  and  post-towns  of 
he  t-ship.  Population  in  1830,  3333. 
n  1832  the  t-ship  contained  90  house- 
lolders,  whose  ratables  did  not  ex- 
ceed 830 ;  4  stores,  2  grist  mills,  1 
warding  machine,  1  blast  furnace,  and 
2  forges  called  Etna,  4  saw  mills, 
315  neat  cattle,  and  90  horses  and 
mules,  above  3  years  old;  and  paid 
county  tax,  $157  69;  poor  tax,  $78 
82 ;  and  road  tax,  $600. 

Whale  Pond  Creek,  Shrewsbury 
-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  flows  easterly 
about  5  miles  to  the  ocean,  about  a 
mile  below  the  Long  Branch  board- 
ng  houses.  It  gives  motion  to  a 
mill. 

Wheat  Sheaf,  small  village  on  the 
line  separating  Rahway  from  Eliza- 
bethtown  t-ship,  8  miles  S.  W.  from 
Newark,  and  half-way  between 
Bridgetown  and  Elizabethtown,  3 
miles  from  either ;  contains  a  tavern, 
from  whose  sign  it  has  its  name ;  a 
store,  and  8  or  10  dwellings. 

Whippany,  manufacturing  village, 
of  Hanover  t-ship,  Morris  co.,  on  the 
Whippany  river,  5  miles  N.  E.  of 
Morristown ;  contains  a  Methodist 
church,  an  academy,  3  stores,  1  ta- 
vern, 5  cotton  manufactories,  2000 
spindles,  3  paper  mills,  and  56  dwell- 
ings. Soil,  loam,  valued  at  25  and 
30  dollars  per  acre. 

Whippany  River,  Morris  co.,  a 
considerable  tributary  of  the  Rocka- 
way,  rises  in  Mendham  t-ship,  at  the 
foot  of  Trowbridge  mountain,  and 
flows  by  a  N.  E.  course  of  17  or  18 
miles,  by  Morristown,  to  its  recipient 
about  2  miles  above  the  junction  of 
that  stream  with  the  Passaic.  This 
is  a  fine  mill  stream,  drives  many 
mills  in  its  course,  and  is  well  em- 
ployed at  the  village  of  Whippany. 

White  Hall,  hamlet  on  Schooley's 
mountain,  Lebanon  t-ship,  Hunterdon 
co.,  18  miles  N.  E.  of  Flemington ; 
contains  a  store,  tavern,  smith  shop, 
and  4  or  5  dwellings. 


WIL 


264 


WIN 


White  Hill,  landing  and  small  vil- 
lage, on  the  Delaware  river,  Mans- 
field t-ship,  Burlington  co. ;  contains 
2  taverns,  10  or  12  dwellings,  and 
an  air  furnace.  There  is  also  a  ferry 
here. 

White  House,  p-t.  of  Readington 
t-ship,  Hunterdon  co.,  10  miles  N.  E. 
of  Flemington,  33  from  Trenton,  and 
196  from  W.  C.,  upon  Rockaway 
creek ;  contains  a  grist  mill,  some 
12  or  15  dwellings,  3  stores,  3  ta- 
verns, and  a  Presbyterian  or  Dutch 
Reformed  church.  The  surface  of 
the  country  around  it  is  hilly ;  soil, 
loam,  clay,  and  red  shale. 

White  Marsh  Run,  tributary  of 
Maurice  river,  rises  in  Fail-field  t-ship, 
Cumberland  co.,  and  flows  eastward- 
ly  to  its  recipient,  about  6  miles. 

White  Ponds,  two  small  lakes, 
connected  by  a  brook,  lying  at  the 
west  foot  of  Pimple  Hill,  in  Hardis- 
ton  t-ship,  Sussex  co.,  on  the  western 
line  of  the  t-ship,  distant,  in  a  direct 
line  N.  E.  from  Newton,  8  miles. 

Wickhechecoke  Creek,  rises  by 
two  branches  in  the  hills,  on  the  N. 
W.  of  Amwell  t-ship,  Hunterdon  co., 
and  flows  by  a  southerly  course  of 
10  miles,  into  the  Delaware,  giving 
motion  to  several  mills. 

Williamsmlle,  Orange  t-ship,  Es- 
sex co.,  5  miles  N.  W.  of  Newark, 
near  the  foot  of  the  first  mountain ; 
contains  8  or  10  houses. 

Williamsburg,  or  PmrCs  Neck, 
West  Windsor  t-ship,  Middlesex  co., 
on  the  straight  turnpike,  from  Tren- 
ton to  New  Brunswick,  10  miles  from 
the  first,  15  from  the  second,  2  miles 
from  Princeton,  and  half  a  mile  W. 
from  Millstone  river,  and  Stony 
brook  ;  contains  a  Baptist  church,  of 
wood ;  an  Episcopalian  church  ;  2 
taverns,  1  store,  and  12  dwellings. 
Soil,  kind,  sandy  loam,  extremely 
well  cultivated,  and  productive.  There 
are  two  large  quarries  of  freestone, 
of  excellent  building  stone  upon  the 
river. 

Williamsburg.  (See  Cedar  Creek.} 

Willingboro'  t-ship,  Burlington 
co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  Burlington 
t-ship;  S.  E.  by  Northampton;  S. 


W.  by  the  Rancocus  creek,  which 
separates  it  from  Chester  t-ship ;  and 
N.  W.  by  the  river  Delaware.  Cen- 
trally distant  N.  W.  from  Mount 
Holly,  7  miles.  Greatest  length,  6, 
breadth,  4  miles;  area,  7500  acres. 
Surface,  generally  level;  soil,  sand 
and  sandy  loam,  well  cultivated,  and 
productive  in  grass,  grain,  vegetables 
and  fruit.  A  small  branch  of  the 
Rancocus  creek,  crosses  the  t-ship. 
Dunks'  ferry,  over  the  Delaware,  is 
within  it,  4  miles  below  Burlington. 
Cooperstown  is  the  only  village.  Po- 
pulation in  1830,  782.  In  1832  the 
t-ship  contained  160  taxables;  50 
householders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30 ;  28  single  men ;  1  grist 
mill,  2  distilleries,  2  coaches,  6  dear- 
borns, 36  covered  wagons,  4  chairs 
and  curricles,  5  gigs  and  sulkies,  269 
neat  cattle,  and  176  horses  and  mules, 
above  3  years  old ;  and  paid  state 
tax,  8109  38;  county  tax,  8381  93; 
township  tax,  8400. 

Windsor,  West,  t-ship,  Middlesex 
co.,  bounded  N.  E.  by  South  Bruns- 
wick; S.  E.  by  East  Windsor;  S. 
W.  by  Nottingham  t-ship,  of  Bur- 
lington co.,  and  by  Lawrence  t-ship, 
Hunterdon  co. ;  and  on  the  N.  W. 
by  Montgomery  t-ship,  Hunterdon 
co.  Centrally  distant  S.  W.  from 
Brunswick,  17  miles.  Greatest  length, 
7,  breadth,  5  miles;  area,  19,000 
acres.  Surface,  level;  soil,  sandy 
loam  and  clay,  generally  well  culti- 
vated, and  producing,  abundantly, 
grain  and  grass.  Drained  on  the  E. 
by  Millstone  river ;  on  the  S.  W.  by 
the  Assunpink  creek ;  and  on  the  N. 
W.  by  Stony  Brook.  The  road 
through  Princeton  divides  this  from 
Somerset  co.  Princeton,  Williams- 
burg, Clarksville,  Dutch  Neck,  and 
Edinburg,  are  towns  of  the  t-ship. 
Population  in  1830,  2129.  In  1832 
the  t-ship  contained  448  taxables; 
226  householders,  whose  ratables  did 
not  exceed  830;  64  single  men;  6 
merchants ;  1  large  grist  mill,  with 
3  run  of  stones;  1  woollen  factory, 
3  distilleries,  and  496  horses  and 
mules,  and  848  neat  cattle,  over  3 
years  of  age;  and  paid  state  tax, 


woo 


265 


WOO 


$320  49;  county,  $394  04;  road, 
8200;  poor,  $450.  Excellent  free- 
stone, for  building,  is  abundant  in 
the  t-ship. 

Windsor,  East,  t-ship  of  Middle- 
sex co.,  bounded  N.  by  South  Bruns- 
wick t-ship ;  N.  E.  by  South  Amboy; 
S.  E.  by  Freehold  t-ship,  Monmouth 
co. ;  S.  W.  by  Nottingham  t-ship, 
Burlington  co. ;  and  N.  W.  by  West 
Windsor  t-ship.  Centrally  distant  S. 
W.  from  New  Brunswick,  20  miles. 
Greatest  length,  12 :  greatest  breadth, 
6  miles;  area,  24,000  acres.  Sur- 
face level;  soil,  sandy  and  gravelly 
loam,  light,  and  not  generally  pro- 
ductive. Drained  byJVlill  stone  river, 
and  Rocky  brook,  on  the  N.  E.,  and 
by  the  Assunpink  and  Miry  run, 
upon  the  S.  W.  Hightstown,  Mill- 
ford,  Centreville,  and  Cattail,  are  vil- 
lages, the  first  a  post-town,  of  the 
t-ship.  The  turnpike  road  from  Bor- 
dentown,  to  New  Brunswick,  crosses 
the  t-ship.  Population  in  1 830, 1 930. 
In  1832  the  t-ship  contained  487  tax- 
ables;  52  householders,  whose  rata- 
bles  did  not  exceed  $30  ;  and  41  sin- 
gle men,  3  merchants,  3  saw  mills, 
4  grist  mills,  1  woollen  factory,  2 
carding  machines,  and  fulling  mills, 
32  tan  vats,  13  distilleries  for  cider, 
and  484  horses  and  mules,  and  897 
neat  cattle,  above  3  years  of  age ; 
and  paid  state  tax,  $286  77 ;  county, 
$352  53 ;  road  tax,  $400 ;  poor  tax, 
$700. 

Woodbridge  t-ship,  Middlesex  co., 
bounded  N.  by  Westfield,  and  Rah 
way  t-ships,  Essex  co. ;  E.  by  Staten 
Island  Sound;  S.  E.  by  Perth  Am- 
boy t-ship ;  S.  by  Raritan  river ;  and 
W.  by  Piscataway  t-ship.  Centrally 
distant  from  New  Brunswick,  N.  E. 
8  miles.  Length,  E.  and  W.  9, 
breadth,  N.  and  S.  9  miles;  area, 
24,000  acres.  Surface,  level;  soil, 
red  shale,  universally  well  cultivated. 
Drained  on  the  N.  E.  by  a  branch  01 
Rahway  river,  upon  which  are  some 
mills.  Rahway  and  Woodbridge 
are  post-towns,  Matouchin  and  Bon 
hamtown,  villages  of  the  t-ship.  Two 
turnpike  roads  from  New  Brunswick 
run  N.  E.  through  the  t-ship,  which 

•>  T 


ire  crossed  by  another,  from  Perth 
A.mboy  to*  New  Durham.  Popula- 
ion  in  1830,  3969.  In  1832  the 
-ship  contained  700  taxables;  180 
louseholders,  whose  ratables  did  not 
exceed  $30  in  value ;  99  single  men ; 
13  stores,  5  saw  mills,  3  grist  mills, 
40  tan  vats,  1  distillery,  585  horses 
and  mules,  1555  neat  cattle,  3  years 
Id  and  upwards ;  and  paid  state  tax, 
$594  53;  county,  $731  03;  road, 
1800;  poor,  $1000.  This  t-ship  con- 
ains  a  portion  of  the  thriving  town 
of  Rahway.  It  was  incorporated  by 
Governor  Philip  Carteret,  prior  to 
1680,  by  one  of  the  most  liberal 
charters  which  had  ever  been  given 
'n  America.  (See  Records  of  East 
Jersey  Proprietaries,  at  Amboy.) 
In  1682,  it  was  estimated  that  there 
were  in  the  t-ship,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  families.  They  had  then 
erected  a  court-house  and  prison,  and 
had  many  thousand  acres  surveyed 
for  plantations.  Delaplaine,  the  sur- 
veyor-general, was  one  of  the  set- 
tlers here. 

Woodbury  Creek,  Deptford  t-ship, 
Gloucester  co.,  rises  by  two  branches ; 
the  southern  called  Matthew's  branch, 
each  about  3  miles  above  Woodbury, 
and  unite  below  the  town.  The  north 
branch  is  navigable  from  the  town  to 
the  river  Delaware,  3  miles. 

Woodbury,  p-t.,  and  seat  of  jus- 
tice of  Gloucester  co.,  on  Woodbury 
creek,  at  the  head  of  navigation,  8 
miles  S.  of  Camderi,  39  from  Tren- 
ton, and  145  from  W.  C. ;  contains 
a  spacious  court-house  of  brick,  and 
county  offices,  fire  proof,  and  of  the 
same  material,  detached,  and  a  pri- 
son, in  the  rear  of  the  court-house, 
of  stone;  1  Friends'  meeting  house, 
large,  and  of  brick;  1  Presbyterian 
church,  frame,  with  cupola  and  bell, 
the  upper  part  of  which  is  used  as  an 
academy;  and  1  brick  Methodist 
church;  2  common  schools;  2  pub- 
lic libraries,  one  of  which  was  found- 
ed by  the  ladies  of  the  town;  2  sun- 
day  schools ;  a  county  bible  society  ; 
and  temperance  society,  which  has 
been  productive  of  very  beneficial 
effects;  several  store-keepers  refusing 


WOO  2 

to  sell  spirituous  liquors;  10  stores, 
3  taverns,  4  lawyers,  3  'physicians, 
1  clergyman,  100  dwelling  houses, 
and  735  inhabitants.  The  town,  for 
a  mile  in  length,  and  half  a  mile  in 
breadth,  is  incorporated,  for  the  main- 
tenance of  a  fire  engine  and  fire  ap- 
paratus, for  which  eight  public  wells 
have  been  sunk ;  and  the  provisions  for 
defence,  against  this  devastating  ele- 
ment, are  very  efficient.  The  creek 
was,  70  years  since,  stopped  out ;  but 
the  obstruction  was  removed  in  1830, 
much  to  the  convenience  and  health 
of  the  inhabitants.  Vessels  now  load 
at  the  landing,  in  the  town. 

Woodruff's  Gap,  through  Bear 
Fort  mountain,  Pompton  t-ship,  Ber- 
gen co.  The  Ringwood  and  Long 
Pond  turnpike  road  passes  through  it. 

Woodstown,  p-t.,  and  village,  of 
Pilesgrove  t-ship,  Salem  co.,  upon  the 
Salem  creek,  10  miles  E.  of  the  town 
of  Salem,  161  N.  E.  from  W.  C., 
and  55  S.  of  Trenton.  The  town 
contains  about  150  dwellings,  2  ta- 
verns, and  6  stores,  3  schools,  1 
Friends'  meeting,  1  Baptist,  and  1 
African  Methodist  church.  In  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  town,  there  are 
some  valuable  marl  beds — and  the 
use  of  marl  has  much  improved  the 
agriculture  of  the  t-ship. 

Woodsville,  p-t.  of  Hope  well  t-sp., 
Hunterdon  co.,  10  miles  S.  from 
Flemington,  13  N.  from  Trenton, 
179  from  W.  C.,  on  the  turnpike  road 
from  N.  Brunswick,  to  Lamberts- 
ville;  contains  a  store,  tavern,  and 
half  a  dozen  dwellings,  mostly  new. 
It  lies  upon  the  slope  of  a  gently 
rising  ground,  from  which  there  is  a 
delightful  prospect  of  the  surround- 
ing country ;  the  soil  of  which  is  of 
red  shale,  and  well  cultivated. 

Woolwich  t-ship,  Gloucester  co., 
bounded  on  the  N.  E.  by  Greenwich  ; 
on  the  S.  E.  by  Franklin,  t-ships; 
S.  W.  by  Pittsgrove,  Pilesgrove,  and 
Upper  Penn's  Neck,  t-ships,  Salem 
co;  and  N.  W.  by  the  river  Dela- 
ware. Centrally  distant  S.  W.  from 
Woodbury,  1 1  miles.  Greatest  length, 


16  YAR 

16;  breadth,  7  miles;  area,  about 
40,000  acres.  Surface,  level;  soil, 
sandy,  and  on  the  S.  E.  covered  with 
pine  forest.  Drained,  westerly,  by 
Repaupo,  Little  Timber,  Raccoon, 
and  Oldman's,  creeks — the  last  of 
which  forms  the  S.  W.  boundary. 
Swedesboro'  and  Battentown,  are 
villages — the  first  a  post-town  of  the 
t-ship.  Population  in  1S30,  3033. 
In  1832  the  t-ship  contained  333 
householders,  whose  ratablcs  did  not 
exceed  830 ;  8  stores,  9  grist  mills, 
4  saw  mills,  3  fulling  mills,  1  tan- 
nery, 8  distilleries,  1433  neat  cattle, 
and  699  horses  and  mules  above  the 
age  of  3  years. 

Wrangleboro'  or  Clark's  Mill, 
village,  on  Nacote  creek,  of  Gallo- 
way t-ship,  Gloucester  co.,  about  37 
miles  S.  E.  from  Woodbury;  con- 
tains a  store,  one  or  more  taverns, 
and  one  mill,  and  15  or  20  dwellings. 

Wrangle  Brook,  considerable  tri- 
butary of  the  south  branch  of  Toms' 
river,  Dover  t-ship,  Monmouth  co., 
uniting  with  the  main  branch,  about 
two  miles  above  Toms'  River  village. 

Wrightsville,  on  the  road  from 
Allentown  to  Freehold,  Upper  Free- 
hold t-ship,  Monmouth  co.,  5  miles 
from  the  former,  and  14  from  the 
latter;  contains  8  or  10  dwellings 
and  a  Quaker  meeting  house;  soil, 
sandy.  In  the  rear  of  the  village, 
upon  Cattail  creek,  are  some  bog 
meadows,  which,  in  hot  weather,  are 
covered,  in  places,  with  an  efflores- 
cence of  sulphate  of  iron  (copperas). 

Wrightstown,  Hanover  t-ship, 
Burlington  co.,  10  miles  N.  E.  from 
Mount  Holly,  and  10  S.  E.'of  Bor- 
denton;  contains  2  taverns,  2  stores, 
a  Methodist  church,  and  some  15  or 
20  dwellings ;  surrounded  by  a  very 
fertile  country. 

Yard's  Branch,  of  Paulinskill, 
rises  in  the  Blue  mountains,  in  Paha- 
quarry  t-ship,  and  flows  S.  W.  through 
Knowlton  t-ship  to  its  recipient,  near 
the  village  of  Sodom,  having  a  course 
of  about  8  miles. 


> 


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